Incoming NGD - Gretsch Rancher and Ramblings

[SierraTango]

Today is my 70th trip around the Sun and a great time to spend some (little) money!
As I have posted a zillion times I am blessed with some very nice instruments that get played out, mainly my Bob built Benedetto Cremona, 53 Epiphone Triumph Regent and Eastman Pisano 880.
However, lately I've been facinated by inexpensive guitars. It all started when I needed somthing for a Western Swing project and stumbled on a Gretsch 2420 built in Indonesia. I admit it's lacking in many areas, but for the $100 I paid for it I can live with some cheesy appointments. It worked great for that project.I was in the market for a acoustic-electric and found this Rancher at GC used. There are many campfire type gatherings here in the Mountains and nobody wants to hear Jazz much. Sons of the Pioneers, Hank Thompson, Ernest Tubb, and of course Bob Wills. Merle Haggard and Buck since we are close to Bakersfield.
I don't understand why Gretsch gets not much love in Jazz circles, maybe it's the cartoon bling, the crazy knobs and switches. Many of the Vintage models fall apart from poor construction (what were they smokin in Brooklyn?). Considering all the greats that played them why are they not loved?

[garybaldy]

I like 'em!

[TF]

I read somewhere that vintage Gretsch quality issues related to the employees' being paid piecework wages, rather than by the hour. The more guitars or assemblies you could slam together rapidly, the more money you made.

[jazzshrink]

Today is my 70th trip around the Sun...

[SierraTango]

The Rancher arrived! It just needed a spa day. New Martin Monels, clean frets and grunge shop ware.
I'm truly amazed with this thing! Unplugged it sounds great and plugged into my Evans it kicks some butt
$350 w/hardcase, and you can play both Country and Western on it.

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[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Today is my 70th trip around the Sun

Happy birthday, youngster!

[LesB3]

I have the same model and have found that the choice of strings will make ALL the difference w/r/t the sound. Some strings will sound plinky and cheap, others will really open her up. How are you finding the monels?

[SierraTango]

I have the same model and have found that the choice of strings will make ALL the difference w/r/t the sound. Some strings will sound plinky and cheap, others will really open her up. How are you finding the monels?

Difficult to answer. The Rancher arrived with some really dead Bronze strings. If I had to guess, I would say they were the original strings.
I've not owned a Flat Top guitar in at least 25 years. I do however own a 1953 Epiphone Triumph Regent acoustic (no pickup). After years of Bronze 80/20's I decided to give the Monels a try on the Epi. I like them quite a lot on that guitar and decided to go with the Monels on the Rancher since I had a spare set.
Well, it was night and day with the new strings on the Gretsch, very full, not plinky at all. However I think any new strings would have woken it up!
Also, a huge difference in the plugged in sound.
I've only had the Rancher for 3 days and one day with new strings. What string product have you found that works best on your Rancher?

[LesB3]

Difficult to answer. The Rancher arrived with some really dead Bronze strings. If I had to guess, I would say they were the original strings.
I've not owned a Flat Top guitar in at least 25 years. I do however own a 1953 Epiphone Triumph Regent acoustic (no pickup). After years of Bronze 80/20's I decided to give the Monels a try on the Epi. I like them quite a lot on that guitar and decided to go with the Monels on the Rancher since I had a spare set.
Well, it was night and day with the new strings on the Gretsch, very full, not plinky at all. However I think any new strings would have woken it up!
Also, a huge difference in the plugged in sound.
I've only had the Rancher for 3 days and one day with new strings. What string product have you found that works best on your Rancher?

Good question... The Gretsch website says these ship with EJ16's (Phosphor Bronze Lights) and I was never really happy with sound, acoustic or otherwise. The setup was also fairly bad. I dropped it off to my tech at the time who gave it a setup and new strings and it made all the difference. Suddenly, the guitar had gone from plinky and sterile to loud and boomy. I suppose the new set may have been 80/20's instead, though I can't say for sure now since he has since retired and I no longer play the guitar.

[SierraTango]

Small update: it's a rainy day and out of boredom I decided to change out the Martin Monels for a set of TI Plectrums I had in stock.
Another example of different string products working better on different guitars. While I really like the Monels on my 53 Epi Triumph Regent, they just didn't provide that classic flat top sound on the Rancher.
Now the official string of the Ranch hand....maybe there is something to be said about putting a 10 dollar saddle on a 5 dollar horse.