GR-1SF Rocker-Billy

[Scott J.]

Woo Hoo, it's here! ... many, many thanks to Adam and the PBG crew for persevering with this kit - it is so worth it!

As Kells80aus said, I've admired the 6120 Gr*tsch's for years (ever since I first heard Brian Setzer's "Stray Cat Strut" back in '81 and then discovering some of the old original rockers like Eddie Cochran, Duane Eddy, etc) ... but the price tag always put them completely out of contention ... until Pit Bull Guitars solved the problem (seriously, where would we be without you? )

So in homage to those greats, this one's going to be a rockabilly's dream (hence the name "Rocker-Billy", duh!) ... but first, initial impressions without the rose-coloured glasses ...

Straight out of the box, she's a real gem! Very even graining over the whole body (some might even say "plain" but its exactly what I was hoping for with this one ... vast amounts of figuring just wouldn't suit it) ... lovely neck-to-body fit, just the right amount of tightness and no slop at all ... and the fretboard has absolutely no defects in the rosewood (no veins and none of the little machining scratch marks that seem to be pretty common).

Defects? ... well after a good thorough inspection (see the pics) I can only pin-point the most minor of problems:
- two very faint glue marks that should be very easily dealt with (one on the butt and one near the neck cavity),
- the timber piece in the sole of the neck cavity is completely undressed (as rough as guts actually) but this doesn't seem to have any impact on neck fit and besides it wont be seen and might even provide some extra "tooth" for the glue
- a little bit of rough joinery on the cutaway side of the neck cavity - but once again, this is covered by the neck so no problems at all
... (am I just getting picky in my old age? ) ...

All in all, condition-wise, this is one of the sweetest PBG kits I've acquired to date ... Adam you and the boys have really aced it with this one!

[wokkaboy]

nice one Scott, sounds like its pretty well a perfect kit. The main thing is the neck fit is good so you are laughing.
Whats the finish plans, solid paint, colours ?

[Scott J.]

... a couple more pics showing the very few absolutely minor defects that could be found ...

and MOST importantly, this time the bridge post holes DO line up over the supporting brace! (you can now relax Adam - job well done!)

[Scott J.]

What's in store for this little lovely? ... Ah, this is where I really went to town (and almost got divorced in the process! ) ... but as they say, a guitar will get through times of no woman better than a woman will get you through times of no guitar (and if anyone quotes that to my wife, I'll completely deny it!)

... and I felt this axe really deserved the best (well, the best that I could afford!)

Its going to be finished in a traditional Gr*tsch orange - a la the 6120G ... Dingotone of course ... DB's mixing up a custom colour to match (hopefully, as we speak) and finished in an antique, "nicotine yellowed" clear gloss.

All the standard hardware's been replaced with all gold bits appropriate to the "vision" - this includes (see pic):
- Gotoh Imperial tuners
- "Floating" roller bridge ... I'll need to plug the post holes
- GFS "Liverpool" Retrotron pick-ups ... standard for the bridge, hot for the neck
- Gold Bigsby B6 vibrato ... as GavinT said, it really is the only vibrato unit to put on an axe like this
- Concentric "stacked" pots and gold knurled knobs
- Switchcraft 3-position pick-up selector and (2x) 3-position mini-switches.
- Clear Perspex scratch plate and gold bracket

Wiring this baby's going to be quite a departure from the standard wiring for this kit.
- each pick-up will be wired to its own mini-switch which will enable selection of either or both coils on each pick-up
- then wired to pick-up selector for either or both pick-ups,
- and the stacked pots enable individual control of volume and tone on each pick-up

That's the plan as it stands ... but I'm still tossing up whether to go for just straight orange-drop caps on the stacked tone pots ... or maybe replacing the tone stack with a push-pull pot for the option of switching between a "clean" cap tone sound and a "dirty" diode tone sound ... and maybe even utilising a full 4-diode signal rectifier for some real hell-raising crunch!

... oh, the possibilities are endless!

BTW - the gold Bigsby B6 still has to be acquired ... If anyone has one they want to part with, I've got a polished aluminium Bigsby B6 (excellent condition) that's not being used if they want to swap? ... otherwise I'll go trolling through SleezeBay

[wokkaboy]

nice upgrades Scott, lots of wiring options !

[vh2580]

Scott looking forward to seeing this come together.

[Nickosaurus]

Love it. Wiring sounds awesome too.

[kells80aus]

Hi Scott

I'll be watching your build with interest. I like your upgrades, particularly the wiring.
I like your Gotoh Imperials. I've settled for Wilkinsons copy of the imperials.
I've nixed the bigsby on mine and gone for the simple tailpiece with the floating roller bridge. well a roller bridge if I can ever find where I put the damned thing, other wise I'll have to use one of the tune-o's I have spare.
Looking forward to watching your build, mine probably won't get fully underway till January, once all the christmas who har has passed.

Cheers PK

[WeirdBits]

This build and PK's is really making me want to get stuck into mine, not an option just yet though. It seems like we've been dipping into the same puddle of inspiration except mine will be: chrome over gold, Nashville over Liverpool, Grover locking tuners modded with Imperial heads, B6 with floating bridge, clear pickguard, and still deciding between two wiring designs (non-standard, of course). I may also end up trying some structural mods inside the body, not sure if I'll be able to do it though. Plans and schemes.

[gavinturner]

hey Scott,

Sounds like a killer build - I'm very envious!! Amazing set of mods you have planned, especially the wiring. I love the orange gretsch look - I coloured my own 175 in the same style - and with the gold hardware you've got planned, this is just going to look fantastic. I'll be watching your build with very keen interest!!

cheers,
Gav.