Modding my Gretsch electromatic G2202 (many pics)

[screaminglucy]

I had some crazy ideas about what to do with my little Gretsch short scale.

It began like this:

Then I replaced the pickup with a Gretsch filtertron and added a bridge pickup. I also replaced the bridge with a musicmaster bridge which I had to drill to allow it to be topload.

Then I thought...hmm...i wish this bass had contours.

and how about some new paint...

still working on the clear coat. stay tuned for the epic conclusion...

 

[FBS1996]

wow I cant wait to this how this turns out!

 

[carlos840]

Thats going to look sweet! Nice work!

Can i suggest chrome pickup rings? Would really work IMO!

 

[ack]

what did you use to remove the original clearcoat and paint?

 

[screaminglucy]

what did you use to remove the original clearcoat and paint?

i didn't remove the finish. i just scuffed it up with 220 grit sandpaper.

 

[screaminglucy]

Thats going to look sweet! Nice work!

Can i suggest chrome pickup rings? Would really work IMO!

hmm...hadn't thought about chrome. i was thinking maybe painting the rings the in the same blue color so they disappear into the body.

 

[johnk_10]

if you're going to change the pickup frames, personally i'd go with these:

New GRETSCH Pickup ring "Bezel" for Filtertron, Silver | eBay

 

[screaminglucy]

if you're going to change the pickup frames, personally i'd go with these:

New GRETSCH Pickup ring "Bezel" for Filtertron, Silver | eBay

you read my mind. i just ordered 2 a few minutes ago.

 

[ghostdog93]

Sweet. Turning your 2202 into a 2220, eh?

Well, sorta 2220.

 

[screaminglucy]

almost there...

i ordered 2 new pickup rings and a silver pickguard which hopefully i can reshape to work.

 

[screaminglucy]

i bought one of these hoping that it's big enough to reshape...

also, now i'm thinking the black headstock looks funky with the blue. i might do the headstock in blue at some point.

 

[arsie]

Pardon the bad photoshop, but I thought if you did a little masking on the logo, you can retain the white logo on a black background when you paint the headstock blue.

 

[screaminglucy]

Pardon the bad photoshop, but I thought if you did a little masking on the logo, you can retain the white logo on a black background when you paint the headstock blue.

ooh that looks neat

 

[basslinejam]

Nice job! I love my Electromatic too, but I have also wondered about another pickup (although I would put mine up by the fingerboard).
I think the original white pickguard would look cool with the blue.
Can't wait to see the finished product and hear it too if you are so inclined.

 

[Avalon]

Don't want to hijack, but just wondered if anyone noticed that Gretsch is now selling the two pick up models. The new ones on eBay have a tobacco-burst finish.

 

[screaminglucy]

Don't want to hijack, but just wondered if anyone noticed that Gretsch is now selling the two pick up models. The new ones on eBay have a tobacco-burst finish.

yes, i kinda wish they had not changed where the neck joins the body though. the G2202 fits in a guitar case but the new ones have the neck join at higher frets with the bridge further into the body so that won't be the case anymore.

 

[screaminglucy]

Nice job! I love my Electromatic too, but I have also wondered about another pickup (although I would put mine up by the fingerboard).
I think the original white pickguard would look cool with the blue.
Can't wait to see the finished product and hear it too if you are so inclined.

you were right. the white pickguard looks pretty cool. here is the latest. i haven't painted the headstock yet. it's too rainy to spray.

 

[screaminglucy]

here is a sound clip. it's front pickup, then both pickups, then bridge pickup. the strings are old labella flats.

Gretsch demo by screaminglucy on SoundCloud - Create, record and share your sounds for free

 

[Meddle]

Cool job. The single cutaway always put me off these puppies, parhaps if you gave it a bass cutaway it would look like a Dano or something though the balance might be upset as a result.

 

[seedokebass]

Great job on the finish! It looks awesome.