racman
I need to decide on pickups for a "cabronita/thinline" style build with a difference and was wondering if anyone has any experience or suggestions.
So the build will be a chambered Mahogany (Tele Style) body, Ash top, Roasted Maple neck and Rosewood fretboard and the following are the pickup choices we are considering:
(neck then bridge)
1) TV Jones Classic and Classic plus
2) TV Jones Powetron and Powertron Plus
3) Lollar Gold Foil and El Rayo (this has also been thrown into the mix now)
I know that most of the cabronita style guitars seem to use Classic & Classic plus but bear in mind this is a mahogany body guitar (if you don't believe the wood type has any effect on tone, there is another thread to express that opinion please ? ?)
Suggestions, advice etc please?
Big-G
Personally, I'd stick with the Classics. They are tried and tested, and you pretty much know what sound you are going to get. Having said that, I would love to hear the Lollars though! They'd certainly peak my interest enough to 'take a risk' on. You could always swap them out for Classics at a later date I guess?
Sorry I don't have enough experience with the Lollars or powertrons to comment accurately, but these are my thoughts. I guess it all depends on what kind of tone you are looking for? Traditional Cabrio sounds, then its got to be the classics, but noting that you have the Mahog body will definitely give it a different flavour, so I gather that you don't mind if it turns out to not be the traditional sound of a cabrio, in which case again, I'd say take a chance on the Lollar's!
Hope that helped in some way?
Regards
G!
Big-G
Sorry, also meant to note that I believe the powertrons are supposed to be a little darker sounding than the classics, and not quite as jangly. The TV jones site does have comparison info on each of their pups supposed sound, so that would tell you the tonal difference between the classics and powers?
http://tvjones.com/pickups/find/find-your-fit/
The chart below each mount shows the brightest at the top, down to the darkest at the bottom. It seems the Powertrons come out darkest everytime.
Cheers
G!
racman
Thx G!
The builder in question suggests the following: "depending on whether you want very clean or with an ability to beef it up a little, both are good, but the Powertron have a little wider range."
The only problem with getting the Lollars (or even the Lollartrons) is that they are standard HB size whereas the TV jones are smaller so swapping out later is sadly not a viable option.
I think I am leaning towards the Powertrons ....
Big-G
You can still swap them out later, it just means you'd have to get the English mount for the TV's, then perhaps some of their mounting rings and shims. But yes, I agree that the TV's look tidier when mounted in their own particular mounts.
I'm actually considering doing this to my Carparelli Ivory Tower, and replacing the stock pups with some TV Classics. Its not that I'm unhappy with the sound from that Carparelli, but more just that I can get that sound from many of my others, but have nothing jangly like a Gretsch with TV's!
Regards
G!
racman
I just noticed on that link that one can get a "Traditional HB cavity" set as well. A little strange that according to the Tonal chart, all the pickups become brighter with this format?
Big-G
I don't think the chart is suggesting they get brighter, but more that there are fewer of their pups available in that mount, so the list has just been pushed up. If that makes sense? Bit misleading though!
Regards
G!
racman
I hear you but if one looks at the "brightness and darkness" they have definitely moved towards the brighter side. I agree that I don't think that is the intention or the facts but ....
Mmmm decisions, decisions ...
Mr-M
What about Lollar Lollartrons? TV Jones/ Filtertron sounds in pickups the size of normal humbuckers but with the classic Filtertron looks - as opposed to the full humbucker sized TV Jones which live under ugly chrome covers. If you don't like the filtertron sound, you can switch them out to regular humbuckers like the El Rayo you mentioned. It would give your build a lot more compatibility with a variety of pickups to try, whereas if you go traditional TV Jones you'd have to re-route the body if you can't settle on a TV pup that works for you.
The Gibson Chris Cornell 335 comes with Lollartrons and is getting universal praise as a superb sounding guitar. That is made of a species of mahogany, although it is a semi-hollow. Now that's a 335 I could get into. If they weren't so insanely expensive and a limited edition. :'( But I digress...
Or you could still route the guitar for humbuckers and go with English Mount TVs which looks like traditional FTs, but that means you will need to use pickup rings. If you go with TVs, I would recommend a set of Classics rather than a Classic + bridge. The best/ sweetest (IMO) sound in a Cabronita/ Gretsch with TV Classics is the middle switch position with both pickups on. The Classic + has a bit more beef in the bridge but (again IMO) ruins the both pups on tone. It also loses a bit of the snap of the regular Classic bridge pup.
(EDIT) Oops didn't notice most of this has been covered in the other posts... :-[
racman
Thx, I was thinking of it as well so hasn't been covered above to the extent you have suggested...
AlanRatcliffe
Classic and Classic + for a flexible combo (Jazz, country, Rockabilly and rock) or a pair of Classics for vintage-style maximum chime and 'tween "phasing" (would be my choice). The Classics are bright (for humbuckers - in comparison to a stock Tele, not so much), but the mahogany should smooth any harsh edges. The Classic+ is overwound and more powerful, but still very much a 'Tron and a good bridge match for the Classic. If you are considering a Tele bridge with pickup mounted on the bridge, go for the + version.
Powertrons are closer to a traditional PAF... More for the Gretsch player who wants a more Gibson-like tone than those chasing the 'Tron sound IMO. Especially in a mahogany body...
Go for Filter'Tron mount (easy to change to a full HB rout later than the other way 'round), or English mount - these are the only two that have all the TVJ models. Either limits your choice of pickup rings, but that also depends on pickguard/bridge choice.
The Lollars are both rather specialist. ...but nice for experimenting with a tenth guitar kind of thing.
Squonk
My Goodness Rikus! I want one of those guitars now ? The tones are incredible
Big-G
Squonk wrote:
I saw one of these in a local shop, A Cort Sunset
Got my juices going for TV Jones pickups
I'd totally own one of these if they were not R10k +, but I guess if it was cheaper, it wouldn't have the TV's! ?
G!
racman
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Classic and Classic + for a flexible combo (Jazz, country, Rockabilly and rock) or a pair of Classics for vintage-style maximum chime and 'tween "phasing" (would be my choice). The Classics are bright (for humbuckers - in comparison to a stock Tele, not so much), but the mahogany should smooth any harsh edges. The Classic+ is overwound and more powerful, but still very much a 'Tron and a good bridge match for the Classic. If you are considering a Tele bridge with pickup mounted on the bridge, go for the + version.
Thx Alan,
The bridge will be a TonePros AVT bridge - will that effect your suggestion?
AlanRatcliffe
You can still go either way with a wrap around. Classic/Classic+ or Classic/Classic.
BTW - You can do better than the TonePros. Look at the
Graph Tech Resomax. I have one on my Singlecut and am more than happy. Was a noticable improvement over the already good PRS aluminium model - taking away a bit of harshness on the attack. A super comfortable bridge underhand too.
Also in the running would be the Pigtail -
http://www.pigtailmusic.com/Products.php#IntonatableTailPiece
Mr-M
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
BTW - You can do better than the TonePros. Look at the
Graph Tech Resomax. I have one on my Singlecut and am more than happy. Was a noticable improvement over the already good PRS aluminium model - taking away a bit of harshness on the attack. A super comfortable bridge underhand too.
I have a friend with one of these on his PRS that swears by this bridge as well. I may need a replacement for a wraparound bridge in the near future, so I'm pondering one of these for myself as well.
rikus
Roy, any reason you're not going string through with tele barrel style bridge?
chris77
No idea which would work best or any advice to give you, but I just have to say that your planned build sounds AWESOME! Can't wait to see the end product..... :goodtimes:
