[Scotty]

My son came home with his Gretsch g5120 saying it lost its oomph somehow.

I'm wondering if it's a problem in the 3 way selector. The bridge pickup sounds sort of ok, but the middle/neck and neck alone sound nearly identical, and not overly distinctive than the bridge.
It also seems as if the neck alone has slightly more treble than both together. The tone and volume controls all seem to work. (Though the Gretsch control orientation befuddles me)
We plugged it into both his amp and mine, and it's not an amp situ.
This thing used to growl like no other but my skinny little Casino is killing it.

It's something totally simple isn't it....

 

[greco]

This is apparently the wiring diagram for a g5120 (even though it isn't listed).

Are the volume levels decreased along with/as a part of the "new"sound?

If you would like to try eliminating the switch and hot wire the pickups to the output, I would be happy to help you. I have a fair amount of experience working through "f" holes.

Hopefully, there will be comments as to other possible causes of this change in sound.

Whatever you would like to try, my bench and time are available.
If you just want to borrow the tubing, no problem.

This might be helpful for some ideas re: working on the guitar in general...
Replacing Pickups on a Gretsch Electromatic G5120 – Daft Paragon

Good Luck with it.

I'll be following your thread with interest.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Guest]

It's something totally simple isn't it....

Fingers crossed here that it is.
Cold solder joint maybe?
As you mentioned, possibly the 3-way?
I had a similar experience with an Emperor II that I used to own.
Turned out that it was the switch.
I would definitely take Dave up on his offer.
He does great work and is overly generous with his time and talents.
He did a complete rewire for my Emperor and I couldn't have been happier at the results.

 

[greco]

@laristotle Thanks for the very kind and supportive comments.
I will be forever grateful to you for rescuing me with the push-pull pots (coil split) and (old/rarely documented) humbucker pickup situation on your friend's guitar that we worked on.

@Scotty Sherwood Music should have the switches in stock (~$24.00) ....unless your son wants an "authentic" Gretsch chrome toggle.

 

[loudtubeamps]

Could be the switch.. but more often than switch failure is the problem with the pots becoming loose, rotating while being used.... eventually a lead breaks or a lug shorts to ground.

 

[greco]

.... or a lug shorts to ground.

I have certainly had this happen.

I also had the lug short to the black shielding paint in the control cavity...that one had me stumped for a bit...LOL

 

[Scotty]

Thanks guys, I never thought about pots loose and twisting. Before I do anything else, I'll check for that

Thanks for the offer Dave, if I cant sort this out, I'll give you a shout...cant be certain if there is an overall volume drop. Its the same volume output regardless of pickup selection.
He's not here right now, but I'm sure he'll want it as original as possible - thinks for the H.U. on the Sherwood switch

Nice looking work and great shout out Larry