la cabronita vs. gretsch

[waylon]

how close in tone is a la cabronita to a gretsch w/ filtertrons? my experiences w/ gretsch have been mostly miss and while i love the tone i can't seem to get along w/ the bodyshape or in some cases the feedback.

[waylon]

maybe i should have asked how far apart in tone are they?

[Waxhead]

how close in tone is a la cabronita to a gretsch w/ filtertrons? my experiences w/ gretsch have been mostly miss and while i love the tone i can't seem to get along w/ the bodyshape or in some cases the feedback.

poles apart.
and hehehe which gretsch ? - they make over 50 models - all different & all totally poo on any Tele imo for tone quality, versatility, craftsmanship, style and wow factor .

They make hollow-bodies, semi-hollow and solid with many different shapes and sizes.
Some have a touch of feedback that's easily controlled , most have none at all

[docfox]

I have owned several Gretsch guitars, loved the tone but could never bond with the feel/playability. I did put a set of TV Jones Classics in a nice Custom Shop setneck Stratocaster and it was a great marriage - fantastic tone and playability. Later I put the same pickups in a '72 reissue Tele Deluxe and was happy with that combination as well. Both fenders sounded very "Gretsch-like", and I enjoyed playing them way more than my all-Gretsch guitars.

[Waxhead]

I have owned several Gretsch guitars, loved the tone but could never bond with the feel/playability. I did put a set of TV Jones Classics in a nice Custom Shop setneck Stratocaster and it was a great marriage - fantastic tone and playability. Later I put the same pickups in a '72 reissue Tele Deluxe and was happy with that combination as well. Both fenders sounded very "Gretsch-like", and I enjoyed playing them way more than my all-Gretsch guitars.

I've played and heard Fenders with TV Jones Classics and do not agree they sound Gretsch like.
They sounded great for sure but not like any Gretsch I've heard.
There's far more to Gretsch than just the PUPs :)

[waylon]

waxhead,
talking mainly about duo jets and 6120. i know one is 'chambered' and the other semi hollow so comparisons are like apples vs. oranges. I guess what I'm asking is do the filtertrons take on a completely different tonality when put into a solidbody tele (ash, alder, pine) versus in the chambered or semi hollow body of a Gretsch?

[docfox]

I've played and heard Fenders with TV Jones Classics and do not agree they sound Gretsch like.


I guess I would describe the sound as more Gretsch-like than a standard Fender ;)

Obviously there are big differences in the way Gretsch and Fender guitars are put together, and those factors have a big effect on tonal characteristics of the instrument. I love the way Gretsch guitars look and how they sound, but prefer to actually play Fenders. So TV Jones in a Fender is probably as close as I am going to get to "Gretsch". As always, ymmv :)

[sonicD]

Not that it’s particularly important to the topic at hand, but a 6120 is a full blown hollowbody, not a semi-hollow. Tonewise, that’s something to consider. Just saying…

[440gtx6pak]

I prefer a duo jet over a La Cabronita. They do sound different.

[MT Buckaroo]

I have a Setzer SSLVO 6120 and a Silver Jet, both with TV Jones Classics, both with Bigsbys. I have a single-pickup Cabronita build with a Classic Plus. IMO, the Cabronita does not have "that great Gretsch sound."

Don't get me wrong. It sounds like a killer high-output Tele with an articulate, twangy humbucker in the bridge, and it rocks, but it is not the same as the Gretsches. A pickup type alone isn't the recipe for a particular signature sound. The guitar's construction matters way more. Does dropping a PAF in the neck position of a Tele = Les Paul? Not by a long shot.

The only logical TGP answer is... get one of each.

[feet]

picked up a cabronita in a store once, and it sounded and felt like nothing i'd ever want to own, much less a gretsch. i thought this one might be different, but it was all bright and spanky and weird. try as i might, i'm just not a fender guy. i would take both the duo jet and 6120 over one all day long.

[Dave1]

I have a duojet, a roundup, and 2 lacabs. I would call the lacabs "gretschy". They have more growl of the filtertron, but they don't really pick up all of the character. Both of my gretsches are chambered, and that may make a difference as well. I really like all the flavors of the sounds.

[vortexxxx]

Huge difference primarily because one is a solidbody.

[sliberty]

Cabronitas are way cool guitars, but they should be compared to Tele's, not Gretsches of any variety. Essentially, a Cab is a Tele. it has a slight variation on the Tele twang, due ot the pickup, but can get much meaner than a Tele too.

[Faron_atx]

I agree with sliberty. There is no comparison between the Gretsch and Tele. Two totally different dogs in sound and feel... I love a good duo jet and love a good spanky Tele. sliberty describes the sound of a Cab perfectly.

[Waxhead]

I have a Setzer SSLVO 6120 and a Silver Jet, both with TV Jones Classics, both with Bigsbys. I have a single-pickup Cabronita build with a Classic Plus. IMO, the Cabronita does not have "that great Gretsch sound."

Don't get me wrong. It sounds like a killer high-output Tele with an articulate, twangy humbucker in the bridge, and it rocks, but it is not the same as the Gretsches. A pickup type alone isn't the recipe for a particular signature sound. The guitar's construction matters way more. Does dropping a PAF in the neck position of a Tele = Les Paul? Not by a long shot.

The only logical TGP answer is... get one of each.

+1
Totally agree
Imo a Tele with TV Jones Classics is the best Tele you can get but a Jet with TVJ Classics & bigsby is better again & one of the best & most versatile guitars money can buy imo.

A semi-hollow Jet will do Tele twang, Les Paul growl, jazz fat warmth, ES-335 smooth, almost everything in between plus its own great Gretsch sounds. Then throw a great bigsby on top

[michael stuart 57]

get two of each and call me in the morning

I get to the top and i'm to tired too rock ;)

[Waxhead]

waxhead,
talking mainly about duo jets and 6120. i know one is 'chambered' and the other semi hollow so comparisons are like apples vs. oranges. I guess what I'm asking is do the filtertrons take on a completely different tonality when put into a solidbody tele (ash, alder, pine) versus in the chambered or semi hollow body of a Gretsch?

Yes, as you'd expect PUPs don't work in isolation - its the combination of all the electrics PLUs all the wood construction design, sizing, craftsmanship & special features that produces the tones we hear from every guitar.

In the case of Gretsch guitars the total effect is greater than the sum of the parts imo.
Either by accident or genius they produced total designs that elevate them to another level.

So if you stick any great PUPs like TV Jones Classics in any other guitar it's still gonna sound great - just different to any Gretsch is all :)

[guitardad]

Had my first La Cab experience today. Had a little time and stopped into Guitar Center and grabbed the sunburst model they had hanging up. Despite the fact that it wasn't setup at all, and the volume pot was a little loose, I could still get a feel for what they are all about. I totally dig these pickups in this setting - three distinct tones that also conveyed different flavors when I rolled the volume down a bit. I liked it a lot, but I can't get over their pricing on it.

By the way, I picked up about half a dozen guitars when I was there and only one of them was setup well enough that it felt good. The guy said that he was surprised that the La Cab hadn't sold yet and they've had it for 4 months or so. I bet if they set that thing up right, it would be gone quickly.

[Waxhead]

Had my first La Cab experience today. Had a little time and stopped into Guitar Center and grabbed the sunburst model they had hanging up. Despite the fact that it wasn't setup at all, and the volume pot was a little loose, I could still get a feel for what they are all about. I totally dig these pickups in this setting - three distinct tones that also conveyed different flavors when I rolled the volume down a bit. I liked it a lot, but I can't get over their pricing on it.

By the way, I picked up about half a dozen guitars when I was there and only one of them was setup well enough that it felt good. The guy said that he was surprised that the La Cab hadn't sold yet and they've had it for 4 months or so. I bet if they set that thing up right, it would be gone quickly.

If you really want a Tele there's another thing I'd check on these Cabronita's.
I've not been able to establish exactly which TV Jones PUP Fender fit in it.
Is it a TVJ Classic or another Filtertron specially made by TV Jones just for Fender ????
Fender don't call it a Classic anywhere I could find and.............

if it's not Classics then...............I'd bypass la Cabronita and buy a cheaper standard Tele and then buy TV Jones Classics and mod the Tele.
You'll end up with a cheaper & better Tele that way imo :)

[dilver]

If you really want a Tele there's another thing I'd check on these Cabronita's.
I've not been able to establish exactly which TV Jones PUP Fender fit in it.
Is it a TVJ Classic or another Filtertron specially made by TV Jones just for Fender ????
Fender don't call it a Classic anywhere I could find and.............

if it's not Classics then...............I'd bypass la Cabronita and buy a cheaper standard Tele and then buy TV Jones Classics and mod the Tele.
You'll end up with a cheaper & better Tele that way imo :)


Yeah, except the routings won't work: a typical tele has the bridge routing at an angle, which is too wide for a clean fit with a filtertron - you'd have to use the special bridge that TV Jones sells on their site... AND the neck routing is too long - this could be hidden by a pickguard that's routed for the filter. Bottom line: neck position filtertron on a tele = easy to do (and works well as long as you have a hot enough bridge pickup). Bridge position = sounds great, but harder to accomplish.

[galibier_un]

So, I'm guessing that based on preferences, that Gretsch afficionados (if a gun were placed to their head), would prefer plugging Filtertrons into either a semi hollow, or a chambered Tele body over a solid body Tele. Of course, there would be Tele characteristics - the twang of a 25.5" scale and the attributes of a bolt-on. It's not as if this is a bad thing http://img.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon10.gif

BTW, the NE format Filtertron route will just barely fit inside the footprint of an ashtray Tele bridge 2.998" (nominal 3.00") vs. the Filtertron's 2.812 (figure on 2.900 for the actual cavity).

So, you could route for a Tele bridge, then over-route for the Filtertron and have a backout plan.

I'm wrestling with this choice in a current build at the moment. Whether to over-route for an NE style in the bridge (for a swamp ash solid body), or to put off a Filtertron project for a chambered body.

Cheers,
Thom

[Waxhead]

So, I'm guessing that based on preferences, that Gretsch afficionados (if a gun were placed to their head), would prefer plugging Filtertrons into either a semi hollow, or a chambered Tele body over a solid body Tele. Of course, there would be Tele characteristics - the twang of a 25.5" scale and the attributes of a bolt-on. It's not as if this is a bad thing http://img.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon10.gif

BTW, the NE format Filtertron route will just barely fit inside the footprint of an ashtray Tele bridge 2.998" (nominal 3.00") vs. the Filtertron's 2.812 (figure on 2.900 for the actual cavity).

So, you could route for a Tele bridge, then over-route for the Filtertron and have a backout plan.

I'm wrestling with this choice in a current build at the moment. Whether to over-route for an NE style in the bridge (for a swamp ash solid body), or to put off a Filtertron project for a chambered body.

Cheers,
Thom

Well as I think TV Jones Filtertrons are the best PUP money can buy sticking them in ANY Tele is gonna improve it over the stock PUPs imo.
They'll make it sound fuller, fatter and much more versatile ;)

[tsar nicholas]

I love the sound and playing experience of the "La Cabronita" configuration Teles, but they definitely don't sound like Gretsches. Great guitar for gonads-to-the-wall rock 'n' roll.

[adkteleman]

I sooo love my Gretsch 5120 hollowbody! It is an amazing guitar. But I am also a fender Tele whore. I played a Cab and man do I love those guitars. I do have to say that you just can't compare the two. Try them both and BUY them both :) then you will be a happy man.

[enharmonic]

Having owned both, the Cab will not scratch the itch if you really want a Jet. My Cab sounds the way I always wanted a Tele to sound, but it doesn't sound like a Jet.

When I started playing Jets, I used Filtertrons. These days, I prefer DeArmonds in a Gretsch, so it works out for me. I like Filtertrons, but I don't like them in a Jet as much as I like DeArmonds.

[galibier_un]

Another obvious thought as to the Gretsch sound that might be instructive. Hop onto the Bigsby site for a video on installing a Bigsby on a Tele. Listen to the "after" sound (no pickup change).

Cheers,
Thom

[Tone_Terrific]

A Tele built with Gretsch style pups will get you closer to Gretsch sound than anything else you can do to a Tele, and avoid all the quirks, drawbacks, and ergonomic problems associated with many Grtesches.

[vortexxxx]

A Tele with Filter'trons = smooth
A Gretch or other non-solid guitar with Filter'trons = growl

[mcdes]

I put a tv jones classic in my tele...sounds awesome now, but not like a gretsch. Still sounds very much like a tele, but better clarity.

I think the difference in solid and hollowbodies just makes it not oranges vs oranges.

[timberic]

Cabronitas are way cool guitars, but they should be compared to Tele's, not Gretsches of any variety. Essentially, a Cab is a Tele. it has a slight variation on the Tele twang, due ot the pickup, but can get much meaner than a Tele too.

What he said.

[straycat113]

The Cabronita was never intended to tread on Gretsch tonality and vibe, just because it has TV Jones pups does not mean a thing. Fender did a really nice job with these guitars but there DNA is mainly Tele. No matter the topic of a thread be it Vintage guitars, Gibsons, Fenders or Boutique builds you can always tell who is a fan of the topic at hand without them even saying much lol.