Paul: Are you referring to the Dynasonics or TV Jones Filtertrons perhaps?
Howard: We are holding our breath for your next post.
Gretsch Duojet and Filtertrons
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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jingle_jangle
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Definitely the Filtertrons. Utterly incredible sound.
Although Cliff Gallup played mostly Dynas. The reissue Dynas on the new Electromatic hollowbodies (5125-5129) are quite good, too, but not so hot an output. The FTs get a bit muddy in the neck position. The Dynas are a bit thin-sounding in the bridge position.
Just ordered a set of new Dynas for one of my Gretsch solids. This weekend, I fitted a set of TV FT's to my 5275. Yow. What twang!
BTW, you won't find the 5275 in any Gretsch catalog. It was a special run for GC in the late '90s; Identical to a Duo Jet except for pickups and Electromatic name plate, for less than a grand. Set neck, too, unlike other solid body Electromatics. Gretsch won't do this again, now that Fender's in place in the driver's seat!
Although Cliff Gallup played mostly Dynas. The reissue Dynas on the new Electromatic hollowbodies (5125-5129) are quite good, too, but not so hot an output. The FTs get a bit muddy in the neck position. The Dynas are a bit thin-sounding in the bridge position.
Just ordered a set of new Dynas for one of my Gretsch solids. This weekend, I fitted a set of TV FT's to my 5275. Yow. What twang!
BTW, you won't find the 5275 in any Gretsch catalog. It was a special run for GC in the late '90s; Identical to a Duo Jet except for pickups and Electromatic name plate, for less than a grand. Set neck, too, unlike other solid body Electromatics. Gretsch won't do this again, now that Fender's in place in the driver's seat!
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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jingle_jangle
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The Duo-Jets are NOT light. Somewhere between a 330 or 360 and a Les Paul. I would weigh mine right now, but it's clamped down to the vertical mill, receiving new pickup routes. Let's say about 9-10 pounds. But with the FTs, as Howard says, sustains for about two weeks. And MAJOR twang. Add a dollop of compression and man, oh man, they wail.
The "chambering" is really only lots of routing for controls and channels connecting these routes. The necks are not through, but buried about 4" into the body. Then, believe it or not, there's a 3/16" wide slot that runs virtually the full depth of the guitar before the bridge and pickup block picks up. That slot eliminates any chance of the guitar functioning as a through-neck!
But as I've said before, the secret of the Gretsch sound is the pickups. The rest is rockabilly window dressing.
The "chambering" is really only lots of routing for controls and channels connecting these routes. The necks are not through, but buried about 4" into the body. Then, believe it or not, there's a 3/16" wide slot that runs virtually the full depth of the guitar before the bridge and pickup block picks up. That slot eliminates any chance of the guitar functioning as a through-neck!
But as I've said before, the secret of the Gretsch sound is the pickups. The rest is rockabilly window dressing.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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jingle_jangle
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My math too. My subjective on this was off. Feels heavier than my 660-12, but it's lighter??? Guess I should have weighed it. Man, I'm batting 1000 today!
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Wow Paul I sure am glad to hear its not nine pounds. That does'nt sound like much really but I have a later seventies model Les Paul. Its seems to be very heavy but weighs in at nine and a half pounds.
Pardon my digression on weight. My next three guitars are Strats. The heaviest of them is a Deluxe Plus its weighs eight pounds. Both my 66 and Malmsteen Strats weigh seven and one quarter pounds. My 360 weighs in at seven and one quarter pounds too. They feel light. Like you can just lift them so easily with no trouble at all. My 66 Mustang is and even sevlight seven pounds. Not so much less considering its looks of being a lot smaller.
My Kustom guitar felt about the same weight as the Strats and Ric 360. Although I never did weigh it back in the day when I played it. It was made of alder.
To put the capital in light is my basses my Rogue is six and half pounds and my sixties violin Tedisco bass is six pounds even. You can play them all night and your back feels fine just like you just picked one up.
I have heard that the new Duo Jets are lighter than the old ones. I'm thinking about seven pounds anybody got one to weigh?
However Paul I'm intrigued by your description of the Duo Jet tone. The description sounds fanastic. I have heard that George said that his Duo Jet and the borrowed Firebird Duo Jet were his sentimental favorites of his early Gretsch guitars that he used early on in the Beatles career.
Pardon my digression on weight. My next three guitars are Strats. The heaviest of them is a Deluxe Plus its weighs eight pounds. Both my 66 and Malmsteen Strats weigh seven and one quarter pounds. My 360 weighs in at seven and one quarter pounds too. They feel light. Like you can just lift them so easily with no trouble at all. My 66 Mustang is and even sevlight seven pounds. Not so much less considering its looks of being a lot smaller.
My Kustom guitar felt about the same weight as the Strats and Ric 360. Although I never did weigh it back in the day when I played it. It was made of alder.
To put the capital in light is my basses my Rogue is six and half pounds and my sixties violin Tedisco bass is six pounds even. You can play them all night and your back feels fine just like you just picked one up.
I have heard that the new Duo Jets are lighter than the old ones. I'm thinking about seven pounds anybody got one to weigh?
However Paul I'm intrigued by your description of the Duo Jet tone. The description sounds fanastic. I have heard that George said that his Duo Jet and the borrowed Firebird Duo Jet were his sentimental favorites of his early Gretsch guitars that he used early on in the Beatles career.
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jingle_jangle
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It all comes down to pickups, where Gretsches are concerned. The Filtertrons are very, very hot and of course the tone will vary a bit depending upon amplification and whether you have a solid, semi-or full hollow-bodied guitar. I can understand what George was talking about when he waxed nostalgic on his DJ and the borrowed FB. The DJ is lighter than a Les Paul and when I finish my 5275, I'll weigh it and get an accurate gauge of this.
I think some of George's nostalgia might be considered in light of his later (post '64) use of the semi-hollow with the Hi-Lo Trons, which most players seem to dislike these days. George even commented in the late '60s that, upon listening to his earlier playing, he thought the tone was terrible! Hi Lo Trons again? The first time I played Filtertrons I was floored by the sheer strength of these pickups.
A number of earlier players swore by the DeArmond single coils. I've got a pair of aftermarket "replicas" of these and they will be fitted to another of my solidbody Gretsches in the future.
The 1957 Duo Jet reissue features the Dyna Sonic single coil pickups and most consider them to be superior to the Hi-Lo Trons. I've never played these so I have no way of comparing. But, as I said, with a bit of amp tweaking, the Hi Lo Trons sound pretty good, even if their output is a bit low compared to the FTs.
I think some of George's nostalgia might be considered in light of his later (post '64) use of the semi-hollow with the Hi-Lo Trons, which most players seem to dislike these days. George even commented in the late '60s that, upon listening to his earlier playing, he thought the tone was terrible! Hi Lo Trons again? The first time I played Filtertrons I was floored by the sheer strength of these pickups.
A number of earlier players swore by the DeArmond single coils. I've got a pair of aftermarket "replicas" of these and they will be fitted to another of my solidbody Gretsches in the future.
The 1957 Duo Jet reissue features the Dyna Sonic single coil pickups and most consider them to be superior to the Hi-Lo Trons. I've never played these so I have no way of comparing. But, as I said, with a bit of amp tweaking, the Hi Lo Trons sound pretty good, even if their output is a bit low compared to the FTs.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
Gretsch Duojet and Filtertrons
The following posts have been moved from another topic as the Gretsch theme, and an excellent one at that, took over.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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I especially like the precision with which TV Jones has designed and made his pickups. I consider his theory that the bridge pickup in general was not high enough on modern Gretsch guitars was exactly right. Raising just the screw pole pieces is not a proper solution.
I love the sparkle and the warmth of the Filtertrons. I do not think that DeArmonds move to market the Dynasonics will lead to the same popularity as the Filtertrons. I will need to visit my local guitar store, however, to evaluate the Dynasonic pickups soon.
I love the sparkle and the warmth of the Filtertrons. I do not think that DeArmonds move to market the Dynasonics will lead to the same popularity as the Filtertrons. I will need to visit my local guitar store, however, to evaluate the Dynasonic pickups soon.
Life, as with music, often requires one to let go of the melody and listen to the rhythm
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jingle_jangle
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Peter: I think you're right. Filtertrons dominate the Gretsch market, even though those after the early Gene Vincent sound should be by rights using DeArmonds!
Just noticed my error in an early post. The 5125-9s have De Armond 2000s, and I only sold my 5129 a couple of months ago, so I should be ashamed! Anyway, my comments on Dynas in that post should apply to DA 2000s. All my other comments on Dynas still apply. Peter, if you want to try the Dynas, try a '57 reissue, either the 6128 Duo or the 6129 Silver Jet have them.
Attached is a picture of a li'l something I whipped up last Saturday--an old '97 Electromatic Double Jet with a B500 and a couple of FTs. The older ones like this one, although they have bolt-on necks, have tone circuitry and a master volume control like the original Duo Jets, but the pickups are mediocre. The simple expedient of fitting FTs have turned this kittycat into a tone monster.
The newer (post-Fender) Electromatic Pro Jet and Double Jets are really stripped down. Five years ago and more, this budget line was too similar to the high-buck ones at 2 1/2 times their prices. When Fender took over, they reduced the features to keep perceived value in line.
Currently, my recently-purchased 5275 (1997? GC Pro-Jet) is undergoing a complete renovation. Previous owner had done some bad hacking on the pickup routes, so that's being put right and it's the one that's gonna get the TV FTs. But there's much more, which will make this honey a one-of-a-kind. Remember, the Pro Jets back then were virtually identical to the Duo-Jets at less than half price. (Difference was Korean electronics and terrible pickups. That's it! Talk about a manufacturer knocking themselves off!)
More when it's done, but this is a Rickenbacker group...
As you guys probably have figured out by now, I can't stop tinkering!
Just noticed my error in an early post. The 5125-9s have De Armond 2000s, and I only sold my 5129 a couple of months ago, so I should be ashamed! Anyway, my comments on Dynas in that post should apply to DA 2000s. All my other comments on Dynas still apply. Peter, if you want to try the Dynas, try a '57 reissue, either the 6128 Duo or the 6129 Silver Jet have them.
Attached is a picture of a li'l something I whipped up last Saturday--an old '97 Electromatic Double Jet with a B500 and a couple of FTs. The older ones like this one, although they have bolt-on necks, have tone circuitry and a master volume control like the original Duo Jets, but the pickups are mediocre. The simple expedient of fitting FTs have turned this kittycat into a tone monster.
The newer (post-Fender) Electromatic Pro Jet and Double Jets are really stripped down. Five years ago and more, this budget line was too similar to the high-buck ones at 2 1/2 times their prices. When Fender took over, they reduced the features to keep perceived value in line.
Currently, my recently-purchased 5275 (1997? GC Pro-Jet) is undergoing a complete renovation. Previous owner had done some bad hacking on the pickup routes, so that's being put right and it's the one that's gonna get the TV FTs. But there's much more, which will make this honey a one-of-a-kind. Remember, the Pro Jets back then were virtually identical to the Duo-Jets at less than half price. (Difference was Korean electronics and terrible pickups. That's it! Talk about a manufacturer knocking themselves off!)
More when it's done, but this is a Rickenbacker group...
As you guys probably have figured out by now, I can't stop tinkering!
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut
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jingle_jangle
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Dan, I had never heard that FTs were weak, but sort of came to them on a tangent, after having Gretsches with just about every other kind of pickups (hummers and single coil), I finally bought one with FTs. Took me long enough! And they are sweet and strong! The TV Jones ones arrived today for my 5275 project, which wil be done in 10 days or so. I'm eager to hear the difference.
The guy who sold me the one with FTs, told me that the reason he was selling it was that it was too strong for him in live performance. He's a solo performer in small clubs. He uses a '54 Tele (Roy Buchanan's old guitar, long story...) and a '64 Anniversary (Hi-Lo Trons, like my new Annie) and everytime he would pick up the Gretsch with the FTs, he would have to re-do his amp settings. He was playing a '65 Super Reverb. He got tired of the messing around, although he loved the tone. I got the guitar which is being redone. I'll post links as soon as it's finished.
The guy who sold me the one with FTs, told me that the reason he was selling it was that it was too strong for him in live performance. He's a solo performer in small clubs. He uses a '54 Tele (Roy Buchanan's old guitar, long story...) and a '64 Anniversary (Hi-Lo Trons, like my new Annie) and everytime he would pick up the Gretsch with the FTs, he would have to re-do his amp settings. He was playing a '65 Super Reverb. He got tired of the messing around, although he loved the tone. I got the guitar which is being redone. I'll post links as soon as it's finished.
“I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did.”
― Kurt Vonnegut
― Kurt Vonnegut