Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Funkfingers
  • Start date Start date
F

Funkfingers

Guest
Anyone here got one? Is it any good - especially for somebody who is not a fan of FOB. (I have in mind jangly Beatles/Byrds sounds. My alternative plan would be to install TV Jones 'Trons or T-Armonds in a pre-owned PRS SE Semi-Hollow.)

Are the control pots Master Volume, Middle PU Blend, Master Tone or one of those demented Gretsch configurations? Yes, I know about the kill switch.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

I'm a Fall Out Boy fanatic, that being said I can't see it being of any inferior quality than other gretsch guitars in it's price range.

I don't remember the control scheme, only the switch. Sorry.

If you install some nicer filtertron style pickups I'm sure it would be a great instrument, I'm fond of it's looks.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Published specs say three TV Jones Magna'Tron pickups. (Essentially, Filter'Tron style humbuckers in which rod magnet polepieces replace the conventional bar magnet and screws. If you will, the TVJ equivalent of an SD Stag Mag.) As far as I know, this design development is TVJ's idea. Anyone else building a pickup like this would require a license. TVJ's stated intention was to offer a single coil-like sound sans hum. Hence, my hopes for the Stump-o-matic as a jangle 'n' raunch machine. (The other sound in my head is Fred "Sonic" Smith in his Rendezvous Band phase.)


http://tvjones.com/pickups-2/filtertron-style/magna-tron/

http://sonicsrendezvousband.net
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Shee-yit!

The photographs posted on my local dealer's Facebook page clearly show Filter'Tron lookalike pickups with the embossed legend US PAT. followed by a string of numbers. I have one genuine TV Jones Classic similarly decorated. The pair in my Fender La Cabronita Telecaster are embossed TV JONES. Hence, the pickups in the Stumpo could be the inferior Fender-commisioned replicas.

I need to enquire more deeply.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

My bad. The Stumpo pickups are named Megatron NOT Magna'Tron. Duh!

Possibility #1 - These are something made by TVJ exclusively for this signature instrument.
Possibility #2 - These are inferior Filter'Tron replicas, similar to the Fideli'Trons found in the Fender (MIM) La Cabronista Telecaster. Boo, hiss!
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

A quick trawl of the official website reveals that any TV Jones involvement is plugged ruthlessly, both in the model designation and on the spec page. (e.g. The Brian Setzer signature models featuring his TVJ signature model pickups.)

Conclusion. The Mega'Tron pickups on the Stumpo are definitely NOT manufactured by TV Jones.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Further research confirms that the Gretsch Mega'Tron pickups are in-house FMIC items. No clear specification details are forthcoming beyond them being hotter than standard Filter'Tron clones.

It seems to me that buying a Gretsch Stump-o-matic, stripping out the stock electronics and then upgrading to at least one TV Jones pickup would result in a guitar of very similar spec and capabilities to my Warmoth La Cabronista Telecaster.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

I have a "regular" Corvette, which is 95% the same guitar as the Stumpy. The main diff. is CVT's have a Bigsby (that I replaced with a trapeze),2 Mega Trons Vs the 3 on the Stump. Oh, and the "kill switch". Over at the Gretsch forum, the Megas are universally described as "the best Gretsch pups ever", but I didn't like the one on mine. Probably because I'm not in love with the twangy Gretsch thing, I like my mahogany plank to sound like a SG with P90's. Lots of guys get the big hollow Gretsches and put Megas in them, so if you get a Stump you totally could recoup part of your outlay selling off the Megas. I traded the one I had, for 2 other Gretsch pups and the guy seemed really happy to get it. Of course I spent way too much on a set of TV Jones T-90's ("Tron"-shaped P90's so I didn't have to route holes in my baby) but they sound GOOOOOOOOOD. Oh, and unless you're in love with the Stump shape, or 3-pup thing, you'd almost be better off spending less dough and just get a "regular" CVT (or 2, I've seen used ones for $400 or less, then you sell off the Megas and Bigsby B-50 and have enough cash for TVJ's)
Really, this basic guitar is just fantastic, it will do everything an SG does, for less $ (and nobody will expect you to play AC-DC riffs on it when you strap it on...)
Hope this helps. You can probably tell I'm a huge CVT nerd so I may be a little biased, but really these are great guitars.

Oh yeah, Vol/VOl/Tone/3-way is standard CVT, add a kill switch to the Stump and a "rotary middle pup selector" (Why do Gretsches have weird wiring schemes?).
Mine sounded like an SG with really "bright" pickups, not dark or "rock"-ish at all. I changed pots on mine, and the capacitor and it didn't "darken" it enough for me which is why I went with the T-90's. YOu might just wanna try out the stock pups first, since everybody (ecxept me) seems to love them so much. Maybe they're just THAT different in a big hollowbody though. OH yeah, Sweetwater has regular CVT's for 600-something and there's always used ones on Ebay.
 
Last edited:
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

This is good to know.

If there is a niche market for FMIC Megatron pickups, I might as well take advantage of it.

Unfortunately, I am in the UK. The majority of Sweetwater special offers will not be open to me. On any that are, any monetary saving would almost certainly be gobbled up by EU import tariffs and local purchase taxes.

I had to stifle my giggles over your AC/DC riff comments. (What does Malcolm play? That's right!) I am rather fond of the unique rip of Filter'Trons through high gain valve amplification.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Ha ha, not that I have anything against AC-DC riffs, Mal is pretty much The Man as far as "rock guitar playing" is concerned... SInce you'd have to get everything sent "over the pond" anyway, I can see how that would complicate everything (and make it more expensive...) As far as I've heard, the Mega-trons and the Fender "Fidelitrons" (Viva la revolucion!!!) are completely different pups. They all kind of LOOK the same but sound different. I haven't personally played a Fidel-equipped guitar, but I can tell you my Mega equipped guitar sounded good thru my crappy practice amp, and even better thru my buddy's Twin. I just really prefer P90-tones apparently.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Understandable. I quite like P90 tones myself.

Meanwhile, I have discovered three examples on eBay UK of what I consider to be the ultimate jangle machine. The bad news is that the cheapest of these is £3200 (c. $4500). The Rickenbacker Roger McGuinn signature model.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Yeesh. I just don't understand why moving a guitar 2000 miles east of me, increases it's cost by double. Shipping doesn't cost THAT much... Like, why is it I can buy something from amazon and it's free shipping from China (2X the distance from here, Vs Europe) but something going the other direction and it's stupid expensive.
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Game over.

Funkfingers said:
My alternative plan would be to install TV Jones 'Trons or T-Armonds in a pre-owned PRS SE Semi-Hollow.
Click to expand...

The eBay vendor dropped his price. I seized the opportunity. :deal:

The money that I have "saved" by not buying a brand new Gretsch Stumpomatic would probably pay for a Janglebox 3. :D
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

****, Im really jonesing or one of those stump o matics... but i dont need it. My 2 fenders and gibson are way more than enough!
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

The only Jones I wanna know about is Thomas Vincent. G

Glenn. Ogle this.

fender-cabronita-telecaster-thinline-white-blonde-[3]-3208-p.jpg
 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

Allow the Captain and Chappers to demonstrate.

 
Re: Gretsch Stump-o-matic question

QUICK UPDATE

Went back to the guitar shop. Gave the Stump-o-matic a good workout through a Fender HR Deluxe III. Quite liked the neck pickup. Felt bereft without a tone control. Could not help noticing the soul-less of the MIC assembly and finishing. (I have noticed this on Squier Affinity instruments, Fender (China), FLEA Bass and Epiphone.) Obviously, a person is perfectly capable of doing his own fingerboard edge tumbling. It is impossible to overlook the slightly unfinished feel.

Came away relieved that I opted for the PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow. Right now, it is looking like this.

DSC00324.jpg

Some of the sounds are superb. Others are disappointing. The instrument currently suffers from Rickenbacker disease - neck PU louder than bridge PU. I suspect that I need to reverse some of the magnet swap experiments that I attempted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Guitar Project-itis again
Replies
2
Views
909
Funkfingers
F
Back
Top