Milder than TV Jones Classic?

[ICTGoober]

One of my clients has a Gretsch Country Gentleman w/ TV Jones Classic humbuckers. He thinks the pickups sound too scratchy. I should add that this client is a finger picker most of the time, and he leads worship services in his church. I am not hip to the TV Jones units, or any other pickups that would fit in this guitar. Any suggestions?

 

[Securb]

I would try wiring it in parallel before shopping other pickups

 

[ICTGoober]

You mean wire both in parallel to each other, or each unit in parallel? Are they 4 wire pickups?

 

[freefrog]

TV Jones Classic's have a very low inductance, setting their resonant peak very high in the audio range... Mines measure hardly more than 1.9H and 1.6H, for the record (it's twice less than an underwound T-Top for the bridge unit). That and their powerful magnet make them "naturally" gritty in high frequencies (in the 6.5khz range through an average 10' cable)... EDIT - and they can't be wired in parallel, BTW: they are 3 wires PU's (two output wires + a grounding bare one).

I tend to set them under the strings in a paradoxal way, with screw poles closer to the strings on the bass side, and a generous gap on the treble side if needed.

If the guitar has a tone switch, it might also be a good idea to use it: my guitar with TV Classic's has a switch putting a 3,3nF in parallel with the pickups and it makes them tonally close to P.A.F. clones.

If the guitar has no tone switch, playing it through a capacitive cable (IOW: a long and/or coily one) might help. Unless one mimics the capacitive load of a long cable by putting a low value cap between hot and ground of the output jack plug (start with 1nF / 0.001µ, adjust to taste with a higher or lower capacitance).

If changing pickups is required, TV Jones makes more powerful pickups, tonally closer to P.A.F. clones, with the same look. See the Power'Tron's.

 

[ICTGoober]

I did a little research on other offerings, and nearly everyone is trying to replicate the classic units which had alnico 5 magnets. I was hoping someone might offer alnico 2... Only one did, a Chinese pickup made by Fleor that sells for around $50 per set depending on the seller.

 

[Securb]

You mean wire both in parallel to each other, or each unit in parallel? Are they 4 wire pickups?

Mine are 4-wire, I would give that a try before spending $50

 

[Artie]

He thinks the pickups sound too scratchy.

I don't think I've heard a pup described as "scratchy." I wonder how that equates to tone.

 

[jeremy]

yeah, im not sure what scratchy means either. if it means too bright or thin, then the tone switch sounds like a good idea

 

[freefrog]

Mine are 4-wire, I would give that a try before spending $50

My bad, I'm sorry: you made me realize that TV Jones now sells Classic's with 4 wires... It's clearly mentioned in the "wiring notes": https://tvjones.com/tv-classic-bridge-universal-mount/

My own Classic's are wired like these ones, for the record, and the last one that I've bought had still this 3 wires cable: https://willcuttguitars.com/cdn/shop/products/IMG_2957_5000x.jpg?v=1620232386

A question, if you don't mind: have you tried your Classic(s) wired in parallel?

 

[jeremy]

i remember them being three wire too man, no worries. apparently they changed to 4 wire at some point

 

[ICTGoober]

He's gonna drop it off after New Years.

 

[Securb]

I remember my Classic+ distorting when it was too close to the strings, I mean serious distortion like I had an overdrive pedal going. It could simply be a case of backing the pickup off, scratchy might mean, fuzz or grainy.

 

[Securb]

A question, if you don't mind: have you tried your Classic(s) wired in parallel?

No, the guitar they are in is a hard rock/punk machine. It is a MIM Tele with an SD Hot Rails in the bridge and a Classic+ bridge pickup in the neck, allowing for some of those punk surf tones and old-school rhythm tones. I have never had the desire to bring down the heat on this guitar. There is a split on the Hot Rails if I desire.