[araT]

I've noticed that a lot of the really early 50s Duo Jets (which I'm seriously GASsing over) come with DeArmonds, which look a lot like the current Dynasonics and also came with the tone pot circuitry, but I'm sure they sound rather different.. can anyone in the know give me a bit of a run down? Youtube isn't proving much help today.

Enlighten me

[Jukebox]

I think it's like TV classics (Dyna's) Vs. fitertrons (Dearmond)

[araT]

Right, thanks Jukers - I keep seeing em mentioned on all these 50's Duo Jets I keep bumping into online, and it always nagged at me what the differences might be

I knew one of you would be able to break it down for me, you're all bonafide gretsch geniuses!

[roadjunkie]

Originally Posted by araT

I've noticed that a lot of the really early 50s Duo Jets (which I'm seriously GASsing over) come with DeArmonds, which look a lot like the current Dynasonics and also came with the tone pot circuitry, but I'm sure they sound rather different.. can anyone in the know give me a bit of a run down? Youtube isn't proving much help today.

Enlighten me

It's very subjective Tara. Dynasonics are the Gretsch version or better yet vision of the DeArmonds. I'm not much up on vintage Gretsch as much as i should be but according to what all I have read it's a close enough relationship but still different enough that people call out for the originals. The DeArmond specs seem to be all over the place as to what was hotter from pickup to pickup. On the whole the deArmonds were said to be wound hotter then the re-issue Dynas. SD according to some are more mil-spec to the originals. According to Joe Carducci the dynas were a happy medium when they measured originals in order to make a consistant pick up.

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by araT

I've noticed that a lot of the really early 50s Duo Jets (which I'm seriously GASsing over) come with DeArmonds, which look a lot like the current Dynasonics and also came with the tone pot circuitry, but I'm sure they sound rather different.. can anyone in the know give me a bit of a run down? Youtube isn't proving much help today.

Enlighten me

IIRC Dynas were the Gretsch take on the D'Armond S/C. what I don't know is if the original D'Armonds had adjustable pole pieces with (like the D'Armonds they used on the 5124 - 5129) or if the magnets themsleves were pointed directly at the strings (like the DynaSonics).

[araT]

Wow, thanks guys appreciate the wisdom!!

[Lz_69]

Well I haven't played the old stuff but back in the 50's Gretsch Dynasonics were made by Dearmond(Rowe Industries). The 50's pickups were wound hotter(around 9.5k-11k) compared the new ones(around 8k). Another thing to note;with the orginals, is that they used series resistors to prevent them from overdriving amps.

There were also some Dearmonds made in the 60's for Guild, Martin, and the aftermarket that were even hotter(13k-14k). You can tell if it's a 60's model by the hook up lead.. They used pcv instead of cloth wire for the hot lead.

The old ones are not potted and I believe the new ones are; despite what the bridge pickup in my jet thinks... Another difference it that the metal surrounds were grounded and were the same height for the neck and bridge position.

In my mind I would expect the old ones to be louder a with more mids and a little less treble. Here's a link for you with some clips of a 6120 dsv with the Seymour Duncan replicas and(I think) some with the stock pickups.

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=...ly&view=videos

[araT]

Wow, you're incredible LZ! thanks for that - I see what you're talking about in the video, too! This is only serving to fuel my desire for a '54 Jet even more *weeps*

[Sarah93003]

Wow, very educational reading here!

[gruvsyco]

Here you go Tara....

YouTube - 1957 6128 "G" Duo Jet...

[araT]

Awesome vid gruvsyco, thanks I'm surprised I didn't stumble across it while I was digging around earlier!

[Crooner]

Originally Posted by gruvsyco

Here you go Tara....

YouTube - 1957 6128 "G" Duo Jet 00106

IIRC, that particular Jet is going for $30K. Yeppers. Not a typo. Just another case in which Fretted Americana is asking *at least* double the ballpark price. Is this guitar worth $!5,000? Depends, I guess, on how much loot you have. Realistically, I'd think $12-13K TOPS, and only because it's (supposedly) all original and in ridiculous condition.
I think they need to come down in price, however, simply for the reason that the idiot in that video played it. What a goober.

More importantly, MAN OH MAN OH MAN does that thing sound good. Jesus! I gotta get a Dyna or Dearmond Jet bad! This is a very inconvenient time to have no money at all.

[araT]

Originally Posted by Crooner

IIRC, that particular Jet is going for $30K. Yeppers. Not a typo. Just another case in which Fretted Americana is asking *at least* double the ballpark price. Is this guitar worth $!5,000? Depends, I guess, on how much loot you have. Realistically, I'd think $12-13K TOPS, and only because it's (supposedly) all original and in ridiculous condition.
I think they need to come down in price, however, simply for the reason that the idiot in that video played it. What a goober.

Hahaha, you're so right - luckily I'm not GASsin after that one at all - I want a '54 or '55 with big blocks on it, and even that will have to wait a few years

Originally Posted by Crooner

More importantly, MAN OH MAN OH MAN does that thing sound good. Jesus! I gotta get a Dyna or Dearmond Jet bad! This is a very inconvenient time to have no money at all.

Heck yes Darin! you'd better be starting the dyna-goodness fund - it's well worth it I saw a couple of nice 57RIs on eBay in the last week or so (just like mine) and I was tempted to tell you, but I didn't want to inflict any more pain..

There's a little bit of a difference between the DeArmonds & the new Dynasonics from what I can hear - as Lz said, they're less trebley, more middy.. but I can get all the tones the doofus in the video did

[Scott]

Nice little "concert"...that guy needs to keep his day job...no waitaminnit...never mind, I guess that is his day job!

He's trying to sell himself more than he is the guitar!

Fretted Americana has long been known for being way overpriced, and this is a prime example...

That guy needs more caffeine...

[jimmypeters]

i hae the same axe posted in the jets group, slightly modded and a slightly better sound.

jimmy

[Synchro]

Originally Posted by Scott

Nice little "concert"...that guy needs to keep his day job...no waitaminnit...never mind, I guess that is his day job!

He's trying to sell himself more than he is the guitar!

Fretted Americana has long been known for being way overpriced, and this is a prime example...

That guy needs more caffeine...

There's only room for a handful of guitar stars but there's no limit on the number of morons. He, IMHO, belongs squarely in the second category. First, he should get his facts straight. He seems to be spending a lot of time on conjecture. Being amazed by hump-block inlays makes it sound like he's fresh off the turnip truck. The AC-30 was a good call, at least for getting a Beatles sound.

I find it amazing that the guitar has two "middle positions" instead of just one like all of the other two-pickup guitars. The first "middle position" sounds remarkably like a neck position.

Then there's the magic Dynasonics that morph into Filtertrons so he can sound just like Malcom. Give me a break. Now we know what Beavis did for a living after he got done growing physically. (Not to be confused with growing up; which this guy has never done.)

I've met guys like this over the years, lots of them. They all think that they're undiscovered Rock Stars but in reality they are just losers. I know of one guy like that that has made it into middle-age without accomplishing anything in life. Some of these guys are great players but face it, if you haven't "made it" early on you probably never will.

Any-who, it's a nice old Gretsch, truly a beauty. I hope that someone buys it and takes it someplace quiet where it can recover from the shame of having been played by that clown.

[roadjunkie]

I'll give ole' Phil a break. Yeah he's a dick but ain't we all at times? Everyone has those dickish moments! What doesn't make sense is gearing this vid of a so-called $30.000 guitar and aiming at the audience of "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" If you market a what you think is a pristine piece the least you could do is be somewhat serious about. The guitar deserves some kind of respect. I'm sure he doesn't care what I think mostly because I don't have the green to plunk down for an overpriced piece. I do admit tho' I would love to walk in that place and put down the cash that this guitar is worth just to see if they would pass. Not a check ,CC but cash!

[gruvsyco]

wow, a lot of pretty strong dislike for Phil. He seems to have a pretty strong background as a session guy and some song writing credits with some major artists. In his gear demos he just comes across to me as some guy that's having a hell of a lot of fun playing gear that most of us could only dream of playing.

Anyways, the main reason I posted it was because... on the topic of this thread, it had the pickups being discussed and was in fact a Jet and, as we all know, is Taras guitar of choice.

[roadjunkie]

Originally Posted by gruvsyco

wow, a lot of pretty strong dislike for Phil. He seems to have a pretty strong background as a session guy and some song writing credits with some major artists. In his gear demos he just comes across to me as some guy that's having a hell of a lot of fun playing gear that most of us could only dream of playing.

Anyways, the main reason I posted it was because... on the topic of this thread, it had the pickups being discussed and was in fact a Jet and, as we all know, is Taras guitar of choice.

I don't know if it's such a dislike of Phil as much as it is advertising the way they do then charging the outlandish prices that they do. Phil just takes the brunt of the frustration needing to be vented. Sort of like " Yeah! That's nice now go away!" There's just too many good fair dealers out there and you don't have to put up with the nonsense.

Truthfully while watching the vid I'm checking out the guitar the whole time and ignoring the sideshow. I have no doubt that he's a talent and I don't doubt he's having fun! There's just days I don't need to see it!

[stole_life]

I just thought he seemed like he was having fun.