The Gretsch Duo Jet: Under the hood

[BriGuy]

Due to the non-pic-embedding nature of this forum, the exact thread with viewable and clickable thumbnails can either be found on my home turf of ScoreHero.com (http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=469540) or on the much beloved DocSoCal's Modding Forum. (http://docsrockbandmods.netforums.us/the-gretsch-duo-jet-under-the-hood-vt2574.html)

So I was lucky enough to get The Beatles Rock Band Gretsch Duo Jet (DJ) as early birthday present (9/24 if anyone else wants to get me a present :D ) I was super psyched to get this one (despite it's $99 price tag) It is a beautiful guitar and plays like a dream. I highly recommend it if you have the means. After plowing through the story mode, I did what any self respecting modder would do...tear it to pieces and start modding! (here's my new project btw)
http://h.imagehost.org/t/0812/gretsch-guitar-rock-band.jpg (http://h.imagehost.org/view/0812/gretsch-guitar-rock-band)
http://h.imagehost.org/t/0064/Duesenberg_1.jpg (http://h.imagehost.org/view/0064/Duesenberg_1)


In the tradition of my RB1 (http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1902) and RB2 (http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1902) Stratocaster dissected threads, here's a bunch of pics of the guts, how to disassemble it, and some suggestions on how to mod this bad boy. In a lot of ways this guitar (and I'm sure this is true for both the Rickenbacker and Hofner Bass) is very similar to the RB2 Strat.

First off, here's a couple of pics to give you an idea of the scale.
http://h.imagehost.org/t/0918/TBRBscale.jpg (http://h.imagehost.org/view/0918/TBRBscale)
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0788/STP81588.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0788/STP81588)
You'll notice that the DJ is about an inch longer than the Strat, considerably longer than the similarly shaped, but otherwise completely inferior Les Paul, and that the Hofner Bass is longer than all of those. Some other people and myself have found that the Bass might be too long for all but the longest armed people, but the DJ is perfect.

The neck pops off with the button on the back of the headstock, and with a few screws and simple manual disassembly the head comes apart like this and the pickguard also comes right off.
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0916/STP81592.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0916/STP81592)
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0111/STP81596.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0111/STP81596)

Here's an overview of the guts. What is notable here is the effects selector has changed from a lateral to a rotary switch (lower left). The battery pack wire can easily be detached from the main circuit board by pinching the small white connector piece, and this basically holds true for all component connections to circuit boards. Delving deeper we see that the strum bar is the same as the RB2's v3 with the magnetic switches and foam and rubber strum stoppers. This setup feels really good and I've been able to down strum and alt-strum with no problems at all.
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0069/STP81598.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0069/STP81598)
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0325/STP81609.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0325/STP81609)

The tilt sensors have remained as the good old fashioned "ball in a tube" type sensors which (as opposed to the GH style accelerometers) can be adjusted for a comfortable angle. (http://rockband.scorehero.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3739) You can also see the chromed whammy bar and the now completely embedded audio and video lag calibration sensors which are hotglued into place.
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0540/STP81617.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0540/STP81617)
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0911/STP81621.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0911/STP81621)

Now here comes the tricky part of the dissasembly, the neck. To access the fret buttons there are a couple things you need to know before starting. In addition to the visible screws on the back of the neck, there is an additional screw underneath the main red fret button. Pull the fret button off carefully and take note of the hinge assembly so you can put it back together properly later. Also note at this point there is a small dab of a viscous and sticky goo where the fret button hinge goes. I'm assuming this helps quiet and smooth every button press. It would be great to know what this stuff is so we can apply it to our other guitars.
In addition to this screw, the tip of the neck is also held in place by 3 plastic posts which fit into the hexagonal holes on the other side. Insert a knife edge and very carefully pry it apart a small bit at a time. I'd assume this will be easier after the first time.
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0086/STP81602.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0086/STP81602)
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0464/STP81603.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0464/STP81603)
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0568/STP81612.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0568/STP81612)

The last thing to point out here is that how the decorative touches come off. The chrome tail piece comes off by unscrewing it from inside. The white edging comes off in two separate pieces after pinching a bunch of white ummm pinchers and carefully taking it off piece by piece.
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0326/STP81625.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0326/STP81625)
http://a.imagehost.org/t/0092/STP81626.jpg (http://a.imagehost.org/view/0092/STP81626)

Overall I have to say this is a fantastic piece of equipment that feels very solid and durable. My only issues I have with it so far are minor and easily addressed. The whammy bar was squeaky and can be lubricated with lithium grease or WD-40. The spring return of the whammy also kind of slams into the body. A small strip of the fuzzy side of sticky velcro or something similar on that spot will eleviate this problem. Like this:
http://h.imagehost.org/t/0725/whammyVelcro.jpg (http://h.imagehost.org/view/0725/whammyVelcro)

I also play with it at an angle and would recommend that as long as the guitar is not shared with one of those evil lefties, to adjust the tilt angle like in the linked post.

Enjoy rocking out with a fine replica of George Harrison's guitar and help spread part of the love which he graced us all with.

[RoofTopRookie]

Great article. But remember, this model was Georges

[jrolson]

There's sticky goo under the frets?

Maybe grease??? must be some kind of lubricant.
I dunno what else it could be.

[BriGuy]

Great article. But remember, this model was Georges

D'OH! Thanks for the correction.

[varsas]

Overall I have to say this is a fantastic piece of equipment that feels very solid and durable. My only issues I have with it so far are minor and easily addressed. The whammy bar was squeaky and can be lubricated with lithium grease or WD-40. The spring return of the whammy also kind of slams into the body. A small strip of the fuzzy side of sticky velcro or something similar on that spot will eleviate this problem. Like this:
http://h.imagehost.org/t/0725/whammyVelcro.jpg (http://h.imagehost.org/view/0725/whammyVelcro)


Is it possible to fix the squeak without opening the guitar? I'm just wondering if it's safe to spray WD40 on the plastic from the outside?

[Cataclysmo]

So you got it for your birthday...and the first thing you did was tear it open?

[BorderBrother]

So you got it for your birthday...and the first thing you did was tear it open?

I agree....... WHY? WHY? WHY??????? Why not just turn it on and slide the disc in and start to play? Enjoy this beautiful instrument for what it is, not as a science experiment.

[MrSketchyGalore]

I agree....... WHY? WHY? WHY??????? Why not just turn it on and slide the disc in and start to play? Enjoy this beautiful instrument for what it is, not as a science experiment.

He did:
"After plowing through the story mode, I did what any self respecting modder would do...tear it to pieces and start modding!"

[frstbnd]

I also play with it at an angle and would recommend that as long as the guitar is not shared with one of those evil lefties, to adjust the tilt angle like in the linked post.

I didn't quite get this, does the DJ have problems for lefties? I'm a lefty and wanted to buy the DJ as my replacement for my Les Paul (GH3)

[onidragon]

I didn't quite get this, does the DJ have problems for lefties? I'm a lefty and wanted to buy the DJ as my replacement for my Les Paul (GH3)

I think it's a joke. From what I can tell, if you don't screw with the insides like he did, you should be fine.

[HeadHunter67]

What he means is, you can adjust the angle of the tilt sensor to more reliably trigger overdrive. But, if you do this, you won't be able to just flip it over and use it in lefty mode sometimes - because adjusting the angle of the tilt sensor is something that's done when you always hold the guitar at a particular angle when playing.

It's OK to be reluctant to mod your own guitars but please, let's not treat modding like it's witchcraft or something. BriGuy has improved the reliability and performance of his guitars beyond factory spec - something that people who b itch about the hardware never seem to consider.

[PCTraitor]

Was it just to fiddle with the tilt sensor or some type of strum bar modification too?

[HeadHunter67]

There are some simple ways to improve the strum action, too. Doc has a few tricks for that, and all it takes is a zip strip and a couple of hair bands.

[ThePaska]

So where is the finished product? Not done yet? Very cool though, I'm always a bit weary to take apart my guitars, but I kind of want to try and fiddle with the tilt sensor on my Grestch because it often doesn't release SP when I want it to.

I used to love reading mod stuff like this way back on the old guitar hero 1 and 2 forums. Never see them anymore though. Seems like people on the Rock Band forums don't modify their stuff as much, or at least they don't post it here as much.

Anyways real cool post, and I would love to see how it all turns out when you put it back together.

[HeadHunter67]

I don't think he's modding it externally yet.
Though I would like to mod mine to look like Lucy, George's Les Paul.

[Doc_SoCal]

There are some simple ways to improve the strum action, too. Doc has a few tricks for that, and all it takes is a zip strip and a couple of hair bands.

You rang?

;)

Here is the YouTube DIY Video to make your Gretsch all it can be. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbX0Ss3Uzv8)

[Doc_SoCal]

I used to love reading mod stuff like this way back on the old guitar hero 1 and 2 forums. Never see them anymore though. Seems like people on the Rock Band forums don't modify their stuff as much, or at least they don't post it here as much.


Just follow the yellow letters in my sig and you will find all kinds of neato mods and the modders that mod them.