New Guitar - Part 2 of 2 - Gretsch Sparkle Jet Clone

This is the 2nd video of a 2 part series. I've always wanted a Gretsch Sparkle Jet but the $3000 price tag has kept it out of my reach. I decided to make a close approximation of one at a fraction of the cost, with a Gretsch Electromatic G5425 as the starting point. In video 1, I talk about my intentions with this project. In video 2, I talk about some of the issues that came up, show the finished product, and take it for a healthy test drive at the end. Thanks for stopping by!

[@johnathanschaaf8731]

Update since uploading the video: admittedly the paint didn’t turn out quite as “sparkly” as I originally intended. However, I have since sanded out all the orange-peel texture, gave it another polish and it looks fantastic. I’d say it’s about halfway from the original silver metal flake to the target Sparkle Jet look. I’m very happy with the result. Perhaps next vid I’ll use some better lighting so it reads better on camera. Always trying to improve. Thanks for stopping by! :)

[@85turtlestb]

That actually looks sick and the bigsby just ties the whole thing together

[@johnathanschaaf8731]

Thanks so much - I really appreciate that. Since this vid, I have smoothed out the gloss clear coat, added better quality block inlay decals, & painted a while accent stripe around the headstock (that ties in with the neck binding). Will show it in an upcoming vid, Thanks for the kind comment! :)

[@davideoverman]

I have a gretsch 5220 that I’ve put a bigsby b7 on and put in Filtertron pickups and I’ve decided to repaint the top on it in a sparkle finish and I will also have to fill the post holes that held the tail piece. I hope mine turns out as good as as yours did. That looks great 👍

[@johnathanschaaf8731]

Thanks so much! It’s a great guitar / I love it so. Recently upgraded to a Compton bridge too. That thing feels like a pro level guitar now.

[@kellymartin3077]

Dude, I love this guitar. How many watts is it? Is it true or false bypass? asking for a friend

[@johnathanschaaf8731]

Thanks for watching the vid. Admittedly, I’m not sure what you mean in your questions - I’m assuming you mean the amp I’m playing through? It’s a 100 watt solid state - probably the equivalent of a 40 watt tube amp. Pretty sure it is true bypass. I use it sometimes with a looper pedal.