3 or 4 knobs
- Thread starter Robr
- Start date
If your wiring is standard, the two larger knobs are individual pup volume controls.
Later Baldwin Gretsches went with the Gibson type controls with the four knob set up. Each pup has a volume and tone control knobs.
Your tone control is one of the upper switches, which is called the tone switch. The other is the pup selector switch.
The 4 knob Baldwin set up only has the pup selector switch.
Nice looking git. Enjoy
Later Baldwin Gretsches went with the Gibson type controls with the four knob set up. Each pup has a volume and tone control knobs.
Your tone control is one of the upper switches, which is called the tone switch. The other is the pup selector switch.
The 4 knob Baldwin set up only has the pup selector switch.
Nice looking git. Enjoy
There are also many Gretsch, particularly modern ones and i believe all dyna guitars, that have a tone knob instead of a switch, but use the gretsch master volume setup. So, pickup selector switch, master volume knob, neck volume knob, bridge volume knob, master tone knob. My jet and Billy bo are like this.
If the 6120 you own is the one depicted, it doesn't appear to be a '62 examples based on it's lever-mute control ('63 and later) and black felt disk underneath ('66 and later). The first 6120 double-cutaway guitars are the 1962 model year representitives, and typically have a "dial-up" mute control which used the same style knob (instead of the lever) as they used for the volume and tome. Could that be the forth knob you're asking about?
Now you know the dirty secret to the mud switch. Those two knobs you refer to aren’t tone controls, they’re volume controls, one for each pickup. They’re not wired for treble bleed so the controls can roll off highs faster than loudness. Don’t do anything. Learn the nuance of using them. They’re most useful for blended pickups but can help you find your tone on either pickup alone. It takes some getting used to. Maybe you know a tech who can help you. If all else fails and your tone is too dark, an equalizer like a BOSS EQ-200 can help by allowing you to roll off some of the low frequencies that muddy up your tone.
Now compare the way the master volume and individual volume controls affect your tone. The master volume is wired for treble bleed. High frequencies aren’t shunted to ground as you turn the volume down. I have five different electric guitars, each with its own unique control set. One is just like yours but they’re all good, even great once you’ve mastered their operation.
