JoeDon't give up on that guitar, they are very nice. I sure wish I had something like that when i was starting out on electric.It may just need a setup now that you've switched string brands and gauge.
![G5120 G5120](/uploads/1/2/5/5/125514897/478094118.jpg)
For many years, if you wanted a slice of the Gretsch sound and aesthetic, then your options were limited to large, full-hollow archtops or compact single- or double-cut Jets.Happily, in recent years the company has provided a variety of ‘best of both worlds’ solutions in the form of scaled-down Jr models and guitars equipped with feedback reducing, and sustain enhancing, centre-blocks.
Check neck relief, action, pickup height and finally intonation.On the subject of pickup height, the reason you want to give them some air is that the magnetic pull will slow down the string vibration. The closer they are too the strings, the more this happens and it can really hurt sustain. It's less of an issue for humbuckers, but it still applies. After you set the action where you want it, fret at the last fret and measure from the bottom of the string to the top of the pole pieces.
I set mine for about 3mm this way, and then fine tune it by ear. It's just a general guideline, but should you get your close to where you want to be. And actually, since you are using heavy strings, you may actually want them a touch further away.Now for action, depending on the guitar and your playing style I shoot for 2mm on low E and 1.5mm on the high E at the 12th fret.
Sounds like you are using heavy strings so you could probably go a bit lower. Flatwounds have always killed sustain in my opinion. I'm not a fan of the sound for what I play. Try regular electric strings. Maybe make sure that the pickups aren't too close to the strings?
Magnetic pull and all. Also maybe try a heavier guage string as they will probably impart more energy and resist magnetic pul.but yea it's not going to sustain like a solid body.Have you considered getting into using feedback? Ted Nugent got tons of feedback sustain with his Gibson Byrdland.
![Gretsch Has No Sustai Gretsch Has No Sustai](/uploads/1/2/5/5/125514897/684018528.jpg)
But then again he constantly would be fiddling with the volume knob while he played.