A question about my new Gretsch 5120

#1 08-03-2011, 02:39 AM

Hey, everybody. I just bought a new Gretsch G5120. I love it and can't put it down. I've been playing Stratocasters (professional) for 20 years. This is my first hollow-body, so I'm just getting to know it.
I do have a question that I hope someone can answer. I've had it for 2 days and I just noticed a sound/resonance coming from the B-string between the bridge and the Bigsby. Is this kind of thing normal with these set-ups? Or is this a straight up defect? It's not bad, but I did notice it two days in.
Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

reventlov · #2 08-03-2011, 02:52 AM

I can't answer your question but if you go to The Gretsch Pages and ask there, you will definitely find someone who can

oldane · #3 08-03-2011, 04:34 AM

Its very normal - not only with the B string. It's present on all my guitars with a bridge-tailpiece arrangement as the archtops have. It's not a defect in your guitar. These resonances annoys me, so I have dampened them with a sandwich of male and female velcro strip. But anything works - a hankerchief, an old shoelace wowen with the strings, you name it.

BTW, there are also resonances from the length of string between the fretted note and the nut and from the length of string between the nut and the tuning post. Metal tailpieces more often than not emit resonances.

#4 08-03-2011, 05:08 AM

Hey, Oldane.
Thank you, thank you! I have fallen madly in love with this girl and it would have broken my heart to return her.
What started out as a visual accessory for a 50's & 60's working band we are overhauling, has become a rediscovery of the beauty of playing guitar.
Thank you Sir.

Chaz

DArmstrong · #5 08-03-2011, 07:33 AM

Hi Chaz,

I have a 5120 too, and love it. I have a nice strip of brown leather woven through the strings up there. Looks good, works.

Here's another noise stopper I've used. I'm interested in whether others see a problem with this one:

To stop buzzes in the Tune-O-Matic, I use a toothpick to drip a tiny amount of rubber cement onto the little clips. It flows between the clip and the bridge body and then solidifies, staying soft enough to allow saddle adjustment or other work on the bridge. No more buzzing! No difference in tone that I can detect.

Dave