Review: Fender Fideli'tron vs TV Classics

[DreX]

Fender's MIM Cabronita's come stock with Fideli'trons, which are knock-offs of Gretsch Filter'trons. The question comes up as to how much they differ from TV Classic, the leading Filter'tron replacement on the the market. I finally took a chance with a set of TV Classics and so I have an opportunity to compare them to the Fender Filter'trons in case anyone else has the same questions I did.

First, Fender didn't copy the Filter'tron exactly. The TV Jones Classic appears to be more accurate in terms of dimensions, and a flatter screw head. The Fender Fideli'trons have quite a bit of screw sticking out of the bottom, about 5mm to 8mm, where as the TV Classic and a real Filter'tron have little or no screw end protruding out the underside.

Tops

A real Filter'tron:

Bottoms

The Filter'trons have a slightly higher DC resistance than the Classics. The bridge pickups are ppretty close, but the Fideli'tron neck definately appears to have more winds than the TV Classic neck. The TC Classics both have a slightly higher resonant peak.

The amount of magnetism over the screw heads was a little strong on average with the TC Classics, 330 gauss compared to about 310 on the Filter'trons, according to the Spin Doctor Magnet Meter.

Here's some demo clips:

Fender Fideli'tron


TV Classics


To my ears, the TV Classic and Fideli'tron bridge pickups are pretty much indistinguishable. OTOH, the TV Classic neck seems to be a bit brighter and a bit scooped relative to the Fideli'tron, and the dynamic range feels wider as well. Overall I like the TV Classic neck better, I think Fender might have put a few too many winds on the bobbins.

I'd recommend buying a TV Classic for the neck if you want the most satisfying clean tone possible, but I wouldn't spend the money on the TV Classic bridge if I already had a Fideli'tron on hand.

 

[HALENisking]

Re: Review: Fender Fideli'tron vs TV Classics

Maybe the tv classics sound just a bit more focused with the single notes? Not that there's virtually any difference to my ear really. Sweet review, thanks!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Review: Fender Fideli'tron vs TV Classics

Graphs for recent (FMIC-owned) and vintage Gretsch pickups would be welcome. (I suspect that neither TVJ Classic nor Fender Fideli'Tron pickups are entirely true to vintage.)

I have the Fender 2011 La Cabronita Tele-bration model. The neck position pickup has a lovely, sweet bloom to it. The bridge position pickup is pure twang. Not exactly vintage Tele twang and not hollowbody Gretsch twang either.

On my Warmoth self-build LCT Especial, I went with the TVJ Classic Plus. That bit of extra girth, coupled with the guitar's mahogany body, takes the guitar into LP Junior territory but still with some twang.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Review: Fender Fideli'tron vs TV Classics

This is not at all a knock on TV Jones pickups but it is worth mentioning that they are different in several ways from vintage Filtertron pickups.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Lakeabilene]

Re: Review: Fender Fideli'tron vs TV Classics

I have installed the TVJ Classics into my MIM Cabronita. That picture above of A real Filter'tron would never fit the Cabronita because the plate on the back is too wide. You have no room for an oversized plate or ears like some of the pickups you find on the used market will have. The hole in the Cabronita is just the right size for the pickup to fit into, no room for any protrusions like that mounting plate--that plate is designed for hollowbodies or large mounting holes. The pickups are attached to the guitar with the two long screws that are seen on the front of the pickup, mine have black heads. The silver screws that come with the TVJ are too short.

I wish you had shown the huge black foam rubber that was attached to the Fideli trons, I can see where it was attached. If someone buys a Cabronita stripped without the rubber or long screws they will likely not find pictures on the internet and do some rigging of glue and chips to make this work. TVJ pickups include two small pieces of flat rubber for mounting, you need more like 3/4 inch of rubber LOL. There are no videos showing TVJ install into a Cabronita, even at TVJ site, maybe TVJ doesn't want to address the wrong screws and wrong rubber pads issue. I agree 100% with Drex about everything he posted; this is by far the best post I can find about upgrading a Cabronita with TVJ's!