[golfdom1987]

I'm looking to buy a Grestch Electromatic Hollow body guitar, and it seems to me that biggest decision is do I go with the Single-Coil or Dual-Coil pickups. What's the difference between the two? Is is similar to the differences between, say, P-90 Single-Coil pickups and Dual-Coil Humbuckers?

[ellengtrgrl]

Sort of.

A. The humbucker/double coil pickups on the Electromatic series are:

1. The gretschbuckers, in the 5120, and 5122 models. These pickups sound sort of like a Gibson-style humbucker, but can be made to give more Gretsch-like twang (if you want it), by adjusting the polepiece heights.

2. The mini humbuckers (also double coils) found on the Pro-Jets, and Junior Jets. These aren't quite as dark sounding as the gretschbuckers, but are a bit lower in output. They are a bit brighter/twangier sounding than a comparable Gibson mini-humbucker. I used to have a Junior Jet that had a mini-humbucker in it. It was a fun, punky sounding guitar - great for Buzzcocks, and dirtier Hellacopters garage rock.

B. Single coils in Electromatics - the pickup used was the DeArmond 2000. It's a bit brighter sounding than a P-90. The polepieces are larger than on a P-90, and also are the main way height adjustments are made (the pickup body itself, can only be raised by stacking shims under it). No Electromatics are being made at this time, that use this pickup. The Electromatics that did use it were the Special Jet, some of the defunct Historic (3900 model) series guitars, and the 512x (5124, 5125, 5126, 5127, 5128, and 5129) Electromatics. While the DeArmond 2000 doesn't sound like the Dynasonics in my Country Club, they are still good sounding pickups.

[Jukebox]

The G3900 uses a floating jazz pickup, some of the 3100 series used the 2000 pickups

[Flynnski]

Wow Ellen..you know your stuff! I learned a lot!

[Gretschy]

What kind of music do you play? Do you play clean usually or use OD/tube break up? For me (and read FOR ME) I prefer Single Coils clean and buckers if I'm playing dirty.

Gretsch pickups have the distinction of having the charm of both really, so some lines can be crossed. For example the Filtertrons (not Gretschbuckers) are a brighter twangier bucker than a Gibson-esque buckers and sound BEAUTIFUL clean. And Dynas as well as 2000s, IMHO, break up better and a little thicker than say a Strat or Tele pup. This is why I love Gretsches so much. They can do anything really.

If you are going Electro Hollow, I highly recommend a 512xx model with the 2000s. I would put the Dynas/2000s in the P-90 range (which is one of my fave pups).To my ear, they are more versatile than Gbuckers. The Gbuckers were just too muddy to get a pleasing clean sound. But take that with a grain of salt. When I had my 5120, I didn't mess with pole pieces or anything, and you can always swap in different pups.

I just think that the 512xx is great right out of the box. And they are available from time to time on ebay (brand new but marked used as they are B stocks sometimes) from a well respected dealer-Rocky @Street Sound NYC. You can always call him direct as well.

I have no experience with the mini hums other than a bit of wanking at GC but they seem to be right in the middle there. Prolly another really versatile option.

[Lizardkinged]

Originally Posted by Gretschy

What kind of music do you play? Do you play clean usually or use OD/tube break up? For me (and read FOR ME) I prefer Single Coils clean and buckers if I'm playing dirty.

Gretsch pickups have the distinction of having the charm of both really, so some lines can be crossed. For example the Filtertrons (not Gretschbuckers) are a brighter twangier bucker than a Gibson-esque buckers and sound BEAUTIFUL clean. And Dynas as well as 2000s, IMHO, break up better and a little thicker than say a Strat or Tele pup. This is why I love Gretsches so much. They can do anything really.

If you are going Electro Hollow, I highly recommend a 512xx model with the 2000s. I would put the Dynas/2000s in the P-90 range (which is one of my fave pups).To my ear, they are more versatile than Gbuckers. The Gbuckers were just too muddy to get a pleasing clean sound. But take that with a grain of salt. When I had my 5120, I didn't mess with pole pieces or anything, and you can always swap in different pups.

I just think that the 512xx is great right out of the box. And they are available from time to time on ebay (brand new but marked used as they are B stocks sometimes) from a well respected dealer-Rocky @Street Sound NYC. You can always call him direct as well.

I have no experience with the mini hums other than a bit of wanking at GC but they seem to be right in the middle there. Prolly another really versatile option.

I have a 5125, its kinda unique, but i enjoy everything about my guitar except the Bigsby compensated bridge that comes on it, and the cheaper tuners that come on it. But all that can be fixed for a minor price.

Considering what you've already paid for...

[dan P]

I wouldn't can the tuners so fast, usually the complaint leads to the nut for tuning issues...

[Sarah93003]

As far as pickup choice, it all depends on the sound you are after. Play a bunch of different ones and that will help you decide.

[araT]

Originally Posted by Sarah93003

As far as pickup choice, it all depends on the sound you are after. Play a bunch of different ones and that will help you decide.

+1 to that

[Lizardkinged]

Originally Posted by araT

+1 to that

yeah, research what they all look like, and then head to the store and test them out...

I Love my DeArmond 2ks... I want more of them. 4 to be exact.

The 5125-29 line is a pretty good guitar, just as long as your tuners aren't crap. in which case its a cheap fix for they're price.

[roadjunkie]

Your guitar has 2000's not 2k's. Gretsch didn't use the 2k's. Guild did and I think at one point Fender used them in something. The 2000's are closer to Dynas and the 2k's are closer to a P-90

[Lizardkinged]

Originally Posted by roadjunkie

Your guitar has 2000's not 2k's. Gretsch didn't use the 2k's. Guild did and I think at one point Fender used them in something. The 2000's are closer to Dynas and the 2k's are closer to a P-90

ohh, my bad. I thought the 2k stood for two thousand just like it does 99 percent of the time.

[roadjunkie]

yep there's a difference. It was confusing for a few years as to which was what. Guild didn't help matters much when they started using 2000's on their X-160 Rockabilly either!

[Bean fan]

I just picked up a 6193, Electro II, block mother of toilet seat inlays (no inlay on first fret), truss rod, with a wooden bridge, not Melitta, and with the G-cut out tailpiece, rather than a harp tpc. Could that be correct? I bought the thing, and picked my clever screen name, in honor of Billy Bean, who played something very close to this guitar on The Trio album (love not just his playing, but the SOUND). I understand his may have had a spruce top, the one I have is likely laminated maple, right? Am I there yet?

The spacers under the gold pickups (Dynasonics?) are badly deteriorated, seem to be nitrocellulose. I earlier read a thread on the subject of spacers, and have ordered 4 dynasonic spacers from Darren Riley. Have I done the right thing? Will I have to unsolder these to install the spacers? All information welcome. I'll post a photo later. Tweed case in perfect shape. Sure is purty.

[LATS]

Welcome aboard!

1st rule of introductions, and especially guitar questions: pix, please!

Someone who is more familiar with the 6193 might be able to answer sight-unseen, but we'd all be more confident about helping you if we could see what we're talking about.

[araT]

Originally Posted by Bean fan

I just picked up a 6193, Electro II, block mother of toilet seat inlays (no inlay on first fret), truss rod, with a wooden bridge, not Melitta, and with the G-cut out tailpiece, rather than a harp tpc. Could that be correct? I bought the thing, and picked my clever screen name, in honor of Billy Bean, who played something very close to this guitar on The Trio album (love not just his playing, but the SOUND). I understand his may have had a spruce top, the one I have is likely laminated maple, right? Am I there yet?

The spacers under the gold pickups (Dynasonics?) are badly deteriorated, seem to be nitrocellulose. I earlier read a thread on the subject of spacers, and have ordered 4 dynasonic spacers from Darren Riley. Have I done the right thing? Will I have to unsolder these to install the spacers? All information welcome. I'll post a photo later. Tweed case in perfect shape. Sure is purty.

Welcome aboard Bean!

It might be worth starting a new thread for your questions, and yes, as LATS said, we definitely need pics!

[S Macp]

Hi Bean, and welcome to the forum!

[Bean fan]

Here are the photos of the 6193, Electro II. Questions: the year, whether the bridge (not Melitta) is correct, and tailpiece should be harp-like. Laminated maple top/sides/back? Serial number appears to be 12093. Anyone know if Billy Bean's had a solid spruce top? His had Melitta and harp tpc from photos I've seen. I ordered Dynasonic spacers, as I've said. Will they work? Install spacers without removing all the wiring, resoldering?

[Big Ron]

I read this entire thread (and learned a lot) but no one has mentioned 60Hz hum in all this. I have no first hand experience with Gretsch single coils but was wondering if they pick up HUMMMMmmmmm like every other single coil I ever had does?

My strat has Danny Gatton's favorite, Joe Bardens in it for this very reason. Just me personally, but the difference in achievable tones rates about a 4 on my goodies scale and having a humming, buzzing guitar rates a -50.

Big Ron

[Bean fan]

I can't figure out how to start a new thread. I wonder if you could help me move my posts/ phots to start a new thread? Pre-country club/Electro II queries?