Best Gretsch Sound Ever? | Filtertron Tone Challenge | Thomann

Next round of challenges: Gretsch guitars with Filtertrons! What do Kris and Guillaume like to play with these types of pickups and who won the challenge this time? Let us know in the comments below.

Our other "insert guitar / pickup" challenges:

Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
3:02 1st round: Guillaume's clean (well... is it though?)
6:38 1st round: Kris' clean (that IS clean)
8:51 2nd round: Guillaume's crunch
11:00 2nd round: Kris' crunch
12:48 3rd round: Guillaume's rock tones
13:50 3rd round: Kris' rock tones
15:33 4th round: Guillaume's "do whatever" tones
17:00 4th round: Kris' "do whatever" tones
18:04 Our thoughts

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[joibjalla]

Oh I looove the Gretsch sound and look 👌😍

[eljefeguapobarbon]

Great to hear and see you two in my feed this morning! Thanks for showing semi-hollows for a nice change.

[rickhill]

In my opinion Kris got in ALL categories! Giam has a good sound but Kris plays along with his sound. More Bluesy and Soulfully. Thanks from Salem, Ohio US.

[GitShiddy]

While I appreciate Guillaume's confidence, as a Gretsch owner & player, I can say that his gain "levels" were a pick hand dynamic away from being identical. It's a great tone...but it's not 3 tones. Kris actually scratched the surface of the versatility of Gretsch and the Filtertron pickup; Guillaume just showed the versatility of his playing, not the guitar.

[BioHazardBHZ]

Come on!! This white Gretsch is just AMAZING

[randygomez]

Guillaume at sound check:
Sound man: "Alright, play your clean tone"
Guillaume: *plays distorted tone*
Sound man: "I said play your clean tone!"
Guillaume: "That is my clean tone!"

[rallereloaded]

Well, as with EVERY other sound challenge by you guys, there ist only one winner: us, the audience!
Awesome tones, guys, really loved it from the first to the last note!

[migrantfamily]

Kris in every category! But that feedback was absolutely glorious.

[philwren]

I bought a 5420 from Thomann a while back and absolutely love it

[musicsoundgear]

I have a 5622 (Korean) Hi-Lo Tron pickups- best guitar that I ever owned.

[jeffreyeagen]

While both of you had excellent tones, I would have to give this one to Kris. When I think of Filtertrons, that is the sound I look for. As for as Guillaume's version of "clean", which I like btw, I have only to quote The Princess Bride, "I do not think this word means what you think it means". I have one of the more affordable Gretsch guitars with, I believe, burst-tron pickups. I would love a guitar with some TV Jones filtertrons in it.

[deeplyable]

My first bass and guitar was gretsch cheap across seas made but since they taught me how to play they are my favorite brand now

[matzer]

... you are doing a "Statler and Waldorf"-Show .... 🤣😂😁
Nice

[JoeBaermann]

Kris knows how to let the Filtertrons shine.
They do have a distinct voice even with more agressive fuzz sounds though, just like firebird style mini humbuckers, not sure about the octahive, but with a tonebender, scrambler, fuzzface and muff, full size humbuckers, P90’s as single coils don’t even sound close to.

[garyssimo]

I like Fender tube amps for best Gretsch tone.
Richer, deeper, more mellow and ear candy ish.
You should hear my 6120 thru the 15" JBL in my 64 Vibroverb.
The one on the left is kinda Stratish?

[josephhughes]

Kris,
I definitely stand by you with clean crisp sound. Both Gretch guitars sounded amazing though.

[woutersamaey]

I didn’t know about the potted vs unpotted filtertrons. How can I tell which filtertrons are in a particular Gretsch model? Most of the Gretsch I’m looking at have “highly sensitive FilterTrons”. Would those be potted or unpotted?

[hdhmcmillad]

Both sound Great but for that Gretsch sound I have to go with Kris

[kadiray]

Absolutely kris won. Perfect tones for the purposes.

[BJJandBS]

Those are Blacktop Filtertrons correct? The Ceramics?