Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

[FredJMcGillicuty]

Hey folks!

I'm new here, so please bear with me.

I bought a Gretsch G2655T Streamliner in black several months ago, and I've been loving it so far!

Except for the pickups. Both of them, but especially the bridge pickup, are EXTREMELY aggressive. Sounds like a blown out speaker, no matter what amp you push it through. It almost sounds like the pickups have too much power going through them and not enough wire wrapped around the magnets to handle it. Also, this is quite possibly the least Gretsch-y sounding Gretsch of all time, so I don't really have a problem with ripping out the Broad'Trons.

So, I've been looking around, and eventually, I stumbled across TV Jones. I looked at their Super'Trons, and I really dug the way they sound on a Les Paul and a Firebird. Problem is the $$$. Very expensive, especially for a 20 year old kid going through college!

So, that brings me to this thread's namesake, the Hot Rodded Humbucker Set from Seymour Duncan. Would those be a good fit for a semi-hollow body guitar and a player that likes to play classic and hard rock, with the occasional blues and metal (for playing with my younger brother)?

Thanks for your time and I hope to hear from all you people soon!

-Fred

 

[daenius]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

it will no longer be Gretsch sounding, but it'll indeed sound good

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

Hmm, by the opinion of a lot of people a JB bridge pickup is pretty aggressive itself. Then again... Output is a funny thing, and perceptions of aggressive/smooth nature of pickups should be considered beyond just looking at DC, I can name a few "lower output" pickups that sound rougher/less refined than a JB. So maybe you'll like it.

 

[ICTGoober]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

Pretty sure the Streamliner pickups are larger than Duncan pickups. Suggest you measure carefully....

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

I am not sure about the size, as I've never seen those Streamliner pickups in person. But I think if your guitar sounds too aggressive, a Hot Rodded Set will sound just as (or more) aggressive in a different way, and like it was said, it won't sound like a Gretsch. Do you want the typical Gretsch sound? Or a PAF sound? What kind of music are you using this for?

 

[FredJMcGillicuty]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

I am not sure about the size, as I've never seen those Streamliner pickups in person. But I think if your guitar sounds too aggressive, a Hot Rodded Set will sound just as (or more) aggressive in a different way, and like it was said, it won't sound like a Gretsch. Do you want the typical Gretsch sound? Or a PAF sound? What kind of music are you using this for?

They are about the same size as a PAF humbucker, but I think they are just a little bit bigger. That's easy enough to work around, just get different pickup rings. And in all honesty, I kinda have a love-hate relationship with the 'Gretsch sound', as people call it. Love it for just the pure sound, but it does make it pretty limited for what type of music you can play, so I'll take any pickups I can get and try them out! The reason why I went with the G2655T was because of how it felt. I loved the neck profile and the semi hollow body. Besides, if it doesn't work out, I can always toss the old ones back in.

I play a lot of classic and hard rock, with the occasional blues and metal every once in a blue moon. I'm also a rhythm player, if that helps.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

Everybody has different tastes, but based on your post I suspect the JB would be too hot for you. It's really at its best doing leads. Also, the JB's for full-out players, doesn't clean up really well with the guitar's volume knob. Jazz neck should be great, but for the bridge I think you'd probably be better off with something a bit less driven. Custom5 maybe; if it isn't perfect you could try different magnet options to tailor the tone. Perhaps even better, the 59/Custom Hybrid which is super responsive and kind of straddles the line between vintage & modern. A great choice for classic & hard rock.

 

[Stratomaniac]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

Howdy! I'd go for the Hot Rodded pick ups without hesitation. I have a set in one of my strats and they have a great range and clear sound. I used to have a Gretsch and found the pups to be too screamy for lighter work. They were great for melting faces with heavier thrashy stuff. I tried calming them down with a larger capacitor, which worked a little, but I still didn't like them.


If you are worried about cosmetics you can buy covers cheaply on Amazon to keep that Gretsch look. Here's a link to a set. Japan Amazon sorry, but I'm sure you'll find them on your local.






https://www.amazon.co.jp/Yibuy-%E9%8A%85-%E3%83%8B%E3%83%83%E3%82%B1%E3%83%AB%E5%90%88%E9%87%91-H%E3%82%B9%E3%82%BF%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB-%E3%83%94%E3%83%83%E3%82%AF%E3%82%A2%E3%83%83%E3%83%97%E3%82%AB%E3%83%90%E3%83%BC-%E3%82%A8%E3%83%AC%E3%82%AD%E3%82%AE%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC%E7%94%A8/dp/B01EUTESCW/ref=pd_sbs_267_3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=KK0E93PJG4TQ5RRBHEJW

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

They are about the same size as a PAF humbucker, but I think they are just a little bit bigger. That's easy enough to work around, just get different pickup rings. And in all honesty, I kinda have a love-hate relationship with the 'Gretsch sound', as people call it. Love it for just the pure sound, but it does make it pretty limited for what type of music you can play, so I'll take any pickups I can get and try them out! The reason why I went with the G2655T was because of how it felt. I loved the neck profile and the semi hollow body. Besides, if it doesn't work out, I can always toss the old ones back in.

I play a lot of classic and hard rock, with the occasional blues and metal every once in a blue moon. I'm also a rhythm player, if that helps.

Have you though about wiring them on a push pull to out the coils in parallel?


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[FredJMcGillicuty]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

Have you though about wiring them on a push pull to out the coils in parallel?


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I've thought about it, but that might be more work than it would be worth.

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Hot Rodded Humbucker Set in a Gretsch???

I've thought about it, but that might be more work than it would be worth.

I did it on a cheap Dearmond I payed £50 for and dropped Seymour Duncan APH1s on. Took an hour start to finish to out new pickups in, series parallel on each using their respective volume pots and added an out of phase switch. It's a nice bright sound.



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