Official Luthiers Forum!

I can't find much info on this subject on the net. Very interested in the Gretsch models. Country Gentleman, Setzer, Chet Atkins, etc.

Are these guitars built like acoustics but with F Holes and electronics? Is the arch carved from both sides (concave & convex respectively)? Are the tops thin and just bent over shaped braces? Are the neck joints like an LP mortise & tenon or an acoustic dovetail? Or neither?

Hopefully someone here builds these type of guitars. Thanks.


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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

This is good for a little info.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGIwaRAWQuE

A few threads down.

viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=44783

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Here's a link to Ken's how-to PDF.
http://www.upnorthstrings.com/es335body.pdf

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Wah

Hi, Aaron. I'm not sure about all Gretsch models, but I believe the 6120 has a bracing scheme they call "trestle" bracing. It's not well shown in the video. You can see lots of photos on this Google search page, and you can click on any of these images and go to sites that will have varying amounts of information.

http://www.google.com/images?client=saf ... d=0CBsQsAQ

Ken McKay's guitars are really cool, too. They are built more in the manner of Gibson internal block styles.

You can order laminated and formed tops and backs, as suggested in Ken's PDF. You could then build to either the general Gretsch style or the internal block style. Or, you could carve your own tops and backs. However, I think if you were going to the trouble of carving a top and back, you'd probably want to build a fully acoustic/electric instrument without the internal block or the trestle brace.

Thanks. I've seen most of the information on the Trestle bracing. The main question I have is about how the top is formed. The best I can tell, it is laminated in a vacuum press with three thin plies of maple over a convex form in the shape of the "carve". Does anybody know more detailed information about this process?


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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

Ok... Does anyone at least have an idea as to the radius used on these things?


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"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."

Somewhere in the dim recesses of my mind I remember 30 inch radius for front and back of 335 style items.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Hi,

The tops, backs and sides are normaly laminated maple , 3-ply, made on a vapor press, the tops or backs dont have a continious radius, there for you would need a Model to go from. Those gretsch guitars havent been design to be acousticly efficient as they were design to be electrified, amplified and suppress the more feedback they could on an hollowbody guitar. They dont have a specific warm natural tone or crazy projection but they are fun to play with. If you are looking to make one.. I would start by carving both back and top plates... And then with a vaccum press try to joint the 3 plies together over your carved mold template.

If you need more info, i suggest looking for original plans, they are everywhere on the net and very easy to follow

Where? I've been looking around and haven't seen much. Maybe I'm not searching the correct words/phrases?


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_________________
"I'm not going to say that perfection has never been achieved. However, if it has, it probably went unnoticed due to it's lack of character."