Question about a preFender 2002 6119 Tennessee Rose

radd · Mar 28, 2023

I have a 2002 6119 for a few days to try out and it is in showroom condition. It even has some of the original paperwork.

My question is regarding the pots. One control knob was wobbly so I pulled it off and discovered the pots are split shaft but the the knobs are set screw for solid shaft. Of course the split shaft was crushed together. I can fix that, or replace pots but I am trying to determine if the early 6119’s had split shaft or solid shaft pots.

If the early Rose had split shaft pots and someone upgraded the knobs, I’ll deal with that. If, on the other hand someone rewired the guitar I think I’ll pass. I’m not going to pull out a pickup and pull out a pot to check on a guitar I don’t own. The store has no history on the guitar.

Any help would be appreciated.

radd · Mar 28, 2023

I have found photos of similar vintage 6119’s and they do have set screw arrow knobs clearly for solid shaft pots.

Photo not of my guitar, 2000 6119

Shock · Mar 28, 2023

It doesn't take very much torque to hold a knob on. They crush easy. Then the knob spins lopsided. I only crushed the one though.

So I have one lopsided knob on the 3156.

radd · Mar 28, 2023

Shock said:
It doesn't take very much torque to hold a knob on. They crush easy. Then the knob spins lopsided. I only crushed the one though. So I have one lopsided knob on the 3156.

Are you saying Gretsch put set screw knobs on split shafts?

As for crushed split shafts I have an easy fix

Shock · Mar 28, 2023

radd said:
Are you saying Gretsch put set screw knobs on split shafts?

As for crushed split shafts I have an easy fix

View attachment 205099

No, I had mine rewired and when I put my new knobs on.

Glaw · Mar 28, 2023

mine’s a 95

radd · Mar 28, 2023

Glaw said:
View attachment 205100 View attachment 205101 View attachment 205103
mine’s a 95

Fantastic, the Gretsch I have is “as it should be”

Thanks. I will use my popsicle stick trick along with two sided tape and fix the crushed split shafts.

Thanks for helping me out.

BTY, what year is yours and what do you think of it?

Cryin_Caleb_Aaron · Mar 28, 2023

I found this photo of the original wiring harness I removed from my 1995 6120.
Split shaft. They’re real tiny pots too.

NitroSonic · Mar 28, 2023

Yep, the original pots in my '89 tenny where small split shaft like the ones pictured above.

Maguchi · Mar 28, 2023

radd said:
I have a 2002 6119 for a few days to try out and it is in showroom condition. It even has some of the original paperwork.

My question is regarding the pots. One control knob was wobbly so I pulled it off and discovered the pots are split shaft but the the knobs are set screw for solid shaft. Of course the split shaft was crushed together. I can fix that, or replace pots but I am trying to determine if the early 6119’s had split shaft or solid shaft pots.

If the early Rose had split shaft pots and someone upgraded the knobs, I’ll deal with that. If, on the other hand someone rewired the guitar I think I’ll pass. I’m not going to pull out a pickup and pull out a pot to check on a guitar I don’t own. The store has no history on the guitar.

Any help would be appreciated.

View attachment 205065 View attachment 205066 View attachment 205067

That's bada$$!

radd · Mar 28, 2023

Cryin_Caleb_Aaron said:
I found this photo of the original wiring harness I removed from my 1995 6120.
Split shaft. They’re real tiny pots too.
View attachment 205104

NitroSonic said:
Yep, the original pots in my '89 tenny where small split shaft like the ones pictured above.

I love this place. Thanks for the info. The split shaft issue was my only issue. The guitar is in stunning shape. It is heavier that the two other Tennessee Roses I’ve owned in the past but it plays beautifully and sounds pretty good. The 21 yr old tuners are as smooth as anything I have ever used.

It might be a keeper.

Thanks again

Cryin_Caleb_Aaron · Mar 28, 2023

radd said:
I love this place. Thanks for the info. The split shaft issue was my only issue. The guitar is in stunning shape. It is heavier that the two other Tennessee Roses I’ve owned in the past but it plays beautifully and sounds pretty good. The 21 yr old tuners are as smooth as anything I have ever used.

It might be a keeper.

Thanks again

Yeah, my 90’s 6120 is a BEAST.
It has some differences in the structural design, but it’s still every bit as lovely as the post-FMIC products I’ve put my grubby hands on, in terms of fit and finish.

Glaw · Mar 28, 2023

radd said:
Fantastic, the Gretsch I have is “as it should be”

Thanks. I will use my popsicle stick trick along with two sided tape and fix the crushed split shafts.

Thanks for helping me out.

BTY, what year is yours and what do you think of it?

1995 and it’s a great guitar the filters aren’t as bright as my tvs but they sound great.

and beautiful

thunder58 · Mar 29, 2023

radd said:
I love this place. Thanks for the info. The split shaft issue was my only issue. The guitar is in stunning shape. It is heavier that the two other Tennessee Roses I’ve owned in the past but it plays beautifully and sounds pretty good. The 21 yr old tuners are as smooth as anything I have ever used.

It might be a keeper.

Thanks again

We're just a bunch of enablers aren't we

She is a beauty

Hammerhead · Mar 29, 2023

I have a 99, great player but I hated the ceramic pickups, and strings popped out of the roller bridge, mid gig!

TV Jones and a bar bridge and it has served me well since 2003.

EarleG · Mar 29, 2023

Nice looking TN Rose! I've used these adapters before and work well on split shafts.

radd · Mar 29, 2023

EarleG said:
Nice looking TN Rose! I've used these adapters before and work well on split shafts.

Never seen that before. Thanks for the post.

radd · Mar 29, 2023

Hammerhead said:
I have a 99, great player but I hated the ceramic pickups, and strings popped out of the roller bridge, mid gig!

TV Jones and a bar bridge and it has served me well since 2003.

So far the pickups work for me because I have not performed in decades so they work well enough in my home environment.

The bridge on the other hand will be leaving.

Cass · Mar 29, 2023

I have a similar guitar, a 6119 bought originally in 2002. I picked it up in 2019. Mine is labelled Tennessean (Still not sure what the difference is to a Tennessee Rose, though I see yours has FilterTrons instead of HiLoTrons, no kill switch, a tone knob instead of a mud switch, and REAL F Holes!!). It has split shaft pots, with grub screws to hold the knobs on! As far as I know, this is how it came from the factory. The grub screws seem to hit the shaft near the base of the splits that may have protected me from the wobbly knobbly.
Enjoy that lovely looking T Rose!