Members St. Andrew Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 What makes TV Jones Pickups so much more expensive than say GFS Retrotrons? Anybody know what makes them "better"? Or better than the stock Gretsch pu? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted February 3, 2010 Members Share Posted February 3, 2010 Because they are beyond awesome! I think their name brings with it s a higher cache than modern production Gretsch-labeled pickups and GFS are made in China, not in America. Even if they were of the same quality and desirability, Chinese production costs usually come in a hair under American production costs. I don't really know much about Gretsch or TV Jones pickups, but my guess is the TV Jones are built to a certain standard with certain quality parts with as much regard to meeting a certain budget price as the Gretsch pickups. They all sound pretty great to me though.... As long as we're talking America-made Gretsch guitars. Never heard any of the GFS Retrotron pickups but if you're on a budget, give em a try. If you don't compare them to TV Jones or MIA Gretsch stuff, the GFS stuff might very well impress you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hardtdc Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 Because they are beyond awesome! You could have summed it up with just this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tartanphantom Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 Except for the Electromatic Gretschbuckers and mini-humbuckers, Gretsch pickups are made in Japan, not China. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattLivingInVan Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 your paying for high quality workmanship. and perfect sound.they are put together in a smaller personal type setting in the US. using parts that are made in the US. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Citizen_Insane Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 Because they sound perfect. I got a set of TV Jones Classics in my Epi Sheraton. I can't believe how they sound. They are extremely touch sensitive, very open sounding, almost like a single coil but with more meat. Honestly, I was skeptical at first, but they really do live up to their name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 Until recently, TV only wound Gretsch and DeArmond style pickups--Filtertrons, Dynasonics, Hi/Lo Trons and their updated Powertrons, Magnatrons, etc. Basically, he has NO COMPETITION in the Gretsch arena. His prices reflect this monopoly. (GFS aims at a different market segment). I have 3 Classic Filtertrons, 1 Classic Plus, and a Powertron in a P90 case. They are all amazing. Check out the review of TV's Spectrasonic Guitar in this month's GP. The reviewer does a great job of describing the sound of the TV Classics. They have great bass response and sweet top end, and they love to drive Marshall and Vox amps. Their output? Hard to believe, but the Classics are just 4.5 K. Just goes to show you that low output pickups can kick major ass. More wire does not always mean better tone. Here's a clip that I did awhile back with the Classic on my Duo Jet. [YOUTUBE]9I9my1gYRDk[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members St. Andrew Posted February 4, 2010 Author Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 thanks for the responses! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted February 4, 2010 Moderators Share Posted February 4, 2010 What makes TV Jones Pickups so much more expensive than say GFS Retrotrons?Anybody know what makes them "better"? Or better than the stock Gretsch pu? Better marketing. Without a doubt Tom Jones makes good pickups, but is the price reflective of his product? Nah, not really. Tell Pete Biltoft at Vintage Vibe Guitars what Gretsch sound you want and he'll do it in a humbucker or P90 mount. And the TVJ website is terrible, dunnow hy but it grinds most of my computers to a halt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted February 4, 2010 Moderators Share Posted February 4, 2010 and a Powertron in a P90 case. What's this in Doc? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 What's this in Doc? I put it in the bridge position of my SG Classic. You gotta hear it: (dirty) TV Jones Powertron, Gibson SG Classic, Marshall 1974x amp. (clean) TV Jones Powertron, Gibson SG Classic, Marshall 1974x amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted February 4, 2010 Moderators Share Posted February 4, 2010 I put it in the bridge position of my SG Classic. You gotta hear it: Very nice, and thru the Marshall hand wound too:love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 Listen to that almost tele like snap from the bass strings on the clean clip! None of the less-than-inspiring soft attack that you often hear on mahogany guitars with PAF-style pickups! I have a set of Seth Lover 50th Anniversary Alnico II humbuckers on one of my Les Paul Classics that have that nice, authoritative attack. They aren't wax potted which gives them a bit more attitude than most PAF's. Those TV Jones Powertrons are wax potted, but they really work well with the SG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattLivingInVan Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 i have a powertron in my jazzmaster. sounds amazing. i also have classics in a few of my gretschs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mudder1310 Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 TV Jones makes a great sounding pickup. They pretty much specialize in a type of tone and pull it off better than anyone else. At $140 shipped (give or take) they aren't any more expensive than other elite pickup makers. IMHO totally worth it. I don't think marketing has much to do with it, only guitar players have even heard of them, and I don't think they have many deals with artists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 man, i can never hear that tone enough... AWSOME!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MattLivingInVan Posted February 4, 2010 Members Share Posted February 4, 2010 you can compare it to anything.why do people buy 2000$ amps instead of 600$ amps.because they sound better. haha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jjpistols Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Better marketing. Without a doubt Tom Jones makes good pickups, but is the price reflective of his product? Nah, not really. what a load of crap GFS sounds nowhere near TV Jones or Gretsch, really - I tried em all but the memphis - wanted to love them; didn't and not to insult Pete Biltoft in any way, but Tom has been focused on Gretsch pups for a couple of decades now, Pete isn't a specialist in the same way the current hi sens Gretsch Filtertrons at $50 is a steal, esp next to the $40 pricetag that GFS asks nowadays you make it sound as though TV Jones is some kind of scam or something - $140 ain't much dosh if it's the sound you want - you could easily spend that much trying out different GFS pups and never get where you want to be Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dlxrev Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 wow terrific tone and nice playing. Nice job. [YOUTUBE]9I9my1gYRDk[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Actually I think the standard Gretsch "Hi Sensitivity" Filtertrons are more versatile. They sound very jazzy and refined and probably lend themselves more to blues, classic rock, pop rock, etc. TV Jones seems to voice his pickups more with "twang" in mind...He worships at the altar of rock-a-billy...and though they have that greasy redneck twang in spades...they sound a little out of place if that isn't your thing.Maybe they are good for surf and 60's style sounds too.But they sound kind of like kid's stuff for playing jazz, fusion, urban blues, world music, modern pop etc. Some of his newer designs are getting away from it though. The Magnatrons have an interesting sound. I'm dying to hear how the T-armonds will sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members akapuli Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 I play jazz with TV Jones pickups. Don't blame the tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted February 5, 2010 Moderators Share Posted February 5, 2010 you make it sound as though TV Jones is some kind of scam or something - $140 ain't much dosh if it's the sound you want - you could easily spend that much trying out different GFS pups and never get where you want to be Nice to see you interpreted what I said and came up with the wrong answer. I said I didn't think they were worth the money, that's my opinion, if you don't like it....well tough titty mate:thu: You suckin Tom off then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members docjeffrey Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 Thanks for the comments. Some people think that the Duo Jet/Marshall clip sounds "phasy" and a bit "coarse" (comments from YouTube), but I think that they may not be used to hearing EL84 power tubes distorting like that, up close and personal. A lot of us are programmed to the sound of preamp distortion or Tubescreamer style overdrive. Also, I used a very detailed large diaphragm mic which doesn't roll off the highs or compress the mids like an SM57. I like the tone, but I can understand how some people might find it to be a bit too detailed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted February 5, 2010 Moderators Share Posted February 5, 2010 Thanks for the comments. Some people think that the Duo Jet/Marshall clip sounds "phasy" and a bit "coarse" (comments from YouTube), but I think that they may not be used to hearing EL84 power tubes distorting like that, up close and personal. A lot of us are programmed to the sound of preamp distortion or Tubescreamer style overdrive. Also, I used a very detailed large diaphragm mic which doesn't roll off the highs or compress the mids like an SM57. I like the tone, but I can understand how some people might find it to be a bit too detailed. There's something about Powertrons that doesn't sit right with my ears, the HT is good, but then I love the old Dynasonic sound, and the Classics and Magnatrons are OK, but the Powertrons muddy up too easily to my ears. All that said, your playing is superb and you have obvcious great taste, so maybe it's just me:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jjpistols Posted February 5, 2010 Members Share Posted February 5, 2010 I've learnt well from you:thu: Don't recal that I even mentioned GFS, the only GFS stuff I like are their Strat pickups and the Fatbody You've heard his interpretations of Gretsch pickups then, and talked to him about their construction. I think Pete knows pretty well the essence of Gretsch pickups, maybe not quite as well as Tom Jones, but very well nonetheless Nice to see you interpreted what I said and came up with the wrong answer. I said I didn't think they were worth the money, that's my opinion, if you don't like it....well tough titty mate:thu: You suckin Tom off then? wow you were less of an asshole when you drank the whole thread is comparing TVJ to GFS, and Gretsch never asked Pete to design anything for them do you even own anything with filtertrons? TV Jones? have you ever? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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