The Chetboard

I have heard that TV Jones 'Filtertrons' are nothing more than Humbuckers. Is this true?

I want to put some "genuine" Filtertrons in my Fender Thinline, and if the TV Jones classics are not the true Filtertron "design" and sound like Humbuckers, what's the point in buying them?

Does Gretsch supply Filtertrons and where on their site are they ?? Any help is most appreciated. Alan

Hi Alan-

TV Jones makes the SuperTron and the overwound FilterTron for the Gretsch '59 CG and the prototype FilterTrons (in the DeArmond shell) for the CGP. I also have a set of TV Jones HilLoTrons in my 6119-1962 Tennessee Rose. I think they all get "the sound."

'59 CG: http://www.craigdobbins.com/59-cg-lick.mp3

CGP: http://www.craigdobbins.com/chetlick.cgp.mp3

Tennessee Rose: http://www.craigdobbins.com/tenny-flatwounds.mp3

I'm not sure if you can buy Gretsch pickups or not, but if so, it would probably be through a dealer, like Broadway Sound in Knoxville.

Craig

P.S. Sorry about the audio links. Hope this won't get me thrown off the board...

Alan,

All Filtertron pickups are hum bucking and always have been. Don't get them confused with the Gibson type, though. They are generally wound weaker, and retain more sparkle than the Gibson type, which are more powerful, but loose some of the twang.

If you go with TV Jones, you can rest assured that you are getting the classic Filtertron sound.

George Beasley wrote:Alan,

All Filtertron pickups are hum bucking and always have been. Don't get them confused with the Gibson type, though. They are generally wound weaker, and retain more sparkle than the Gibson type, which are more powerful, but loose some of the twang.

If you go with TV Jones, you can rest assured that you are getting the classic Filtertron sound.

I've side by sided vintage Gretsch FTs with TVJ FTs . . . The TVJs are a pretty true repro of the Gretsch FTs, made with better, more modern, materials of the same type.

Wire, shielded cable, magnets & dielectric materials are much better now than they were 50+ years ago, so being that one has little to no choice as much of the ORIGINAL NOS materials have been long since exhausted, you manufacture your product with what you can get within reason . . .

Filtertron: Filter away electronic noise.

I'm always amazed by the knowledge that we have access to on the internet. I was poking around and found this site http://www.gmarts.org/index.php?go=100 which has lots of information on guitar pickups and even a reasonable explanation of Einstein's theory of relativity!!! But seriously, there are some good bits of information. Check out the FAQs. Perhaps not 100% accurate but interesting.

Vidar Lund wrote:Filtertron: Filter away electronic noise.

Filtertron = Humbucking . . . Same thing ! ! !

Yes, the Filtertron was the Ray Butts/Gretsch competitor of the Gibson humbucker. Chet said that Butts invented the very first humbucking pickup, but Gibson had the first patent.

Thanks for the info gentlemen. How does Seth Lover's humbucker design (what my Thinline has) compare with the TV Jones Classic (recommended for Fender Teles). I know I may be sounding a bit tiresome here but I'm thinking that I may not really "need" to attempt to improve what exists if it already borders so closely on that "Gretsch sound"

Thanks, Alan

amdyck wrote:Thanks for the info gentlemen. How does Seth Lover's humbucker design (what my Thinline has) compare with the TV Jones Classic (recommended for Fender Teles). I know I may be sounding a bit tiresome here but I'm thinking that I may not really "need" to attempt to improve what exists if it already borders so closely on that "Gretsch sound"

Thanks, Alan

There's ONLY one person's ear that counts, and that's YOURS ! ! !

I've installed pickups that sounded great in some guitars, and El Crappo in others . . . and some where I'd thought it sounded like crap, but go figure, the owner LOVED IT ! ! !