Original Cara Hot Rod Guitars - Gretsch Country Gentleman Wiring Schematic - Bad Output

Gretsch 1959 Country Gentleman Wiring

Here's the answer you wanted about that intermittent output problem on your Gretsch Country Gentleman. Look at the way the controls work and download the schematics. There is also a friction fit connection that resides on the pickup wires. These are not listed on the original Gretsch schematics. We added them, and have provided photos for your reference

Then take a look at the photos of the stock crimped wire connections that we found inside, and see how to make them solid. These connections are where most intermittent problems are on this wiring configuration.

1. Pickup Selector: Switch for selecting the pickup position (rear for neck, middle for mixed, front for bridge).

2. Master Tone Selector: Tone control switch so that the tone can be selected from three settings. The rear position emphasizes bass, the middle is neutral and the front offers a slight high-frequency roll-off.

3. Master Volume: For adjusting overall volume.

4. Neck Pickup Volume: For controlling the neck pickup volume.

5. Bridge Pickup Volume: For controlling the bridge pickup volume.

6. Standby: In the center position, no sound is produced, regardless of the volume controls. Sound is produced when switched to either side position.

Download Gretsch Country Gentleman Wiring Schematic


The friction connector for the bridge pickup can be reached through the back access. It looks like this and will have a ground and hot from the pickup on one side, and the wires running to the controls on the other. These connections get corrosion on them, and are usually the cause of intermittent problems in an otherwise trouble free instrument.	I usually clean the connections, and the solder where the crimp is. This will promise a solid connection. I assume these connectors were an "easy" way for Gretsch to install pickup wiring from the front, and control wiring from the back at different times on the production line.	Once soldered, I will usually cover the entire connector with black pickup winding tape. The friction connector for the Neck pickup can be reached through the neck pickup cavity, once you remove the neck pickup.