[patrickjcrum]

What is the advantage/disadvantage/reason for the tone switch on some of the higher end Gretsch guitars? Has anyone added one to their 5120 and why?

Thanks!
Pat

[noelweller]

I added one to my 5120. I happen to like it. Middle is wide open down is set up is set. I find it easier to have a switch than a knob.

[Gretschy]

The advantage is switching tones on the fly. It adds some cool combinations IMO. A lot of guys don't use them at all though.

[Scott]

I don't care for 'em. I prefer the pot so I can set exactly the tone I'm looking for...which is usually all the way up, but sometimes I get in a jazz mood and pull it down a little.

YMMV

[mugsy]

A capacitor connected to a pot allows one to vary how much of the signal is affected. On the other hand, the Gretsch tone switch is sorta like a three position Varitone switch. All of the signal is sent to the cap so there is no fine adjustment--unless one puts a tone pot in line somewhere else. If you don't like the stock sound of the tone switch, you could experiment with different cap values.

[afm_380]

Cuz, I wanted a convenient location for a coil tap switch ... a side result was a tone circuit that I actually use ...

[Pappy]

Originally Posted by Scott

I don't care for 'em. I prefer the pot so I can set exactly the tone I'm looking for...which is usually all the way up, but sometimes I get in a jazz mood and pull it down a little.

YMMV

This is exactly why I like the switch. If you give me a knob, I'll twist it until the cows come home never being entriely satisfied with where I am. But with a switch... I think I'm one of the few that feels more comfortable with less options.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by Pappy

This is exactly why I like the switch. If you give me a knob, I'll twist it until the cows come home never being entriely satisfied with where I am. But with a switch... I think I'm one of the few that feels more comfortable with less options.

That's pretty much how I see it too. I like the flexibility of a tone pot but in the heat of the moment it's rare to ave the time for fine adjustments.

Originally Posted by mugsy

A capacitor connected to a pot allows one to vary how much of the signal is affected. On the other hand, the Gretsch tone switch is sorta like a three position Varitone switch. All of the signal is sent to the cap so there is no fine adjustment--unless one puts a tone pot in line somewhere else. If you don't like the stock sound of the tone switch, you could experiment with different cap values.

I've been meaning to experiment with a simple bridge circuit and a .022 mf cap as a way of simulating a tone-pot circuit in a pre-set. I feel that the such an arrangement would omprove the character of the sound because some of the signal would take to lower impedance path and not be affected by the presence of the cap.

[stole_life]

Originally Posted by Synchro

That's pretty much how I see it too. I like the flexibility of a tone pot but in the heat of the moment it's rare to ave the time for fine adjustments.

I've been meaning to experiment with a simple bridge circuit and a .022 mf cap as a way of simulating a tone-pot circuit in a pre-set. I feel that the such an arrangement would omprove the character of the sound because some of the signal would take to lower impedance path and not be affected by the presence of the cap.

I just see adjusting the pots and switches as one more thing to practice. Watch Danny Gatton; the guy's right hand is constantly twiddling knobs and pup switches. I have Gretsches with both options. I do like the knob better, though. I've been fiddling with the switch on my Annie a lot lately, though, and I still twiddle knobs. Pups in the middle, flicking the tone switch, and adjusting the pup volumes. I've been practicing with the leads on The Byrds's version of "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" from the Sweetheart of the Rodeo album. It's almost like playing a wah with the right hand