Project guitar for Prismatone: Gretsch

[George Beasley]

Several weeks ago, Phil posted a link for a Gretsch Classic guitar, with a busted bridge that previously housed a Prismatone pickup. Having just purchased a new/old stock Baldwin bridge from Phil, I was interested, however did not bid. The auction came and went, then was reposted at a cheaper price. This time, I went ahead and bidded. The guitar arrived today, and I thought I would post some pictures.

The guitar is a 1968 model, according to the serial number, which would have been after Baldwin purchased Gretsch, and at around the same time that Baldwin was putting out the 801CP with the prismatone. It appears that the bridge is stock, as there is no indication that an old bridge was removed. The label calls this a Hauser model...which would be a model 6001. However, looking at a 1968 Gretsch catalog, they have a model called an Electro Classic...which might be the Hauser model, with the new Baldwin Prismatone pickup....however, I could not find any pictures of the Electro Classic.

If anyone more knowledgeable is online, please chime in.

[PhilHunt]

George....you got yourself a rare one there!! I've never seen one like it. I was gonna bid on that thing, but it looked like it had been through hell and back.

Here's the BIG question- Does Sam's Prismatone fit ok into the notched out spot for the pickup, and do the adjustment poles line up ok into the holes???

Also, I meant to tell you....you might have to shave down the spot where the pickup goes. I think Baldwin put enough wood there so that you can shave it down to make the action lower, and then you shim it. It will vary on different guitars.
Also....(and this is very important)....if you do shave it down...MAKE SURE IT IS PERFECTLY FLAT.

[RandeDager]

I envy the level of knowledge that you guys have. All I can do is to play them!

[George Beasley]

Phil,

Sam's pickup fits perfectly into the notch on the busted bridge...but the adjustment pins are slightly off. They should have been just slightly closer together. I might shoot Sam an email and see if he can make one that will match up to the bridge I got from you, and swap me out. I could also probably get by slightly enlarging the adjustment holes...but would rather not do that.

Yeah..this guitar is rough as a cobb, but aside from the small crack in the top, it appears to be structurally sound. I just thought it would be cool to put it back to the way it used to be. I had already got the bridge from you...then a guitar that needed that bridge showed up...it was like a sign! Haha.

I will probably have the whole bottom of the bridge sanded down until the adjustment hole on the new bridge matches the one on the guitar, then completely cut out the pickup notch, and let the pickup sit directly on the top of the guitar, since that was how this one was set up originally. It will need a new nut, and probably some new tuners. Maybe I can get it completed before CAAS...

[lj musall]

George,
I want to see the finished product.
Looks like a great project,and I bet you will do well.
E-mail ,when complete.
Thxs,
Larry

[George Beasley]

Well, I have begun the process of turning a beat up old Gretsch into a Reed machine.

Sam has made a slight adjustment to the set screws on my Prismatone so that it lines up perfectly with the Baldwin bridge I got from Phil:



I next needed to take off the old busted bridge from the Gretsch. I masked it off with painters tape to minimize any damage from the tool I used:



Starting from a place where the bridge was loose, I began using a thin palate knife to separate the bridge:



I continued working until I stopped making progress at a tough spot.



I went to the other end, found a loose spot, and started working again. I hit another tough spot, and started in another spot. Finally the bridge popped off. It came off fairly cleanly...most of the rough you see is old glue...very little wood fibers pulled up. If you look close at the picture, you will see why I hit some tough spots: There were two little metal pins in the bridge that were tacking the bridge to the top. My knife was hitting those, and stopping in it's tracks.



A picture of the pins:



I am done for the night. Next steps will be to prepare the top for the new bridge, and perhaps take a stab at gluing some of the top cracks. The bridge is currently at a friends house, where I am going to have him plane off about 1/16th of an inch off the entire bottom of the bridge. I will then tape a piece of sandpaper to the top of the guitar, and rub the bridge back on forth until I have a perfect fit. I will then determine if the action is low enough, or if I will completely cut away the wood under the Prismatone and let it sit directly on the top like it was orginally done on this guitar.

I will keep you updated as the project continues.

[RonBloor]

Hey George, thanks for the pictures and story. That looks like my kind of fun.. By your progress you will have it done by CAAS and I'm looking forward to seeing it. I wonder if Mr. Gretsch will be there this year! With his interest in the history of his family company, I'm sure he would like to see your restored guitar. Take care.. See you in July.

[BillB]

Looking great, George! Keep up the good work!

Bill B.

[George Beasley]

Another update. On Saturday, I glued some of the cracks on the top of the guitar. I cleaned the cracks as well as I could, wetted them with water to swell the crack and draw the glue in, and worked a bunch of titebond into the cracks. I used a 18" clamp, and lightly squeezed the whole top together. I let it dry over night. I took the clamp off this morning, and the cracks appear to be fixed (for the time being, anyway).

I measured, to determine where the saddle should be, marked the location of the back of the bridge with tape, using a straight edge to make sure it was straight in relation to the nut. After I got it taped off, I made sure the top was clean and smooth, removing glue and finish as needed. I then taped sandpaper to the top, and fit the bottom of the bridge as closely to the top as I could.





By the way, I clamped the bridge down, and put strings to determine how high the action was going to be. It was just about right without removing any wood from under the pickup, so I decided to install Phil's bridge with no modifications (other that the giant pickup wire hole...that I was cleaning it up with a dremel, and it jumped! No worries, as you can't see it under the pickup).

I then took a file, and knocked off the sharp edges on the bridge, and sanded smooth. I glued in the bridge with titebond, and clamped it down with a bunch of clamps I got from StewMac. I then pulled off the tape, and wiped away the excess glue. Now to let it dry for a day or two, and see how it turns out.



Now I will turn my attention to making a nut from a blank.

More to come.....

[Eddie Estes]

George,
What is the scale length on these guitars?