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:
-Tele challenge: • Best Telecaster Sound ...
-Strat challenge: • Best Strat Sound Ever?...
-Les Paul challenge: • Best Gibson Les Paul S...
-Hollowbody challenge: • Hollowbody Tone Challe...
-P90 challenge: • Best P90 Sound Ever? |...
-SG challenge: • Best SG Sound Ever? | ...
Gear used: tho.mn/oaxlg
Recorded in Presonus Studio One: bit.ly/S1Pro6
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
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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[@eljefeguapobarbon]

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

[@randygomez9595]

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!"

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

You just described a regular day in our lives. 😆 //Kris

[@randygomez9595]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses lmao 🤣

[@greatsouthernpansy]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses because he's The Great Unclean :D

[@rallereloaded2180]

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!

[@rickhill6277]

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.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Now we're talking! 😄 Thanks a lot Rick, I really appreciate it! Much love from cold and gray Germany. //Kris

[@stanislavmigra]

Poor Guill. First his tone is roasted, next his name is butchered :D :D :D

[@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.

[@joibjalla]

Oh I looove the Gretsch sound and look 👌😍

[@fredmarquis1105]

Both super good tone guys :) Cheers !

[@BioHazardBHZ]

Come on!! This white Gretsch is just AMAZING

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Right? It's too cool. //Kris

[@Somuntioalt]

About the "do whatever" tones round, I think it's funny that Kris's tone is cleaner than the clean tone. I loved it, but there's that! On the other hand, I really dug Guillaume's tone! You commented later that these pickups are harder to make the sound fall apart if you stack too much stuff, and that's exactly why they work so well with fuzz, even (or specially) with Octavio type pedals, because they don't muddy up everything. Some humbucker guitars don't work all that well with Muff type fuzzes, the low end is completely mushed and makes a mess! But in this case, it's prefect! :)

[@irevisibel9237]

More semi hollow-love 😊❤️‍🔥

[@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

[@philwren1749]

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

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Cool! That's like this white one but without the upper cutaway, isn't it? Enjoy it Phil! //Kris

[@philwren1749]

Yep that’s the one - but in the orange colour 👍🏻

[@jeffreyeagen4896]

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.

[@musicsoundgear]

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

[@woutersamaey8574]

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?

[@josephhughes9490]

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

[@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.

[@pg123ab]

Maybe I missed it, do they talk about the type of magnet in the black Filtertrons? Is it ceramic or is it Alnico?

[@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?

[@matzer8846]

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

[@Zok1990]

I would like to see a review of Mooer GTRS Guitars Wing 900 Int APU I hope it's coming in near future The guitar is really looking nice and mysterious to me but I like it

[@brucedelaney9606]

I have the same players edition Gretsch, 61,20 and love it. I love the clean sound also. Don’t forget to put flat wounds on that puppy.

[@brucedelaney9606]

And a Tru Arch bridge

[@SomeKindOfMadman]

Kris and Guillaume, I love you both. You’re both unique sounding, which a good thing. It’s difficult to decide for me. I’ll vote “Tie” as always.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

You're the best, man! Thanks so much for being awesome and so kind. 💛 //Kris

[@ArizonaMMJ]

Those are Blacktop Filtertrons correct? The Ceramics?

[@PaulCooksStuff]

I like G's tone(s). It's a great sound. Though the point (to me) is to showcase the pups range of possibilities, so Kris wins for showing more than 1 great tone.

[@levikalkman5934]

Celestion Creamback 75 in the HB cab? I thought they came with V30's! Take my money already 💸

[@kadiray2651]

Absolutely kris won. Perfect tones for the purposes.

[@markbass354]

YAY, SOUNDS REALLY GOOD HI KRIS AND FRIEND

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Hey Mark, nice to see ya! 🙌 //Kris

[@markbass354]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses YOU TWO PLAY VERY GOOD

[@hdhmcmillad]

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

[@MurrayWilliams]

I’m with Kris on this one. Guillaume is miscalibrated a bit on gain levels.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Haha, that's what I'm saying all the time. 😆 //Kris

[@randygomez9595]

That is so typical of so many guitarists though

[@milenkokozic8810]

I .. Zzr

[@blackfender100]

I have to go with Kris on this one also

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Yeah man, thanks! //Kris

[@kurtsteenpedersen7183]

Kris: clean, crunch and whatever ! Guillaume: rock ! 😊

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Yeah I kinda dug G's rock tone to be honest. 😅 I can live with those results, haha. Cheers //Kris

[@kurtsteenpedersen7183]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses I really enjoy your own youtube channel ! 😉

[@123Ir0nman]

Kris wins in all accounts. If only Guillaume knew what clean meant

[@matthewholme297]

Crunch has a nice Spanky apeal about it

[@pauldncn1]

Right here we go Guillaume needs an “ adjustment” I think 2 notches down on everything and he’d win !!🤣 I loved his “ clean sound” but wasn’t clean So for me Kris won Guillaume was really close though But I’m not a fuzz lover so am I biased 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks guys Made a boring lunchtime much better I even laughed ( squeel) 😊

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

I agree Paul and for that reason I'm glad G needs that "adjustment". Otherwise I'd loose this one, haha! Cheers mate //Kris

[@pauldncn1]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses Kris I don’t want him “ adjusted “ either but my reasons are simple The differences between your ideas and tones make it more fun and interesting to watch For me anyway Guillaume you rock Kris you Rock Wish I could play with some of that gear says the guy with 30 pedals, a kemper and 2 multifx , plus plugins I’m just greedy searching for “ my tone”

[@jamotokg4551]

I like Krise's tones more👍🏽

[@stanislavmigra]

Guys, you made me buy another SG. Dont make me buy Gretsch :D (realisticaly, I want Gretsch, but cant stand their U profile neck, that is on most of their guitars). Sound of the day was Guill with Octafuzz, but hard to make any decisions today, as you went for very different sounds.

[@DimKAt21]

The red one is clearly better, she has superior tonewood.

[@PooNinja]

They are beautiful instruments but they just feel wrong on me when I hold em, they sound great they just feel weird when I play them???

[@Somuntioalt]

Well, that does happen sometimes with certain instruments (or types of... ). I have trouble with high output humbuckers, despite loving listening and playing Metal! I really like to have a consistent high gain sound and riff like a mad man, but I also really dig having dynamics and have more control on the sound. Active and other high-output pickups lack that most times, and it feels weird and far from my comfort zone :)

[@PooNinja]

@@Somuntioalt I’m also a low output pickup kinda guy, I get my tone from my pedals and I want a ultra clean high headroom amp with high power drivers so it’s not overly flavored by the amp or speaker break up. I’ll keep trying different guitars just to see but so far these just don’t feel right. Note: I try not to touch things I can’t afford so I can stay blissfully ignorant of what a 5k guitar feels like 😂

[@bradleyberdahl6148]

tie

[@Momo97014]

Vk

[@jameslaird1213]

Kris

[@GraniteSoundtrack]

Kris won. His sounded like a Gretsch. Guillame sounded good but there was nothing Gretschy about the character of the tones. It could have been a Gibson or almost any other guitar.

[@ezbass]

Kris' Tennessee Rose for the win!

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

🙌 It's SUCH a cool guitar! //Kris

[@ezbass]

@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses I had a Gretsch Streamliner with F’trons many years ago and it was very cool. I miss it. I’d love a 6120 or a T Rose; you guys have the best job.

[@arthurperez4884]

Sometimes you need a good boring plain Jane sound 😀

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Right? Especially if it's this glorious. Filtertron / Gretsch cleans are 👌 //Kris

[@jeppej4265]

Came here looking for Setzer and Reverend Horton Heat licks and found none. Of course you can play anything with hollowbody but thats the stuff they shine imho.

[@ajsrhodes]

I’m going to have to give it to Kris

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

🙌 I salute you. 😄 //Kris

[@jamesslovinec7077]

Play Rock artists of the 70s

[@klausfritsch4350]

Painted-on f-holes just do not look good..... but Kris's tones are better in this one anyway.

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thanks Klaus! You know what, at first I didn't even notice that the f-holes are just painted on the Tennessee Rose... Haha! Imagine the look on my face when I noticed it whilst playing. 😆 //Kris

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

It's annoying when people call a setting on the edge of breakup a, "clean tone," especially when attempting to demonstrate a piece of gear. Words have meaning; use them correctly.

[@rjester21]

Kris totally won this one in my opinion 😂😅

[@ThomannsGuitarsBasses]

Thank you! 🙏 //Kris

[@bradleyberdahl6148]

all guitar players are cheaters,, love the Ball breaking comments