NGD Gretsch 5129

MrBill

Joined: Sep 29, 2009
Posts: 80
Bucks County, Penna., USA

Posted on Feb 08 2011 09:11 PM

Hi Everybody,

Yesterday while I was looking at a White Falcon the salesman
sensed it was gonna be a no deal, so He shows me this number
Firebird Red and Black Gretsch 5129, still new in the packing from '05
5X less in cost, Korean made, De Armond 2K single coils that wail.
I liked it immediatly played for about 20 minutes and together we left.
By no means a Falcon but it's pretty neat.

Here's the pics, Cheers.

PS - I did take the foam paper from under the bridge.

Top

ravcon

Joined: Feb 20, 2010
Posts: 727
Charlotte, NC
United States

Posted on Feb 08 2011 09:25 PM

Nice! I'd love a DSW, but I'd gladly take one of these for the price.

—

Mike

manfromravcon.com

Top

MrBill

Joined: Sep 29, 2009
Posts: 80
Bucks County, Penna., USA

Posted on Feb 08 2011 10:03 PM

Hi Ravcon,

While the DSW may not be their flagship it is by far
"the Gretschiest of Gretsch's" with the dynasonics and all that
westernallia going on.

Cheers.

Top

FritzCat

Joined: Sep 11, 2007
Posts: 685
Sonoma, CA
9 Security Pins

Posted on Feb 09 2011 12:45 AM

Those are great pickups, should be good for surf and everything else! Check out the forums at gretschpages.com if you haven't already.

Top

BeachBumScott

Joined: Aug 31, 2009
Posts: 352
The Ranch, CO

Posted on Feb 09 2011 09:39 AM

Very nice...
I keep looking at a 5120 and thinking I need a tank first

—

"Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck

Top

josheboy

Joined: Mar 13, 2009
Posts: 2367
Twin Cities, MN
United States

Posted on Feb 09 2011 10:22 AM

Yay Gretsch!

I'm a proud Gretsch owner myself. Not much Gretsch love on these forums though. So it's nice to see a fellow Gretsch user here

Top

jp

Joined: Feb 09, 2007
Posts: 917
Brew City
1 Link Pin

Posted on Feb 09 2011 10:46 AM

I love these guitars. Best electromatic gretsch for the price, in my opinion.

I've been trying to find a decent used one at a reasonable price for about a year. It seems that they are actually increasing in price. Depending on the finish, I've seen these selling for more than what they cost new when Gretsch was actually offering them.

Congrats, i am envious. let me know if you ever want to unload it.

—

The Exotics 1994-Current
The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org
www.thedoghouseflowers.com
www.uptownsavages.com

Top

LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Feb 09 2011 11:39 AM

Congrats! I really like these guitars. If I did not already have a few Incheon-made DeArmonds with essentially the same appointments, I might be tempted to get one. I sure enjoyed the one example I played.

MrBill
...De Armond 2K single coil...

These pickups are not DeArmond 2Ks; they are DeArmond 2000s. And, while they both look like Gretsch Dynasonics, they are not that similar internally. The 2K is a P-90-type pickup and the 2000 is more along the lines of a Dynasonic in terms of output and resonant peak. The 2000 has magnetic slug polepieces (like a Dynasonic) while the 2K has plain steel polepieces with bar magnets affixed to the bottom of the bobbin (like a P-90.) BTW, both were designed by Bill Turner after he left EMG to do pickup R&D for Fender in the 1990s. The Dynasonic was designed, of course, by Harry DeArmond of Rowe Industries in the 1950s

—

SSIV

Top

MrBill

Joined: Sep 29, 2009
Posts: 80
Bucks County, Penna., USA

Posted on Feb 10 2011 10:15 AM

Hey LHR,

Thanks for clearing that up, I was under the impression that the
2k was just an abbreviation for the 2000's.

Cheers.

Top

BeachBumScott

Joined: Aug 31, 2009
Posts: 352
The Ranch, CO

Posted on Feb 10 2011 01:07 PM

Hey JP there are 2 on ebay right now.

—

"Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck

Top

elreydlp

Joined: Sep 04, 2009
Posts: 1800
Temecula, CA
11 Calendar Pins

Posted on Feb 10 2011 01:45 PM

jp
I love these guitars. Best electromatic gretsch for the price, in my opinion.

I've been trying to find a decent used one at a reasonable price for about a year. It seems that they are actually increasing in price. Depending on the finish, I've seen these selling for more than what they cost new when Gretsch was actually offering them.

Congrats, i am envious. let me know if you ever want to unload it.

I'm seeing a similar phenomenon with the Korean-made DeArmond M-77T I bought.

Top

TyPierce

Joined: Oct 26, 2007
Posts: 542
1 Security Pin

Posted on Feb 10 2011 02:44 PM

Congrats, MrBill! You got one of the good versions of the 5129 with the non-tension bar B6 Bigsby. Those pickups are fantastic, and what you're holding is one of the best tone-for-dollar deals out there.

In fact, it was that exact model that first opened up my ears to That Great Gretsch Sound - a salesman plugged me into a Hot Rod DeVille, of all things, and even with that the tone had me from the first strum.

Oh, and you're not alone, Josheboy - my Gretsch is my primary surf guitar and I love it.

—

Join Australosurfecus on: The Web | Facebook

Top

jp

Joined: Feb 09, 2007
Posts: 917
Brew City
1 Link Pin

Posted on Feb 10 2011 04:46 PM

BeachBumScott
Hey JP there are 2 on ebay right now.

yeah, I'm watching them. there are actually 3 red ones and one baby blue. The blue one is close to my price range, I'm sure it will sell for more than I can pay right now. I will patiently await.

—

The Exotics 1994-Current
The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org
www.thedoghouseflowers.com
www.uptownsavages.com

Top

kenposurf

Joined: Feb 23, 2007
Posts: 1650
Santa Rosa, CA
United States

Posted on Feb 10 2011 06:38 PM

These are a great buy..the early ones have a pinned bridge

—

www.northofmalibu.com

Top

Magic_Mark

Joined: Nov 28, 2009
Posts: 8
Loveland Colorado

Posted on Feb 27 2011 12:03 PM

Very Cool!! I've been playing one for years now, and in fact, at one point, the band I have played in for years had an all-Gretsch guitar/bass line-up. I also play a Pro Jet with a modified B-50 (cut off the tension bar), and genuine Gretsch Filtertrons. The sound isn't really Fender-ish, but at a recent gig I overheard someone say "they really have the sound." so I guess it doesn't really matter that much! Great tone is great tone, no matter who made the guitar!

—

If Ida knownd I was gonna live this long, Ida took better care of maself.

Top

MrBill Joined: Sep 29, 2009 Posts: 80 Bucks County, Penna., USA	Posted on Feb 08 2011 09:11 PM Hi Everybody, Yesterday while I was looking at a White Falcon the salesman sensed it was gonna be a no deal, so He shows me this number Firebird Red and Black Gretsch 5129, still new in the packing from '05 5X less in cost, Korean made, De Armond 2K single coils that wail. I liked it immediatly played for about 20 minutes and together we left. By no means a Falcon but it's pretty neat. Here's the pics, Cheers. PS - I did take the foam paper from under the bridge. Top
ravcon Joined: Feb 20, 2010 Posts: 727 Charlotte, NC	Posted on Feb 08 2011 09:25 PM Nice! I'd love a DSW, but I'd gladly take one of these for the price. — Mike manfromravcon.com Top
MrBill Joined: Sep 29, 2009 Posts: 80 Bucks County, Penna., USA	Posted on Feb 08 2011 10:03 PM Hi Ravcon, While the DSW may not be their flagship it is by far "the Gretschiest of Gretsch's" with the dynasonics and all that westernallia going on. Cheers. Top
FritzCat Joined: Sep 11, 2007 Posts: 685 Sonoma, CA	Posted on Feb 09 2011 12:45 AM Those are great pickups, should be good for surf and everything else! Check out the forums at gretschpages.com if you haven't already. Top
BeachBumScott Joined: Aug 31, 2009 Posts: 352 The Ranch, CO	Posted on Feb 09 2011 09:39 AM Very nice... I keep looking at a 5120 and thinking I need a tank first — "Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck Top
josheboy Joined: Mar 13, 2009 Posts: 2367 Twin Cities, MN	Posted on Feb 09 2011 10:22 AM Yay Gretsch! I'm a proud Gretsch owner myself. Not much Gretsch love on these forums though. So it's nice to see a fellow Gretsch user here Top
jp Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 917 Brew City	Posted on Feb 09 2011 10:46 AM I love these guitars. Best electromatic gretsch for the price, in my opinion. I've been trying to find a decent used one at a reasonable price for about a year. It seems that they are actually increasing in price. Depending on the finish, I've seen these selling for more than what they cost new when Gretsch was actually offering them. Congrats, i am envious. let me know if you ever want to unload it. — The Exotics 1994-Current The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org www.thedoghouseflowers.com www.uptownsavages.com Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Feb 09 2011 11:39 AM Congrats! I really like these guitars. If I did not already have a few Incheon-made DeArmonds with essentially the same appointments, I might be tempted to get one. I sure enjoyed the one example I played. MrBill ...De Armond 2K single coil... These pickups are not DeArmond 2Ks; they are DeArmond 2000s. And, while they both look like Gretsch Dynasonics, they are not that similar internally. The 2K is a P-90-type pickup and the 2000 is more along the lines of a Dynasonic in terms of output and resonant peak. The 2000 has magnetic slug polepieces (like a Dynasonic) while the 2K has plain steel polepieces with bar magnets affixed to the bottom of the bobbin (like a P-90.) BTW, both were designed by Bill Turner after he left EMG to do pickup R&D for Fender in the 1990s. The Dynasonic was designed, of course, by Harry DeArmond of Rowe Industries in the 1950s — SSIV Top
MrBill Joined: Sep 29, 2009 Posts: 80 Bucks County, Penna., USA	Posted on Feb 10 2011 10:15 AM Hey LHR, Thanks for clearing that up, I was under the impression that the 2k was just an abbreviation for the 2000's. Cheers. Top
BeachBumScott Joined: Aug 31, 2009 Posts: 352 The Ranch, CO	Posted on Feb 10 2011 01:07 PM Hey JP there are 2 on ebay right now. — "Maybe there aren't any surf bands; there's only surf music?" Tuck Top
elreydlp Joined: Sep 04, 2009 Posts: 1800 Temecula, CA	Posted on Feb 10 2011 01:45 PM jp I love these guitars. Best electromatic gretsch for the price, in my opinion. I've been trying to find a decent used one at a reasonable price for about a year. It seems that they are actually increasing in price. Depending on the finish, I've seen these selling for more than what they cost new when Gretsch was actually offering them. Congrats, i am envious. let me know if you ever want to unload it. I'm seeing a similar phenomenon with the Korean-made DeArmond M-77T I bought. Top
TyPierce Joined: Oct 26, 2007 Posts: 542	Posted on Feb 10 2011 02:44 PM Congrats, MrBill! You got one of the good versions of the 5129 with the non-tension bar B6 Bigsby. Those pickups are fantastic, and what you're holding is one of the best tone-for-dollar deals out there. In fact, it was that exact model that first opened up my ears to That Great Gretsch Sound - a salesman plugged me into a Hot Rod DeVille, of all things, and even with that the tone had me from the first strum. Oh, and you're not alone, Josheboy - my Gretsch is my primary surf guitar and I love it. — Join Australosurfecus on: The Web \| Facebook Top
jp Joined: Feb 09, 2007 Posts: 917 Brew City	Posted on Feb 10 2011 04:46 PM BeachBumScott Hey JP there are 2 on ebay right now. yeah, I'm watching them. there are actually 3 red ones and one baby blue. The blue one is close to my price range, I'm sure it will sell for more than I can pay right now. I will patiently await. — The Exotics 1994-Current The Chickenshack - www.wmse.org www.thedoghouseflowers.com www.uptownsavages.com Top
kenposurf Joined: Feb 23, 2007 Posts: 1650 Santa Rosa, CA	Posted on Feb 10 2011 06:38 PM These are a great buy..the early ones have a pinned bridge — www.northofmalibu.com Top
Magic_Mark Joined: Nov 28, 2009 Posts: 8 Loveland Colorado	Posted on Feb 27 2011 12:03 PM Very Cool!! I've been playing one for years now, and in fact, at one point, the band I have played in for years had an all-Gretsch guitar/bass line-up. I also play a Pro Jet with a modified B-50 (cut off the tension bar), and genuine Gretsch Filtertrons. The sound isn't really Fender-ish, but at a recent gig I overheard someone say "they really have the sound." so I guess it doesn't really matter that much! Great tone is great tone, no matter who made the guitar! — If Ida knownd I was gonna live this long, Ida took better care of maself. Top

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NGD Gretsch 5129