atomicwash Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Gretsch guitars usually require a good setup by someone who understands Bigsby's, i.e. Someone who doesn't say "it'll never stay in tune." The only real issue with older Gretsch guitars is binding rot. Sometimes they're okay and other times it's cracking & falling off.I've got a '73 with killer stock pickups. They were pretty lame until I adjusted the height and fine tuned with the poles. It sounds amazing.Good luck!!!
Drendino Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Funny, I've had 2 similar experiences. I have one client who offered to sell me his 59 Les Paul Junior "for cheap". He said it's not worth much because it's a Jr. model with only one pickup. He's sick and I advised him what it was worth and told him to pass it down to his kids. My other client has an early 1960s ES 335 and wanted help trying to find someone to to trade it to for an acoustic. I got him in touch with Gruhns and he is going to consign it.I like a good deal like everyone else, but not that way.
Crimsontider Posted August 22, 2014 Author Posted August 22, 2014 Funny, I've had 2 similar experiences. I have one client who offered to sell me his 59 Les Paul Junior "for cheap". He said it's not worth much because it's a Jr. model with only one pickup. He's sick and I advised him what it was worth and told him to pass it down to his kids. My other client has an early 1960s ES 335 and wanted help trying to find someone to to trade it to for an acoustic. I got him in touch with Gruhns and he is going to consign it.I like a good deal like everyone else, but not that way.Good name means everything in my town. My business grew off of referrals and continues to do so. The last thing I want to worry about is someone feeling they were ripped off at a later time, he insinuated that I find out what it's worth and he'll take half of that. So It's actually better that it's a $2500 guitar and not a $6000 one if all I have to play with is $1000 right now.He must be taking a hell of a nap or busy, but has not called back. All of his kids and grandchildren are over 20, so obviously none were musicians. One is a top Chef in Birmingham, Al though.
Drendino Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Not sure what Chet Atkins would think about this.
Boomerang~Junkie Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 That pattern would make one fine set of pj's! Yeah, I'm also thinking pillow cases - so all those Hamers can work their way directly into my dreams . . . .
berussell Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Funny, I've had 2 similar experiences. I have one client who offered to sell me his 59 Les Paul Junior "for cheap". He said it's not worth much because it's a Jr. model with only one pickup. He's sick and I advised him what it was worth and told him to pass it down to his kids. My other client has an early 1960s ES 335 and wanted help trying to find someone to to trade it to for an acoustic. I got him in touch with Gruhns and he is going to consign it.I like a good deal like everyone else, but not that way.Good name means everything in my town. My business grew off of referrals and continues to do so. The last thing I want to worry about is someone feeling they were ripped off at a later time, he insinuated that I find out what it's worth and he'll take half of that. So It's actually better that it's a $2500 guitar and not a $6000 one if all I have to play with is $1000 right now.He must be taking a hell of a nap or busy, but has not called back. All of his kids and grandchildren are over 20, so obviously none were musicians. One is a top Chef in Birmingham, Al though.I think you both end up in a good place. He offered to take half the value, and you are not telling him it's worth $100 at the flea market. Hope you enjoy it. - B
Sugartune Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 That dude in the video truly is a "dude". Nice playing though. That guitar sounds good to me!
velorush Posted August 22, 2014 Posted August 22, 2014 Funny, I've had 2 similar experiences. I have one client who offered to sell me his 59 Les Paul Junior "for cheap". He said it's not worth much because it's a Jr. model with only one pickup. He's sick and I advised him what it was worth and told him to pass it down to his kids. My other client has an early 1960s ES 335 and wanted help trying to find someone to to trade it to for an acoustic. I got him in touch with Gruhns and he is going to consign it. I like a good deal like everyone else, but not that way. Good name means everything in my town. My business grew off of referrals and continues to do so. The last thing I want to worry about is someone feeling they were ripped off at a later time, he insinuated that I find out what it's worth and he'll take half of that. So It's actually better that it's a $2500 guitar and not a $6000 one if all I have to play with is $1000 right now. I've still go the ad from the Paducah Shopper, around 1993: "Gibson guitar, old but good shape, $150.00." I called the guy the minute I saw the ad and after work drove out to his house in Livingston County: '59 Music Master Melody Maker [thanks HFCer, you know who you are - clearly says "Melody Maker" at the end of the neck. Music Master, or rather Musicmaster, is a Fender guitar] I told the guy flat out, "I don't know what it's worth, but it's definitely more than $150.00." I offered to get him in touch with George Gruhn (back then you could call and he'd give you a ballpark figure over the phone). Nothing doing. He said I was being so nice about it he wanted me to have it for $150 and didn't care what it was worth. Then he said, "that little amp goes with it." It was a 1960 Supro Super. I didn't have much need of the short-scale guitar, so I sold it fairly quickly (people were putting humbuckers in them back then). I kept that amp for a really long time though. Lots of fun.
Crimsontider Posted August 22, 2014 Author Posted August 22, 2014 I have the guitar with me and will post some pics a little later. Still have some research to do, but it is an Orange Chet Adkins Nashvile serial #80876.
Drendino Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 I have the guitar with me and will post some pics a little later. Still have some research to do, but it is an Orange Chet Adkins Nashvile serial #80876.Awesome, happy vintage NGD!
kizanski Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 ?.. it is an Orange Chet Adkins Nashvile serial #80876.Watch out for those carbohydrates!It's a 1965.
Crimsontider Posted August 23, 2014 Author Posted August 23, 2014 Here are some pics, long day. I will take some of the back and neck in the sunshine tomorrow.
Hbom Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 Awesome score! Congratulations, and thanks for a nice story.
Crimsontider Posted August 23, 2014 Author Posted August 23, 2014 Thanks for all the encouragement and participation. As I have mentioned too many times, I have a son in college and always need emergency money on top of half the tuition and books. I still owe him $500 next week, but it's mine. Also still have a Diablo and a old super champ that I have to pay to get out of the shop. This is going to be really fun playing with the old tube Super Champ. He turned me on to Richard Smith too which was really cool. He grew up a big Les Paul fans and later Chet Atkins. Here are the full size pics in a .zip if anyone wants them. There are much bigger. http://compusouth.net/a/6120.zip Dark, but shows shinier chrome and the tremolo in the up position.
cmatthes Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 Unless the former owner was a smoker, you'll find that your new (old!) guitar smells wonderful!
elduave Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 Not sure what Chet Atkins would think about this. Regardless, pretty cool singer/player, with (more than) a hint of obnoxiousness.
atomicwash Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 That is awesome!!! Nice score!!!Let me know if you want setup dimensions or close up photos of my '73 pickups.
G Man Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 So, have you plugged her in yet? How does she sound? Looks absolutely beautiful. Congrats on a great score.
cmatthes Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 I had a '62 Tennessean like the one Phil X is beating in that video. Some big Beatles guy wanted it because George played that exact model/year for a while. Cool stuff.
Crimsontider Posted August 23, 2014 Author Posted August 23, 2014 So, have you plugged her in yet? How does she sound? Looks absolutely beautiful. Congrats on a great score.I plugged it in and thought it didn't work until I found out if was the kill switch, I just though it was the obvious place for the pup's but have found those.Compared to my strat shaped clones, it's in a different league. It have been messing around with the damping and also discovered it is "the" guitar for that intimidating Spanish slight overdrive sound that you here in stuff like Pulp Fiction, you know what I am talking about? This thing has personality.It would be hard to part with something that has this distinctive of sound. So many songs have used it, which is one thing I like in a guitar. You may here a tonal quality or stumble onto something and then find the song. You can't really do that with most guitars.Like always, I will post some audio.Is mid to late 64 before they ramped up the production?
atomicwash Posted August 23, 2014 Posted August 23, 2014 You need to buy the 6120 book now. Yes, there is another Book.Time to listen to Brian Setzer, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Duane Eddy.
Crimsontider Posted August 23, 2014 Author Posted August 23, 2014 You need to buy the 6120 book now. Yes, there is another Book.Time to listen to Brian Setzer, Eddie Cochran, Gene Vincent, and Duane Eddy.I will do that. I gave myself a migraine crash coursing in Gretsch the night before last. Most from ":Gretsch: The Guitars of the Fred Gretsch Co" here it is - http://books.google.comAfter now looking at the models, I like the 6120 the best. The double cut away, the covered F Notes and the price. It seems to be the most rocking of the bunch. Wish I could thumb pick.
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