[Pete Gorilla]

My Gretsch is a pre Fender 6120 with Filters and it sounds really good (I have feedback unfortunately). I think, this is one of the best sounded Gretsch in the country (Hungary), mostly because of my Setzer like playing technique. (Even unplugged sounds good). But I have a little bug in my brain to replace the to TV Classics. But I am nut sure, since there is no chance to real comparison. I know, TVs are louder, string separation, more defined, not that thin, but I really don't know. If I spend the money on TVs, may be I would disappointed, because the difference is good for one guy, but bad for an other. I wasn't able to find any descent video to compare them. What if I order a TV and I will lost the good old sound of my guitar for a crispy and new, raw sound, but what if it will be great?

I don't know that it is the guitar, the hands, the amp, the string and how many % is the difference matters between pickups. Sorry, my English is not as good as it was, since I moved back to Hungary but I hope, you understand the confusion. All pickups sound good on youtube... Where is the truth?

[cowmoo]

Pete, i'm waiting on a pair of classics i bought used, to replace the filtertrons in my old anniversary, i think they are the HS versions i have in it, but i had classics in a 59ltv, and to me the classics sounded 'bigger' but not louder, in fact i think the HS filters are actually louder, and they have more growl. When i get the classics i'll a/b them.

[bluenote23]

I can't help with the TV's. I have four Filtertron Gretschs, one with ceramics and the others with HS Filtertrons. The HS Filtertrons might be a little bit brighter but to me, it's not a big deal. My two Jets, one with Alnicos and the other with ceramics sound pretty much the same in most playing situations.

If your guitar has a bridge that looks like this though:



then change that before anything. I find that Proline Gretschs are really high quality except for this one piece. It was a terrible bridge that badly affected the tone of the guitar.

[Pete Gorilla]

Originally Posted by bluenote23

I can't help with the TV's. I have four Filtertron Gretschs, one with ceramics and the others with HS Filtertrons. The HS Filtertrons might be a little bit brighter but to me, it's not a big deal. My two Jets, one with Alnicos and the other with ceramics sound pretty much the same in most playing situations.

If your guitar has a bridge that looks like this though:



then change that before anything. I find that Proline Gretschs are really high quality except for this one piece. It was a terrible bridge that badly affected the tone of the guitar.

Oh, I know this issue already I replaced it to a Gibson tune o magic 8 years ago, but the luthier back than stewed up a bit, so I now have a brand new tone o magic just installed.

[G-Whiz]

Originally Posted by bluenote23

I can't help with the TV's. I have four Filtertron Gretschs, one with ceramics and the others with HS Filtertrons. The HS Filtertrons might be a little bit brighter but to me, it's not a big deal. My two Jets, one with Alnicos and the other with ceramics sound pretty much the same in most playing situations.

If your guitar has a bridge that looks like this though:

then change that before anything. I find that Proline Gretschs are really high quality except for this one piece. It was a terrible bridge that badly affected the tone of the guitar.

I have that bridge and love it! To each his own, I guess.

[j.s.c]

"HS Filtertrons might be a little bit brighter but to me", I agree with what bluenote said HS are brighter than stock filters. I have both filter, HS filter and TVJ classics, I love them all. But I prefer my 1993 HS set.



I would say that ceramic HS is closer than single coil in term of response and expressiveness (more fenderish) than TVJ classic which are more powerful, less strings definition (I heard somewhere that shreders prefer creamic pups) and crack your amp faster (more alnico humbuckerish).
Stock filtertron preFMIC could be very different from one to another, in general a bit too dark for me.

[Pete Gorilla]

Originally Posted by j.s.c

"HS Filtertrons might be a little bit brighter but to me", I agree with what bluenote said HS are brighter than stock filters. I have both filter, HS filter and TVJ classics, I love them all. But I prefer my 1993 HS set.



I would say that ceramic HS is closer than single coil in term of response and expressiveness (more fenderish) than TVJ classic which are more powerful, less strings definition (I heard somewhere that shreders prefer creamic pups) and crack your amp faster (more alnico humbuckerish).
Stock filtertron preFMIC could be very different from one to another, in general a bit too dark for me.

Now I am not shire. Mine is a HS or just Stock? It looks the same as yours and the number is the same on the cover. Mine is a 6120 Nashville from 1997.

[j.s.c]

on nashville 97 should be stock, the set I use is from a SSU 1993, I have sold 2 years ago (TVJ Classic upgraded).

[stevo]

I'm in the same boat.

I have a 2003 6119 with Filtertrons of some kind. The current version shows "HS Filtertron". Would it have ceramic or Alnico magnets? Anyone know where to look to find out?

Mind you, I like the sound just fine, but would like a little more growl and twang. I seem to get there with a parametric EQ, but wonder if TV Jones Classics would sound much different than these stock pickups.

[bluenote23]

Originally Posted by stevo

I'm in the same boat.

I have a 2003 6119 with Filtertrons of some kind. The current version shows "HS Filtertron". Would it have ceramic or Alnico magnets? Anyone know where to look to find out?

As I said earlier, look at the tops of the poles.
Ceramics have half round tops. Alnicos have elongated tops.

[Pete Gorilla]

Originally Posted by bluenote23

As I said earlier, look at the tops of the poles.
Ceramics have half round tops. Alnicos have elongated tops.

Sorry, my English is not that good. What "elongated" means?

[Pete Gorilla]

now i found pictures, so mine are ceramic

[bluenote23]

Here is a rough drawing of what I mean:



I'm talking about the shape of the top of the pole as seen from the side.

[Pete Gorilla]

Originally Posted by bluenote23

Here is a rough drawing of what I mean:



I'm talking about the shape of the top of the pole as seen from the side.

This is mine: (What is this then?)



They produced 6120 Nashville with alnico in 1997? Or this is Ceramic?

[bluenote23]

Those are ceramics. I guess my drawing was not so good.

Though in another thread I was corrected in my false assumption that all preFMIC Filtertrons were ceramics. There were alnico Filtertrons in preFMIC Setzer models. I do not know what the poles looked like on those.

[stevo]

As I said earlier, look at the tops of the poles.
Ceramics have half round tops. Alnicos have elongated tops.

Sorry, I somehow missed this. But thanks - now I know how to tell. I have Alnico.

[HBob]

Hey Pete! I have ceramic Filtertrons and have decided that I'm way too happy with them to replace them. I'd looked at some options for a while but I'm keeping the ceramic Filtertrons. I don't want to lose any aggressiveness that they have or the punchy attitude. I raised them as high as they'll go and then raised the pole pieces a bit. I think they're great. I also have nickel strings on the guitar (a Jet) and I think they work well with the pick ups.

Are you in Budapest?

[Pete Gorilla]

Originally Posted by HBob

Hey Pete! I have ceramic Filtertrons and have decided that I'm way too happy with them to replace them. I'd looked at some options for a while but I'm keeping the ceramic Filtertrons. I don't want to lose any aggressiveness that they have or the punchy attitude. I raised them as high as they'll go and then raised the pole pieces a bit. I think they're great. I also have nickel strings on the guitar (a Jet) and I think they work well with the pick ups.

Are you in Budapest?

Hey! Thank you for your opinion. That's what I feel as well. I am happy with them... I am afraid that I will loose something I love for something I don't know..

Yes, I live in Budapest

[Synchro]

I had ceramics on a pre FMIC 6120 N and replaced them with HS Filters. There was an improvement but nothing dramatic.

[Pete Gorilla]

But If I replace them with TV Classic, I can put the old pickup covers back? I really loved the worn look of them, especially because I made them look like this over the years... All the gold parts are faded, I wouldn't put nice gold pickup on it.