Gretsch Streamliner modification project

[Sarah93003]

VERY IMPRESSIVE Sarah, referring to Tim Gibson .

Thank you! If this all comes together as I hope it will, this will be a very nice guitar.

[MWaldorf]

I would think the biggest pain is going to be removing the factory finish. The polyurethane finishes on most modern guitars are very durable and don't come off easily. I'm not sure how you'll get it off without a lot of scraping, which would be difficult on a hollowbody archtop. Maybe with a heat gun? Of course, you could just put a new finish over the current one; I've done that a few times with adequate (amateur) results.

[Sarah93003]

Thanks for the tip MWaldorf. I will check around to see how others have handled removing the factory finish.

As part of this process I've used Photoshop to get ideas of how I would like my project to look. Please forgive my skills with Photoshop, but you should get the "gist" of what I'm after. I am still of course researching and considering all components, etc but here are my first ideas for this go-around. The red photo is how this guitar looked originally. I am going to go with white but I've decided to add two additional cat eye sound holes and will of course add bracing for the web in between. I think it gives more of a Tiger Eye or Claw type of look to the body. One picture uses Mosrite pickups and tremelo, the other a Bigsby and the stock Dyna's. I'm leaning toward gold hardware as I think it looks great against the white. You will likely notice that I've moved the knobs to the top of the body. The two above will be a Master Volume Control knob and a push/pull knob or switch to go between the pickups. The two below will be tone and a volume for one of the pickups. That's what I'm thinking so far. Any more ideas?

PS: I see the photos went sideways. I don't know why but I think you'll still get it.

Thanks, Sarah



Standard G3155 Streamliner



with added sound holes and Mosrite pickups and tremelo



with added sound holes and Bigsby with Dynasonic 2000's or the new TV Jones retro pups due this summer

[dorkrockrecords]

If you're gonna go white with gold hardware, why not trick it out in true Gretsch fashion a la the White Penguin or Falcon - with gold sparkle binding, pickup rings and guards?

[Sarah93003]

Actually, one of the reasons I don't own a Falcon or Penguin is that I don't care for all of the "glitz". For my taste the glitter binding and the headstock treatments are way over done. It's too "Vegas" for my taste. I do love the look of the white and gold and overlook the rest. My friends Falcon is a dream to play and has wonderful tone. If I was to choose one, it would be the Penguin. This project of mine is to get me a guitar in that genre that matches my tastes.

[Dennisthe Menace]

Hey all. Like most folks, I like a lot of different guitars, emphasis on "lot"! I have really been wanting a guitar project to either restore or modify and finally have one. In this case, I've been wanting a Gretsch Streamliner that I could modify and try to make a guitar to all of my own specifications. What I found was a G3155 Streamliner with cat eye sound holes but everything is missing. Basically I bought a body and neck and that's exactly what I wanted. The body is in perfect shape and the necks needs a new fingerboard. Although it was originally red I plan on painting it white. For electric hollow body's I already have a 1966 Mosrite Celebrity, 1961 Guild with a single P90, and a 2008 Gretsch 5120 with 2 humbuckers so I don't want it to sound just like any of these. I don't know if the Streamliners body alone will be enough to set it apart or if I need to rely more on the pickups. Oh, it has a 16 inch but which is 2.625 inches deep. At first I thought I'd locate two Mosrite pickups and put them into the Gretsch, now I'm not so sure. Someone told me TV Jones is coming out with a new line of Dyna's this year that are supposed to be amazing.

I post this here because I would love any and all feedback from you folks. I am also interested in any suggestions that you may have as well.
thanks!
Sarah

Sarah, I just went back and reread your original post. Is this Streamliner the Japanese R.I. from '03 or newer?

[Veenture]

Me like-a da Claw type of look to da body! (great idea Sarah!)

[Sarah93003]

I don't know yet. I won't receive the body until the weekend. There are no serial numbers or labels inside the body. When I separate the neck I may get a clue. But at this point, it's anyone's guess.

Hey all. Like most folks, I like a lot of different guitars, emphasis on "lot"! I have really been wanting a guitar project to either restore or modify and finally have one. In this case, I've been wanting a Gretsch Streamliner that I could modify and try to make a guitar to all of my own specifications. What I found was a G3155 Streamliner with cat eye sound holes but everything is missing. Basically I bought a body and neck and that's exactly what I wanted. The body is in perfect shape and the necks needs a new fingerboard. Although it was originally red I plan on painting it white. For electric hollow body's I already have a 1966 Mosrite Celebrity, 1961 Guild with a single P90, and a 2008 Gretsch 5120 with 2 humbuckers so I don't want it to sound just like any of these. I don't know if the Streamliners body alone will be enough to set it apart or if I need to rely more on the pickups. Oh, it has a 16 inch but which is 2.625 inches deep. At first I thought I'd locate two Mosrite pickups and put them into the Gretsch, now I'm not so sure. Someone told me TV Jones is coming out with a new line of Dyna's this year that are supposed to be amazing.

I post this here because I would love any and all feedback from you folks. I am also interested in any suggestions that you may have as well.
thanks!
Sarah

Sarah, I just went back and reread your original post. Is this Streamliner the Japanese R.I. from '03 or newer?

[Sarah93003]

Thank you! It's really growing on me and I'm really liking the look. I'm going to remove the Gretsch logo from the heastock and create my own, or have a new neck made. Either way, I don't people thinking it's a Gretsch when there won't be much of the original guitar left. I am getting more and more excited about doing this project!!

Me like-a da Claw type of look to da body! (great idea Sarah!)

[Dennisthe Menace]

I don't know yet. I won't receive the body until the weekend. There are no serial numbers or labels
inside the body. When I separate the neck I may get a clue. But at this point, it's anyone's guess.

Sarah, Be Careful......

Before you start ripping that 'little Gal' apart, you just might want to wait, and check, and
confirm if it might be an '03 or later (Japanese R.I.) or whether that little 'Gal' is the Real Deal.'

From HARMONY CENTRAL:

Gretsch 3155 Streamliner

"One of the earliest of the electric guitars and still one of the best! This classic guitar was first introduced in
1951 and made it throughout the '60s. Now it returns, a replica true to the vintage original in every detail."

A word to the Wise......Anyone that may of purchased a Used Instrument to possibly Customize, Mod Out, etc,
just may want to think twice and double check the instrument they ACTUALLY bought......

With all of the Re-Issues, Closet Classics, Relics, etc, etc, ANYONE that purchased an instrument from a
Private Party, off of E-Bay, or Craigslist,....well.....YOU JUST MIGHT WANT to "Get a Second Opinion" if
you are not sure, before you tear apart, a possible 'Vintage Instrument'.........