The steps to follow if you want a better action on your Gretsch Jim Dandy guitar. Here I set-up a mostly slide guitar action to an easy play finger-style one.
I'm sure the "old timers" did go to crazy lengths when setting up their guitars either, a sound down to earth honest example on how to set up your guitar, I wish I had of seen this 50 years ago when I started out playing! Good job.
oddly enough my Jim Dandy came out of the box set up just about perfectly... I put a different saddle in .. but I didnt hear that much difference.. I made video of it on my channel. I just put the old one back in because I didnt want to deal with sanding it down :) I really thought the guitar would be a piece of junk and I was pleasantly surprised.. I play it everyday
Hi thanks, I really like your relaxed way of explaining the easy mod you did to saddle and nut. Do you think a zero-fret nut might be good for this guitar? Also, was wondering what weight of Martin strings you put on. Did you go lighter than the 12's that supposedly come on them? Thank you!
First thing before sanding the nut is to adjust the trussrod, because it changes the action. On mine I had to adjust it a lot! I went from 4 to 3mm just adjusting it. Then yes, sand a bit the bottom nut...
Hi Gene, nice video and well explained. What gauge strings did you put on it please? I'm keen to make the same setup on mine and want to change strings also. Not sure what are on it from factory, but they're quite thick! (and very squeaky)
I installed D'addario nickel bronze light gauge. Standard OEM strings are D'addario EJ16 phosphor bronze. If you're sure the strings are those, you could try extra light gauge on either brand.
I just bought one of these and plan on replacing the bridge and nut with a real bone nut. This was really useful! Thank you for this!
I'm sure the "old timers" did go to crazy lengths when setting up their guitars either, a sound down to earth honest example on how to set up your guitar, I wish I had of seen this 50 years ago when I started out playing! Good job.
oddly enough my Jim Dandy came out of the box set up just about perfectly... I put a different saddle in .. but I didnt hear that much difference.. I made video of it on my channel. I just put the old one back in because I didnt want to deal with sanding it down :) I really thought the guitar would be a piece of junk and I was pleasantly surprised.. I play it everyday
Hi thanks, I really like your relaxed way of explaining the easy mod you did to saddle and nut. Do you think a zero-fret nut might be good for this guitar? Also, was wondering what weight of Martin strings you put on. Did you go lighter than the 12's that supposedly come on them? Thank you!
Even with just that little bit of strumming, it sounded surprisingly good. I was expecting it to sound really cheap.
Thank man! Just curious, why not do the neck adjustment first?
Mine has some bridge lifting. How do I remove (and reglue) the bridge if it's bolted on (as they are on these Jim Dandys)?
First thing before sanding the nut is to adjust the trussrod, because it changes the action. On mine I had to adjust it a lot! I went from 4 to 3mm just adjusting it. Then yes, sand a bit the bottom nut...
Yes, of course. That's how I do it although I didn't in this video. Sometimes that's all you need, a neck adjustment.
what string gauge did you put? thanks
When I got mine the saddle was super high right out of the box
Hi Gene, nice video and well explained. What gauge strings did you put on it please? I'm keen to make the same setup on mine and want to change strings also. Not sure what are on it from factory, but they're quite thick! (and very squeaky)
I installed D'addario nickel bronze light gauge. Standard OEM strings are D'addario EJ16 phosphor bronze. If you're sure the strings are those, you could try extra light gauge on either brand.
From watching this video I put Martin Retro Nickel light gauge that's surprisingly better.
Monel nickel was the exact composition
I like this guitar but for my lady fingers was a bit harsh so had to do adjustments, I was missing the the strings not buried & tussrod, thanks 👍🏻
You're welcome
Thanks for the video 👍
How did you do neck adjustment, given that there’s no truss rod and the steel reinforced neck?
There is a neck adjustment. Use a straight edge or sight down. I like my necks almost straight.
They have a dual action trussrod. It adjusts from the inside of the sound hole.
Guitar comes with the Allen wrench.
I can't find the proper size hex wrench to adjust the truss rod on this guitar
I don't actually own that guitar but, as a guess, I would judge them to be 1/4" hex. It's certainly not an odd size.
mine came with the wrench
If it's not SAE, it's metric. Can't be hard to find any any hardware store.
@@genebrenner855 4mm
Thanks Gene. What size nichol strings did you use?
They were light gauge.
Hi, where are you at?
Are you accepting work ?
Great info. Even better when I set the playback speed to 1.5. Not a complaint...I talk slow also.
😂"Nobody is spending a heck of a lot of time messaging the nut just right..." I don't know about you, but...
Tune it down a half step and put a capo on.
It feels like a toy
that is a VERY weird Jim Dandy...
black paint... yellow color in the interior..
walnut linden combo
or the rosewood griff?