Gretsch sound post question

blakejcan

Well-known member
So that crazy paint scheme Gretsch (not so white) Falcon that I bought in the other thread. In the description the seller says it is missing the "sound post" somehow.

He believes the guitar is the 6136-55 model which would have the "parallel tone bar" bracing along with a "sound post" that would simply connect the top and back sides with a post under the bridge

MY QUESTION--assuming I rip out the pickups and electronics anyway......it shouldnt' be too hard to put a small post in that goes beneath the bridge and connects front & back? Right? Am I thinking about this wrong? Thanks!

This was helpful for me. All about the Gretsch bracing types--https://www.gretschguitars.com/support/specs-explained/bracing

And the model we think it is--https://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/build/hollow-body/g6136-55-vintage-select-edition-55-falcon-hollow-body-with-cadillac-tailpiece/2411510805
 
The only 'sound posts' I'm familiar with in musical instruments are little wooden dowels in violins. If it's set up similar, then yeah . . . you just use tweezers or similar to jam the bit of wood into position.
 
The only 'sound posts' I'm familiar with in musical instruments are little wooden dowels in violins. If it's set up similar, then yeah . . . you just use tweezers or similar to jam the bit of wood into position.

You use a violin post setter. When I still did violin family service for USD 259 I had one.

And to my knowledge, Gretsch guitars never had sound posts.

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This is from the Gretsch site:

Sound Posts

In conjunction with a parallel bracing setup, the Sound Post is a simple wood post that connects the top to the back of the guitar, allowing more synchronicity between them, as well as providing extra strength and support beneath the bridge.
 
I would say

You should remove the bridge pickup and use that larger hole to install this

Possibly employ a small child

Maybe not the retired Luthier
 
All my apprentices were very slender, so I made them stick their arms in the small holes of guitars way back when.
Nowadays I have to make a tool.
 
Agreed pull out a pup..

But considering there are no pups on violins I'll share a emergency soundpost repair that I may have invented...

In an emergency at a gig with absolutely no chance of getting a post-setter, tie a piece of thread to the top of the post and the bottom of the post.

Get it generally in place with the threads and then use a spoon or knife or anything to whack the bottom a few times to get it settled.

And considering it's time to gig, just stuff the threads in the f holes until you can go back and do it right :-)
 
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