TV Jones Classic VS TV Jones Ray Butts Ful-Fidelity

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

I’m way late to the party, but thank you for this comparison. I have been trying to decide between these two sets for one of my G5420s. I think for my style of playing the Classics would work better, but they both sound fantastic

[@dennisjames2838]

Thanks for the demo! Nice job A/B'ing them in different registers -- I feel like I have a clear picture of what to expect from one to the other.

[@kevinmcgovern5110]

I’m a big fan of clean, straightforward comparisons of gear. Well done!!

[@richardryan8462]

Great demo. It sounds like the Ray Butts pickups have brighter clearer highs, and more filled out midrange. Although the more highly audible presence of highs in the Butts pickups might make the lows sound weak to some, I actually hear quite a bit more low end and warmth in the Butts pickups. If someone wants to bring out the lows, they can just get an EQ pedal. Or they can just get the Power’Trons. Or perhaps the Brian Setzer signature pickups. You can’t go wrong with any of them, however.

[@montag4516]

Very helpful comparison video. The clarity and chime of the RB's (vs. Classics) is notable, appealing and single coil sounding. Cool.

[@TommyWendover]

Glad it helps!

[@hugomartinez9635]

Thanks you! This realy help me! The Classic have more mids witch is beter for slitly overdriven tube warmth. The Butt, more scooped with lot of définition in the tremble without sounding arsh is perfect for clean chords. Sorry for my bad english.

[@23fm]

great comparison, thanks.

[@tylerrose2891]

They both sound friggin fantastic. Filtertrons are by far my favorite type of pickup.

[@surfshack2]

I like the Ray Butts. They sound fuller to my ears. Nice demo.

[@TommyWendover]

Thank you!

[@jedishaw6771]

I wound some pickups for my gretsch a while back using Ray butts original patent, they sound great! Good at higher volumes as well!

[@KordTaylor]

Great video! Thank you. This is exactly what I needs to make a decision.

[@ZackyDog]

I use a pair of TV Classic "neck" pickups, sans wax potting, on my Gretsch G5230T. Compared to the vintage Gretsch guitars I once owned, they sound spot on. (In the 50/60s, Gretsch used the same pickup, ~4.0k ohms in the neck and bridge cavities/positions).

[@hammettfcb]

I'm thinking about getting two TV Jones classic neck pick ups to also get as close to the vintage gretsch sound. However, TV Jones does not recommend this. It's also said to be not useful for playing with some overdrive. What your opinion on that?

[@ZackyDog]

@@hammettfcb Sorry for the 3-year delay(!) TV Jones is probably right about keeping the wax potting for high-gain/overdrive to reduce feedback and squeal. But I play mostly clean.

[@ZackyDog]

Thanks for making this video. Which ones do you prefer? I ordered a set of Ray Butts. Right now I use two (2) TV Jones "neck" (4k ohms) Classics. (In the 50/60s, Gretsch used the same pickup, ~4.0k ohms in the neck and bridge cavities/positions).

[@TommyWendover]

Personally, I prefer the Ray Butts!

[@ZackyDog]

@@TommyWendover Great. I can't wait to get mine. I like the TV Classic neck (probably because it's vintage spec) but the bridge pickup is a bit (because of the pole spacing and 4.8k ohm output) like a filtertron on steroids to my ears.

[@fluw]

Such good tone on the Ray butts when slightly muting as well. The notes speak easier than the classics when muted...and aound less garbly.

[@chrismetzler8883]

The Ray Butts pickups sound so much clearer to me on the high end. However, on the low end, they seem *really* faint, like there's very little bass there.

[@MatthewTomich]

Exactly.

[@hardrockindaddy]

great playing, great demo...I'm sold on Ray Butts

[@michellr5573]

Wasn’t expecting to hear “Like Dreamers Do” à la the Beatles at 4:05 !

[@TommyWendover]

Haha you like it isn't it? 😝

[@somebodyelseuk]

As I'd expect, the unpotted RBs are a little clearer. I read the description, so I accept that the low end difference may not be down to the pickups. If I'm honest, I'm not sure whether I'd stump up the extra over the Classics for them, unless I was feeling particularly anal about having a Proline VS guitar fitted with THE most vintage accurate pickups available.

[@giulioluzzardi7632]

Hello, listening on my phone I can hear that both are great..the Ray butts has a flatter and tighter tone. Classics for live and Butts for Recording?

[@TommyWendover]

Butts can be used live too. They are more Chet Atkins kind of and the Classics are more universal if I can say hahaha

[@RoqueFRuzao]

Hello! Aren´t OLD STRINGS on the TV Classics samples and with the Ray Butts NEW STRINGS?

[@TommyWendover]

Yes sir.

[@TommyWendover]

And different strings gauge.

[@BushidoPhoto]

To me, the TV Classic sounds more like a Gretsch sound. The Ray Butts sounds good, but not as detailed and less sparkly. I do think a Classic in the bridge and a Butts in the neck would be a good combo.

[@garyssimo]

I wanna see some BUTTS ON TV! I just found a 5120 with classics and love the tone vs my 6120 with stock filtertrons. Im chasing Duane Eddy tone.

[@randallo3614]

I purchased a pair of Butts for my electromanic' 5420T, only to be told by Sean Jones (T.V. Jones) that they wouldn't fit. Impossible!. However my 83yr old guitar tech improvised and somehow made a snug fit. I can't compare other TV. Jones pups but the butts work great and squeeze out some juicy clarity. Beyond a clean Butt, they are great for crunch and even a thick heavy sound, thanks to other factors like a good amp and whatever effects. Perhaps most TV. Jones pickups are great,but the RB are very clear.

[@TommyWendover]

Todd Redding I've had Classics and Powertron and to be honest, the Butts are my favorite. I found the tone I was looking for! Enjoy yours!!

[@AntmanFelix]

So by crunch, what kind of sounds are you getting if you don't mind me asking? Like what style?

[@randallo3614]

@@AntmanFelix I guess what I'm saying is if we are just talking pickups the TV. Jones remain clear when pushed. A lot of pick up do the same. However for my Gretsch I'm guessing if it had high output pups it might get muddy perhaps from the hollow body. In that case I would just roll back the volume a little. I can crank the Ray Butts and it feels like I'm still getting some of the natural nuances of the guitar with nice overdrive punch, grit, crunch. Whatever you want to call it. Again maybe you can expect the same from other high quality pups given they aren't overly strong. You can dial in most any sound anyway with a good Amp and pedals. I defiantly can get my Gretsch to sound mean and scream like a Randy Rhoads type sound, but it's really not the right tool for that. Neck is too short for one. Instead I embrace what the guitar is and can sound like and amplify that. I prefer slightly gritty, but clean sound and expect that most from TV Jones and the Gretsch itself. Hey hey hey, 1 more thingy. For those who wish to cut corners, don't skimp on a decent Amp. It's as important as the guitar. Pedals are the icing on the cake.

[@AntmanFelix]

@@randallo3614 thanks for the reply. I am looking for which TV JONES would get me a Malcolm Young crunch sound (not too distorted, mostly clean) to everything else you would want a tv Jones pickup to do (Beatles, Chet, setzer). I seldom use pedals but use good amps

[@montag4516]

@Antmanfelix I've had/have TVJ classic and classic plus. I think the Classic would be best choice for you, right on the mark, including Mal's tone. You can call TVJ and ask them directly, but I bet they'll recommend the classic.

[@TropicalFuzz]

greeeat video! have you ever compared to the brian setzer sigs?

[@TommyWendover]

Thank you! No sorry haven't try the Setzer sigs but I heard they were better then the Classics. "These pickups are cleaner and have more string separation on the lower wound strings than the classics. They are also smoother on the unwound strings but very precise without being clinical. Its an incredible vintage gretsch sound."

[@fluw]

Can we hear some more of those Ray Butts pickups?!

[@TommyWendover]

Without effects?

[@randallo3614]

I'll post something too if that's ok. The nitty gritty crunch to show you what power you have at your fingertips. Warning I'm not as good as the guy in the video.

[@beerbilly]

heyyyyyyyyy :) nice

[@TropicalFuzz]

The string set with the TV classics sounded like more old mellowed strings and you changed for a bright new set of strings after changed pikckups, yes?

[@TommyWendover]

I agree, as said in the description, it's not a real side by side comparison but it sure gives an hint isn't it!?

[@TropicalFuzz]

@@TommyWendover yes!!! Great comparison! Thank you very much. Sadly I can't afford the ray butts and needed to get classics. But they're way better than the blacktops filtertrons!

[@TommyWendover]

@@TropicalFuzz Worth the investment IMO 😉 the classics are still great pickups!

[@incadove]

Thanks for the demo. What players do you listen to or study?

[@TommyWendover]

incadove I listen mostly to rockabilly, country or standard jazz stuff! Thanks for the comment!

[@incadove]

Please elaborate with at least a few rockabilly bands. Thanks.

[@TommyWendover]

incadove Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore, Cliff Gallup, TK Smith just to name a few, you can check Tommy Harkenrider lessons on youtube too. Hope it helps more!!

[@Paul1963music]

Muy bueno !

[@whimpypatrol5503]

The classics have always sounded hotter to me than the real deal. While I never liked the hotter sound live, they do sound fuller through my cell phone speaker. Both kick butt over the PAFs style pups in my semihollow. The real Ray Butts filtertrons would never fit in my guitar, but I the the classics could.

[@TommyWendover]

TV Jones probably have the option for PAF styles?

[@fluw]

Classics sound tight, slow, and less efficient compared to the Butts. Butts is the sound

[@TommyWendover]

fluw I sold the classics since I found the Butts. You can't go wrong with them!

[@ZackyDog]

I use a pair of TV Classic "neck" pickups----sans wax potting---on my Gretsch G5230T. Compared to the vintage Gretsch guitars I once owned, they sound spot on. (In the 50/60s, Gretsch used the same pickup, ~4.0k ohms in the neck and bridge cavities/positions).

[@TropicalFuzz]

besides being different gauges, the strings on the classic where used and lost the fresh bright sound vs the brand new strings with the ray butts?

[@TommyWendover]

Yep but the gauge was thicker so I guess it's more "jazzy".

[@TropicalFuzz]

@@TommyWendover thank you!!! I think with the same gauge and age of strings the difference will not be as drastic as this! Got and email from TV Jones he said that the Butts are slightly brighter and more dinamic than the classics, not a night and day difference. In your video the ray butts gave a bright new life to the guitar

[@TommyWendover]

@@TropicalFuzz I agree with the dynamic and brightness, the Butts feel more vintage to me than the classics which sound more modern.

[@TropicalFuzz]

@@TommyWendover now please do a video of the ray butts with more used strings to compare really side by side with your original Classic footage :)

[@gregoryz6545]

Damn. Now I have to have a set

[@TommyWendover]

I love mine!

[@gregoryz6545]

What makes you like yours? I hear the difference through a small phone speaker however what other advantages you see using them

[@gregoryz6545]

(Sorry bout da bears)

[@TommyWendover]

@@gregoryz6545 Well it depends of everybody's taste but I found em more "organic" (trust me I hate this word haha). To me they sounds vintage and more balanced bridge/neck versus the classics but this is probably just me! If I can help you more don't hesitate Gregory!!!

[@gregoryz6545]

You have a option on the Seymour dynas vs dearmond? Been waiting lots of videos on different pickups and now I have to take out a small advance on my 401k to buy them all!!!! (Kiddingly)

[@joebubbit]

Da Bears.

[@Compass2101]

Is that the G6120T Ltd Ed '59 Nashville, Chet Atkins?

[@TommyWendover]

It's a G6120 Nashville 2003. I added schaller strap locks, sperzel locking tuners and a bigsby Duane Eddy arm haha.

[@Compass2101]

@@TommyWendover Looks great. I'm trying to make a decision between the fore mentioned with Ray Butts and G6120T Player Edition Nashville Chet with High Sensitivity FilterTrons. Played em for 3.5 hours yesterday. A day well spent. Decision not made though.

[@TommyWendover]

@@Compass2101 what's your style of music!?

[@Compass2101]

@@TommyWendover bedroom hack. A mix: Knofler like Fingerstyle, AC/DC, the Living End. 70s and some rock since, but happy to learn older stuff. I have a Gibson SG and a Taylor 514ce. Want something different. Always wanted a Gretsch.

[@TommyWendover]

@@Compass2101 To read what you write, I would be more inclined towards the players edition for its options. I could be wrong too!

[@xxmanx1]

Thanks for the demo...I think I may be Butt man!

[@TommyWendover]

Charlie X Glad that it helps!!

[@randallo3614]

Many choices out there but I'm happy to have rolled the dice on these.

[@stephanesaulnier6004]

Aforce de sortir des micros qui se rapprochent du son de ceux des années 50, je soupçonnes tv jones de nous prendre pour des vaches à lait.

[@TommyWendover]

Hahaha je n'ai jamais aimé les Classics a l'exception du neck. Donc après plusieurs années d'amour/haine avec les Classics, j'ai décidé d'essayer les Ray Butts et je les adorent.

[@stephanesaulnier6004]

J'ai les high sense filtertrons dans ma 6120 de 2013, et j'en suis vraiment content. J'ai juste remplacé l'adjusto merdic par un rockin' bar et ça me va très bien.

[@TommyWendover]

@@stephanesaulnier6004 j'avoue que je devrais peut être penser a changer l'ajusto merdic aussi hahahaha

[@stephanesaulnier6004]

ça simplifie vraiment les réglages, et, dans mon cas, ça a modifié avantageusement le son, plus medium, plus growl, plus Gretsch.

[@TommyWendover]

@@stephanesaulnier6004 rockin bar Gretsch ou marque en particulier? J'ai entendu parler des Compton ou des Tru Arc bridge.