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The OFFICIAL "Gretsch Bass Owners Club"

#1,242
Pilgrim said:
Great answer above. I have a couple of Gretsch basses with the floating bridge, and have always been able to intonate the strings by orienting the bridge with a small bit of slant. Don't worry about individual string adjustment, just use what's there and you will be fine.
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B-Mac said:
Looks like its the wrong scale size for the bass being the the ash tray is for a bass with a much larger size body. Just doesn't look right either way. Just MHO. If it's possible to find an ash tray in a smaller size I'd at least give that a try.
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Perhaps a Fender Tele guitar ashtray would be smaller.
 
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#1,243
4 Out of 5 said:
I thought to do a proper job of lubricating the tuners I should take them apart. I started to undo the metal screw at the end of the G tuner key and the screw head broke off without warning after a few turns - I really wasn't applying much force.
Gosh darn it - looks like I might HAVE to upgrade the tuners now!
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I read that an occasional dab of Vaseline on the gears will keep tunners from binding.I have followed this process for years without problems.
 
#1,244
kevmac said:
I read that an occasional dab of Vaseline on the gears will keep tunners from binding.I have followed this process for years without problems.
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Vaseline and anything with a similar greasy character can accumulate grit over time. Graphite will not, so it is normally preferred.
 
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#1,246
kevmac said:
I read that an occasional dab of Vaseline on the gears will keep tunners from binding.I have followed this process for years without problems.
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I have about eight guitars with open-gear tuners. Most of the tuners are Hipshots. I've never lubed any of these and they all work perfectly. Many of these guitars live on stands, meaning they've been in an open environment perpetually for years.
 
#1,247
Adagietto said:
I have about eight guitars with open-gear tuners. Most of the tuners are Hipshots. I've never lubed any of these and they all work perfectly. Many of these guitars live on stands, meaning they've been in an open environment perpetually for years.
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Yes the need to lube tuners is minimal.And if one needs to apply any lube to them more than even once a year a new set may be the best remedy.
 
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#1,248
KeefonBass said:
I am not so sure about putting this 51' P Bass ashtray on.. I think it might even look better backwards but it's very subjective, I think I've looked at it too much and need to step away.. what do you all think ?? maybe a different ashtray cover not quite as large


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The ashtrays available for Tele and Strat model guitars are smaller and there's a few different types that may fit.It is definitely worth considering if an ashtray is in the works.I think the bass ones are too large for my taste.
 
#1,249
Just gathered this off my doorstep.
16485774737361191297540484619805.jpg
 
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#1,254
Kev1955 said:
So. Played with it awhile figured it out figured I would post my lessons learned and reasons why I did what I did, based solely on my opinions and preferences just in case they help someone else.
1. Pickups..stock pickups were strong but to me they got muddy and developed a lot of overtones when blended and/or when playing higher on the fretboard. The TV Jones pickups are much clearer and more defined.
2. TV Jones pickups... TV Jones recommended 500k pots, .022 cap, tried that hated it, was like the pots were on/off. Went back to 250k pots, .047 cap.
3. Zero Mod Thumbrest.. no new holes, works great
4. Hipshot Tuners Drop in replacement work great
5. The only physical mod I had to make was to the pickup rings, The TV Jones pickups were slightly wider along the long edge had to file a couple mm's to get them to fit in the stock pickup rings.
6. Strings, I found the bass just to dark with flatwounds on, went to Nickle Rounds got the sound I wanted.
7. Wiring it up VVT, just a lot more options with two volumes. I put o-rings on the Tone pot shaft to act as spacers because of the bigger hole for the 3 way switch.
Very happy with the results, fits my preferences much better
View attachment 4299687
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Changed the fretboard markers, I like the look
Fretmark.JPG
 
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#1,256
johnyrocksville said:
I have the Gretsch G5440 and I love it, but it has a bit of neck dive. Has anyone swapped the tuners to ultra lite tuners to take down some of the weight? Did it help at all? Any other tips to help combat the neck dive?
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I have never owned a G5440 but did own a G5442, the short scale. I did put hipshots on it. I did it for better tuning, not neck dive so cant really say If they would help with that. I got the Licensed version HB6 3/8 tuners which dropped in. Back on post 826 is the write up.
41b5825c-9bec-4cf1-b3b7-63e73e27d51c-jpeg.jpg
 
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#1,260
For fellow White Falcon Bass players out there...

I got my WFB a couple of weeks ago. I'm about to replace the strings, adjust the neck, and set the intonation. Not having worked with the Gretsch Space Control before, I'm curious how, mechanically, I adjust the intonation. Do I tap the bridge with a small mallet or other somewhat soft object to move the bridge into place?

Thank you in advance for any tips/tricks you offer me in this regard.

buzz
 

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