Tv Jones vs. Gretsch filter'tron

[Urban]

Hi!
I own Fender MiJ 52ri Telecaster and I want to upgrade the neck pickup with filter'tron.
I was wondering if there is a big difference in tone between TV Jones Classic filter'tron(190€) and Gretsch filter'tron(89€).
Is that Gretsch filter'tron in better Gretsch guitars or is it in guitars like Electromatic series?

Link to both:
(link removed)
http://www.thomann.de/gb/gretsch_filtertron_hs_neck.htm

Thanks.

 

[varakeef]

I think Gretsch is a bit higher output, TV's are a bit more bright and thus closer to 50's orginal filtertrons.

 

[Urban]

Thanks.
What about the quality of the tone?
Is it worth paying 100€ more for TV or is Gretsch good too?

 

[Paul in Colorado]

The pre-FMIC Gretsch pickups had ceramic magnets. Don't know about the current ones. Vintage and TV Jones pickups use alnico magnets. I have an older ('97) Gretsch and I will replace the pickups with TV Jones as soon as I can afford it.

 

[indiobravo]

love tv jones pickups!

 

[brookdalebill]

The Jones pickups sound way better to me.
The Gretsch pickups sound very hard and bright, by comparison.
I (too) have heard that the Gretsch pickups use ceramic magnets.
I assumed that is why I prefer the TV Jones.

 

[Suproman]

As far as I know, the newer High Sensitive Filtertrons use alnico magnets. I like them in my Gretsch, but I've never tried the TV Jones Filtertrons.

Pat

 

[taxer]

I'll make this easy for you.

When Gretsch released signature Brian Setzer guitars, Setzer made sure they came equipped with TV Jones pickups. Setzer's Hot Rods and his signature Nashville all come with TV Jones pickups. Now if Setzer - the modern day Mr. Gretsch - demands his guitars have TV Jones pickups instead of the Gretsch filtertrons, I'd say there is a quality difference between a TV Jones pickup and a Gretsch filtertron.

 

[jvanoort]

I'll make this easy for you.

When Gretsch released signature Brian Setzer guitars, Setzer made sure they came equipped with TV Jones pickups. Setzer's Hot Rods and his signature Nashville all come with TV Jones pickups. Now if Setzer - the modern day Mr. Gretsch - demands his guitars have TV Jones pickups instead of the Gretsch filtertrons, I'd say there is a quality difference between a TV Jones pickup and a Gretsch filtertron.

Not necessarily, it merely says that Mr. Setzer prefers TV Jones pups for his type of music.

 

[taxer]

Not necessarily, it merely says that Mr. Setzer prefers TV Jones pups for his type of music.

Not as simple as that. Setzer has been listening to other guys play Gretsch guitars his whole life. Setzer has been playing Gretsch guitars since he was 13 years old. He's had a lifelong love affair with Gretsch. And with all his passion for Gretsch, Setzer figured out what really makes a Gretsch wonderful is those TV Jones pickups. And I'll tell you someone else who feels that way -- Fred Gretsch the owner of the company. Fred allows TV Jones pickups to come stock in his guitars.

When the most famous player of Gretsch guitars prefers TV Jones pickups, and when the very owner of the company allows TV Jones pickups to be placed in his high end guitars, the logical conclusion is that TV Jones pickups are superior to the standard Gretsch filtertron pickup.

 

[Urban]

There are Gretsch high sensitive filter'trons in Gretsch G6122 and G6120, so I think they are not that bad.
I'll probably buy Gretsch's High sensitive filter'trons.

 

[Whoa Tele]

I've got a Japanese 6120 Nashville Western that has the stock Gretsch Trons and to my ear it sounds wonderful. Setzer has tone for days but many of my favorite Gretsch pickers ( Chet, Harrison ) never used TVs and still managed to sound good. Back in my touring days, I used my stock 6120, a Bassman RI, TS9 and Boss DM3 and got alot of compliments on my tone. I'm sure you'll be ok with either option.

 

[Ati EDGE]

Not as simple as that. Setzer has been listening to other guys play Gretsch guitars his whole life. Setzer has been playing Gretsch guitars since he was 13 years old. He's had a lifelong love affair with Gretsch. And with all his passion for Gretsch, Setzer figured out what really makes a Gretsch wonderful is those TV Jones pickups. And I'll tell you someone else who feels that way -- Fred Gretsch the owner of the company. Fred allows TV Jones pickups to come stock in his guitars.

When the most famous player of Gretsch guitars prefers TV Jones pickups, and when the very owner of the company allows TV Jones pickups to be placed in his high end guitars, the logical conclusion is that TV Jones pickups are superior to the standard Gretsch filtertron pickup.

TV Jones is making pick-ups since 1993 or so. Stezer is using Gretsch guitar in old Stray Cats albums at the beginning of 80' for sure with normal gretsch filtertrons. I like that sound also so I am not sure if I would pay more than double price for that pick-up.

 

[Nick JD]

190€ for a pickup! Screw that. That's $260.

The Filtertrons are 42€ at Amplified Parts, and sound GREAT!

You Euros have got more Euros than sense .

http://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/guitar_parts/P-PUGRET2

 

[Brian blaut]

TV Jones is making pick-ups since 1993 or so. Stezer is using Gretsch guitar in old Stray Cats albums at the beginning of 80' for sure with normal gretsch filtertrons. I like that sound also so I am not sure if I would pay more than double price for that pick-up.

Setzer's number 1 is vintage 1959, and it's his particular '59 filtertron that was studied by TV and dublicated to the "T". TV Classics are a reproduction of Setzer's 1959 Filters. That's what started it all. NONE of Brian's personal guitars have stock modern gretsch Filters.

As far as stock filtertrons off of ebay, there are two kinds. Pre Fender and Post Fender (I believe Fender took over manufacturing in 2004). Pre Fender ones were definitely hotter and I think ceramic. Not beloved by most. Fenders are certainly better, but there's a reason their top dollar guitars, as well as almost all the pro line signature models use TV's.

If you can afford it, go ahead. If you get a regular Gretsch filter, that will be fine too, but I'd go for one from the Fender area. BTW, this is exactly like trying to explain to someone whether it's worth it to buy 3rd party boutique pickups for their tele, or just use the stock Fender ones. It's not that they're bad. Just that, by most people's standards, they're not as good as they could be. The company has price points and costs to keep track of. They're happy with something 'decent' and affordable, rather than going all the way despite the costs. That's where boutique pickups come in. TV is making as good of a product as possible and keeping it as close to vintage spec as possible. Whether or not that interests you or is worth it is a person question. There are many many many folks happy as can be with their stock filtertrons. Having said that, I don't think I've ever heard anyone complain after installing TV's either.

 

[caliban335]

I'd go with TV Jones. I'd also suggest you consider a Magna'Tron over a TV Classic for the neck position of a Tele.

 

[Northerntele]

TV Jones are magical. Like everybody said, guys like Chet and Setzer used original Gretsch pickups. The TVs are closer to the originals than modern Gretsch Filtertrons so thats what Setzer, The Reverend Horton Heat, Chris Cheney, plus a lot more use. I put a set in my 5120 and I absolutely love it. I don't really know how to describe the sound but if the true Filtertron sound is what you're after nothing else will do.

 

[Picton]

190€ for a pickup! Screw that. That's $260.

The Filtertrons are 42€ at Amplified Parts, and sound GREAT!

You Euros have got more Euros than sense .

http://www.amplifiedparts.com/products/guitar_parts/P-PUGRET2

I was waiting for someone to say it. I'm sure TV Jones are better than Gretsches... but 150 euros' worth of better? Not to me.

My Gretsch 'tron sounds fine to me, and the "to me" part is important. Like anything else tone-related, it's in the ear of the behearer.

 

[Gary in Boston]

But then again, the TV J's are copies of the the "best" that Gretsch offered.... ever. I owned some old Gretsch quitars and those pickups were LOUD. I'm not sure about the quality of the tone it sounded like a Gretsch........ Just like the opening riff in the song Midnight Man by Joe Walsh and the James Gang.That sound was what I got

Gary

 

[crazy_aussie]

The TV Jones Classics are $125US on his website..............190euros - WTF??