GR-1SF Rocker-Billy

[Scott J.]

Thanks Nicko ... I just know I'm going to need it (luck) for this one!

[gavinturner]

Looking good scott! Personally I think this kit should come with a floating bridge and no post holes. She's gonna look perfect now after your mods. Love the bling!! Gonna look hot.

cheers,
Gav.

[Rob L]

If I might add my 2 cents. I've owned a couple of Gretsches like the one in my pic over there! You might want to consider pinning the bridge. I know Setzer does it to all of his. The Rev does too. Many past and present Gretsch players did/do the same thing. The floating bridge tends to move especially if you use the whammy. Once I pinned mine and installed locking tuners I never had tuning/intonation problems again.
And since the pinning is done is on the backside of the bridge, you don't see it.

[Scott J.]

"two cents" are always welcome, Rob ... and you're right about the "pinning" - Chet may not have needed it (being such a "gentle-manly" player) but for anything with a bit more "energy" behind it pinning is virtually a necessity. Needless to say (considering my "ham-fisted" playing technique) I'll be having to pin mine

... which is part of the reasons why plugging the bridge post-holes was necessary - I didn't want any bogus cavities under the bridge (adversely affecting the soundboard dynamics), nor bits of holes poking out from underneath the floating bridge (I doubt the precise location of the bridge placement would exactly cover the holes) ... and I'm expecting I can count on at least one (if not both) of the required pins falling in the same spots as the post holes (when the bridge is correctly placed) so I'd need some material to "pin" to

Even at this early stage I'm considering a second GR (but taking a different route with it - maybe more the trad "New Yorker" jazz route) ... especially if Adam does eventually get a batch of these in as "blanks"(i.e. no holes drilled, no p/up cavities cut, no headstock shaped)

[Rob L]

HAHA!!! "Ham-fisted" I like that!

I wouldn't be surprised if both pins wind up on the plugs. When I discovered pinning it was such an eye opener. "SO THAT"S how they can bang away and whammy and still stay in tune"!!!

I just Saw The Rev in Maryland at a festival and got a chance to talk to him. "Gotta pin my bridges" He said. I laughed.

I can't wait to see how your build turns out. I'll always have a spot in my heart for Gretsches.

[Scott J.]

I just Saw The Rev in Maryland at a festival and got a chance to talk to him. "Gotta pin my bridges" He said. I laughed.

RHH! Hot Damn! ... I'm turning green with envy!

[kells80aus]

Hey Scott. I've been toying with the idea of double sided tape on the bridge to hold it in place, verses glueing it.

PK

[gavinturner]

Green here too Rob. RHH psychobilly madness. Love it.

cheers,
Gav.

[Scott J.]

Hey Kells, I don't about the double sided tape idea ... I could be wrong but from an "engineering principles" perspective I'm thinking that because the tape's "soft and spongy" it would effectively act as a shock-absorber between the bridge and soundboard and thereby impede/dampen the necessary transmission of the string's vibrations to the body which would result in deadening/muffling the sound ...

... which would explain why bridges, both fixed and floating, are always (in my limited experience) mounted directly on to the soundboard (on a semi-hollow or directly to the top of a solid-body) without any padding or anything in between ... but I could be wrong ...

altho' its an interesting suggestion and worthy of a group discussion ... all thoughts on this topic are welcome, people

[maxaxe]

Hollow bodied guitars have always frightened me in terms of building, binding, setting up and having all that surface area to flopping well sand.
Also I find they're a bit like BBW's - hard to get yer arms around & yer fingers where ya want 'em.
Having said that, I'm very impressed with your fastidious approach to tackling this "Gretsch" project. Should be a classic when it's completed.
I also know doodly about floating bridges (pontoons?) May I suggest you dudes look at 3M's double sided tape which is not spongy and is very strong . . . I use it on pinball targets &c with great success.