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Daryl Licht · May 24th, 2012, 07:14 PM

OK, I've read a ton of threads about upgrading pickups in the 5120, but I want to beat this horse some more.

I'm looking for brightness and twang. I'm looking at either the GFS Retrotrons or Surf90's. The new Lollars just didn't excite me at all in the clips I heard. TV Jones Classics are not out of my price range, but the humbucker replacements don't have the look, and I'm not modifying my guitar to use the English mount. I've not seen this said, so I'll have to say it myself. It's just goofy that TVJ doesn't make a PU with the look of the English mount that with fit a conventional humbucker mount.

I'm a casual player, don't gig, mostly play alone. Which of the GFS models with get me the closest to the classic Gretsch tone?

mak1965 · May 24th, 2012, 07:25 PM

I bet you would be happier leaving the guitar stock. they discontinued it, so If you have an all stock 5120 you got it made,, also I would have to say you really don't need to watse your $$ The guitar stock is great!!! Enjoy it and play it hard!

Tony65x55 · May 24th, 2012, 09:10 PM

I've used the Retrorons Liverpool and the Surf 90's. They are both great $40 pickup and the once that sounds most like a Gretsch is ... wait for it... Filter'trons. You can buy them off HD Custom Guitar for $49 ea on Ebay and they will mount fine in you existing rings. Simply take a Dremel and cut the belly out of your horrid Gretschbuckers. Use a couple of little nuts and bolts to secure them to the Filter'trons and for only $20 more, you have the real "Great Gretsch Sound." Great enough to use them in a Falcon. IMHO, better than the TV Jones (gasp.)

Uncle Daddy · May 25th, 2012, 12:42 AM

My 5120 has the later version of the G-buckers, with the 2 adjusters on the upper part of the pickup mount ring. With the heights balanced so that there's no big volume discrepancy when switching from neck to bridge, and the pole height clarity adjustment done they sound great. I normally EQ the amp to reduce bass and middle, and increase treble; add a smattering of reverb and there's plenty of twang!

Save your cash to buy more beer!

nadles · May 25th, 2012, 04:29 AM

I have filtertrons in my 5120 and its got that "great Gretsch sound". got them from HD Custom Guitar. Great price great service.

I've also got Surf 90s in a non Gretsch hollow body. Great sound brighter than the filtertons with more twang.

mike77rios · May 25th, 2012, 05:29 AM

I have to say the GFS "Hot Nashville" for the bridge and the "Surf90s" in the neck position will give you what you want.

ampe · May 25th, 2012, 06:13 AM

i've put hs filters in my 5120 and put the gretschbuckers in a solid body guitar
and my god they come to live in there!

johnnyguitar · May 25th, 2012, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony65x55

I've used the Retrorons Liverpool and the Surf 90's. They are both great $40 pickup and the once that sounds most like a Gretsch is ... wait for it... Filter'trons. You can buy them off HD Custom Guitar for $49 ea on Ebay and they will mount fine in you existing rings. Simply take a Dremel and cut the belly out of your horrid Gretschbuckers. Use a couple of little nuts and bolts to secure them to the Filter'trons and for only $20 more, you have the real "Great Gretsch Sound." Great enough to use them in a Falcon. IMHO, better than the TV Jones (gasp.)

+1

Arfer MO · May 25th, 2012, 08:41 AM

I put GGS NY 11's in mine. Plenty of twang. Arf

PacRat · May 25th, 2012, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daryl Licht

OK, I've read a ton of threads about upgrading pickups in the 5120, but I want to beat this horse some more.

I'm looking for brightness and twang. I'm looking at either the GFS Retrotrons or Surf90's. The new Lollars just didn't excite me at all in the clips I heard. TV Jones Classics are not out of my price range, but the humbucker replacements don't have the look, and I'm not modifying my guitar to use the English mount. I've not seen this said, so I'll have to say it myself. It's just goofy that TVJ doesn't make a PU with the look of the English mount that with fit a conventional humbucker mount.

I'm a casual player, don't gig, mostly play alone. Which of the GFS models with get me the closest to the classic Gretsch tone?

I just wanted to comment on the issue of installing TV Jones Classics with the English mount. I just installed a pair in my 3161 and I have to tell you there is not an easier install on the planet. They were a direct replacement for my Gretschbuckers. The pups mounted to the rings and the rings screwed into the same holes as the rings of the original Gretschbuckers, no cutting . . . so I can't figure out how people are willing to bad mouth the "English" mount. If you don't need the English mount then you order the other mount, pretty simple. One quick note on the upgrade of your 5120 though . . . buy a 6120

lostcat · May 25th, 2012, 09:32 AM

Have communicated with GFS on this and it can vary depending on amp and what you really want - depending on what part of the spectrum of that gretsch sound you want anything from the Surf 90s, Memphis, Nashville, or Liverpool range could be what you want !! All depends on how much Twang is your Thang

email them they will get back to you pretty quick

cybermgk · May 25th, 2012, 09:45 AM

First on "It's just goofy that TVJ doesn't make a PU with the look of the English mount that with fit a conventional humbucker mount.". Um I have a bridge, that is exactly this in an LP. Have the neck pup and ring waiting to put in/on this weekend. You don't get any more standard humbucker mount than on an LP. Just need a ring with a narroweer cutout, which TVJ sells.

As someone mentioned, look at Gretsch HS Filtertrons (definate Gretsch tone).

I have the Memphis Retrotrons in a solid body. And they are one of the few GFS pups I have personally tried (have tried Memphis, Dream180, Dream90, 59's, VEH, Mean90 and a couple of others) that I really like. Memphis, in the solid body certainly hint at the Gretsch tone, with a tiny bit less string clarity, but more output and hair.

Nerrad · May 25th, 2012, 09:59 AM

MY favorite pickups are the Dearmond Dynasonics but I put the HS Filtertrons in my 5120 and I have never looked back. Plus it looks cooler with the pickup ring you need for it...lol

Henrytwang · May 25th, 2012, 10:00 AM

I put HS Filtertrons along with Gretsch bezels from HD on my 5120, these pickups are great value for money. I'm no luthier but it wasn't difficult, there are loads of threads on this forum detailing how to do it. I have got TV Jones Filterton pickups on one of my other guitars and they do have a little something extra tonewise but Gretsch Filtertons also have their unique tonal properties. I've just put together a Cabronita style guitar and fitted a Gretsch Filtertron, it sounds amazing in the swamp ash body.

johnnyguitar · May 25th, 2012, 10:28 AM

In probably going to get hung for this but my experience with GFS pups is they feel like the cheap pickups you'd get in a guitar you'd buy from Sears. Some of them sound alright, but they are made out of cheap tin & plastic ....sorry

On the other end of the spectrum is TV Jones. Although I actually prefer the tone of the Gretsch Filters you can't argue with the quality of materials and workmanship that goes into a TV pup. But you pay allot for it

The Gretsch filters you can buy off EBay for $49 each are perfect middle ground for a 5 series Gretsch. They are well put together and sound "Gretschier" than anything from GFS because they ARE Gretsch! Not to mention that resale would be better.

cybermgk · May 25th, 2012, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnnyguitar

In probably going to get hung for this but my experience with GFS pups is they feel like the cheap pickups you'd get in a guitar you'd buy from Sears. Some of them sound alright, but they are made out of cheap tin & plastic ....sorry

On the other end of the spectrum is TV Jones. Although I actually prefer the tone of the Gretsch Filters you can't argue with the quality of materials and workmanship that goes into a TV pup. But you pay allot for it

The Gretsch filters you can buy off EBay for $49 each are perfect middle ground for a 5 series Gretsch. They are well put together and sound "Gretschier" than anything from GFS because they ARE Gretsch! Not to mention that resale would be better.

First, I agree that for the OP, HS FIlters seems like "a best option". Gets what he wants and at not very much more, price, than GFS.

But some GFS pups are built better than others. The Retrotrons and Pro series are built about as well as many mass-produced pups out there. Some others, definately do feel cheap/flimsy. THough ALL, when set up 4 wire, use some really flimsy cheap wire.

Rowland1 · May 25th, 2012, 11:17 AM

I have GFS Surf 90s in my G5122. I love the neck pickup, but have fallen out of love with the bridge pup. The bridge pup gives a great (fairly fat) clean tone. I typically use the bridge pup for overdrive/distortion sounds and the Surf 90 doesn't really cut it for me. These are the only GFS pups I've ever bought. Based on my somewhat limited experience I think they're good pups, way better than the stock gretschbuckers.

With all that said, I just ordered a TV Jones Classic for the bridge position. I can't believe that I am actually paying $150 for one pickup. But I am pretty excited to get it and try it out.

TeeDub · May 25th, 2012, 11:22 AM

I was excited to find Gretsch branded HS Filters on ebay last year for $49 ea. Wanted to love them in my 5120 but they had a metallic overtone that really grated on my ear. I think it was resonating with the fillings in my teeth or something. Replaced them with a pair of GFS NYIIs and I am quite happy with the increase in output and what I call "woody twang". I think there is an inherent darkness in the 5120 that really calls for single coils. My $.02

Henrytwang · May 25th, 2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybermgk

First, I agree that for the OP, HS FIlters seems like "a best option". Gets what he wants and at not very much more, price, than GFS.

But some GFS pups are built better than others. The Retrotrons and Pro series are built about as well as many mass-produced pups out there. Some others, definately do feel cheap/flimsy. THough ALL, when set up 4 wire, use some really flimsy cheap wire.

I'm inclined to agree with your comments regarding GFS quality. I've got a pair of NY11s', the magnets fell off both of them and the winding polarity was wrong on one pickup, once I sorted the problems out they sound great on my Electromatic Double Jet. I also have a pair of Retrotron Nashvilles which are built OK, sound much better than Gretschbuckers but can't hold a candle to real Filtertrons, (they're currently "resting" in my spares box).

Tony65x55 · May 25th, 2012, 04:05 PM

My experience with GFS pickups has been quite good and I've never had negative quality issues. The NYII's are very nice, the Surf 90's are good and the Retroron Liverpools I had simply beat hell out of the stock Gretschbuckers, even after the tweedling of the pole pieces. Thing is, for another $10 each, moving to a Filtertron is a significant step up and after having done both, I would recommend the Filters every time. BTW, their P90 pickup is delicious.