[johnnyguitar]

I sold some gear and have a little money to spend....

I put some GFS Memphis pups in my 5122 and wasn't blown away.
So off to TV Jones I go, but can't decide between the Classic plus and the Powertron.....maybe the powertron is too much....ugh

[fieldhdj]

I have guitars with both, and it really depends on what and how you play. Much will depend on your amp(s), too.

Powertrons can certainly sound Gretschy using clean amp settings. As with any pickup, the more dirt, the less original character is retained. Powertrons will darken up with volume/amp compression, and are great for rock. I use a Fender Deluxe Reverb RI and a Zinky Blue Velvet with my Powertron equipped guitars.

[Joe Hi-LoTron]

You may want to try the GFS Liverpools. From the guys I know who have them, and their sound clips, those are the most Gretsch-like sounding pickups they offer.

Also, have you considered Seymour Duncan? He makes a Filtertron that is advertised as the closest thing to the original. TVJ tweaks his formula more towards the psychobilly sound. SD also makes a Hi-LoTron, and what is considered (even by Gretsch themselves) as the closest Dynasonic to the 1950s originals.

The Powertron, IMHO, is made for distortion guitar, and that's it. Not very handy for clean traditional Gretsch tones.

[Flynnski]

No problemo re getting a Gretsch twang from my 6131T-TVP Power Jet Firebird -- but TV Classics would be ‘cleaner’

[johnnyguitar]

I'm not looking for a totally clean pickup, I kinda want that Gretch clarity with a bit more bite.....?

[tartanphantom]

Then you need to find a pair of pre-FMIC Filtertrons or a pair of Gretsch Megatrons out of a newer Corvette.

[Big Burly]

The MegaTrons will definitely get you there. PowerTrons will as well.

I have PowerTrons in my ProJet, and I love'em. Good Gretschy sparkle and chime clean, growly goodness with OD/Distortion. They are extremely versatile.

You probably can find Gretsch MegaTrons for cheaper than PowerTrons, tho.

[shredtrash]

I have both: Classics in my Hot Rod and Powertrons in my Spectra Sonic. Here's my take:

The Classics are cleaner and have more top end to them. They're perfect for getting that classic Gretsch twang. They're not as full sounding as the Powertrons though. The Powertrons hit the front end of the amp harder and are great for rock tones although they still sound very good clean as well. I think the Powertrons are more versatile and if I only had one Gretsch, I'd put Powertrons in it because I do a variety of gigs. For example, I take my Hot Rod and my Spectra to my 50's rock n' roll gig. The Spectra doesn't see much time though because the Hot Rod is perfect for that sound. The Spectra can do it well though when called upon. However, at my '70s rock gig, the Spectra splits time with my VOS SG. If I could only keep one guitar though, I'd choose the Spectra because of the versatility of the Powertron pickups. Hope that helps!

[BrickwallJackson]

I don't really care for the Powertrons, personally. I'd go for the Classics if ya gotta have TV Jones.

You can gain up any pickup, and I think both the Gretsch HS Filtertrons and the TV Jones Classics sound killer with a little or a lot of dirt on them.

[Ripley1046]

I had a Powertron Plus in my 5129 with a Classic in the neck. It still sounds Gretschy, but it had a midrange scoop that I wasn't a huge fan of, at least not with my setup. It sounded great on some other's amps for different applications. I swapped it out for a Classic and I've been very happy. I considered the Classic Plus, and I might go for that in another guitar, but a pair of Classics is good.

I can certainly get some bite out of the Classics, it all depends on you amp though. I use a little grit, and almost never play totally clean. If you have a single channel amp I might say shoot for the Classic Plus.

I'm a huge advocate of GFS pickups, but I'm not a fan of the Nashville/Memphis/Liverpool line. I had Nashvilles in my 5120 and it didn't do it for me. The Surf 90s and Mean 90s however are Amazing pups!

Good luck!

[tedmac]

The TV Jones website sound examples are pretty accurate. At least the Powertron example. I have a g6128t-tvp and the Powertrons match up with the website sound bite. So go to the TV Jones website and give them a listen.

[johnnyguitar]

I've got a projet with GFS NYII's and they are fantastic single coil(Dynaish) pickup.
I had high hopes for the Memphis but it's pretty one dimensional, and I'm not interested in any others from that line.
My other thought was the "Hot rod" version of the Filtertron, but no one really knows what it is and they go for around $90 off ebay.......the TV's are around $130 and you know what your getting...

So I'm close to pulling the trigger on a Powertron bridge and a Magnatron neck...kind of the best of both worlds.....not sure

[Arfer MO]

I have put NY 11's in my 5120. Also a treble bleed on the tone and 02 caps on the vol. Lots of twang now. arf

[Flynnski]

Originally Posted by johnnyguitar

I'm not looking for a totally clean pickup, I kinda want that Gretch clarity with a bit more bite.....?

According to TV Jones, think of PowerTrons as: "FilterTrons on steroids"

[tyguy]

Originally Posted by johnnyguitar

I sold some gear and have a little money to spend....

I put some GFS Memphis pups in my 5122 and wasn't blown away.
So off to TV Jones I go, but can't decide between the Classic plus and the Powertron.....maybe the powertron is too much....ugh

It'll sound Gretschy if you want it to! The Best, "TROLL"

[johnnyguitar]

Found a really good comparison video on youtube by Proteous, who is a big contributor to the Gretsch Pages. The Powertron sounds a little too PAF for me .
The Classic is the pickup that put Mr Jones on the map for a reason....it sounds like a Gretsch should!

[Joe Hi-LoTron]

As another noted previously. You may want to consider a set of HS Filters. That's what's going in my 5122, and playing through vintage Fender Bassman 100, and Vibrosonic amps, I expect the traditional Gretsch sound I grew up with.

[j.s.c]

Originally Posted by johnnyguitar

So I'm close to pulling the trigger on a Powertron bridge and a Magnatron neck...kind of the best of both worlds.....not sure

You'll take the risk to have a strange balance between the volume of the two different pickups. Because of very different output volumes, you should have to adjust the individual volume to avoid the middle position to be near to Powertrons-only position...! Is this case, it will be tricky to manage the "treble bleeding" effect on the powertron... I will not do this kind of plastic surgery with one over sized output pickup.

(could be ok with TVJ classic and magnatron).

[tyguy]

Originally Posted by j.s.c

You'll take the risk to have a strange balance between the volume of the two different pickups. Because of very different output volumes, you should have to adjust the individual volume to avoid the middle position to be near to Powertrons-only position...! Is this case, it will be tricky to manage the "treble bleeding" effect on the powertron... I will not do this kind of plastic surgery with one over sized output pickup.

(could be ok with TVJ classic and magnatron).

Powertron worked in neck position for Chet A(I think he could play a little), in his '59 and it will work for me when I can afford one.The only git and pups that work with 2 pups together is a Stratocaster(perfect).A Gretsch w/pups set at equal volume has that ticky-tick and thin no fret sound(yuk).A pro player would never use that setup on a Gretsch.Just like on a Gibby or any 2 pup humbucker the treble pup is slightly on(just enough for volume)and the neck pup is way up(pup selector in middle position).The treble pup volume then acts as your tone control.Just the pros and my humble opinion. The Best, "TROLL"

[Joe Hi-LoTron]

Sorry, there tyguy, but the Powertron is a TVJ invention(?). Chet used a SUPERTRON in the neck position, (wound @ 4k) with FILTERTRON in the bridge position (wound around 4.5k).

Source: GDP