Guitar dilemma

[Ian Price]

As the title suggests I have a bit of a guitar related dilemma. A while ago I was bought a Gretsch 5120 as a present. Whilst it is a nice looking guitar I struggle to play it as the neck is a bit too fat for me. The pickups are also pretty bland sounding as well. For the last few months I have been trying to decide what to do about it and have come up with the following options:

Keep the Gretsch but have the neck profiled, change the pups for BKPs (P90s), change the nut and change the pots. I would also like to turn it into a hardtail (is this even possible?). How much would having this work done roughly cost?

Sell the Gretsch and use the money to go towards buying a Highway 1 strat - change the pups for BKPs (HSS style), change the nut etc.

The other thing that bothers me about this is that the guitar was bought for me by my Dad - he phoned me from the states and asked me about what I thought of them. I did say don't buy it as the neck will be too big for me.

Really not sure what to do - any opinions?

[AndyR]

Crumbs, that's a tough one (my Dad keeps buying us DVDs we already have - we daren't tell him. I keep saying "you need to check first, we've got hundreds like you have", but so far... :roll:)

So, have I got this right - you actually said "don't buy it"? If so, I'd be selling it and getting something I can call "special", then I can tell him "aw Dad, it was gorgeous, but like I warned you I just couldn't play it ... but just look at this beauty I've swapped it for..."

Or have we got some sort of "Dad thinking you need a proper guitar like his heroes played" thing going on here? That might complicate things further I guess... :lol:

If it had a better suited neck , is it your sort of geetar?

[Will]

I think the only thing my old man ever bought me was a car. oh, and a bike when I was 9-10.
If either got sold, he would expect the money :P

Sell it, but get something silly on a new one, like specially engraved truss rod cover. If you're not happy with it, and want something new instead then it is best gone.

[Philly Q]

Maybe I'm misinterpreting your post, Ian, but I get the impression the Gretsch doesn't have much mojo for you - and still wouldn't, even if it had a more friendly neck, better pickups etc.

I'd sell it, but then I have a fairly cavalier attitude towards buying and selling guitars.  


(Having said that, my parents have never quite forgiven me for selling the no-name Japanese LP copy they bought me when I was 16.  "It's still a guitar isn't it, what's the difference?" )

[Twinfan]

I had a similar problem recently:

1)  Gibson LP Standard, bought with money left me by my Granddad when he died
2)  A Fender Strat, my second guitar, bought with saved up part-time job money when I was at school

Both guitars I never really bonded with after the initial 'wow'.  The LP was heavy and very bright sounding, the Strat a bit dull.  Both were sentimentally very valuable to me.  I'd toyed with the idea of selling them for a long time, but never really got round to it.

Solution?

A trip to Vintage and Rare, two trade-ins and THAT Custom Shop Tele  :D

I'd sell or part-ex the Gretsch for something you really want.  Don't mod it - if you don't like it after the mods no-one else will if you try and sell it then...

[Philly Q]

Both were sentimentally very valuable to me.  I'd toyed with the idea of selling them for a long time, but never really got round to it.

Solution?

A trip to Vintage and Rare, two trade-ins and THAT Custom Shop Tele  :D

I'm not quite seeing how you overcame the sentimental value aspect there Dave... other than extreme GAS!  :P

[AndyR]

:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).

I was actually going to suggest that earlier Ian - just up from V&R in Denmark St is my favourite shop, er, Regent Sounds, I think...

They're Gretsch stockists and mucho Fender, usually got some Highway 1s. The main man in there is obviously a strat-man, so perhaps that might be worth a visit...

[mikeluke]

Well, Ian - just tell your Dad that your house got broken into and that they stole your guitar - you got the money from the insurance and went to buy another one - however, the shop did not have any in stock and could not get any for weeks. Therefore, you did the next best thing and bought a Strat.

Basingstoke is a dodgy place so this will sound perfectly credible!!

Good luck

Mike

[Philly Q]

:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).

Hmmm.  I think the threads of sentiment might be stretched to breaking point....  :?

[_tom_]

I had the same sort of dilemma with an amp a while ago. Dad bought me it for my birthday but I never really got on with it, all it did was cleans and nasty distortion (not the good kind either!) and I wanted to play rock so it wasnt ideal. I tried to get it to work for me for about 2 years but it never happened so sold it and got something more suitable. I think he was a bit annoyed/upset but I wasted so much time and money trying to get it to work for me and it never did, as soon as I got the Laney instead everything was fine :) So I'd say if it doesnt work for you then dont bother trying to make it unless there are some quick/easy fixes that may help..

[gwEm]

:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).

Hmmm.  I think the threads of sentiment might be stretched to breaking point....  :?

:) sentiment takes the form of threads? you learn something new every day

[Philly Q]

:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).

Hmmm.  I think the threads of sentiment might be stretched to breaking point....  :?

:) sentiment takes the form of threads? you learn something new every day

Well, we say "sentimental attachment", so I picture threads.  I have a visual imagination.  :oops:  :P

[Twinfan]

:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).

That's it exactly.  No dirty cash involved, the guitars were 'upgraded' to the Tele.  Their legend lives on in a complete keeper  :D

[Ian Price]

:lol: nah - I get it Philly, a part-x means no filthy lucre changing hands over the old instruments, so there's more of a chance of "sentimental attachment transferral" ((C) 2008 AR, by the way :D).

That's it exactly.  No dirty cash involved, the guitars were 'upgraded' to the Tele.  Their legend lives on in a complete keeper  :D

+1 Dave - like your thinking. I always find trades get you less money though.

Philly - as usual you are right. The Gretsch simply has no mojo for me. I have also known to be cavalier with guitars in the past so think it is only the 'sentimental' value that is making me keep it at the moment.

Mikeluke - I have been through so many variations of how I could explain the Gretsch not being there. The one I keep coming back to is the simple truth (although some parts of Basingstoke can be dodgy!)

Finally - thanks to all for the responses so far, it has helped me make my mind up. A tough decision but I do need to be fair to the Gretsch.

[Twinfan]

I got great trade-in prices at V&R, like REALLY great.  Take the Gretsch in there, and see what you can come out with  ;)