How to upgrade to Sperzel locking tuners on Gretsch 5120

Slideshow of my budget Gretsch project. This time; replacing the STD Bigsby Spring with 1 inch spring, raising the trem.arm a bit. Upgrading to Sperzel locking tuners. Some tips and hints about what to NOT do, regarding to drilling :-( .... happy ending do ;-)... enjoy!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• TV-Jones
• Boss loop station rc-3
• Sperzel locking tuners.

[muellator]

I forgot to mark the bridge, thought it was glued. Any guesses as to how far to place it for pickup?

[123toreirik]

@muellator

That is no problem, there are some videos regarding bridge adjustment on Gretsch guitars here on the tube. They are wery helpfull.

[The170460]

i've made the same on one of my 5120 but i've drill it in two time, one on each side of the neck. And it's really a much better clean work than your job.

[muellator]

I forgot to mark the bridge, thought it was g

[TheDobroslide]

Mira que estoy harto de ver esta explicacion, ,TENEIS QUE TENER MUCHISIMO CUIDAO CON LA LACA DELANTERA y TRASERA ( COMO LE METAS EL TALADRO TE SALTARÁ LAS PARTES DE LA LACA DEL CIRCULO . Ni se te ocurra meterle un taladro como hace este chaval. El modo operandi que yo hé hecho es el siguiente . UNA LIMA DE LAS FINAS REDONDAS PARA MADERA Y COMPROBANDO QUE ENTRE EL PERNO DEL SPERZEL. ,TAMBIEN UNA LIJA ( la enrrollas y haces un canutillo .) HABLO POR PROPIA EXPERIENCIA, . QUE OS VAYA BIEN

[123toreirik]

@bundr

Thanks. Another factor is that i play 0.12 cauge strings. maybe the stringsadle slots are too tight, and not alowing the string to glide freely ? when the B string get out of tune, i just press/force it down with my finger between the sadle and the tuner on the headstock. Then the string goes back to its right "position" and in tune again.

[bundr]

@123toreirik Indeed, lubrication is a great solution for tuning problems. I'm used to lubricate the nut slots using graphiti... but even though it has helped me a lot, it didn't eliminate the problem. Funny you mention the B string, cause I have a problem with an individual string too... only in my case its the G string!

Anyway, congrats on your axe.!! Thanks for answering!

[123toreirik]

@bundr

Regarding to the Tv jones and differenses, there is a video on the tube of a man comparing the sound of 5120 to 6120. there you wil hear the differense.

[123toreirik]

@bundr

The tuners work perfect. Regarding to improvement, it's from very good to better. I did not have to change them, i just wanted to ;-). A typical tuning problem is; When bending the tone down (less tension on the strings) especialy the B string have tendenses to move in the headstock string sadle. when the tremolo gets in its sero position (normal tension on strings) the string dont move back and get to much tension, then the B get out of tune. Lubrication solves that problem.

[bundr]

Very cool! Thats how you get a job done: hands on. Besides, all damage can't be seen once you got everything in place...

Some questions though: did you notice any improvements in staying in tune after using the bigsby? And about the pickups... do the TV jones make that much of a difference in the sound? Thanks!