Got me a Gretsch!

[olrocknroller]

Something I've found that works great for pins in a tremolo are split-pins, available for not much $ in just about any hardware store...the nice part is, properly sized, they stay put!

[oigun]

Mel, you are one lucky SOB
Still in love with your national....

[MWaldorf]

Mel, you are one lucky SOB
Still in love with your national....

Thankfully, I'm lucky enough to know how lucky I am!

As for the National, you know it's got a bolt on neck, right? Easier to ship overseas that way...
I used it for a rhythm guitar part on our new album, silversound bridge pickup with a hint of neck pup dialed in. Clangy, almost acoustic sounding.

[Mr. Bill]

Very cool Gretsch, you don't see many with 3 pickups.

Wouldn't it have been easier to just replace the Bigsby with a model 7 that has the front roller?

[MWaldorf]

Wouldn't it have been easier to just replace the Bigsby with a model 7 that has the front roller?

Yes and no. The B7 with the roller required drilling holes in the top to mount, and it also puts the arm about two inches further back from the bridge. Given that the guitar is already highly modified, the first isn't much of an issue, but I like to have the arm over the pickups so I can get to it more easily, and hold/wiggle it while I pick for that wacky warbling vibrato.

Here's a 6117 with a B7:

[Mr. Bill]

I guess that's the reason Chet used to have those long pinkie ring arms on his guitars.

[sleeperNY]

The Chet arms don't come up between the pickups. They only reach the rear one.


Jim

[MWaldorf]

Jim, those Gretsches are sharp!

I think the really long handle is the "Travis" handle, like he has in this photo with Joe Maphis:

[sleeperNY]

Ya the Travis arm is long. I could never use one like that. I like the handle right at the rear pickup and it never moves. It takes some time to get used to, and some never can. I've had this setup from back in the seventies.
By the way I just love your new guitar. There was a man at the Gretsch Pages that converted a Gretsch Country Club to 3 pickups.Sarah may remember his name.

Jim

[Sarah93003]

That's right Jim. He goes by "Wenzel" on the Gretsch Talk forum. Here is the Country Club.



That will give Mel some GAS!