Gretsch Streamliner modification project

[MWaldorf]

Not to make your life difficult, but that baby is begging for turquoise binding. Looking good!

[Sarah93003]

Not to make your life difficult, but that baby is begging for turquoise binding. Looking good!

That would be so cool!! Where can I buy some of that?

I've got some other tricks up my sleeve for this baby. I'm not 100% sold on having the big "S" on the headstock. Unlike a Mosrite, the Gretsch TRC is totally flat. I think I'll make one out of turquoise with a MOP "S" inlaid within it. I'm also headed to the stained glass shop on Saturday to have a look at some of their new glass. I might use some glass inlaid into the body. Another thing I'd like to make is to find a blue billet of glass, about 4" by 1" by 3/4" and grind myself a glass bridge. Being that thick it's not going to be too fragile and I think it might make an interesting affect on the tone of the three (count them, three) P90 pickups.

[Sarah93003]

Well, I got a second wind after dinner!

Next up is removing the old fretboard. Perhaps it was beginners luck, but surprisingly I didn't burn myself! Yay!


I know it's not easy to tell from the photo, but in person you can see this board has damage and to me it looks like water damage.


Lucky for me, I was at a swap meet and an older gentleman was packing up as I walked by. I spotted some really nice bar clamps sticking out of a toolbox and as I checked it out he said he'd sell me the whole toolbox for $10. Score! When I got it home and emptied everything out, there was this Milwaukee heat gun with adjustment from 1 to 10. Works like a charm and way better than my little one.


At a friends suggestion I only worked three frets worth at a time.



I would only heat for about 5 minutes at a time and then work my putty knife down the neck.



As I got to the spot where I thought there was damage the fretboard just disintegrated. It looked really punky.



Movin' on!



I put down a couple of pieces of bamboo flooring to protect the body of the guitar from the heat. It worked very well.



Ta da! It all came off even better than I expected.



Here we are in the rough state. I haven't done any fine scraping or sanding yet. I need to do a bit more reading on this part!

[MissionBrown]

You're an inspiration Sarah!

[MWaldorf]

Cool! (or is it hot under the circumstances?)

I wonder what the purpose is for the darker wood block around the end of the truss rod.

[Veenture]

I wonder what the purpose is for the darker wood block around the end of the truss rod.

Perhaps a repair after a possible incorrect routing for the truss rod...
Sarah, this is so great to watch!

[Sarah93003]

You're an inspiration Sarah!

Thank you very much!

[Sarah93003]

I wonder what the purpose is for the darker wood block around the end of the truss rod.

Perhaps a repair after a possible incorrect routing for the truss rod...
Sarah, this is so great to watch!

I don't know. I'll ask on the Gretsch forum. It looks very intentional, to me. I think the neck is Maple and it looks like the insert is Rosewood. Perhaps it is a harder or tougher wood for the truss rod to leverage against.

Thank you Paul!

[Sarah93003]

Cool! (or is it hot under the circumstances?)

I wonder what the purpose is for the darker wood block around the end of the truss rod.

I did a little more sleuthing on this and I think I know the answer. The neck is Maple and the insert appears to be Rosewood. According to the Janka Scale for harness, Rosewood is 2 or 3 time harder than Maple. That would give the Truss Rod a much tougher surface to push against.

[olrocknroller]

Your white headstock has an effect as well...comes right down to it, I'd say pick the color you like! That heat gun sure toasted the rosewood, but looks like it did a good job of lifting the glue. Interesting detail about the rosewood inserts at the truss-rod ends. I'm building a neck right now, and am about to mill the slot, so will cast about the shop for something to insert!

Your detailed documentation of your work is very helpful to us all...thank you!