New Project / Guitar...Budget Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT.

KevS · July 2022

I couldn't resist at this price,,partly as it looks so pretty..
Also it hasn't got a Bigsby on it,so less trouble.,no rocking bridge etc...
it looks really nice in person..
Like a Rock and Roll packet of Benson and Hedges..Cough !!
It arrived around half 7 last Night by courier..

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/171213319509008--gretsch-g5220-electromatic-jet-bt-casino-gold

More available if anyone else wants one..

Mine is a nice manageable weight..

I have set it up as good as it will go for now..
It does feel very foreign and not amazing to play though..
it isn't awful,but feels a bit starter Epiphone Bolt on Les Paul..
This is a glued in neck by the way..
So I think it needs a little tweaking to get the best out of it....

1 There is the usual problem of a ratting ABR bridge with retaining wire...
So that will probably be the first thing replaced..

2 The Pots are a bit On or Off Basically,,so new ones would get much more range adjustment out of the guitar..
Normally I would just put CTS Pots in there but I imagine the metric sized G Arrow Knobs won't fit..(Insert Knob joke Here).
No doubt proper Gretsch G knobs will be pricey,,most things Gretsch seem to be..
This was a cheap priced guitar,I don't want to spend a fortune..
These are solid shaft pots like a Tele but obviously Metric import Sized..
I haven't looked,I imagine they are 500K though..
There is a Capacitor on the tone pot and a the Master Volume has a treble bleed on it..

Are there good quality solid shaft Metric sized pots that will be a big improvement on the ones already in there..?
Ones that would obviously fit the present knobs on the Guitar..

3 The string spacing at the nut appears to be a bit narrower than Gibson ,,maybe one of the reasons it feels a bit alien to play..
Would Gibson string spacing at the nut have a big effect in making things feel more familiar..

4 The Tailpiece,,,will it being a V shape cause the guitar to feel unfamiliar in a big way..
For instance when bending strings..
I also seem to be getting a chiming on my G String..
G Strings and Knobs..( Oh Dear !! ) I know if I don't mention it,,someone else probably will..
I wonder if the V tailpiece studs are just normal import spacing..

5 Again the Metal Toggle Switch tip hasn't got the same thread as a Gibson Switchcraft switch..
If I did at any point want to replace it,,is there a way to keep the Old Tip..

The Pickups will have to do for now..
they don't sound too Bad,,they are Blacktop Broad-trons....
Apparently normal Humbuckers in Faux Filtertron Garb..
I wonder what magnets are in there..?
The Bridge Pickup is maybe a touch hollow sounding..
Maybe more adjustment of the pole pieces will sort it out though..

Any Knowledge / Help passed on would be hugely appreciated..

Thanks..

TheMarlin · July 2022

You can pick up Gretsch G knob replicas on Alibaba cheap. Will work fine

TheMarlin · July 2022

Capo at last fret, raise pickups as close to the sting as you can get them without touching the strings (not touching while playing).

Then balance height by ear. Don’t mess with the pole pieces, so they’re for micro adjustment, string to string balance. If the pickups are too low, and pole pieces too high, will sound crap.

Sarge · July 2022

I played one of these in JG Windows, thought it was spectacular (unplugged) and I regret not getting it while I had the cash, lusted after one ever since, especially in the jade grey.

KevS · July 2022

TheMarlin said:

Capo at last fret, raise pickups as close to the sting as you can get them without touching the strings (not touching while playing).
Then balance height by ear. Don’t mess with the pole pieces, so they’re for micro adjustment, string to string balance. If the pickups are too low, and pole pieces too high, will sound crap.

I usually tailor the pole pieces to the camber of the fretboard,strings following it..Then I fine tune from there..
I have the pole pieces a fair bit away from the strings..
They are still loud enough..

The rattling bridge is the main problem and the on off pots..

KevS · July 2022

Sarge said:

I played one of these in JG Windows, thought it was spectacular (unplugged) and I regret not getting it while I had the cash, lusted after one ever since, especially in the jade grey.

The Jade Grey and Sapphire Blue are really nice,,in fact they all are..
£260 for one in Gold though,,I had to..
Still over 10 of them left....

normula1 · July 2022

You can get metric CTS pots, not sure if they do solid shaft versions though.
https://www.axesrus.co.uk/1-x-CTS-Pot-Split-Shaft-Metric-Size-p/cts59met.htm

punchesjudy · August 2022

My brother bought one of these and it’s already ended up with me because he’s dumb and won’t play it. That’s his words not mine. I do agree though, he is dumb and won’t play it.

Anyways, I absolutely love it. It’s incredible. Yes the pots are a bit poo as mentioned above but mine at least just sounds great. Plays great. Looks great. Now I want a MIJ one though…

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New Project / Guitar...Budget Gretsch G5220 Electromatic Jet BT.

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