View Full Version: Upgrading a Gretsch G5124 White

tvjones >>TV Classic >>Upgrading a Gretsch G5124 White


<< Prev | Next >>

mark.carline- 02-22-2008
Upgrading a Gretsch G5124 White
I maybe getting the following guitar soon: http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/product-detail.asp?id=3735&catid=6&manid=39&quantity=1&product=Gretsch+G5124+Electromatic+Hollow+Body%2C+White%2C+New and I am thinking of upgrading the pickups on it as it comes with: 2 x US DeArmond® 2000 Single-Coil Pickups I wondered if anyone could let me know if: 1) Do I just need to change the pickups (or do I have to change all the other electrics) 2) What kind of pickups should I use? 3) I have heard that I should use the Classic ones, but which one: http://www.tvjones.com/pickups/tv_classic.htm There seems to be lots of "classic" ones I can use, ie: - Standard - Standard (no ears) - TV'Tron - P-Tron - Dyna'Tron - English Mount 4) If I am just changing the pickups then whats involved in the change? Thanks in advance for any advice! Mark.Carline@btinternet.com

bigalthethird- 02-22-2008

Hey Mark, that's a cool guitar! You would like that. I'll try not to get too specific in my answer. The short version is you may not need to change pickups, but probably will want to. This is because Dynasonics (DeArmonds) are some of Gretsch's best pickups according to most people. You have people who love Filtertrons (what TV Jones makes), and you have people who love the DeArmond style pickups. There's no right answer, but a big thing you gotta ask yourself is whether you prefer single coil or humbucker, that's one of the big differences. Now if you want to get the humbucker, TV Jones style Filtertrons (which is what I personally would do for that guitar), you have your choice of using Magna'Trons, TV Classics, or Power'Trons. I'd go with the Classics or Magna'Trons if you want clarity, or the Power'Trons if you want a harder sound. Now then, once you choose one of the three pickups (you can call Mr. Jones for more help on that if you want, by the way), you come to choice of mount. Basically, for your use the Dyna'Tron mount is the one you want. Your new pickups will just go under the existing cover you already have. Actually changing the wiring is tricky though, and unless you're confident with a soldering iron, and extremely patient, I wouldn't try it. It's a hollowbody which makes it infinitely trickier, since there's no plate on the back you unscrew to put electrics in and take them out. You need to solder the entire rig outside, and then feed it in through the F-holes, which can be pretty tricky. That said, no matter who's doing it, if you've got the money I *highly* recommend buying one of TV's wiring harnesses to go along with the new pickups. You would want this one: http://www.tvjones.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=04-002 The money you spend on the rig is just a little more than what all the components together would cost (they are the best components you can buy), but for the price of labor you actually come ahead (if you're gonna pay somebody else to install this in your guitar). In short, TV Classics, Dyna'Tron mount, upgrade the electronics, have someone else do the work. So I hope that answers everything, and isn't confusing! It was a lot of text, sorry about that. Good luck dude!

mike96proof- 02-28-2008

I have the G5125; (black version of yours). honestly I didnt know there was a white one, looks cool man! Like Big al said there are De Armond style Tv classic humbuckers, but you will have to disassemble your dearmonds to use the cover for the tv jones set up. I went with the standard classics, if you do this, Be sure to remove your old pickups before ordering and check to see if there are bracings (wooden rails) that run along the guitar top on both sides of the neck line, the 5120's dont have this but i bellieve all 5124-5129 will, if the guitar has these rails you wont need ears ont eh pickup. the rails lined right up with the 2 mounting screws that came with the pickups. You will have to do some body work to open up the cavities to fit the humbuckers and route the rails down as the humbuckers will likely be too high. Note that earless pickups will also reduce the amount of work on resizing the pickup cavities. Other than that should be a snap. Took me a couple of hours to do mine. I havent put in a tv jones wire harness yet, but that is the next plan. Hope this helps!

mark.carline- 02-29-2008

thanks for all the replies. I think i'm going to see how I get on with the original pickups and then see about upgrading them in 6 months. If I do go ahead with it i'll document (in pictures) the process and post up here (I havent found anyone else thats done this yet) Mark

mark.carline- 03-03-2008

Wel I managed to get the guitar! : http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140210964471&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=004 So i'll see how I can on. I have noticed that somebody else is selling there old pickups on ebay so it'll be interesting to see how much they go for: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/De-Armond-Dynasonic-Guitar-Pickups-Gretsch-Sound_W0QQitemZ360029325788QQihZ023QQcategoryZ22670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I think these ones are from the same model as mine (they look the same). I'll post on here (with pics) if I upgrade.

Power Tenny- 03-05-2008

wow nice, are you in australia? because i know that australia had a run of white electromatics so that kids can look like chris cheney without paying 7000 for a falcon. i wasnt aware of any other countries that have it. o well, they look realy nice, best colour for an electromatic IMO.

dtklamf- 06-24-2008

no we didn't get a 'run' of them maybe a pallet of them for the whole country. and kids here want to look like malcom young not this cheney fella!

Forumer™ is Voted #1 Free Forum Hosting provider
Build your own community today with the largest message board hosting company.