Gretsch Pickups. Broadtron or Filtertron?

Maybe this will help you with your decision.

 

I have Filtertrons in my Gretsch, but I've been seeing a lot of favorable things said about the Broadtrons (not to be confused with those standard humbuckers they were putting in the Electromatics for a while).

 

I'm truthfully not sure what to think of the new Broad'Trons-- a PAF-ified FilterTron kind of sounds like an answer to a question nobody really asked... unless I'm misunderstanding the concept?

 

This is revealing, that you liked the tone of the Filters lowered. I could go on why this not a good comparison, or about the nuances over the years, but instead I’m going to say go with the Blacktop Filtertrons. I won’t lie either, it’s partially because I’m a Gretsch purist of sorts. The Broadtron fiasco confuses the already confused Gretsch pickup varieties—there are three kinds of Broadtrons offered right now. I don’t consider any of them Gretsch pickups at all.

Anyways, bottom line is the blacktops are jangly, but love dirt. I can’t speak for the BT-BTs, but they are basically a Gibson HB, underwound.

 

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.

 

The vids were just a sample for a general idea, but maybe you can find what your looking for on YT. The second video was a different guitar with a wood based bridge that gives a different tone from the first guitar anyway, but maybe you can find something closer.

 

I have mad respect for the experienced Gretsch aficionados like @BorderRadio, they really know their stuff and are very helpful. I have a G2622 with BroadTrons and it's a great, affordable and versatile guitar. I like the tone from the BTs and different genres sound good to my ears. It is placed in the market as an alternative to the middle to low-end Epis, Artcore, etc. I had no allegiance to Gretsch going in, I just thought that the sound, price point and playability blew the competition away. The Gretsch aficionado knock on BTs is that they don't have that classic Gretsch sound that they know and love, which is valid, but may not be everyone's ultimate goal. The BroadTrons flexibility can't be denied.

I started two streamliner tone threads over on the Gretsch sister site. These will give you some idea of what BroadTrons sound like and what folks who own them have to offer:
Would love to hear your favorite streamliner tones...
Let's hear more streamliner tracks!

 

No problems, I knew what you were saying and I agree with you. It's hard to find a video on what your looking for and then you get to filter through all the effects and bad recordings like a maze.

 

I really am interested in Filtertrons and Dynasonics. I already have 14 guitars and basses and I'm afraid of having to add 10 more for all the pickup choices.

 

I have both, the Filtertrons are a bit more Hi Fi, and they sound awesome with a bit of distortion - crunchy with nice note separation.
The Broadtrons (in a 2622), give you that Gibson Grunt. not even similar, but both are cool.
I may replace them anyway (this is, after all, the TDPRI), TV Jones makes Filtertrons that are sized for the humbucking rout.

 

The Mojotones are a little less. Just not many real versions available that sound like the originals or better.

 

Thanks Zepfan for the videos. Now I have GAS for a Gretsch to the point where I HAVE to have one. I like the Filtertron p/ups.
Interesting that a firm like Gretsch has the cheaper line of Electromatics made in China.
Seems like the manufacturing there is getting better. I got so close once playing a Silver Sparkle Filtertron like your clip.( BTW my absolute favourite p/ups ar D'Armond ).
Thanks anyway.

 

I bought mine a couple of weeks before Christmas. They were pushing Epiphone Semi-Hollows at GC, but they were kinda stiff and poorly set up. The Gretsch's played tons better for pretty much the same money.

 

I've seen Black top Filtertrons as well, it does get a bit crowded sometimes

 

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.