[acousticplays]

So I've decided to pop some money out of the bank account to upgrade my stock minihums to Filtertrons.

I've never modded a guitar before, so I'm most likely going to buy the pickups and bring it to my guitar tech and have him install them.

Sooooo....which Filtertrons do I buy? I know that there are regular and HS ones? (and that's pretty much all I know... )

[nadles]

Good choice - I fitted some to my 5120 and got that great gretsch sound

As far as I'm aware all current production Filtertrons are HS.

[Axis39]

TV Jones makes the Classics. These are awesome. I think wound a touch hotter than the Gretsch offerings? I do know you can get a slightly hotter bridge pickup to better balance the tone and volume of the two.

Gretsch currently makes HS Filtertrons and Blacktops (which I do believe are the same pickup... just, amazingly enough, one has black tops. But, I am far from an expert on this!). I believe the plain old Filtertrons were pre-FMIC. I have a pair of the HS Filtertrons in my 6129tls and they are absolutely incredible!!

I wondered about the TVJ's until my buddy brought his Setzer Hot Rod over. I was playing through my '69 Vibrolux and he was playing through his '67 Bassman. They sounded much more similar than I imagined they would! Killed any gas I had for a pickup swap.


I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either of these choices (HS Filters or TVJ Classics).

[ampe]

i haven't triend tvj's, but alot of people here can't say the tvj's are that much better than HS's, but they do cost twice as much
and that's why my HS's arrived in the mail today

[HBob]

I watched the video of Billy Zoom talking about his new signature Gretsch the other day. He says the guitar has Seymour Duncan pickups in it about five times. Almost like he wanted everyone to know it didn't have TV Jones in it since that seems to be the go-to high-end Gretsch pickup. Anyone else see/notice this?

[MacStevenXIII]

Originally Posted by HBob

I watched the video of Billy Zoom talking about his new signature Gretsch the other day. He says the guitar has Seymour Duncan pickups in it about five times. Almost like he wanted everyone to know it didn't have TV Jones in it since that seems to be the go-to high-end Gretsch pickup. Anyone else see/notice this?

Billy Zoom HATES filters. It's well documented over at the GDP. He LOVES Dynas.

I doubt the reason he mentions Seymour Duncan has anything to do with TV Jones as they seem to have a friendly relationship based upon the NAMM coverage I've seen.

[cybermgk]

What you might find for sale out there are 3, maybe 4 types of actual Gretsch Filtertrons. Pre-FMIC Filtertrons, Current HS Filtertrons, Hot Rod Filtertrons, and MAYBE Blacktop Filtertrons (Though I haven't seen them for sale.

MY understanding (which could be inaccurate)
Current HS Filtertrons - Alnico magnets, same as used on pro-lines and others with Filtertrons. Many say they are more versatile, musically than vintage Filters, perhaps with a little less low-end twang. FMIC had TV Jones provide some design input. Wound to around 4.3-4.5K

Pre-FMIC Filters - Ceramic Mags. Either NOS or pulls from guitars usually. Many think these sound not as good as the HS Filtertrons. Some say they nail the "Chet sound", others say they are harsher than HS Filters.

Hot Rod Filters - Still available from Gretsch. Originally in the Hot Rod models (believe they have TVJ pups today). Originally, rumor has it, a TVJ design picked by Brian for the Hot Rod launch. Rumor also has it because he wasn't happy with the ceramic Filters of the time. Lot of theories that they are the same as HS Filters, or that HS Filters are just Hot Rods rebranded. But Gretsch Lists/sellls them fort more than HS Filters. So, that last doesn't seem to jive.

Blcaktop Filters - On current Electromatic Pro Jets. Seem to be the same as HS filters, in a different case. Look the same, mount the same. Sound the same?

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by Axis39

TV Jones makes the Classics. These are awesome. I think wound a touch hotter than the Gretsch offerings? I do know you can get a slightly hotter bridge pickup to better balance the tone and volume of the two.

Gretsch currently makes HS Filtertrons and Blacktops (which I do believe are the same pickup... just, amazingly enough, one has black tops. But, I am far from an expert on this!). I believe the plain old Filtertrons were pre-FMIC. I have a pair of the HS Filtertrons in my 6129tls and they are absolutely incredible!!

I wondered about the TVJ's until my buddy brought his Setzer Hot Rod over. I was playing through my '69 Vibrolux and he was playing through his '67 Bassman. They sounded much more similar than I imagined they would! Killed any gas I had for a pickup swap.

I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either of these choices (HS Filters or TVJ Classics).

The pre FMIC Filtertrons had ceramic magnets. When Fender came into the picture they went to Alnico magnets and called them HS Filtertrons.

[acousticplays]

I was searching around the interenet and found this pair:

http://www.rainbowguitars.com/access...LTERTRONSET/FE

Is that a reasonable price for both the bridge and neck?

[Polish John]

Blacktop Filters - On current Electromatic Pro Jets. Seem to be the same as HS filters, in a different case. Look the same, mount the same. Sound the same?

From my experience, Blacktops seem a bit brighter than HS Filtertrons.

[cybermgk]

Originally Posted by Polish John

From my experience, Blacktops seem a bit brighter than HS Filtertrons.

Said SEEM to be. Brightness might be do to the black, thin plastic top, compared to the traditional open metal top.

[cybermgk]

Originally Posted by acousticplays

I was searching around the interenet and found this pair:

http://www.rainbowguitars.com/access...LTERTRONSET/FE

Is that a reasonable price for both the bridge and neck?

It's not an UNREASONABLE price. On the lower I have seen. Make sure they are HS Filters first though. Could be pre-FMIC filters.

See also (known good dealers):
http://stores.ebay.com/HDCustom-Guit...=p4634.c0.m322

http://www.darrenriley.com/Gretschparts.htm

http://www.guitar-parts.com/catalog/...-parts/pickups

http://www.themusiczoo.com/category/...uitar-Pickups/

[acousticplays]

Thanks for those links, I'll probably grab the ones off of ebay from that seller.

Once I purchase the pickups, do I need to purchase anything else in order to have the tech install them, or do I just need the pickups?

[MacStevenXIII]

Originally Posted by acousticplays

I was searching around the interenet and found this pair:

http://www.rainbowguitars.com/access...LTERTRONSET/FE

Is that a reasonable price for both the bridge and neck?

$108.99 from Angela's

http://angela.com/gretschfiltertonhs...kelcovers.aspx

[cybermgk]

Originally Posted by MacStevenXIII

$108.99 from Angela's

http://angela.com/gretschfiltertonhs...kelcovers.aspx

Ah, that was the dealer I couldn't remember.

[The Marlin]

I've bought some Alnico5 magnets to for my Blacktop Filtertrons. I fancy swapping out the ceramic magnet.

Is that a desperatly difficult job?

Marlin

[cybermgk]

Originally Posted by The Marlin

I've bought some Alnico5 magnets to for my Blacktop Filtertrons. I fancy swapping out the ceramic magnet.

Is that a desperatly difficult job?

Marlin

Haven't done it on the BT Filters. I can't imagine it's very difficult. The vintage BT filters come apart fairly easy, and the magnet was just held between the poles by it's magnetism. MIGHT have a little glue to deal with on the new BT Filters.

Where did you get the magnets?

And please, make some clips of before, then after the magnet swap.

[Scottishblue13]

Blcaktop Filters - On current Electromatic Pro Jets. Seem to be the same as HS filters, in a different case. Look the same, mount the same. Sound the same?[/quote]

I've played both. Own jet with hs filters and mate has new jet with blacks. The blacktops seemed brighter to me. I thought they sounded great. Not sure I would swap the blacktops for hs filters if it was my guitar.