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SETTING UP of regular tone controls doesn’t apply. Many coils move closer to the strings, and warmer and
As a rule, things get louder and brighter as
Consequently, the inherent treble bleed
STRAIGHT modern Gretsch guitars have tone switches mellower as they get further away. Go too far
either way and the tone can be harsh or dull.
with better caps or a no-load tone control.
You’ll need one or the other if you want Setting height with suspended Filter’Trons
To get the best from Filter’Trons, authentic vintage Gretsch tone. is easy but traditionally mounted Filter’Trons
you need to set them up properly Controls for Gretsch guitars with are screwed to the top and sit inside routed
and ensure that the accompanying two Filter’Trons generally had individual recesses. TV Jones sells foam spacers that
volumes, as well as a master volume. The allow some movement. Alternatively, try
electronic components are present pots are 500k units but the way they’re wood shims under the ends of the pickups.
and correct. Here’s how to do it wired means the amplifier ‘sees’ 250k. You could use the foam to determine the
Filter’Trons are bright and, with a single optimum height before calculating the
nlike PAF-style humbuckers, not all 500k volume control, they can sound too thickness required for the shims.
Filter’Trons are created equal and shrill. If you’re installing Filter’Trons in a If the bridge pickup needs excessive
dimensions and mounts vary. Before Les Paul or a Cabronita Tele, combine them shimming, try placing a thin rectangle of
Ubuying retrofit Filter’Tron pickups, with no-load tone pots and 250k volume plastic or wood veneer between the bottom
check the heights, footprint and mounting pots for the full Filter’Tron experience. of the magnet and the base plate. That’s
method required with the manufacturer Filter’Trons are extremely sensitive to how Gretsch did things but you can only do
and measure your guitar accordingly. height settings. TV Jones recommends 5/32” it on Filter’Trons with loose covers.
The arrival of Filter’Trons coincided (4mm) between the top of the cover and Before height setting, tighten the 24 pole
with Gretsch abandoning a conventional the bottom of the E strings on the bridge screws all the way down, then undo each
tone control and introducing a tone switch. pickup. For the neck, it’s between 3/16” by half a turn. This allows for upwards and
Given its poorly chosen capacitor values, (4.7mm) and 7/32” (5.55mm) on the bass downwards movement. TV Jones provides
most vintage Gretsch players keep the side of the neck and 3/16” (4.7mm) on guidance on screw-height settings but results vary
tone switch in the bypass position. the treble side. depending on string gauge and bridge radius.
