TV Jones replaces stock Gretsch 5120 pickups with TV Classics PART ONE

The Electromatic 5120 is Gretsch's most popular guitar. Mainly due to the affordable price tag and it's striking good looks. However, the stock pickups in the 5120 don't truly deliver that "Great Gretsch Sound". TV Jones to the rescue. Here Tom shows how to make the 5120 sound like the more expensive professional series Gretsch guitars by installing a set of TV Classic pickups in the English Mount.

[@JosePineda-jn8jk]

Jeez what a nightmare, I never realized how much I love guitar cavities and back plates

[@ScrewballMcAdams]

Thanks for taking the mystery out of this upgrade.

[@mauromark1]

Thanks so much for this video. I made it alot easier for me to install my TV Jones Classics. Great sounding PU's

[@TVJones1]

Thank you for watching!

[@mattdeanmusic]

"You're going to want to fill these holes, grab a wooden dowell" 99.97% sure that was a toothpick. You can call it a toothpick.

[@dragoncaster851]

wow, great video! Lots of cool tips. TV Jones pickups - Made in USA - sweet!

[@TVJones1]

Thank you!

[@joshuahek4564]

Wow, I've always wondered how to fish the wiring harness I and out of a hollow body guitar! Sweet idea with the tubing!

[@rjduval]

So where is the before and after comparison?

[@polishbroadcast]

I've done this on a non-Gretsch. Just get "English Mount" pickups and the Gretsch rings that have a hole at each side for the depth adjustment (just like the ones in the video). "Normal" Gretsch pickups attach to the bracing of the guitar which only Gretsch pro-line has. You can see on the Electromatic above, the pickup cavity is just an open space, like how your Ibanez would be.

[@eLJaybud]

They are toothpicks, even if they aren't then they are just toothpicks someone painted to sell people as 'guitar dowels'. Just buy wooden tooth picks and some wood glue, they work great for filling pickup holes, reducing the size of screw holes on things like strap buttons or filling old tuner mounting holes if you change tuner types. I really like sperzel locking tuners as they have a pin under the body of the tuner.

[@luditatallerdeguitarras2666]

Great video

[@BIgRon2176]

I get cold chills watching you using that adjustable wrench righ on the guitar without taping around the pot. I would have that guitar scratched all over the place with little arcs. I suppose that's why you are making the video and I'm here learning. Big Ron

[@StopMoColorado]

My thoughts, exactly! DAMN! 😂

[@roughcutguitars]

Yeah, but look how carefully he guarded that screwdriver 😂 (And you're learning just fine. Shoulda used a socket wrench - he was flirting with disaster after all the 'be careful with the screwdriver' talk.)

[@stancoleshill8925]

It's in the way that you hold the wrench. Use your fingers to rest on the guitar body and not the wrench. It goes the same for putting the jack into the hole. When you miss by not looking, it just adds another dent' to the finish.

[@Partsocaster]

8:48 = Understatement of the year...

[@505shango]

You make it look so easy even a Caveman could do it

[@johnnyboo8243]

rock n roll baby!! i'm going to do this with my gretsch G2420T

[@TVJones1]

WOO!

[@Hungry_Hunter]

Toothpicks work just as well. Nice video. I usually replace the output socket with a decent switch craft unit and replace all the pots increasing the individual volumes to 500k log and the master to 1meg. Why? Because resistance in parallel halves so I get just a little bit more of that nice gretsch tone.

[@Dave9494]

Do you need to drill new holes if you get the em-2 english mounts?

[@mailvilla]

I just bought a Gretsch G5120 guitar. I havce noticed that the volume of the neck PU is twice as loud as the Bridge PU. As you, know there is very little adjustment on the stock PU's (up or down). So, raised the bridge PU screws up and lowered the neck PU screws. But, that did not help at all. Questions: If I make a spacer to go under the bridge PU spacer, will the screws be long enough? And, If I the bridge PU closer the the strings, will the volume now balance out?

[@MrStu9459]

Hey thanks for this vid. My band mate has a 5120 & is thinking of upgrading his p/ups from stock to TVJones. Not sure of which type though, HT's or the other - his choice I guess. Will pass your site on to him for sure Cheers

[@mwblake]

Great Video. You can buy TV Classics with 4 conductor wiring, enabling one to split the coils. (I'm presently waiting for delivery!) Do you have a video to show how to do this?

[@starfire5656]

Great video! Where did you get such small dowels? on the video it looks as if they could have been tooth picks, is that a possibility? Thanks

[@mrrobot6350]

How did you remove the soldering from the original pickup wires?

[@jonathankreusch9326]

When I flip pups I usually put a slide or cigarette lighter between the strings and fretboard for extra clearance without having to remove the strings.

[@mjs2016]

Good tip!

[@mamaburra69]

what are the songs in the background, does anybody know?

[@mikemaz6121]

I cant believe tv jones would make a how-to video with a guy soldering like that

[@benwilburn6147]

Care to elaborate?

[@NuraliKushkov]

Great video! Im going to buy a white falcon next week and was wondering if you could recommend which pickups are better for rock sounds- TV Jones or Filtertrons? thanks! Nurali

[@PaladinsFury]

Are the dowels you used for the pickup rings holes toothpicks?

[@Parsa9]

But why doesn't the Gretsch ring cover have holes that match the stock hole positions? Are the TV Jones pups and the stock humbuckers so different in size that the ring hole positions are affected?

[@rscottenglish]

What do you do if one of the tubes pulls off or the dowel pulls off???

[@spib65]

Just on here to say a big THANK YOU!,.........I have just had some classics put in place of those humbuckers,........what can I say?,........seriously the classics are worth every penny!. Those stock pick ups gave me so many problems, I now have an Animal, not just a guitar, and I can't stop playing it!,...leaves me with one question for Gretsch, why make such a beautiful guitar and put such awful stock pick ups in it?,....but TV Jones you are a STAR!!!!!!!

[@paulgracelanders]

excellente guitare j'en une très abordable aucun défaut apparent une merveille pour le prix !!!!

[@bongerbob]

You know what would be great - if you could do a you tube demo, of a classic plus bridge, a powertron plus - clean, then overdriven. I love your pickups, but the sound clips on the TV Jones site a little limiting. Thanks.

[@jeffgutierrez8796]

I got my 5120 for my birthday. Had T.V. Jones hi low trons put in. It makes a $600.00 guitar sound and play like one twice the price!

[@TVJones1]

Glad you are happy with our TV-HT pickups in your 5120.

[@juanypei]

great tips! are those tubes surgical tubing?

[@gretschabillyuk]

Hi great vids awesome,just one question...where can i get the background music,sounds great,thanks.

[@johnpick8336]

Thanks

[@maxismax1]

Will this video apply to the Gretsch g5122 aswell?

[@LarryStallings-dk4rr]

what kind of mount do you need if you get the t-armonds with the plastic gold rings around the base, but has the gold metal top also?

[@wayneconn1079]

I swopped out the TV jones out of my Gretsch and replaced them.with Magma DC fitertrons . Awesome pickups Soooo much better . Lots of beautiful highs and real low punch on the neck ! TV jones didnt give me that . Magma are Awesome pickups and the owner Nathan is Amazing he goes into so much detail with you to make sure he designs the pickups to suit your guitar. Cant say enough about Magma the real deal and quality aswell

[@feloniousmonk321]

I've watched this a few times, and still don't really get how the internal wiring (and pots) is put back in so that it doesn't rattle around when the guitar is moved. Do the pots just need to be drawn back to their positions? Maybe I'm dumb, but if anyone would like to offer some insight, it would be welcome!

[@rioolput123]

What about the pickup-selector switch ?

[@Dave9494]

Why do you need to drill new holes for the pickups

[@robertp5633]

Thank you for the videos you make! Could you please tell me specifically what pickups you are putting in? I need to do this exact upgrade. Thank you sir!

[@TVJones1]

Hi, they are TV Classics!

[@stevelewis2297]

where can I buy the hose and dowel kit?

[@RedArrow73]

Isn't there a Mylar or similar tape that could be applied to the top to protect the finish for jobs such as this?

[@FRB1420]

What if you do lose one of the jacks/pots? What then?

[@Scrimjer]

Good thing they have old lead hands working today!!!!!!

[@chump5101]

How about a Gretch Viking, will that procedure work also. I don't like its sound, but I was intimidated by the harness.

[@zurdoremi]

You don't want to scratch your guitar top but you use an adjustable wrench to loosen the pot nuts? it's a lot easier to use a long 13mm socket and turn it with your hand.

[@roughcutguitars]

7 year-old comment but I gotta reply 😂 'Xactly my thoughts!

[@stratolestele7611]

Whatever's at hand man. I think he's probably worked on just a few guitars - without scratching them.

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

will the TVJ supertron fit ez in a Danelectro 66-12 or the xt guitars?

[@coupe662]

I have a question about leving all the wires on the volume controls etc. Is there any chance it could work out if you just cut all the wires half way and do the same with the new pickups you buy and put/weld them together? Just for trying different pickups that would be...

[@IRONWOOKIE0825]

you would get crazy noise, believe me... it's not good

[@MattScheff]

and i can just use regular toothpicks to fil the holes?

[@MrMarcburger]

@rioolput123 maybe the pups go to the pots before going to the switch?

[@KalleEldtornado]

Hey isn't it really possible to have Tv jones pick ups on a humbucker mounted Ibanez? I ordered a magnatron neck and a powertron bridge. But then a friend who was going to help me said there was no ears on the pick ups, when we got them? Yeah I know I'm no expert in what all guitar things are called, but shouldn't there be some sort of ears on the pick ups so one could attach the outer ring?

[@Junker1995]

Hey there, i got a G5420T, is it possible to change the filtertrons in this way as well?

[@savanaviolenta]

Go to www.gretsch-talk.com you will find all the info yoo need.

[@jadetraveler]

As someone who is used to replacing Strat pickups, this seems... more complicated.

[@johnnygordon5947]

Can you put a greatch humbucker in a as style strat

[@jadetraveler]

@@johnnygordon5947 What do you mean by "as style"? I've seen Gretsch style humbuckers (such as filtertrons) in Strats before: www.squier-talk.com/data/attachments/71/71412-638902b627619f5f81b43fc757a993f2.jpg There's a company called 920D that sells loaded/prewired pickguards for Strats, and they have one with a couple of Gretsch-style filtertron pickups in it: www.siglermusiconline.com/products/920d-tv-jones-classic-classic-filtertron-hh-humbucker-strat-loaded-pickguard-wh

[@peterprice8897]

I just put Tvj setzer pickups in my 5120 and you can get enough of the harness out through the body without removing the switch gear. I did removed the strings though

[@paulr.4968]

TV, are you still based in Whittier?

[@ed.t.hansen6499]

i assume replacing the filtertron with a supertron in a 6120 is ez ?

[@PHXNTXMDRK]

Hey i have a question, i bought a G2420T and was wondering if i can put in some tv jones pickups. Do i need a special version of the pickups?

[@ukmanthailand]

They do have humbucker-sized filtertrons (although you've probably discovered that for yourself by now!)

[@guldigler]

Is it toothpicks that fill the holes?

[@stancoleshill8925]

I thought maybe using string tied to the pot shafts before removing them instead of stiff oversized plastic tubing that has to be the correct inside diameter to fit over the shaft. I always try to avoid buying things that aren't really needed. It's pretty hard to market a piece of string for this purpose.

[@DMSProduktions]

WOULDN'T it have been EASIER to have taken the strings OFF as well Tom?

[@countryclassic]

Can I buy from you the pickups you removed?

[@Cmack6025]

I shouldn’t watched this first! I used my ryobi impact driver to remove the screws and nut driver for the pots, I changed my pups in 45 mins and reliced my Sheraton at the same time! If I only thought to use a screwdriver and have control removing the screws. All in all plays bad ass ( happy mistake bridge in neck and vice versa) but I’m not going to risk more damage oh well thanks KZbin

[@fdalkjfdsalkj]

3:34 NOW ITS TIME TO FILL THESE HOLES. Ooh baby.

[@TVJones1]

HAH!

[@TheGatoskilo]

how about removing strings? :P

[@dandelcastillo8176]

Would it be the same procedure for a Grestch 5420T?

[@asdf9890]

Pretty much I think, that's why I watched this, I also have one.

[@plumhunter9158]

great instructional video .... probably a lot better to take it to someone who does this kind of thing all the time, assuming you trust them ... putting your guitar in the hands of someone else is always a risky proposition ...

[@philipallen1505]

I say leave one string, then you can test if needed :) Leaving all 6 on is just showing off! Great vid

[@gutbucket260]

Take off all strings and tap a pole piece with a screw driver.

[@mikkosutube]

gibson style humbuckers in a gretch...didnt gretch and gibson develop the humbucker style pickups at about the same time..only gibson got the patent paperwork done sooner..

[@chrissayre2124]

Hey TV,how do you feel about taking that extra unused 1/4" off the adjustable screws on pickups to eliminate eddy currents,and balance out the tone of pickup??

[@Aifor70]

Yeah, knowing my luck I would f it up somehow.

[@lightingyouup]

This looks so scary to do on my own

[@leascaart]

Use fishing line for the pots.

[@bmuggy]

is it possible that the TV jones picks would work in a less paul?

[@TVJones1]

+Brandon Muggy Absolutely!

[@bmuggy]

+TV Jones Pickups thank you.

[@CrankCase08]

Why the hell doesn't Gretsch just fit a rear cover for the pots at the back?

[@asdf9890]

It's a hollow body, wouldn't be prudent.

[@9171961jo]

That looks like budget version a sun burst Anniversary.

[@Dave9494]

Why does he need to fill the holes and drill new ones?

[@gutbucket260]

Different mounting rings.

[@Thomasdgolden]

What's the going ballpark rate to replace the pups. ?

[@Erowens98]

Paying for a luthier to do it? 100-200€ if you have the pickups, if he has to provide the pickups the price of them is added to the cost, so around 300-500€ Doing it yourself is much cheaper, you just need to have the pickups and a soldering iron. Nice pickups will set you back 200€ per 1. Midrange is 200€ for a set of two. Low end is as low as 25€ but that is rarely an upgrade, you get what you pay for. There is even a set of humbuckers that sell for 1000€ A cheap but good enough soldering iron costs 20-30€

[@ukmanthailand]

@@Erowens98 Costs about $40 to get a decent luthier to do it here in Thailand, even now in 2022. I normally do all my own work because I don't trust other people with my guitars but for $40, I'm happy to let someone else fish around in a hollow body.

[@wbfaulk]

The before-and-after sound comparison is a little hard to find on the TVJones web site, so here's the URL: tvjones.com\5120_player

[@creepcarnival]

This hole thing with the knobs looks incredibly difficult. I'd shit bricks if i'd lose one of them...

[@darrenhuber3037]

I like your video with the exception of using a spanner wrench. I'd use a nut driver. That thing makes me nervous, but you handled it well.

[@bonnivilleblackcherry9745]

what pont did he use a spanner wrench? i watched it again to see that and wondering why would he even need a spanner wrench.

[@samjarvis1645]

Where's the sound comparison??

[@sawmillguy9706]

are those just ordinary tooth picks?

[@AniodD]

@rioolput123 I guess part two?

[@57panrider]

please don't use a crescent wrench for anything! there is a wrench made that fits the nuts!

[@sinjon]

Knowing my luck those tubes would slip right off the pots

[@dennisoleary4677]

Gootched

[@AniodD]

@AniodD Nevermind.

[@MrMarcburger]

'only Gibson style pickups' and factories don't take the time to allign their pickups? please

[@barano9729]

You can buy standard aquarium airline hosing at any pet shop and a 1/2 dowel at any arts and crafts store for under 2 bucks total. And don't forget a few tooth picks and a small bottle of Elmer's glue. They sell you the same kit for 8 bucks online. Ridiculous.

[@backcareplus9567]

+Barano I'll bet you're right, except that if you spent time buying 1/2 dowel, I think you would wind up having to go back to the store and replace it 1/4". After two trips to the hardware store, and a drive over to the aquarium store (where is that, anyway?), one might find that the $8 spent is cheap. Time value of money, right? O, wait, I may be talking with a musician? Time is abundant, and money non-existent.

[@barano9729]

+BackCarePlus Made one trip to Walmart and another to an art crafts store. And yes it's a 1/4 and not 1/2. But you're right it was hardly any savings. Saved a couple of bucks but ended up with airline to last me a life time.

[@trint26]

Why would you need to do this? I have this guitar and I like the sound but if this is an upgrade, I would pursue it.

[@JonathanKobler]

tubing..... ....tubing..... Where else have I gone wrong in life?

[@Bflatest]

I would not suggest pulling the tube off the pot like he did at the end of video. You should push it up with finger in F-hole to hold it and not drop it

[@sammoon6046]

I alwayts wondered how hollow bodies were wired... that's a lot more work than your typical SG

[@mattsnyder4754]

It's really not that much different. It's just kind of a dogfight to not lose the pots in the body.

[@cchavez248]

Arghhh, I literally cringed when he used the wrench on the potentiometer nuts !

[@pottopissin1222]

why keep the strings on for ????

[@zurdoremi]

to align the new pickups under the strings.

[@TimBirkenholz]

But I do wanna scratch my guitar top :(

[@bluesbubba7429]

Forgive me for saying this, but who in the hell would use a crescent wrench on a beautiful guitar, or for that matter any guitar when changing out pots or other hardware. There is something called a socket.

[@MrJOTAMOTA]

I HATE WHEN VIDEOS GLITCH