05.17
The most popular Gretsch modification that we get daily phone calls about is upgrading the 5120 Electromatic from the stock Gretsch humbuckers to TV Jones TV Classic Pickups. Our English Mount (EM2) configuration was created to make the switch easy. We’ll answer a lot of questions here and you can see lot’s of cool before and after photos posted by our loyal TV Jones Forumers. If you aren’t sure what parts and pickups you need, we’ve tried to make it easy by offering a EM2 ring kit on each of the pickup pages in our shopping cart. You would basically choose a TV Classic (or other pickup of your choice) in the position you desire, the plating you need and the EM2 ring kit of your choice. The ring kit comes standard with the amount of ring risers you need and mounting screws for the ring. (We recommend two for underneath the bridge pickup and one for underneath the neck pickup due to the high neck angle of this guitar). A new wiring harness is not totally necessary, but if you want 10% better fidelity you can go with our all-American-made tone pot harness which uses high-quality CTS pots and a Switchcraft switch. Here’s a Quicklink to the Tone Pot Harness page. And If you would like to HEAR the difference between stock 5120 Humbuckers and TV Classics CLICK HERE for the sound comparison module.
Below is a two-part video tutorial on how to swap out your stock Gretsch 5120 humbuckers with TV Classic filtertron pickups. Here’s how to really get That Great Gretsch Sound in your 5120/5122.
Now for some cool photos from the Gretsch 5120 / TV Jones club! First off here’s a really nice example from “Jimmy H”.
Jimmy says: “Here are some pictures of my Gretsch Electromatic 5120. I’ve tried to make it sound like Chet Atkins. He had the same pickup configuration in his Country Gentleman guitar.”
“Now the guitar is totally different. You really have something to look forward to if you’re about to put TV Jones pickups in it.”
Before:
After:
TV Jones Supertron neck and a Classic for the bridge. I put in a new wiring harness, knobs, switch/tip, strapholders, Chet-Bigsby, Sperzel locking tuners and a Nashville signpost pick guard.
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Larry Guzik’s Beautiful 5120:
I did this on my 5120 and it worked great. I bought the tube kit for 6 bucks which was also helpful. Seeing him do it really lets you know what you DO have to do and, just as importantly, what you DO NOT have to do. I have very little soldering experience and no guitar tech experience, but these videos helped me with a successful one night after work project. One thing is missing though – the de-soldering of the old pickups and soldering of the new – there are no doubt some helpful comments from TV that could be provided.
In March of this year, I got a new G5120, an orange one, of course. I wanted to upgrade the factory pickups, but I had a specific goal. I wanted to get as close as possible to the sound of Chet’s favorite Gretsch. It had a Super ‘Tron in the neck position, and a Filter ‘Tron in the bridge position. I called TV Jones, and talked to Thomas Jones himself. Friends, you couldn’t find a nicer guy to help you get THE pickup. Thomas Jones recommended a TV Jones Super ‘Tron at the neck, and a TV Jones TV Classic Plus at the bridge. I ordered them right away. Glenn Soderling and Lynne Perez at TV Jones kept me informed of the progress of the order. When the pickups arrived at my home in Houston, I took my G5120 and my pickups to luthier Jim Hewett, who changed out the pickups. This guitar has a Big Bronze Bell Sound when I select the neck pickup only, and play the 6th and 5th strings open. All my guitars have nicknames. This one is nicknamed “MY GAL,” which stands for MY Gretsch At Last. I’ve been playing and teaching the Chet Atkins thumbpicking technique for over 40 years. I’ve played a lot of guitars, and I can assure you that this upgrade of the G5120 is the sound I’ve been seeking all my life. The Chet Atkins “Somewhere over the Rainbow” harmonics from this guitar are effortless. I give it 10 stars out of a possible 5!!!!!! This G5120 guitar with the TV Jones pickups could very well be the show stopper at the summer NAMM. Larry Oswald, Houston.
How do you post your pictures here?
Photos are posted here and we migrate them over to the blog.
i have a g5120 electromatic and i was wondering how hard is it to put spersel locking tuners on it
Installing locking tuners is no harder on a 5120 than on any other guitar. You might have to ream holes to a slightly larger size is all.
I recently upgraded my 5120 with TV Jones Super’Tron Neck and Classic Plus Bridge. Lots of chime in the bridge and I really like the neck, the best way I can describe it is “creamy.” The 5120 hollow-body naturally sounds dark and the original g-buckers did it no justice, after fiddling with pickup and pole piece height (I often maintain and fix guitars, basses, amplifiers, etc.). The dynamic range of this guitar increased dramatically. After the upgrade it is a no-brainer to recommend TV Jones to anyone with a G5120. I had to adjust my right hand technique for the g-buckers, not the TVs! You can get the g-bucker tone out of the TVs, plus a ton of other sounds. My 5120 with TVs sounds better than guitars $2000+, obviously doesn’t have the mojo. This is the best way to upgrade the 5120, however a good amplifier is a must. (If you play through a Line 6 SS Modeler or similar, it doesn’t matter what your guitar sounds like) On a personal note, the staff at TV Jones are very helpful and a pleasure to deal with. This is a must for any 5120 owners without TVs
I’d love to hear more examples like the Super neck and Classic plus Bridge and also the Magna neck and Classic plus bridge. If possible in comparisson with how the 5120 buckers used to sound. If only the Super came in humbucker mount. Although the English mount is neat, I am one of the 1% strange 5120 owners who likes the humbucker look
Super’tron neck is remarkably similar in tone to a TV Classic neck so it works well in conjunction with the Classic plus Bridge. Magna’tron neck coupled with Classic plus in the bridge will give you a very different sound in the neck from the bridge. They are not really designed to work *together* as the Classic and Classic+ are, but if you want two totally different sounds from your neck and bridge pickup that combo will work (it’s been done, just not commonly done).
awesome video i’m thinking i might just give it a shot instead of dropping it off at the shop…could you clarify the soldering portion though? and what do you have the bridge height set at?
Anyone know how you would fit a T-Armond into a 5120?
I put on grover locking tuners and had to drill out the holes. I used a 25/64ths bit as a 3/8s was slightly too small. The 13/32nd bit was going to be too big. Yes, the specs are that tight.
I have the TV Jones pickups in my 5120 courtesy of Mr Jones himself and they live up to all the billing. BTW – mines the Sunburst on the website (proud owner). =D
Hello! Can anybody tell me what will happen if i put a TV Classic neck pickup in the bridge position? II really need a piece of advice from a pro!
You can say, what kind of question is that?! Here’s the reason I’m asking this…
I’m planning to replace the Gretsch stock pickups on my 5120 with a TV Classic in bridge and a Magnatron in neck. I’ve ordered the pickups from a US-based online store and recently received them BUT the problem is those guys sent me TWO NECK pickups! I live in Russia, so I guess it will take ages to change one of the pickups(((
That’s why I’m considering putting the two neck pickups on my Gretsch. What do you think about that, guys?
I would work, but our bridge pickups have wider pole spacing than the neck pickup.
Hi there,
I’ve been saving some cash for my upgrade and I almost there. However, I have a good question to ask:
- Is the Tone Pot Harness worth buying with the kit, or does the stock harness work just fine?
Secondly, my cousin who has already upgraded a beautiful orange 5120, insists that replacing the neck nut will help the tone drastically, since supposedly “cheap” plastic nut that comes stock is not the greatest.
Can anyone please enlighten me with some suggestions, or real life experience?
Thanks!
Hello there, I got my gretsch 5120 six month ago and i’ve being reading forums about the upgrade of pickups, are tv clasic x2 the best deal or its all about the sound im looking for?
to be honest i got into the electric guitar recently, i always play clasic guitar i went to the conservatory 5 years, just got tired of playing bach and puyol, and i love all kind of music,I got the gretsch cause i always want and electric guitar, i have 2 electroacustic before, but its not the sound i wanted. So i play for 6 month my guitar at home with a peavey rage 158, the sound is good, but since everyone want the best for his guitar, to squeeze all the potential, i want to change the pickups’ i love the sound of eric claptom, mark knofler, al di meola, rush, the beatles, well there is so much music i like.
I live in vancouver now, and i couldnt bring my peavey with me, what could be a good amp, not to expensive to make the change worth, I was looking for the fender mustang II, and some Orange’s around 200$. Cheers.
Suppose this conversion is old news now, but I just installed TV Classic Plus in the bridge and TV Classic in the neck of my 125th Anniv. 5120. WOW!! I have always thought the guitar sounded better “unplugged” than it did thru an amp (I play it thru a Victoria 35310 3×10 Bandmaster clone) and longed to get that true Gretsch tone.
Got the TV Classics yesterday, put them in last night (instructional videos are really helpful) and was blown away at how good the guitar sounds thru the 3x10s. Clear, round, flexible. Incredible. Well worth the cost and effort (get the Tone Pot install kit). The 5120 sounds like a real, grownup Gretsch now. Thanks TV Jones!!
Where did you get the Nashville signpost pick guard for your 5120?
I would like to do the same to my 5120 which pickups did you use and what are the accessorys do I need . thank you. Dan
I’ve been using a 5120 on rockabilly gigs and have been waiting to make the common pick up swop out. One thing that has changed for me is that, now I use the switch in middle position and sometimes solo with switch down. After a few gigs my 13-56 get a little dark and dare I say it start to sound closer to the rockN’roll trio. I was surprised and am still hanging in there to see what happens. here’s a link to review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTUzEih2P_U
Not sure there’s much activity on this thread still but just in case…
I picked up one of these guitars a few days ago and though I like the sound of it, I don’t quite know if it’s capable of pulling off what I’m looking for. I’m basically going to use a lot of reverb, probably a lot of tremolo, and try to get a tone that can sound either dark or lush, depending on the context of the sound. Thinking maybe something like Portishead or the Twin Peaks soundtrack.
Is this just not the guitar for that sound? Or could it be better suited for it if I went TV Jones?
what pick-ups are good for blues and jazz? I have had trouble with the wiring harness coming loose and the knobs also coming loose on my 5120. I want to replace the whole thing. The wiring harness and pick-ups
@mick hanson
mick, finally someone else i’ve heard of using 13s on their electric. how does that feel and react with the bigsby? i don’t own a 5120 yet so i’m researching…
I failed to locate a reply to the question that was asked about the “cheap plastic nut” replacement on the 5120. I’ve owned one for several years (and LOVE it), but am interested in hearing a response to this question. Is there REALLY a major difference between a plastic nut vs one that is made of bone, or brass?
have made some modifications to my Gretsch G5120: Gretsch Rocker bar bridge, 1″ Gold Spring, Black Sperzel Trim-lok tuner keys & ordered my TV Jones Supertron (Neck & Bridge). The only other thing I am hesitating to do is exchange the Bigbsy to a B6C. The reason is that the end piece is different. Does any one know if the pin can be knocked out so that I can change the end piece so that no additional holes need to be made to the guitar? Also I originally order the TV Jones T-armonds but was advised that they would not fit my guitar because of the cavity, but I was advised that Mr. Jones is currently working on a mount to work around this issue. So if you want Dynasonic’s hold off for a bit.
I want to install t.v.’s on my strat, how do I do it…….Thank you….jim
hey Dallas: 13′s feel mighty cozy and are the strings for rockabilly. U can still bend em for the cliff G licks….. also got the powertrons now and rippin it all the way. PlaYING AGAIN WITH SEAN COLEMAN this friday at the Syacamore Ditmas Park….. rockin it one more time…. cheers mick
can you fit the tv pickups in without modifying the guitar if it previously had dearmonds in it?
Please let me know if the t90s are an option on the 5120 and what is involved in mounting them thanks!
I have the t90 NE mounting version for a Gretsch Brian Setzer but i see the screws are in a different place (not in the edges like in the filtertrone) Do you know how can i mount it??
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TV Classics (plus several other TV Jones pickups) should install right where the DeArmonds were taken out. However, on occasion, the cavities are not centered and new mounting holes are sometimes necessary. Also, the guitar must have a cavity for a Filter’Tron style pickup to fit on the guitar. If there is no cavity when you take the DeArmond off, our Filter’Tron style pickups won’t work. For technical questions, contact tech@tvjones.com.
The T-90 is available in the English Mount and should be an easy swap for a 5120.
A hollow body guitar needs the Professional Gretsch Mount. The NE Mount in the T-90 is designed for solid body guitars.