Filtertrons and high gain

[tonydetiger]

I'm looking at a guitar with Filtertrons. I've never used those pickups before. Most of the music I play is rock, hard rock, and alternative (Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins).

My question is - how well can Filtertrons, or the like, handle more gain/fuzz?

 

[jimash]

You've heard Malcolm Young ?

Chris Cornell often uses Filtertron type guitars. You can hear them on this one .
I think the Rhythm guitar playing arpeggios in the left channel would be a gretsch.
Its a very desirable sound, once you dial it in.

 

[jonnyfez]

Billy Duffy from The Cult played a White Falcon on those early records.

But yeah, Malcom Young.

 

[BenM]

Look up the Reverend Horton Heat.

 

[AJBaker]

Who's next has Pete Townsend playing just about every song with a gretsch and filtertrons.

 

[teletwanger48]

Get you a Gretsch with TV Jones upgrade. His pickups are superior to the original Gretsch. The HiLotrons like found on the Tennessean and many Anniversaries are not very hot at all.. The Filtertrons do a better job and TV Jones Filtertrons even better.

 

[joeford]

Get you a Gretsch with TV Jones upgrade. His pickups are superior to the original Gretsch. The HiLotrons like found on the Tennessean and many Anniversaries are not very hot at all.. The Filtertrons do a better job and TV Jones Filtertrons even better.

ever since fender partnered up with gretsch, i don't know if thats so true anymore. the redesigned gretsch filtertrons are pretty killer. i have a set of tv jones classics in a tele i bought before the partnership... because back then the gretsch filtertrons were pretty boring sounding. but the new ones sound fantastic. i'd even say they sound better than the tv jones pickups. gearmandude did a youtube shootout between the two styles of filtertrons... and i think the fender redesigned filtertrons sound better. the stock gretsch pickups have more midrange growl like you'd expect from a set of filtertrons...



and yes, both sound fantastic for rock guitar

 

[Axis29]

I did a shoot our one day with Lance (LJHolland). I had my new Sparkle Jet with stock HS Filters (modern FMIC era). He had a Hot Rod with TVJ Filters. There was a little difference in tone... A slightly different mid emphasis. But, it was not night and day. It helped me be happy with my pickups and never feel the need to swap.

As for using the Filters with high gain? I love hitting them with some heat! Although, admittedly, I am not a usual high gain guy... But, the AC/DC thing is easily attainable. ZZ Top is heard more often, however.

 

[davenumber2]

Malcolm Young doesn't play with a whole lot of gain.

 

[jimash]

You've heard Malcolm Young ?

Chris Cornell often uses Filtertron type guitars. You can hear them on this one .
I think the Rhythm guitar playing arpeggios in the left channel would be a gretsch.
Its a very desirable sound, once you dial it in.

Gotta start somewhere. But yeah, ZZ Top.

Malcolm Young doesn't play with a whole lot of gain.

 

[slimjw]

gearmandude did a youtube shootout between the two styles of filtertrons... and i think the fender redesigned filtertrons sound better. the stock gretsch pickups have more midrange growl like you'd expect from a set of filtertrons...



and yes, both sound fantastic for rock guitar

I haven't a/b'd the TV's vs stock filtertrons but just wanted to point out that the video isn't a direct comparison as Gearmandude is a/b'ing the stock filters with a set of TV Magna'trons. Different pickups.

 

[Golem]

I know there was a more recent thread where someone asked the same question, but I can't find that one so I'm bumping this one (first result on google) in case this video helps someone get the answer they need. This video compares how 10 different Gretsch guitars with filtertrons handle gain. Perhaps not as much gain as some people ask for, but it's still more gain than most demos of filtertrons have.



I found this because I was looking for a video demo of the Gretsch 6114 New Jet.

 

[radiocaster]

The HiLotrons like found on the Tennessean and many Anniversaries are not very hot at all..

Still you can get good sounds out of them.