Honestly that Gretsch is one of the nicest looking old Gretsches I've ever seen. Great old guitars only come along once in a while and are one of a kind, but you can always buy a new 330 and refinish it whatever color you'd like when you have the money.
Having said that I'd play the gretsch first if possible and see if that's what you'd like, because I have played many spotty old gretsches, and a few good ones. Also I have no idea what you paid for the Rickenbacker, if the fancy paint job increases the value by a lot it could change things...personally though if that was the case, I would just trade it, then later buy a more standard color rick for a cheaper price.
But only do it if you won't miss the Rickenbacker. Someone could come up to me and offer a square trade of some $3000 Ibanez Jem for my own Rickenbacker, I don't think I would even consider it even though the value is triple what I paid. it's all relative. Good luck
I Couldn't do it.Th Gretsch has all the problems that old Gretschs have. Pieces of binding in some place looks like it they had fallen off and were glued back on,in other places like the neck cap they looked like were crumbling. That was not a big deal but the bridge was screwed all the way down and didn't have any room for a adjustment. The neck looks like it had shifted position,like it needed a reset to get the angle right. It wasn't that bad,but it would probably cost about $500 to restore it.
westtexasred wrote:I Couldn't do it.Th Gretsch has all the problems that old Gretschs have. Pieces of binding in some place looks like it they had fallen off and were glued back on,in other places like the neck cap they looked like were crumbling. That was not a big deal but the bridge was screwed all the way down and didn't have any room for a adjustment. The neck looks like it had shifted position,like it needed a reset to get the angle right. It wasn't that bad,but it would probably cost about $500 to restore it.
Having read this you made the right choice. I fucking love that RIC anyway and i'll buy it from you when i win the lotto.
I can see keeping the Ric. That's a rarity. I would have traded without flinching. I like crumbly binding. I have gotten pretty good at replacing it. I know it's not the same as vintage, but Gretsch got into some bad plastic during the mid 60s.
Glad you made the right choice...every time my GC gets in a seemingly affordable vintage gretsch I rush to plug it in and try it out, and there's always some terrible neck/electronic/fret issue...I've played one or two that were butter though.
Nick wrote:Glad you made the right choice...every time my GC gets in a seemingly affordable vintage gretsch I rush to plug it in and try it out, and there's always some terrible neck/electronic/fret issue...I've played one or two that were butter though.
I haven't seen many old Gretschs in good condition. Just the '56(?) 6120 at my friends shop. Eddie Vedder bought that one.