Gretsch Pickups. Broadtron or Filtertron?

[mtjo62]

I had the Broadtrons in a G2655T and I liked them but they were a little too warm for me and I swapped in another set of HB's with more chime. Gretsch is marketing them as modern output PU's so they are not going to jangle as much. This following demo sold me on the G2655T. You might like the Broadtrons.

 

[BorderRadio]

I'd personally like to see someone dissect a Broad'Tron and see how much it has in common with the traditional Ray Butts or Seth Lover designs.

I think someone hit the nail on the head when they suggested Fender was trying to market an alternative to Gibson\Epi. They likely saw Gibson's financial woes and smelled blood in the water.

Which Broadtron? All 3 types have wider coil spacings, removing what is arguably a component of the Filter/Ray Butts sound. I’ve pulled a few “G&B Pick Up Co.” Streamliner MIK Broadtrons, they are just some tweaked Seth styles. I predict the BT Broadtrons have the same short magnet in a Blacktop filtertron, and same small screws, but wound hotter. The Proline Broadtrons have a Filter-like metal cover and HS Filtertron screws. Just another guess but I bet they have tall Filtertron bar magnets and likely mimic a TV Jones Powertron Plus. Not sure of the latter two, but I’d wager a few bucks on it

 

[GGardner]

I agree with this. I think they are aiming for the “Gretsch is cool but why is it weird? Can’t it play and sound more like a Gibson” camp.

Boom.

 

[GGardner]

I got my Electromatic 5120 at a really good price so splurged on a TV Jones Classic for the bridge and then put a cheap as nails (but clear as a bell) GFS in the neck.

 

[0utputXfmr]

Which Broadtron? All 3 types have wider coil spacings, removing what is arguably a component of the Filter/Ray Butts sound. I’ve pulled a few “G&B Pick Up Co.” Streamliner MIK Broadtrons, they are just some tweaked Seth styles. I predict the BT Broadtrons have the same short magnet in a Blacktop filtertron, and same small screws, but wound hotter. The Proline Broadtrons have a Filter-like metal cover and HS Filtertron screws. Just another guess but I bet they have tall Filtertron bar magnets and likely mimic a TV Jones Powertron Plus. Not sure of the latter two, but I’d wager a few bucks on it

Sorry, I should have been more specific. The ones I am interested in would be the Pro line. They don't look as wide as PAF's while still looking wider than original FT's. But, of, course, it's hard to tell from looks alone.

 

[Rockhead]

I got my Electromatic 5120 at a really good price so splurged on a TV Jones Classic for the bridge and then put a cheap as nails (but clear as a bell) GFS in the neck.

What GFS pickup?

 

[BorderRadio]

Sorry, I should have been more specific. The ones I am interested in would be the Pro line. They don't look as wide as PAF's while still looking wider than original FT's. But, of, course, it's hard to tell from looks alone.

The BT Broadtrons pickup rings have the same footprint as traditional Filter’tron rings, the opening is only widened for the coils. Looks like the same deal for the Proline—same rings most likely (minus the extra mounting screw). It’s completely possible to fit a Seth-style HB in an opened-up FT mounting ring. FYI, the BT Broadtrons are wound to 5.3/5.4k or so, dunno about the Prolines. The difference between a Filter’tron spacing and a Seth-style is about a tenth of an inch, which affects bar magnet width. Basically, it’s most likely a Seth style spacing.

 

[GGardner]

What GFS pickup?

NYII. I remember it being somewhere around $40.

 

[Marc Morfei]

I'm reviving this thread in hopes to get some additional comments. I recently picked up Gretsch 5220 used, hoping the fill the "humbucker" category in my small arsenal. I like the guitar a lot, it plays well, neck feels good, chambered therefore lightweight, etc. It has what the website calls Black Top Broad'Tron pickups. I like the bridge pickup a lot. It's pretty Gibsony, clear, thick, and bright. But I don;t like the neck pickup -- too muddy. I have done as much online research as possible, but there is relatively little history with this guitar. Also the pickups are kind of a mystery, as it seems there are several versions of the Broad-tron, and even the Blacktop.

So the question is: is anyone familiar with this guitar and these specific pickups, and have any suggestion for an alternative neck pickup that would have a bit more clarity? The Gretsch website has written descriptions for all their pickups, but unfortunately no sound clips.

 

[Boubou]

We just bought my brother in law this one for his 60th birthday
https://www.gretschguitars.com/gear...-jet-bt-single-cut-with-v-stoptail/2517110519
With the Black Top Broad'Tron pickups
Gretsch claims that their Filtertron and Dynasonic pick ups are not height adkustable.
https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10003/Gretsch Setup Specs pdf.pdf
Are the original Black Top Broad'Tron height adjustable?
Thanks

 

[BorderRadio]

We just bought my brother in law this one for his 60th birthday
https://www.gretschguitars.com/gear...-jet-bt-single-cut-with-v-stoptail/2517110519
With the Black Top Broad'Tron pickups
Gretsch claims that their Filtertron and Dynasonic pick ups are not height adkustable.
https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10003/Gretsch Setup Specs pdf.pdf
Are the original Black Top Broad'Tron height adjustable?
Thanks

Nice BD present!
Generally speaking original Filtertron’s and Dynas are not “turn a screw” adjustable, but fact is they are height adjusted with shims. Wood for the FTs and plastic for the Dynas. Once in the ballpark, a foam shim is used to make them slightly more ‘adjustable’.

Good news is that all modern HB Electromatics and Streamliners use a spring-loaded mounting system, so they are adjustable with a screw driver.

 

[Boubou]

Nice BD present!
Generally speaking original Filtertron’s and Dynas are not “turn a screw” adjustable, but fact is they are height adjusted with shims. Wood for the FTs and plastic for the Dynas. Once in the ballpark, a foam shim is used to make them slightly more ‘adjustable’.

Good news is that all modern HB Electromatics and Streamliners use a spring-loaded mounting system, so they are adjustable with a screw driver.

Well he said it worked. He is not usually a "technical" guy but he tried it, looking at the screws it seems to me it would work, wish i had it in my grubby lil hands

 

[KeepItSimpleTele]

Wanted to add to this thread what I did with my g5220.

I wanted a brighter more pro jet sound....so I pulles out the BT Broad’trons (not bad at all but too hot for my music). I put in a TV Jones classic neck and classic plus bridge.

To do this I also bought new filter’tron sized pickup rings (exterior size of these rings are the same as the broad’tron rings and the screws fit perfectly). I also bought the adapters from TV jones to fit the spring loaded ring mounts on these Electromatic models.

Bolted up fine and the conversion from Broad’tron to Filter’tron was easy and looks stock.

Tone was as I had hoped. Much more clarity and bite. The neck is still a bit muddy for my taste, but that’s a Jet semi hollow made of mahogany for ya.

Anyways, if you’re like me and wanted a hard tail tunematic unflappable rock solid Gretsch with clear Filter’trons...this is much less expensive than buying a Pro Jet version of this guitar! I tossed on a Gotoh bridge replacement for good measure!

 

[0utputXfmr]

Wanted to add to this thread what I did with my g5220.

I wanted a brighter more pro jet sound....so I pulles out the BT Broad’trons (not bad at all but too hot for my music). I put in a TV Jones classic neck and classic plus bridge.

To do this I also bought new filter’tron sized pickup rings (exterior size of these rings are the same as the broad’tron rings and the screws fit perfectly). I also bought the adapters from TV jones to fit the spring loaded ring mounts on these Electromatic models.

Bolted up fine and the conversion from Broad’tron to Filter’tron was easy and looks stock.

Tone was as I had hoped. Much more clarity and bite. The neck is still a bit muddy for my taste, but that’s a Jet semi hollow made of mahogany for ya.

Anyways, if you’re like me and wanted a hard tail tunematic unflappable rock solid Gretsch with clear Filter’trons...this is much less expensive than buying a Pro Jet version of this guitar! I tossed on a Gotoh bridge replacement for good measure!

Okay, THIS is what I wanted to know! I was hoping if I bought a guitar with the BroadTron pickups, I wouldn't be screwed out of upgrading to a set of TVJones FilterTrons if I wanted to, due to some kind of weird proprietary pickup footprint. The model I'm looking at is the G5222, which is the double-cut version of the model you got. What can I say, I'm kind of smitten with the double-cutaway "Malcolm" body style!

 

[Zepfan]

Wanted to add to this thread what I did with my g5220.

I wanted a brighter more pro jet sound....so I pulles out the BT Broad’trons (not bad at all but too hot for my music). I put in a TV Jones classic neck and classic plus bridge.

To do this I also bought new filter’tron sized pickup rings (exterior size of these rings are the same as the broad’tron rings and the screws fit perfectly). I also bought the adapters from TV jones to fit the spring loaded ring mounts on these Electromatic models.

Bolted up fine and the conversion from Broad’tron to Filter’tron was easy and looks stock.

Tone was as I had hoped. Much more clarity and bite. The neck is still a bit muddy for my taste, but that’s a Jet semi hollow made of mahogany for ya.

Anyways, if you’re like me and wanted a hard tail tunematic unflappable rock solid Gretsch with clear Filter’trons...this is much less expensive than buying a Pro Jet version of this guitar! I tossed on a Gotoh bridge replacement for good measure!

I have a tone pot bypass switch that really brightens up a neck position humbucker. Some people use a .047 cap inline with the neck pickup's signal/hot wire to pass bass tones to ground, but some people say it stifles the pickup's output too. So the tone bypass puts the volume only circuit to good use by brightening things up without loss of output or perceived loss of output.

 

[stormsedge]

As Zepfan says, there are 3 different Broadton pickups. the ones in the streamliner are not the same as the the ones in the 5220 which are "Blacktop Broadtrons". I would love to put a pair of TV Jones in them should i get the 5220 but they are too expensive.

I have a G5230T and three Streamliners. All are great sounding guitars and the 5230 stopped my LP gas. What I really wanted to post is for you to check the TV Jones site...they have some pup blems at great prices---may be what you are looking for.

 

[mtjo62]

GFS sells pickup rings in a humbucker form and a adapter plate for Filtertron style PUs. I installed a set of their GFTron Classic PUs and the rings matched up w/o any mods. I really like the neck, but the bridge is a little thin for my taste. I may try a a Hard Vintage in the bridge to fatten things up.

 

[blowtorch]

I like Gretsch-ey pickups but all I know are Filtertrons and Dynasonics.
Are Broadtrons those "Gretschbuckers" they started putting in the Electromatic line some time back?


And then there's "Hi-lotrons"....

 

[mtjo62]

I think they made specifically them for the Streamliner series.

 

[BorderRadio]

I like Gretsch-ey pickups but all I know are Filtertrons and Dynasonics.
Are Broadtrons those "Gretschbuckers" they started putting in the Electromatic line some time back?


And then there's "Hi-lotrons"....

Streamliner Broadtrons are not the same, though I couldn’t tell you exactly why they are different, but they are a little brighter. Blacktop Broadtrons are a mystery, as are the Proline Broadtrons, but the Gretsch website at least show that they are louder, muddier Filtertrons.

Hilos are a special single coil, great clanky low output pickups. Super Hilotrons are not single coil, and are almost the same as the modern blacktop filertron—but with slugs in one coil instead of screws.

Ok I’m tired.