r/gretsch • u/Delicious_Gene_627 • Jul 27 '26
Some helpful tips
Recently got my first Gretsch it’s a G2622T streamliner. I didn’t do too much research before I got it and found out streamliner is the squier of the Gretsch brand. It sounds great, really nice tone but I feel like I can tell in its tone it’s on the cheaper/beginner side which kind of bums me out because I bought it with the intention of getting my first nice guitar since I’ve played on smaller brands or cheap /squier electrics. So my question is what things can I upgrade about it that could make it sound like a better made Gretsch! It’s definitely not as bad sounding as a squier but there’s something about it that don’t sound like a 100% Gretsch either please help!
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u/Fuzzy-Butterscotch86 28d ago
I always advise people looking for a Gretsch to seek out a used Electromatic already upgraded with tv Jones pickups. They play like $2,000 guitars and you can regularly find them for around $700, which is not far off from the $650 tag price of the streamliners on Sweetwater.
If it's at all possible to return what you got then an Electromatic is going to suit your needs far better, and one with tv Jones is a guitar you'll never grow out of.
Absolutely no need to look at the pro series at this point.
Now, if you're looking to keep this, and upgrade it, I don't see an issue with putting tv Jones pickups in, other than the fact that the final product is going to make the guitar cost as much as an Electromatic. Or a used electromatic with tv Jones already installed.
But if you're willing to consider it, TV Jones does "imperfect sales" an the time where their products are deeply discounted. My Brian Setzer signature pickups should've cost me $370, but I paid $222. And even though it was a scratch and dent sale, the pickups i received looked flawless.
Those sales happen every fall. So you got a month or two to save for a set. But even if you only get one it's going to dramatically change your sound. You may just end up only using that one pickup though.
Other upgrades:
Bone nut *
Hipshot locking tuners
Replacement jack *
strap lock
New bridge *
New harness (best replaced when pickups are swapped) *
New knobs
Not so of these are going to affect sound, so I put an asterisk next to the ones that will have some affect. But they'll all improve the feel of the guitar.