He has the best way of teaching to an everyday guy who don’t wanna pay

I have more than eighty guitars. Each time I go to the “vault” to work out with a different guitar, I’d practically go broke taking each guitar for a pro setup. I’m not pro yet at servicing my guitars, but thanks to your video, I’m saving some righteous cash. THANKS!!!

That 5427 looks very nice, the blue color with gold hardware is perfect, and I like that they brought back the tombstone inlays and took the “Elecromatic” lettering off the headstock

Thanks !! I've been removing all the strings an cleaning the guitar before installing new strings. On a Gretsch G7594T & G6120 with Bigsbys , and using a Capo to hold the strings in place after connecting the top of the string to the tuners and before trying to connect the bottoms: it still takes over an hour. One string at a time should save a lot oof time & energy. Changing strings is still a pain after 20+ years of playing. Of course having the proper tools available is a must: Whenever, a string breaks, it seems those tools are never available. I subscribed.

after 55 years I now know how to do it properly Thanks

James, great video. By the by, Roll Tide Roll!

Great video. Explained why things work how they do.

This could not have come at a better time. Just brought one of these 5427's home yesterday. After letting her acclimatize to our home/climate, I'll be giving her a thorough assessment for setup. While I'd normally just hand this off to a local guitar tech, I feel absolutely comfortable taking this on myself thanks to your tutorial. Thanks much for this valuable intel!

Top tip: I bought an 'old school' pencil eraser - the thick square block type - cut it to a wedge shape and just wedge it under the pin when I install the string. Admittedly, it doesn't help when you remove all the strings, for the first couple of string you fit. Of course, you still need to bend the end of the string, but I know the string won't fall off the pin, while I'm stringing up.

Wow, thank you! I really CAN do this. It's a darn sight easier than a cello.

When re-stringing, I do the same and pre-bend the ball end. I use a capo to hold the string to the fretboard to stop it from falling off the Bigsby. I find that medium weight flatwounds are best for my 5420, with a wound third, that makes the guitar intonate well even with the Gretsch solid bar “rocker” bridge.

Great instructional video. I just bought a G5422TG and will be following this guide to get it set up!

Appreciate the video, just what I needed. I purchased a G5427tg last year and its only now since following your steps that I have the guitar sounding amazing.

Thanks for the video! I just did my first setup today on my G2622T P90 model. I noticed your Bama football. Greetings from Tuscaloosa, and Roll Tide!

You can also push down on the bigsby to relieve the pressure on the strings to raise the bridge instead of having to detune the guitar.

Thank you so much for this video. Everything was beautifully explained,really easy to understand. I have learned a lot. Peace and love from London 🎶🎸👍

Thanks for the technical lesson. I'll be using your instructions on my recently acquired Gretsch Streamliner. (Yeah it's the budget model but it sounds good enough for me). Of course a White Falcon would be nice, but hey, I'm not Uncle Neil. I'll let you know how it goes. Keep on hitting the cool notes.

Great video. You’ve a real friendly and easygoing demeanour, which helps if you’ve screwed things up so badly with your setup that you don’t know WHERE you’ve gone wrong 😆. Also, your instructions were nice and concise, your demonstrations clear and easily i it able. Best setup video on KZfaq; it’s also nice to have one that’s specifically for Gretsches. You’ve a beautiful guitar, btw. I have two: an Electromatic Jet 5230 w/ Filter’Trons and Bigsby, and a Streamliner (can’t remember the model), but it’s the first model that came out with two Fidelisonic P90s and one of the ‘V’ style stop tailpieces. Their tones complement each other very well. I ALSO play flatwound strings; I tried ‘em once, attempting to recreate George Harrison’s early ‘60s tone, and I was just instantly hooked. They’re pricey but they last forever if you take care of them! Anyroad, thanks again for an excellent video.

Very comprehensive and helpful. Considering it too complicated and without proper tools, I always took my guitars to a luthier. But with 25 guitars, I figured it was about time to learn to do these basic setups myself. Just got a new Gretsch 2655T P-90 and it had some buzzing on the high E first fret. Messed with a couple things, didn’t help so I used your method and now it’s all perfecto. I did order a replacement Graph Tech Resomax NV2, so I guess I’ll have to go through this again.

Thanks for the great information, I feel like I actually understand how to do this now!

Thanks ever so much for your videos, especially this particular one, for reasons I'll address further in this reply. After viewing all the accolades that others have posted in their replies, I simply cannot find anything original to add that hasn't already been said. Kudos to you!!! As to the aforementioned reasons I have referred to, let me provide you with some background information: Longer ago than I care to admit (nor can I remember exactly when) I purchased my first electric guitar, a Dean Stylist hollow body that I bought not for its electrified qualities (the stock pickups had absolutely no redeeming qualities other than they were the same color gold as the rest of the hardware), but because 1; it had nearly the same neck profile as my beloved Alverez AJ-60S acoustic guitar, and 2; it really sounded fairly decent unplugged. I saw the potential this insturment had as an acoustic/electric when paired up with the right P/U combination, mine being a Fishman sound hole mounted dual unit for the Then, as often happens, Life intervened (you know, marriage, 1st child, career & location changes, 2nd child, more career and location changes, separation followed by divorce, health complications, etc.). Finally, at 67, and with Gretch having resumed production of its Blackface Filtrer'Tron P/U's have the opportunity

This is a Great Explanation and walk through for the Set-Up Process Thanks A -MILLION Hogan

This was great! I'm new to electric guitars, and really just getting back into playing. I just bought my dream guitar, the same you are working on, and I'm so excited to play it! Your wonderful video will ensure i can set it up and keep it working perfect. Thank you!

Dude, your videos are so helpful! Thank you!

Am I the only one who thinks these guitars look pretty badass without a pick guard?

Thanks for the great tutorial

I own the first blue burst gretsch built in 1991,its a 6120 bought in bakersfield ca,when we went in to buy one all they had was orange and a red tennessee rose,so we asked if they could paint it sunburst blue, the owner of front porch music and the owner called magszine ark. And they said it could be painted that color. I still have it.

Thank you very much! Your excellent instruction takes the mystery out of guitar setup. I really appreciate your sharing your knowledge!

Thanks for sharing! Very useful information.

that pick trick in lieu of a capo is genius!

thanks sir, very accurate

Thanks from Huntsville!

Ty I'm new to Gretsch. Very informative video.

My 2nd favorite part of this video is when you said "I can't find my capo." I can never find my capo!!

Good video and very helpful. Thank you.

Sir im going to need for you to setup my grestch haha

Great video! Thanks! I have a Gretsch 5420T (in Fairlane Blue) that I love. This is the best explanation of these tasks I've ever seen. I want to check the setup as you've explained it on my guitar. I play Chet Atkins style and I can't seem to get the punchy bass out of this guitar that I can get out of others like my vintage Hagstrom Viking 1N. Drives me nuts. I suspect it might be the pickup height. Any thoughts on that?

excellent video, thank you!

Well done, thanks.

Thanks for this one!!!

What about nut adjustment clearance at 1st fret on a 5622t?

I just bought a Gretsch G5422TG and really wanted to learn to set it up myself, so thank you for such a clear explanation! Can I ask two questions ... 1) According to the Gretsch document you link to, "Filtertron and Dynasonic pickups are mounted directly to the guitar’s top, and are not adjustable.”. So should I just leave them alone? The clearance on the neck pickup is over 12/64” but it sounds great! 2) As a beginner I’ve been told that lighter gauge strings will be easier to learn on. Right now it has 10s, I was thinking of changing it to 8s because I know BB King and Brian May (two of my heroes) both use 8s. Is there any reason they’d be a bad idea for my guitar? Thanks :)

Thanks for sharing this video. I have that identical 5427. Have you had any issues with the strap pins? The one by the neck fell out. I bought some locking pins, but it’s still too loose. I have a great guitar tech who can fix it. I’m a little nervous about doing it myself.

watched this video several times and only now did i realize that i needed to say ROLL TIDE

Someone gave me a Gretsch Tennessee Rose to take a look at. It appears the bridge(looks the same as yours, a wooden base below the bridge) is not glued/attached in place. Is this normal? My 1st time looking at a Bigbsby, I do not see any kind of glue mark/ring on the finish. Just curious if I need to have him take this in to a shop or not. Great video, thanks! New Sub

Hi, very beautiful and interesting video, please I have two questions: also the height of the 6th string at the 12 fret is 4/64? I have an Electromatic G5126 with the DeArmond Dynasonic, what is the best height from the top of adjustable poles and the bottom of the strings(pressed at the last fret) for neck and bridge pick up? Thanks and best regards Piero

This was an excellent walk thru! I watched it and then felt confident enough to change the strings for the first time on my Gretsch and then be able to set it up properly.

all gretsch have tune problem with G string! I haved white falcon usa, 6120 EC, 5120, 5420 and all this guitars same problem. exept my two ibanez GB 100 and GB200

I was searching for the size of the allen key I need to adjust string height. I watched you go through the string height but you did not make any adjustment. I have a bag full of allen keys but none fit. Anyone know how big a key it is?

Do you have a leak to find that feeler gauge per chance?

Hey does anyone know the allen wrench size for this guitar?

Hi , What size allen key do you use for the neck relief Gretsch G54-20T ? Thank you Denny.

Why 4/64 and not 1/16. ?.....1/16 is much easier to see on an engineers steel rule

Is that bridge fixed? That's one of the new Electromatics isn't it?

I want to ask, what's the difference between bigsby with screws and without screws?

what the keyword to buy that pickup height ruler? thx

Thanks but I think I'll leave this to a professional.

Roll Tide!

I paid just under a grand and I have to do all this? Not happy.

I have s small youtube channel under Ronald Lemons