hey guys. im looking to upgrade my 5120 from its stock pups. im torn between the surf 90s. or tv classics..or something else..that i havent thought of. the surf 90s seem unbelievable for the price..tv's are alot more as you all know im sure..any ideas.what do you guys think. im looking for some twang,and some rock. thanks guys

Powertron Bridge - TV Jones makes them in a standard humbucker size

Seymour Duncan Phat Cat P90 neck - P90 in a humbucker size

or

GFS Mean 90, Dream 90 or Surf 90 neck

I haven't done it to mine but I'm working on a custom build with a Powertron bridge and a Phat Cat neck. I'm excited to hear the results.

Powertron bridge and Supertron neck. Use them in my Falcon and soon to be in my new 6120-1959.

I work on 5120s from time to time an think it's a good match. Also really love the dynasonics in anything.

yea.ive heard the phatcat. that sounds really nice..could give it that eddie cochran sound maybe

Simply.. Yes, they are worth the price. Love the Classic and Classic Plus I put in my 5120.

was it hard to install them..what mount did you use. ive read ill need to go the english mount way

The english mount is a pain in the ass. The 5120 uses a non standard hole pattern that is close to the english mount holes so you have to drill holes very close if not touching the existing holes. I have a dream 90 in the neck and a TV classic in the bridge and while I have no regrets about going that rout I have to say the GFS rout is a far wiser choice unless you really must try the TV classics. For me that was the case. I knew if I didn't get at least 1 TV classic It would drive me nuts wondering what if?

Also the TV classic just looks great and is very well made but sonically and ease of install the GFS wins in my opinion.

the 15yr old bought a set of tvjones classics for his 5122 and after I installed them he was "WOW those stock pickups were total crap. " He used his own hard earned money, dad didnt buy em but he got the labor for free.. plus I'd never let him buy the asian pickups at guitar fetish.

the 15yr old bought a set of tvjones classics for his 5122 and after I installed them he was "WOW those stock pickups were total crap. " He used his own hard earned money, dad didnt buy em but he got the labor for free.. plus I'd never let him buy the asian pickups at guitar fetish.

Should be showing him how to put then in Tavo!

He's putting together a rutters stratocaster. So far he's got the body and grey bobbin Abigail signed custom fender pickups with most of the hardware. I taught him how to sand the body, seal it but he wanted to stain it black and the work was well.. a learning experience. so we're gonna shoot it silver sparkle after he comes up with the dough for a neck. You stole that JV strat that I was gonna part out for my own strat build and give him the neck.... there's some catholic guilt for ya

GFS pickups are great bang for the buck and IMO an upgrade to the stock pickups in Electromatics. Stay away from the ceramic Nashville Retrotrons if you have a bright and/or clear amp. They can be an unpleasant harshness in those.

TV Jones: worth every penny.

I got Surf 90's first and at the last second decided to put them in my Hamer Echotone. They sound great, like everyone has said before. I went for the TV Classic and Plus for the bridge in my 5120 because I had to know. Consider the length of time they're likely to be in your guitar spread the cost of the pickups over that time (because if you liked Gretsch sounds you are going to love your TVs and keep them).

I just recently tried out for a band and hearing them in that context really impressed me. And the band too, apparently, since I've been asked back!

Its easy to plug them little holes and drill new ones! Its not an antique so go at it!

He's putting together a rutters stratocaster. So far he's got the body and grey bobbin Abigail signed custom fender pickups with most of the hardware. I taught him how to sand the body, seal it but he wanted to stain it black and the work was well.. a learning experience. so we're gonna shoot it silver sparkle after he comes up with the dough for a neck. You stole that JV strat that I was gonna part out for my own strat build and give him the neck.... there's some catholic guilt for ya

Must be awesome to share the same intrests with the boy! Ooh an Abi pickups will be bad ass!

You need to get him on the fabulous land of the forums!

Also i fees no guilt... Water of a ducks back! (plus i want it more!)

TVJ PUs, like divorce, are expensive, because they're worth it.

Same story, different thread!

Two threads one opinion.

I've read some TV Jones backlash recently also some Tru Arc. Fact is the decision is always up to the one paying the bills and how good those particular set of ears are but more importantly it's Gretsch. For the most part Gretsch players are unique and complex people. Most of them want to replicate the sound and look that made them interested in the guitar. In my opinion PAF Filtertrons are the best pickup ever made and when the deal went bad they were done. If not for TV Jones to take the time, expense, trial and error to recreate them we would have a couple options that look like Filters but sound like pickups. I'm unique, ask my wife but I'm loyal to a fault and when someone takes the time to do it right I save my money and buy it. Once the money is spent you can feel good about your purchase or wind up with buyers remorse that turns to frustration when you can't find that sound.

Same applies to the Tru Arc discussion, one took the time to recreate the original bar bridge but improved it so the radius matches the frets.

Fact is there will always be something cheaper (on the internet) but cheap is always a substitution for what you really want.

i think so,love my supertron....

TVJ PUs, like divorce, are expensive, because they're worth it.

Haha!

Hey, rockabilly katt,

If your name is an indication of the style of music you like to play, then I would recommend TV Jones Classics (and maybe SuperTrons) over PowerTrons. I've never tried MagnaTrons, but their reputation for single-coil tone is quite good, and that might get you in a good twangy place.

I must confess to a distaste for PowerTrons -- not because they're bad (they're quite good), but their high-outputty midrange-y-ness does not suit what I play well.

I just installed a pair of SuperTrons in my Jag Tan Annie. I'm really digging what I'm hearing, but I'm still experimenting and sorting out what this fabulous tone is best suited for.

As for the GFS stuff -- "good for the money" in my experience, but they're just a few rungs up the ladder. If you want to climb to the top (and that is where you want to be, isn't it?), you want TV Jones.

Paul/FF909

did you have a hard time installing them? i haven't done much guitar work, so naturally im more than a little nervous sending my gretsch under the knife. there aren't many places around my town to have this done professional. and iv'e heard i shouldn't take it to guitar center. any tips or suggestions? thank you

well im going to go with the tv classics. probably one of each. maybe a plus for the bridge. i will be ordering them this weekend. i will post some before and after pics after if you guys are interested. cant wait for that sweet classic sound..thanks for all the help everyone.

Congrats on the decision. Hope they are what you are looking for. Those are pups that have made many top players very very happy.

did you have a hard time installing them? i haven't done much guitar work, so naturally im more than a little nervous sending my gretsch under the knife. there aren't many places around my town to have this done professional. and iv'e heard i shouldn't take it to guitar center. any tips or suggestions? thank you

They're simple to install but make sure you cover up your guitar when you solder.