The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: General tech questions: Filtertron Pickup Impedance Registry (Gretsch & TV Jones)

Filtertron Pickup Impedance Registry (Gretsch & TV Jones)

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- Rated: 205 ↑
Sep 27, 2007 3:24 p.m. Proteus:

(Also includes Grestch 'buckers.)

You can add values you measure in separate posts, or message them to me and I'll continue to fill out this table. (For duplicate pickup submissions, I'll run averages, which might be interesting.)

all values in K Ohms

Gretsch High-Sensitive Filtertrons (2005)
neck: 4.02
bridge: 4.70

TV Jones Classics (2004)
neck: 4.16
bridge: 4.87

TV Jones Supertron (2003)
neck: 4.25

TV Jones Classic Plus (2003)
bridge: 8.08

TV Jones Powertrons (2006)
neck: 4.90
PT Plus bridge: 8.44

TV Jones Magnatron (2006)
neck: 3.99

Gretsch Mini-humbuckers (2003-04)
neck: 5.45 (can this be right?)
bridge: 7.35
- Rated: 97 ↑
Sep 27, 2007 11:27 p.m. Setzer:

Gretsch FilterTron ('79 Country Club)

neck: 8.5 bridge: 8.5

Gretsch FilterTron (Mid 80's w/ TVJ Magnet mod)

:8
- Rated: 66 ↑
Sep 28, 2007 3:16 a.m. Walter Broes:

This post has been deleted
- Rated: 50 ↑
Sep 28, 2007 4:08 a.m. Ratrod:

I measured my Powertrons at room temperature at the output jack. (Not at the pickups lead wich is the correct way)

Powertron:

Bridge: 7.45

Neck: 4.85
- Rated: 7 ↑
Sep 28, 2007 8:02 a.m. Sid:

High sensitivity filtertrons on a 2005 Country Club:

Neck: 4.19

Bridge: 4.87
- Rated: 65 ↑
Oct 9, 2007 2:05 p.m. Antik:

In this ad, reportedly from 1979, there is this interesting bit, " The Country Gentleman is equipped with newly designed 8K-Ohm filtertron humbucking pickups..."
- Rated: 10 ↑
Oct 9, 2007 2:22 p.m. kovachian:

Impedance sure is nice to know but how does one measure a pickup's actual output, in millivolts?
- Rated: 31 ↑
Oct 9, 2007 2:54 p.m. do not be afraid:

you really can't, because the pickups output in millivolts is determined as much by the strings and the player as it is the pickup! actually, the strings and the player are effectively part of the pickup, and the more magnetic the string, and the harder the playing, the more output you'll get. it might be possible to come up with some sort of "standard" measurement so that we could compare the outputs of multiple pickups, but there's nothin' like that right now, and the organization required (getting all the major pickup manufacturers and guitar companies together, have 'em all agree to the same system, etc) makes it highly unlikely, especially when most buyers believe that DC Resistance is a measurement of output! it's just easier for guitar companies to pretend like it actually means something…
- Rated: 42 ↑
Oct 9, 2007 8:15 p.m. tartan phantom:

Amen to that, DNBA!

kovachian, this thread might shed a little more light on the subject:

Pickup Impedance Discussion Thread
- Rated: 6 ↑
Oct 14, 2007 7:29 p.m. Wayne:

TV Jones Classics

Neck: 4.03 Bridge: 4.85
- Rated: 3 ↑
Oct 22, 2007 9:00 a.m. Scottie:

'59 Gretsch 6118 Anniversary

I've got it all apart for a complete electrical overhaul, new harness, pots and jack.

Neck: 4.23K (original)

Bridge: 5.92K (rewound by Seymour Duncan 10+ years ago)

Scottie
- Rated: 54 ↑
Feb 21, 2008 8:49 p.m. Curt:

I just checked my 58 PAF Filters and they're both 4.45 measured from a 10" cable and volume up.

T.V. Jones Classics 4.2 neck and 4.9 bridge.

2005 Gretsch Filters, 4.2 neck and 4.9 bridge measured off the guitar.

I also measured my 2007 Chambered LP and the bridge is 8.5 and neck 8.9.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Feb 22, 2008 10:15 a.m. Danman:

The filtertrons in my old 1959/60- 6120 are:

bridge: 4k
neck: 4.2k

I have two vintage filters stored somewhere in a box. I will post the values as soon as I find them ;-)
- Rated: 26 ↑
May 30, 2008 9:13 p.m. audiodrome:

1966 Gretsch Tennessean (Pre-FMIC Alnico Filtertron)

Neck: 7.8k

Bridge: 8.0k
- Rated: 50 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 9:47 a.m. Ratrod:

Bringing an old thread back to life.

I was just wondering about the output of filtertrons in the early sixties.

Does anybody have, say a 1962/1963 Gretsch with Filtertrons?
- Rated: 29 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 10:06 a.m. Danman:

Hi Ratrod,

I surfaced my old filters I had still lying around:

->patent number (1960 or later): 4.08k
->filter that I don't know the year, it has a pre pat nr cover but I'm not sure if that is original: 4.03k
->59 Annie: 4.06k

So basically they are all in the 4k area.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 10:07 a.m. Danman:

oeps, double, triple
- Rated: 29 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 10:11 a.m. Danman:

yeah yeah.....
- Rated: 6 ↑
Sep 30, 2008 1:26 p.m. wpgjazzman:

All meaurements taken from uninstalled pickups at 74 degrees (room temperature) at pickup leads.

PowerTron Neck (2004) 3.9

PowerTronPlus Bridge (2004) 7.8

MagnaTron Neck (2008) 4.0
- Rated: 50 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 5:27 a.m. Ratrod:

Thanks Dan. The reason I'm asking is this: I'm starting to doubt the story that Malcolm Young rewound his pickup to 12K. A 12K Filtertron should sound thick and compressed with loads of midrange. A Powertron already sounds too thick and compressed for Mal's tone and that's (only) 8K. I'm getting closer to the sound with my Tele, wich is very low output and has no midrange to speak of.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Oct 1, 2008 7:47 a.m. Danman:

Hi Ratrod,
I always found that standard filtertrons are powerful and can push an amp very well. They are not weak pick ups what the 4k might suggest. The resistance is not the only factor that defines a pick ups sound and power. I like powerful pickups but too powerfull can flatten and compress a sound too much losing all its spunk. I don't think Malcolm needs 12 k with those filtertrons and his attack. It is interesting to find out though. good luck!
- Rated: 97 ↑
Oct 4, 2008 12:00 a.m. Setzer:

1961 Country Club with FilterTrons(Pat. Numbered): Neck 4.28, Bridge 4.23.
- Rated: 1 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 10:49 p.m. GJS:

TV Jones Classics (2005) Neck 4.02 Bridge 4.85
- Rated: 8 ↑
Oct 12, 2008 11:59 p.m. Adrian:

Measured from the guitar lead..

TV Jones Classic (In a SSLVO 2005) Bridge : 4.96 Neck : 4.20

TV Jones Classic TV Trons (In a Synchromatic Sparkle jet) Bridge : 5.20 Neck : 4.63

The Jet has the crappy switch that had to be repaired but has new Japanese pots.
- Rated: 2 ↑
Oct 20, 2008 6:19 p.m. hagstrom71:

1965 Jet Firebird with original FilterTrons Bridge 4.32 Neck 3.96

2005 Gretsch Jet with TV Classics Bridge 4.71 Neck 3.99