Re: Gretsch and high gain ??
Yes - under """""high gain,""""" do Gretsch pickups sacrifice body / fullness / girth / chugga for articulation?
I have never played a Gretsch under high gain, but I get the idea that they may sound thin under high gain.
Instead of me asking yes or nos, could you tell us a little about the sound of a Gretsch under high gain, possibly framing it against common sounds like a Strat / Tele / LP?
Thanks!
Excellent questions.
First off, I will be clear by saying that I have a MIJ G6128T, which is a Professional-series Duo Jet equipped with Filter Trons (the T in the model number). There are other Duo Jets with Dynasonics, and a Power Jet which has TV Jones PowerTron's. None of my comments should be applied to those models, especially the Dynasonic-equipped guitars which sound
completely different. I'm also ignorant about what the stock pickups in the Electromatic series Gretsch guitars are like.
Two things about Gretsch pickups:
1. They sound like nothing else out there (e.g. a Filter Tron doesn't sound like any kind of humbucker, single coil, P90, etc.)
2. They don't sound at all like each other (e.g. a Filter Tron sounds nothing like a Dynasonic)
Basically, what I'm saying is you can't just say "Gretsch" and paint the whole brand with a broad brush. There is as much variance in the Gretsch line as there is in Gibson or PRS, for example.
So, that said, let's focus on how a Filter-Tron-equipped Duo Jet sounds under "high gain/high distortion".
The defining characteristic of a Filter Tron is "complex midrange". A Tron through a Marshall is the Malcolm Young tone, so that's your reference point for what I'm talking about. When you go higher gain than that, it depends a lot on your amp. I find that through my Mark V or through my old Stiletto, the Tron retains a lot of its "Tron-ness" at any setting, but those amps both emphasize the mids (especially the V). I'd expect a very different result from, say, a Dual Rectifier or a 5150.
The other thing to note is that the Duo Jet is mostly hollow ("chambered"). This gives each note a sweet blooming sustain, but also means the guitar lacks the attack and articulation of a full solid body. It's a subtle thing, for sure, but it is noticeable. In most contexts it doesn't bother me at all, but if I'm playing a high gain riff on the low strings I will probably reach for a different guitar.
I would not at all call my Duo Jet "thin" under high gain, or any setting. The Tron isn't a meaty in-your-face pickup for sure, but that complex midrange can really fill the room in a way you wouldn't expect.
