tv jones and phat cat

Fndrfreek69

New member
i bought a phat cat neck for my 335 and i want to put a tv jones filtertron in the bridge. any suggestions on which one to get i mean they don't have a whole lot of options but i want one that will blend well with the phat cat but have its own totally different color at the same time...plus i don't want there to be to much of a volume drop when swtiching from either pickups so output needs to be the same.....once i get the filtertron all that will be left in my ultimate guitar will be the bigsby that i am adding.....so i need help quickly hahaha thanks for the help!
 
Re: tv jones and phat cat

With the stock magnets (twin A2's) a neck Phat Cat is dark & powerful in my 335's, SG's, and LP's. I swap magnets in mine (and P-90's) to either an A5/A2, A5/A3, or A5/A4 pair to get some treble into the formula.

Aren't TV Jones a bright, low-output PU? if so, you'll definitely need to brighten the PC, with either an A5/A3 (chimey sound), or A5/A5 (which is what Gibson uses). That should get the EQ's more in line, so the neck doesn't sound like it's in a closet. The A5/A3 will have a little less output than twin A5's, and would be a better balance volume-wise, and less likely to drown out the bridge.

I have a bridge HB and neck Phat Cat combination in a couple guitars, one being a 335, and it works very well once you swap magnets in the PC. Mag swaps take about 10 minutes, and require the skill level of the average 12-year old, so you'll have no problem with that. If you have spare HB's laying around (like old cheap Asian HB's), pull the A5's from them for the Phat Cat.
 
Re: tv jones and phat cat

how can you tell the difference between magnets visually i mean i know what they look like but i have noticed if it was a2 or a5 or whatever also the dc resistance on the phat cat is like 7.5 and the bridge classic filtertron in only like 4 or something is that going to make a percievable difference in volume between the two......i heard a guy playing a p90 and filtertron equipped semi holllow and it was just everything i ever wanted out of my guitar thanks for the help
 
Re: tv jones and phat cat

how can you tell the difference between magnets visually i mean i know what they look like but i have noticed if it was a2 or a5 or whatever also the dc resistance on the phat cat is like 7.5 and the bridge classic filtertron in only like 4 or something is that going to make a percievable difference in volume between the two......i heard a guy playing a p90 and filtertron equipped semi holllow and it was just everything i ever wanted out of my guitar thanks for the help

Alnico magnets look the same; which is why it's best to write what it is on the magnet with a felt-tip pen. If the P-90 you heard was a Gibson, it had twin A5's (bright), which will be different than a Phat Cat with twin A2's (dark). But that can be quickly changed with a magnet swap. A5's are the most common alnico magnet & you should be able to get some easily enough from some old HB's of yours or a friend.

Filtertron's have a very low resistence, which means they'll be bright and low output; that's why a Phat Cat with it's stock A2's will seem way too dark in comparison. You won't be able to get one amp EQ setting that will fit both PU's.

To equalize volumes between PU's, you can adjust the height of the PU's (have the PC a little further from the strings). One you get it dialed in, you'll like it's tone.
 
Re: tv jones and phat cat

Filtertron's have a very low resistence, which means they'll be bright and low output; that's why a Phat Cat with it's stock A2's will seem way too dark in comparison. You won't be able to get one amp EQ setting that will fit both PU's.

To equalize volumes between PU's, you can adjust the height of the PU's (have the PC a little further from the strings). One you get it dialed in, you'll like it's tone.[/QUOTE]

well i can use the magnets from the neck pickup that is in it now.....does the quality of the magnet affect the tone cause the pickups in it (as it is an epiphone model) aren't of the highest qualities...also will putting and A5 give the fat cat make it sound more p90 ish cause i hae heard that they are but perfect.....and on the dc resistance the neck has a higher resistance than the bridge, its like it will be reversed what effect will that have on the volume thank you for all your help i think i have finally figured out my perfect guitar im just new to the actual technical aspects if things
 
Re: tv jones and phat cat

well i can use the magnets from the neck pickup that is in it now.....does the quality of the magnet affect the tone cause the pickups in it (as it is an epiphone model) aren't of the highest qualities...also will putting and A5 give the fat cat make it sound more p90 ish cause i hae heard that they are but perfect.....and on the dc resistance the neck has a higher resistance than the bridge, its like it will be reversed what effect will that have on the volume thank you for all your help i think i have finally figured out my perfect guitar im just new to the actual technical aspects if things

Try the Epi magnets, they're free. Neck Phat Cats will sound more P-90ish with A5's; too me they're too dark with the stock A2's to tell that they're a single coil, at least in mahogany and semi-hollow guitars. Get some treble in there & it opens up the sound. You can tell it's a single coil then.

Adjust PU heights to equalize volumes; as a Plan B you could always put the PC in the bridge & the Filtertron in the neck.
 
Re: tv jones and phat cat

Well i ordered my tv jones and i am going to have my tech trade at the magnets in the phat cat to a5's so hopefully by the end of next week i will have the guitar of my dreams....thanks for all the help fellas if i can figure out a way to record then i will post some clips
 
Re: tv jones and phat cat

Well i ordered my tv jones and i am going to have my tech trade at the magnets in the phat cat to a5's so hopefully by the end of next week i will have the guitar of my dreams....thanks for all the help fellas if i can figure out a way to record then i will post some clips

Your tech may already know, but the magnets in a P-90 & Phat Cat are positioned so that they repel, not attract. Good luck!
 
Back
Top