"Everything old is new again." - Gretsch Corvette and the Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute

Here's a case of 'everything old is new again'.  Gibson has released a new series of guitars, the 2019 Gibson Les Paul Special Tribute $999, that looks actually like my Gretsch Corvette made in 1961, which was a Gretsch knock off of the original Les Paul Junior. The Gretsch Corvette was my first guitar that I bought from a guy in 1974 for $60 with with an amp. I badly added a tele pickup to mine back in the 70's (I think the 60's telecaster pickup is worth more than my guitar, at this point). I lost the original pick guard and wooden bridge to age, and just had those replaced and repaired at Berunzio guitar shop last year or so. I still haven't progress above rank hobbyist in my playing but it's nice having my first guitar around.

 There are many of reviews on youtube.  Check them out.

Sunday Music Muse day - Gretsch Corvette back in action.

I'm forgoing my usual Sunday Music Muse Day post, and instead spending my time getting re-acquainted with my1963 Gretsch Corvette 6132 guitar, which I just got repaired at Bernunzio Uptown Music.

The Corvette is my first guitar I brought from co-worker back in the early 1970's for $60, when I was decided to learn guitar. In it's original state it only had the single Gretsch bridge pickup, and a wooden bridge. About a year after having it, I slapped a old Fender telecaster pickup on it and a three-way toggle switch. I have to confess I did hackneyed job adding the second picked, but it worked. The wooden bridge broke, so it was replaced with a cheap metal bridge. Eventually, the Corvette was replaced as my main axe by the Gibson 175T, and moved to third fiddle, briefly, by a Fender Stratocaster I owned for awhile, until I realized I'll never sound or play like Hendrix. When I move to Rochester, the Corvette was showing it age. The pick guard had warped, buckled, and partially melted.

 A co-worker at my public library job told me a relative could repair it for me, free. Okay. But a year later, I had to ask for it back because nothing was done except disassembling it. So, after two more years of debating getting it repaired, or buying another sold body guitar, I finally sprung for getting it repair. It was more a sentimental choice. It was my first guitar, and it deserved a better fate than being in pieces, and unplayable. The Bernunzio tech did a great job replacing the pick guard, re-wiring the electronics, and suggesting and mounting a better Gibson tuning bridge. 

 Now, even if i don't play it much it has it's dignity back.

Repairing my Gretsch Corvette

Finally broke down and took my 1960's era Gretsch Corvette guitar to the shop for repair. It was my first guitar I brought from a co-worker for $60, back in the 70s, plus he threw in a nice Gretsch Tube amp, I no longer have.

 Lately the Corvette was dismantled due to a "free" repair job the never got finished. After holding it a year, I had to ask the would-be guitar repair guy to give it back to me, and it sadly sat in pieces, as I debated if it was worth repairing or just buying a new solid body guitar. Finally I decided I need to get it fix, leaving as is was no way to treat an "old friend". Even if it ends up only hanging on a wall. I admit I butchered it by hacking out a space for a second pickup, a 1970 era Fender Telecaster pickup, and a 3-way toggle switch, with no knowledge how to do electrical wiring properly. The tech at Bernuzio Uptown Music give me a good estimate and I'll have it back in two week. I'll be sure to post an after photo.