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George .


Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 20945 Location: UK
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 7:04 pm Post subject: gretschified an aria pro ii (dont know what this is) |
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found a very nice playing aria pro ii and decided to gretschify it. came out quite nicely. main things i did:
- installed a fake bigsby
- installed some low output alnico 3 humbuckers (i actually had gfs dynasonic clones in at first but decided against them, too middy and overwound), with 1 meg pots and 50s wiring. what you see on them is just fancy toaster covers bought as extra.
- almost completely chromed out the original gold hardware
- added a pearly pickguard
this is what it originally looked like (not my photo):
the guitar plays well but the bigsby isn't 100% yet, and the humbuckers need some fine tuning. i think the understated tobaccoburst, toaster pickups and witch hats give it a slight earthy and masculine quality, that is perhaps more "junkyard/pawnshop americana" than it is gretsch. i also paid for a nice fret levelling so the action is ridiculously low. on the whole i'm happy with it, but don't think humbuckers are for me. the quest may continue. possibly some rose humbucker sized jazzy pickups..
notice the holes where the tailpiece cups used to be. the exposed wood will need a lick of varnish at some point
ugly bugly headstock
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YuriK .


Joined: 12 Dec 2013 Posts: 2344 Location: nyc
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 8:18 pm Post subject: |
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really nice. I love the finish. The original burst made the guitar not look so good but you really made it stunning _________________
Beau In Space wrote: |
I hear this guy uses a capo. |
Josh wrote: |
THATS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU POUR WINE ON IT INSTEAD OF BEER. |
euan wrote: |
stop trying to put guitar mojo arrows on yuri's dick |
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theshadowofseattle THE TAMPA BAY HERO

Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 62579 Location: Skrampa, FL
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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You really sorted that out into a great looking guitar. gjgeorge _________________
Fakir Mustache wrote: |
Classic Shad Deluxe. |
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Dave TOTALLY MODD

Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 10325 Location: UK - Southampton
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Posted: Sat Feb 15, 2014 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Really lovely upgrades George - how's the Bigsby clone? _________________
iCEByTes wrote: |
5 Most Jizz face maker Solo�s , classic Rock music i ever listened. |
iCEByTes wrote: |
Blunt a joint , Take the Touch , Listen this. |
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speedfish .


Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 1148
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:25 am Post subject: |
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Wow! She's gorgeous!  _________________ Disciple of Pain
"I'm like the monkey screwing the skunk. I haven't had enough, but I've about had all that I can stand!"
"Born to Lose. Live to Win." Lemmy Kilmister |
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George .


Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 20945 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 10:24 am Post subject: |
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Thanks all. The bigsby is okay but it's not holding tune 100% after use. I think that might be because I've not used the stock spring and went for a spare higher tension one that came with the gfs xtrem, so will see if changing it will improve. By the by it's not as good as the gfs xtrem at the moment. That thing is set and forget right out the box. This clone however looks the business and utterly identical to a bigsby, and feels like one, so worth a little effort.
I also sawed the metal nub off so the arm has full rotation (you can just about see in the pics). Took 5 minutes including a little filing
Edit: just put the original spring in. Less overall downward travel but much smoother and better tuning. Feels great actually |
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Dave TOTALLY MODD

Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 10325 Location: UK - Southampton
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:40 am Post subject: |
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So if looks weren't an issue would you suggest this or the equivalent GFS? I quite like the look of the GFS but largely the curvy Bigsby looks better. _________________
iCEByTes wrote: |
5 Most Jizz face maker Solo�s , classic Rock music i ever listened. |
iCEByTes wrote: |
Blunt a joint , Take the Touch , Listen this. |
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George .


Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 20945 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 12:18 pm Post subject: |
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I'll let you know later today about stability after I've spent time with it. Having said that, on functionality alone the gfs has string through tailpiece, 2 different springs and full arm rotation as standard. The bigsby has the looks, and you can saw the nub off anyway. The spring feels very nice though actually, nicer than the gfs maybe. Close race but if this ones tuning holds up I'd take the bigsby but knowing that the peg string holders are a nuisance and there is only one spring. |
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dezb1 The Oppressor

Joined: 01 Mar 2009 Posts: 7699 Location: glasgow
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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Nice work George... kind of reminds me of Johnny Marr's Gretsch super axe.
Ps: how's the bigsby clone been, still looking for one for the goldtop but don't want to pay more than I did for the guitar so a real one is out... _________________
Hurb wrote: |
I don't want to live in a world where Fran doesn't play guitar. |
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George .


Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 20945 Location: UK
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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i'm not really sure about this trem having spent a bit of time with it. there are tuning stability issues but i think cos of the extreme break angle it's crying out for a roller bridge. the gfs had a very shallow break angle so that's probably why it was more stable. gonna get a roller from axesrus and i'll let you know |
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Dave TOTALLY MODD

Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 10325 Location: UK - Southampton
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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Have you tried a bit of vaseline/pencil graphit mixture doted on each saddle? might help (in the nut too, and the break angle roller too can't hurt) _________________
iCEByTes wrote: |
5 Most Jizz face maker Solo�s , classic Rock music i ever listened. |
iCEByTes wrote: |
Blunt a joint , Take the Touch , Listen this. |
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cur .


Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 7295
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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You might want to dab some of the vaseline graphite mix on to the nut string slots too. make sure that the nut slots are not restrictive. Of the guitars that I have had that had tuning stability problems, tight sticking nuts slots were the problem. _________________
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George .


Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 20945 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:39 pm Post subject: |
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thanks, i've already done the old graphite and vaseline trick, although not on the saddles. i think the issue points to the extreme break angle between the bridge and tailpiece coupled with non-roller saddles. i'm getting a few grinding sounds on the low E and A strings at the bridge as well.
the gfs xtrem installed had absolutely no issues with tuning, the main difference being (in my opinion) there was virtually no break angle between the tailpiece and bridge. roller bridge is now in the post, so hopefully that will help things along |
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BearBoy .


Joined: 30 Aug 2011 Posts: 5997 Location: Strung up to the lemons
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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That looks ace George. Good work. Hope you get the trem issues sorted. _________________
Fran wrote: |
I love how this place is basic as fuck. |
ekwatts wrote: |
I'm just going to smash it in with a hammer and hope it works. Tone is all in the fingers anyway. |
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Awstin .


Joined: 14 Jan 2012 Posts: 3933 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:06 pm Post subject: |
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That looks rad man! _________________ Congratulations! Your Punkacc9 evolved into Awstin. |
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cur .


Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 7295
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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what did you get for roller bridge? I have the wilkinson roller - it has high mass and is great and adjustable. _________________
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George .


Joined: 03 Jul 2009 Posts: 20945 Location: UK
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Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.axesrus.co.uk/mobile/Product.aspx?id=38296
I have a wilko in my parts box but I don't really like it on this guitar. I think cos of the brass saddles and slight radius mismatch. Plus the posts aren't easy to adjust the height on. I love it on my bratomaster though |
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Doog mid-century modem

Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 20979 Location: London
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 1:24 pm Post subject: |
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dezb1 wrote: |
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LIKE
Guitar looks gr8888, Jorge _________________ andrew floss musics |
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cur .


Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 7295
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Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, that bridge you are getting will fit the looks of your guitar much better than the wilkinson one. good choice. _________________
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Awstin .


Joined: 14 Jan 2012 Posts: 3933 Location: Pennsylvania
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Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 11:11 am Post subject: |
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Here's another one that just popped up on eBay.
http://bit.ly/1jG7kJE _________________ Congratulations! Your Punkacc9 evolved into Awstin. |
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