Anyone here play a Gretsch?

People in Portugal like Gretsch

I would also add that BOSS KATANA sounds horrible wtf is he thinking?!?!?! ruined the whole video .... (NOT!) -- sounds great !!!!!!!!!!
 
All Gretsch guitars should have a roller bridge.

While not intended as a roller bridge, Gretsch used to use a bridge called the "Space Control" bridge. The purpose was not really to be a roller bridge; it was more to allow players to adjust individual string spacing, such as for finger picking. Nevertheless, it doesn't take too much of a stretch of the imagination to see how this could provide some sort of "roller" function.

Unfortunately, this bridge lacked individual intonation adjustments.


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An interesting derivative of this idea is the Schaller STM bridge.

Like the Space Control bridge, it uses wheels on a threaded axle. Instead of a single, long axle, each saddle has it's own small wheel and finely threaded axle. Schaller advertises this not only as being adjustable for spacing, but also being suitable for systems like a Bigsby.

I have one of the STM bridges and have used it. The threaded wheels do, in fact, smoothly rotate back and forth with Bigsby use. I would always lube mine with a drop of fine machine oil with string changes.

 
Interesting. But, I'm more interested in single-cut models with a Bigsby, and I'm pretty settled on models with the trestle bracing. This one uses the center block, which is more like a semi-hollow guitar. I certainly like semi-hollow guitars! But, it's not what I'm looking for in a Gretsch.

My "must-haves" point me, at least, to something in the Electromatic line, sort of like this:



I've always wanted one of these.

G6120T-59 Vintage Select Edition '59 Chet Atkins® Hollow Body with Bigsby®, TV Jones®, Vintage Orange Stain Lacquer
 
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While not intended as a roller bridge, Gretsch used to use a bridge called the "Space Control" bridge. The purpose was not really to be a roller bridge; it was more to allow players to adjust individual string spacing, such as for finger picking. Nevertheless, it doesn't take too much of a stretch of the imagination to see how this could provide some sort of "roller" function.

Unfortunately, this bridge lacked individual intonation adjustments.


View attachment 82153

An interesting derivative of this idea is the Schaller STM bridge.

Like the Space Control bridge, it uses wheels on a threaded axle. Instead of a single, long axle, each saddle has it's own small wheel and finely threaded axle. Schaller advertises this not only as being adjustable for spacing, but also being suitable for systems like a Bigsby.

I have one of the STM bridges and have used it. The threaded wheels do, in fact, smoothly rotate back and forth with Bigsby use. I would always lube mine with a drop of fine machine oil with string changes.


Even that design is an improvement over the "rocking" bridge. On some Gretsch models, the holes for the saddle screws are elongated to allow most of the movement to take place in the saddle itself.
 
Even that design is an improvement over the "rocking" bridge. On some Gretsch models, the holes for the saddle screws are elongated to allow most of the movement to take place in the saddle itself.

Yeah, I’ve never been a big fan of the rocking bridge idea. I totally get the concept behind it, but a good roller bridge seems a more effective solution.
 
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