[Jimmy Rocket]

I just added Gretsch #2 to the stable, a beautiful walnut g5120. I love the look, the feel and the resonance of the guitar, what I do not love (as perhaps was to be expected) are the pickups.

They sound, well, meh....

I can coax some sweet tones out of them through my Princeton Reverb to be sure, but what I'm missing is clarity and what I'm getting is not the sound I believe this beauty is capable of. So of course my mind wanders to TV Jones land.

I have a La Cabronita with the Classic+ in the bridge and that's a killer pup, but I'm leaning towards a pair of Super'Trons for the 5120. (I recognize that folks run a super/classic pair, but I don't want to mix and match blades and poles) What I'd like to hear is who else is running a deuce of Supers, and what your read of that pairing would be.

It seems like they would be just a little warmer and fuller than the classics but still give me the clarity and bite that I'm looking for. Thoughts? Pics?

[fender62custom]

Spot on Jimmy!! the TV Supertrons would be killer for that guitar!!!! l have them in my G6128T-GC Jet...couldn't be happier...would be awesome in a hollowbody...very versatile...can rock & Jazz to your hearts content...that's what i'd be putting in...my other option would be a Classic+ bridge..can't go wrong either way...congrats on the walnut lass!! perhaps some shots when your done too!!

[sligo ray]

I'm also interested in the idea of Supertrons in a 5120. They seem to have a little more chime than the Classics (?). Would love to hear some sound samples or opinions from anyone here who has one in the bridge position in particular.
This got me going...

You Tube

[Jimmy Rocket]

Played it with a band yesterday and confirmed my need for a swap. I can get some fantastic tones out of the Gretschbuckers on my own, or with a drummer/bass, but add any other guitars or keys and they just disappear.

It may be that I'm going through a Princeton Reverb, and they need more mids to cut through, but I love the Princeton, so that part is staying

I may give TV Jones a call today and chat about the situation.

[Michiel]

I LIKE your thinking there Jimmy. Big YAY for supertrons here!

Have vintage laminated bladed ones (Supertron II) in my Viking; these are a tad rounder/warmer than the solid bladed ones.

And I have a TV supertron (Thanks again Darko) standing by for a future project. I'm thinking maybe getting a 5120 for it (or similer, preferrable with 25.5" scale).
From the brief spin I gave it, it sounds a little bit more transparent and little better clarity than the vintage ones in my Viking. It also sounds a bit brighter. Has a fantastic 'snap' to it that you won't get from filtertrons (those have more of a 'punch' than a 'snap').

[Jimmy Rocket]

Originally Posted by Michiel

...Has a fantastic 'snap' to it that you won't get from filtertrons (those have more of a 'punch' than a 'snap').

That sounds like just what I'm after.

[Jimmy Rocket]

I still haven't made the call on new pups, but here's a picture in the meantime...



I thought that I finally settled on supers and then I went back to digging the classic/classic+ combo and now I'm wondering about GFS surf 90s.

I have GFS NYII pups in my jet and they're the bees knees in that guitar. I thought that the surfs would keep me in that ballpark, but then again do I want to stay in that ballpark or branch out a little?

[jmiked]

I put a Supertron/Filtertron Classic+ set in my 5120 soon after I got it. It gets pretty close to the tone of my 6122-1959, but with enough difference that I don't feel I have duplicated it. The 16" body of the 5120, along with the shorter scale, seems to fit me a bit better than the 6122-1959, so I end up playing it a bit more often.

I put a bar bridge on the 5120 also.

Mike

[Jimmy Rocket]

Yep, a Compton is in the cards for this one for sure no matter what pickups I go with.

[Jimmy Rocket]

Well, I scored an English Mount set of TV Classics for $185 off of the bay, so it looks like I'm going classic.

I ordered the Gretsch style surrounds from TV Jones too, so now it's just a waiting game!

Next up, Compton, and then I'll probably have to get in touch with Mr. Paul Setzer

Anyone have pics of a 5120 with the stock guard and TV's?

[fender62custom]

Congrats on the TV Classics...you'll love them....there's been a few 5120 threads with TV's installed....i'd look through those....there might be a few on Setzers profile page too...worth a look!!! cheers!!

[Jimmy Rocket]

Wow, the classics sound great! I was a little worried that I wouldn't dig the classic in the bridge because I have a classic+ in my Cabronita, but the regular classic sounds great - full and warm and perfectly matched to the neck.

Now I just need a Compton and a new pickguard.

I'm thinking about a cream colored guard with silver logo to match the binding.

The stock guard looks ok, but little things bug me and the larger cutouts for the 'buckers just feel off.

[Crooner]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Rocket

I still haven't made the call on new pups, but here's a picture in the meantime...



I thought that I finally settled on supers and then I went back to digging the classic/classic+ combo and now I'm wondering about GFS surf 90s.

I have GFS NYII pups in my jet and they're the bees knees in that guitar. I thought that the surfs would keep me in that ballpark, but then again do I want to stay in that ballpark or branch out a little?

Originally Posted by Jimmy Rocket

Wow, the classics sound great! I was a little worried that I wouldn't dig the classic in the bridge because I have a classic+ in my Cabronita, but the regular classic sounds great - full and warm and perfectly matched to the neck.

Now I just need a Compton and a new pickguard.

I'm thinking about a cream colored guard with silver logo to match the binding.

The stock guard looks ok, but little things bug me and the larger cutouts for the 'buckers just feel off.

Great score! I love the Classics. Extremely versatile pickups.

On an unrelated note, regarding the above pic, is that Instagram? There have been some really cool, moody shots of Gretsches taken with nice little iphone apps lately. I'm so lousy at taking shots of my gear I’m looking for any ways to improve/cheat at getting sexy photos.

[Jimmy Rocket]

Yep, instagram. It makes even the most mediocre of us look like we know what we're doing.

[Jimmy Rocket]