Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 7839 Location: Albany, NY
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 9:54 pm Post subject: I just bought a Gretsch CVT (Corvette)
Got this home yesterday. Loving (almost) everything about it. The pickups sound fantastic out of the box. Going back and forth with the TV Jones Classics that are in the Ovation, the Gretsch stacks up nicely in tone and output, even if the two aren't identical, they're close enough for me. I'm guessing they're still the original Mega'Tron pickups, which are supposed to be "high output" and ceramic, but it still sounds like a Grestch should, and it'll take quite a while with it to decide if it's ever worth replacing the pickups....
It's about the same size as a mustang, and the scale length is extremely close to my favorite neck on my Ovation....the Gretsch is 24.6 to the Ovation's 24.5. Someone installed a Wilkinson style roller bridge which helps keep it in tune immensely.
So what don't I like?
I need need NEED a trem arm that doesn't have a stop, and is ideally longer and round, unlike the short flat one on there now. I really would have the Ovation trem arm if I could find another one without a guitar attached to it. Looking into Chet Atkins arms, which come in two lengths, but are also oddly shaped and from what I read may not simply bolt on to an import "licensed" Bigsby. There are ways of getting what I want but none of them as cheap or easy as I feel like it should be to have a normal feeling bar in your hand at a length you can sweep over the strings to bend spooky surf chords while playing.
I just noticed that towards the middle of the neck (around frets 7-9), the middle two strings seem to buzz a little more than they should, indicating the Wilkinson is not the correct radius. I think I'm going to try my hand at
Honeyiscool's soda can trick the next time I need to change strings.
Also I need a case, and the only one made for these by Gretsch is over half the cost of the guitar (used) and no longer being made.
Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 7839 Location: Albany, NY
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 6:28 pm Post subject:
Just picked up a Souldier strap for it in RI yesterday. I'm not crazy about where the top strap button is located on the guitar, I think I have it the right way around because it looks even weirder the other way. Then again there's not really a better place for it, same issue with Hagstroms and SGs
Joined: 02 Nov 2009 Posts: 2920 Location: San Francisco
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2016 12:36 am Post subject:
I'm in love with these - it's a real hard choice for me between this and one of the centre block Gretsch models at the same price. Both get great reviews and both get the same bad reviews that you get some duds (Sloan's complaint). I know a good guy in this city that has a PLEK kit and I don't mind paying a little extra because all the Gretsch at this level seem like a steal, so I don't mind if the QC is a little under par.
Seeing that Chet Arm on it is making me lean towards one of these. I wish they did them in Green or Black... _________________
hotrodperlmutter wrote:
you is/are stupid/uninformed/shortsighted on rhysyrhys.
Joined: 20 Apr 2006 Posts: 7839 Location: Albany, NY
Posted: Sat Oct 29, 2016 2:29 am Post subject:
Thanks!
They did make them in green and black but they're both signature models and have weird stripes, and not to mention discontinued:
The nut and bridges seem to be the weak link from the reviews I've read in stock form, but both are easy enough to sort out-roller saddles with a bigsby is really the way to go. I haven't played one in stock form but the fact that the prior owner replaced the bridge does tell me something.
I do think these are good value, especially if you can find one used like I did. I Those Center Blocks are nice too, and probably have a bit more of the conventional Gretsch feel.
Looking sexy, Nick. Those MIC Vettes are a great value and all-around fantastic rockers, despite the odd quirks they come with.
Curious how you feel about the Chet arm after a bit. The B5 being farther from the bridge + decent saddles on a Corvette must be nice, since on the Televersary it all feels a tad too stiff and "smallish" to properly grab that wanger and give it a good shake, when compared to the original Bigsby reverb handle. That said, having a few pennies under the plastic bushing to give it some extra height seems to help a little bit, and it sure does look sexy.
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