|
Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Dec 25, 2022 11:33:45 GMT -6
All -- I have a Made in Korea (MIK) Gretsch 6120 clone - a 5420 - and it is a great playing guitar. I got it about six or seven years ago, and I've kept it in the guitar room and played it only sporadically.
I was working on a project in the studio and needed the Gretsch for a couple of parts. When I started the recording process, I thought it sounded kind of flat. Of course, I couldn't leave it alone.
I have installed a number of TV Jones pickups over the years, and I wanted a set for my Gretsch. They are very high quality and always sound great.
I ordered a set of TV Jones Classic pickups and a new replacement harness. Safety Tip: If you do this, make sure you get the installation kit. It sure helps the entire process. TV Jones has a great series of videos on how to install the harness and pickups, and it was very helpful. Make sure you get the spacers, too.
After stringing the guitar up with the new pickups, I was not sure what to expect.
The guitar sounded kind of the same...only rounder. It is hard to explain - we've all been through it - but I liked the sound of the guitar better.
I did some A/B testing with my recording rig, and it did sound different. I will post the file and link it here.
Bottom line: Always get a good setup before you dive into a pickup swap. The setup may satisfy you.
By the way - I spent about as much on the pickups and harness as I did on the guitar!
More to follow, John
|
|
|
Post by dnic on Dec 25, 2022 14:01:25 GMT -6
Cool John, looking forward to the sound demo.
|
|
|
Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Dec 26, 2022 12:08:49 GMT -6
OK -- Here you go. This is a test showing the difference between the original pickups on this Korean-made Gretsch 5420 and a new set of TV Jones Classics. The sound file was made with me playing both the old and new files with a new Fender Medium white pick, a George L's cable, and the exact same Ernie Ball strings. The files were played straight into a Kemper Profiler using the Thomas Dill Brian Setzer profile. No eq or compression was used. I recorded it straight into ProTools. Click on the link to hear it on SoundCloud: on.soundcloud.com/TtsCbLook forward to your feedback on this! John
|
|
|
Post by antares on Dec 26, 2022 15:16:08 GMT -6
It's not really fair to draw a comparison from listening on a mobile 'phone John, but I will aver that the new pickups are significantly brighter in tone palette, so more trebly then? If pushed to make a choice I'd prefer the new ones because you can always roll off the highs.
でつ e&oe ...
|
|
|
Post by dnic on Dec 26, 2022 18:05:40 GMT -6
I can definitely hear more clarity. Certainly more horse power. Sounds terrific John.
|
|
|
Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Dec 28, 2022 8:10:49 GMT -6
Thanks for the responses. Like any demo, it may be fraught with inaccuracies and artifacts that may make it unreliable.
If I had the time - and the inclination - I would have replaced the pots and harness first and tried it with the old pickups. The pots, switch, and wiring which came with the guitar were pretty lame, and the replacements were very nice. Part of the brightness may be due to the harness, but I can't say for sure.
I hope that I didn't change the way I played the guitar during the two sessions. I don't want to go down the "confirmation bias" rabbit hole!
What I do know is that the new pickups do sound better to me, and I like the guitar better now!
More to follow, John
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 28, 2022 9:18:29 GMT -6
Thanks for the responses. Like any demo, it may be fraught with inaccuracies and artifacts that may make it unreliable. If I had the time - and the inclination - I would have replaced the pots and harness first and tried it with the old pickups. The pots, switch, and wiring which came with the guitar were pretty lame, and the replacements were very nice. Part of the brightness may be due to the harness, but I can't say for sure. I hope that I didn't change the way I played the guitar during the two sessions. I don't want to go down the "confirmation bias" rabbit hole! What I do know is that the new pickups do sound better to me, and I like the guitar better now! More to follow, John For me on my end of things. The new ones are brighter, sounding. I have found in most cases that a brighter sound seems to cut the mix better. As a standalone guitar (playing in my house) I like the darker sounding guitar.
Not a muddy sounding guitar, but clear sounding. I know when I used to play out a lot, I would set my treble and mids up higher than when playing at home by myself. But even at doing that, I had a few guitars that just could not cut the mix. Most times I would sell or trade off them guitars.
But I think over all, this one that you changed the pickups on was a good thing. Can I talk you out of the old ones? LOL! EB
|
|
|
Post by dnic on Jan 9, 2023 8:31:01 GMT -6
They do sound good Eddie. And they just look cool.
|
|
|
Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Jan 10, 2023 10:16:14 GMT -6
Eddie - I need to start on a new project, but I am so busy!
Concerning GFS pickups, the pickups in my MIK Gretsch were most likely made by GFS. I think they do sound good, but I think the TV Jones pickups sound better.
Debate!
John
|
|
|
Post by GuitarAttack Forum on May 31, 2023 8:48:51 GMT -6
All -- I posted a story on GuitarAttack.com re: these pickups. guitarattack.com/pickups/gretsch.htmI've already gotten some hate mail saying the difference is not evident in the "pickup comparison" sound file. OK -I don't like hate mail, but I do like this guitar. I ask that you listen again and give me your opinions. John
|
|
|
Post by antares on Jun 1, 2023 2:52:42 GMT -6
I couldn't listen John because SoundCloud reports that it has been removed by the content provider, but I suspect that may be a cross borders issue as one occasionally finds with YouTube?
でつ e&oe ...
|
|
|
Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Jun 1, 2023 6:38:57 GMT -6
I couldn't listen John because SoundCloud reports that it has been removed by the content provider, but I suspect that may be a cross borders issue as one occasionally finds with YouTube? でつ e&oe ...Steve - I need to do the research…standby. John
|
|
|
Post by dnic on Jun 1, 2023 7:57:16 GMT -6
I stand by my first post. More clarity and more horse power. Sounds very good IMHO.
|
|
|
Post by antares on Jun 1, 2023 9:45:45 GMT -6
Well it's working fine for me now. I cannot remember my last appraisal, but I have to say the new pick ups sound much brighter to me and that affords an impression of greater clarity too. Given the ability to roll off the top end it makes them a no-brainer as an upgrade swap. The new pick ups were well worth the effort. Naysayers are probably just jealous of your genre crossing talent John.
でつ e&oe ...
|
|
|
Post by GuitarAttack Forum on Jun 2, 2023 14:19:13 GMT -6
Well it's working fine for me now. I cannot remember my last appraisal, but I have to say the new pick ups sound much brighter to me and that affords an impression of greater clarity too. Given the ability to roll off the top end it makes them a no-brainer as an upgrade swap. The new pick ups were well worth the effort. Naysayers are probably just jealous of your genre crossing talent John. でつ e&oe ...Thanks Steve -- glad it is working and thanks for the kind words. I will say that I have been playing the guitar more and I like it without the pickguard. John
|
|