GFS Retrotrons - can anybody explain them to me?

JBjr · July 7th, 2008, 07:53 AM

A lot of talk about 'em but I'm not sure I understand how these are different from the myriad flavours of PAF-based humbuckers out there.

Can anyone tell me what makes these unique - are they just a twangy humbuckers? Are they constructed differently? Is a GFS Liverpool just an overwound VIntage 59 with a fancy cover??

TNO · July 7th, 2008, 06:54 PM

Under-wound twangy 'buckers meant to sound Gretsch-like.

JBjr · July 7th, 2008, 10:50 PM

That's what I thought...but Jay says the Liverpools for instance are 11k at the bridge and 9k at the neck.....which doesn't sound underwound to me. So do they have a nice top end like a true filtertron...or just a bright clangy thing going on?

Uma Floresta · July 8th, 2008, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBjr

That's what I thought...but Jay says the Liverpools for instance are 11k at the bridge and 9k at the neck.....which doesn't sound underwound to me. So do they have a nice top end like a true filtertron...or just a bright clangy thing going on?

I think the GFS versions are hotter than the typical Filtertron type pickup.

cook · July 8th, 2008, 04:33 PM

I put a Liverpool Hot in my latest project. Definitely brighter and more jangly than a PAF style. I was using letftover parts, and the 500k volume pot went bad. I replaced it with a 250k, and it sounded like any other humbucker, which I did not want, so I got a new 500k and am pleased. I wanted that guitar to sound different than my others.

reverberocket2 · July 8th, 2008, 04:45 PM

I have the regular Liverpools in a hollowbody.

To my ears they sit somewhere between a low output humbucker like an old Gibson T-Top and a Filtertron

Very twangy sounding with lots of upper midrange content and less low end than a PAF

They do have a Gretchy vibe but the high end it not nearly as bright as real Filtertrons

The Retrotron soundclips on the GFS site are pretty accurate

JKjr · July 9th, 2008, 02:07 PM

Put a set in a hollow chibanez (AS-73? the Gretsch copy). Love 'em. completely transformed the axe. Not strictly filtertron tone, but most assuredly filtertron VIBE. I've heard a set of HOT liverpools, sounded way too PAF for me, but the vintage set is right on time. More clang than twang, with a real nice filtertron thunk on the bottom. Don't think TV Jones is gonna close shop, but I consider that among the best $75 I've ever spent.

July 7th, 2008, 07:53 AM	#1 (permalink)
JBjr TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 39	GFS Retrotrons - can anybody explain them to me? A lot of talk about 'em but I'm not sure I understand how these are different from the myriad flavours of PAF-based humbuckers out there. Can anyone tell me what makes these unique - are they just a twangy humbuckers? Are they constructed differently? Is a GFS Liverpool just an overwound VIntage 59 with a fancy cover??

July 7th, 2008, 06:54 PM	#2 (permalink)
TNO Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 162	Under-wound twangy 'buckers meant to sound Gretsch-like.

July 7th, 2008, 10:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
JBjr TDPRI Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 39	That's what I thought...but Jay says the Liverpools for instance are 11k at the bridge and 9k at the neck.....which doesn't sound underwound to me. So do they have a nice top end like a true filtertron...or just a bright clangy thing going on?

July 8th, 2008, 04:33 PM	#5 (permalink)
cook Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: California Posts: 193 2 Photos	I put a Liverpool Hot in my latest project. Definitely brighter and more jangly than a PAF style. I was using letftover parts, and the 500k volume pot went bad. I replaced it with a 250k, and it sounded like any other humbucker, which I did not want, so I got a new 500k and am pleased. I wanted that guitar to sound different than my others.

July 8th, 2008, 04:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
reverberocket2 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 349	I have the regular Liverpools in a hollowbody. To my ears they sit somewhere between a low output humbucker like an old Gibson T-Top and a Filtertron Very twangy sounding with lots of upper midrange content and less low end than a PAF They do have a Gretchy vibe but the high end it not nearly as bright as real Filtertrons The Retrotron soundclips on the GFS site are pretty accurate

July 9th, 2008, 02:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
JKjr Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: raleigh nc Posts: 187	Put a set in a hollow chibanez (AS-73? the Gretsch copy). Love 'em. completely transformed the axe. Not strictly filtertron tone, but most assuredly filtertron VIBE. I've heard a set of HOT liverpools, sounded way too PAF for me, but the vintage set is right on time. More clang than twang, with a real nice filtertron thunk on the bottom. Don't think TV Jones is gonna close shop, but I consider that among the best $75 I've ever spent.