6:21 alternatively you can get stainless steel screws (that's non magnetic and you can find slotted ones) and it'll look just like an unmodified pickup. I must clarify that while most stainless steel screws you find online are not magnetic, some might be, so it's wise to test it with a magnet. Great video!
Testing it by taking half the screws out like you've done is next on my to-do list! What I like about this mod is that you have the potential to do it in a few different ways. I read on a forum that someone took out 3 screws for the E A and D strings on one row and 3 screws for G B and E on the other row to give it the same vibe as a Fender Wide Range Humbucker. So many possibilities!
@@LeighFugeGuitar Did you have any luck testing the various configurations? My guess/hope is that the differences between Z, reverse Z, row one, row two are pretty slight, and that the biggest change is simply going from 12 to 6. Great demo video, thanks a ton for putting this out!
You can do this mod to any humbucker which has even a single row of pole screws exposed. The slug coil will continue to be active while the screw coil (minus the screws) cancels the hum.
Thanks so much! Glad this video helped. The cool thing about this mod is that it's fully reversible so if you ever sell that guitar or those pickups you can simply put the screws back in and you're back where you started!
TH-cam put this in my feed today and I'm so glad! This video delivered! I can really hear the difference in the middle and neck position. I'm doing this to my Gretsch for sure. Thank you!
That’s awesome, glad you enjoyed it. Let me know how you get on with the mod! I settled on leaving the extra screws out of the neck pickup but put them back in the bridge.
Bear in mind...if you only mod the neck pickup to act as single coil you'll have to raise the neck pickup slightly higher to compensate for the bridge being hotter.👊
I believe modern Hilotrons have two coils but only one set of polepieces showing - whether there are screws hiding under the cover i know not! Another thing you could do for more zing is have a no-load tone pot, so when it's on ten it's effectively bypassed. That would be something like my Gretsch 6218 with the tone switch in the centre setting (I'm not calling it a 'mud switch' as the caps they use these days make it really useful), where the signal goes straight through. Then again, uprating pots from 250k to 500k, or 500k to 1 meg will give you more top, too. There are so many things you can try before shelling out on new pickups!
Sometimes even just adjusting pickup height can also make a huge difference. For me, buying new pickups is the bottom of the list. I’ll always try the free or cheap mods first before considering a pickup swap
Brilliant mod. Would a coil tap mod sound the same as taking out the pole pieces? Im about to buy a pair of tv jones filtertrons and coil tap them.If they'll sound the same as your mod then I'll be very pleased.
Good question... I'm not 100% sure... I've never actually heard a coil tapped Filtertron style before, but in theory its possible. I'm sure someone, somewhere out there makes them. The advantage to this method, in my opinion, is you get a single coil style sound, but the second coil is still engaged but it's not picking up anything from the string because of the pole pieces. The second coil means no noise, some coil taps are prone to noise when in split mode.
@@LeighFugeGuitar I'm sure TV Jones makes a Filtertron with 4 cables for coil splitting but.......I love your mod. When I get the TVJ's fitted I'll mod the neck at first. Excellent bit of guitar geekness,thanks 🤝
I wonder if non magnetic screws if the same or shorter length, brass, same size and thread pitch would affect things. Thought about buying a gretch 12 and swapping in hilos, switching octave string orientation, this could do me enough.😊
I guess that depends on the particular pickups , on this guitar I didn’t get any noticeable drop. I’ve been gigging with this guitar with the mod done only to the neck pickup and it’s not been that noticeable volume wise One thing you can do is raise the pickup if there is volume drop
I only found out about it recently and it’s pretty cool. It’s nice that you can just reverse it too. I read that apparently you can do this with Humbuckers too (remove the one row of adjustable poles) but I’ve never tried it
I love your channel its amazing i hope one day my dreams it comes true to play guitar with echosmith i love that band im grew with there music i hope this 2024 my dreams it comes true to play guitar with there its my dream 🌟⭐⭐🎸🎸🌞🎸🌟⭐🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
Most Filtertrons arent actually built to original Filtertron design: winders use an Asian kit that uses a humbucker dimensioned magnet and humbucker keepers. Actual Filtertrons use a much thicker magnet and the pole piece screws hold the whole assembly together, and even more so than PAF poles are not meant for height adjustment. At all.
This is true, but I think it's fairly safe to assume that no one out there will be trying to mod a vintage Filtertron. This mod works fine and it safe for more modern designs of the Filtertron.
Oh geez...really negligible result. Live no one will notice and maybe studio mixed it would be noticeable. I think this mod is more noticeable in a full size humbucker since true filtertrons are fairly low output and sparkly anyway. GFS fake'trons prob sound good with this mod.
6:21 alternatively you can get stainless steel screws (that's non magnetic and you can find slotted ones) and it'll look just like an unmodified pickup. I must clarify that while most stainless steel screws you find online are not magnetic, some might be, so it's wise to test it with a magnet. Great video!
Many thanks for sharing this great mod! It’s very easy to do and really adds a nice bite and twang to the sound, especially on the bass strings.
Great MOD. I have just taken out 3 screws on my Filtertron / style NECK PUP. Gives me a great Rhythm & lead on the top 3 strings... EXCELLENT!
Testing it by taking half the screws out like you've done is next on my to-do list! What I like about this mod is that you have the potential to do it in a few different ways. I read on a forum that someone took out 3 screws for the E A and D strings on one row and 3 screws for G B and E on the other row to give it the same vibe as a Fender Wide Range Humbucker.
So many possibilities!
@@LeighFugeGuitar Did you have any luck testing the various configurations? My guess/hope is that the differences between Z, reverse Z, row one, row two are pretty slight, and that the biggest change is simply going from 12 to 6. Great demo video, thanks a ton for putting this out!
The G string always sounds louder/harsher than all the others to me. I can't wait to try removing just a G screw to see if it tames it
You can do this mod to any humbucker which has even a single row of pole screws exposed.
The slug coil will continue to be active while the screw coil (minus the screws) cancels the hum.
I bought a ricardo sanchez custom that came with lambertones filtertrons and HATED how they sounded. This was exactly what they needed. You're a stud!
Thanks so much! Glad this video helped. The cool thing about this mod is that it's fully reversible so if you ever sell that guitar or those pickups you can simply put the screws back in and you're back where you started!
really? those are the best filtertrons I ever played. I'm surprised.
Did it on my G5622t and love it! Thanks!
Amazing! I’ve got a Gretsch that I want to try it on too
I don't understand why people say the "forgotten pickup"? I only love the filtertron sound. Been playing them since 1989.
TH-cam put this in my feed today and I'm so glad! This video delivered! I can really hear the difference in the middle and neck position. I'm doing this to my Gretsch for sure. Thank you!
That’s awesome, glad you enjoyed it. Let me know how you get on with the mod!
I settled on leaving the extra screws out of the neck pickup but put them back in the bridge.
@@LeighFugeGuitar Great minds...I'm going to do the same. I like a thicker, darker tone in the bridge.
Bear in mind...if you only mod the neck pickup to act as single coil you'll have to raise the neck pickup slightly higher to compensate for the bridge being hotter.👊
That Scott Groves Groovy Music bloke used to take pole pieces out of humbuckers
I was GOING to say the same thing but you beat me to it by 7 months lol!
Yes, ol' Scotty did that with Gibson pick ups, to the SAME result!
I believe modern Hilotrons have two coils but only one set of polepieces showing - whether there are screws hiding under the cover i know not!
Another thing you could do for more zing is have a no-load tone pot, so when it's on ten it's effectively bypassed. That would be something like my Gretsch 6218 with the tone switch in the centre setting (I'm not calling it a 'mud switch' as the caps they use these days make it really useful), where the signal goes straight through. Then again, uprating pots from 250k to 500k, or 500k to 1 meg will give you more top, too.
There are so many things you can try before shelling out on new pickups!
Sometimes even just adjusting pickup height can also make a huge difference. For me, buying new pickups is the bottom of the list. I’ll always try the free or cheap mods first before considering a pickup swap
Completely changed my Gretsch into what I wanted! Seriously amazing thanks😊
Do you have a link to the nylon screws please?
Brilliant mod. Would a coil tap mod sound the same as taking out the pole pieces? Im about to buy a pair of tv jones filtertrons and coil tap them.If they'll sound the same as your mod then I'll be very pleased.
Good question... I'm not 100% sure... I've never actually heard a coil tapped Filtertron style before, but in theory its possible. I'm sure someone, somewhere out there makes them. The advantage to this method, in my opinion, is you get a single coil style sound, but the second coil is still engaged but it's not picking up anything from the string because of the pole pieces. The second coil means no noise, some coil taps are prone to noise when in split mode.
@@LeighFugeGuitar I'm sure TV Jones makes a Filtertron with 4 cables for coil splitting but.......I love your mod. When I get the TVJ's fitted I'll mod the neck at first. Excellent bit of guitar geekness,thanks 🤝
I wonder if non magnetic screws if the same or shorter length, brass, same size and thread pitch would affect things. Thought about buying a gretch 12 and swapping in hilos, switching octave string orientation, this could do me enough.😊
Interesting for sure! I didn't notice any volume drop is that natural or did you adjust it up.
I guess that depends on the particular pickups , on this guitar I didn’t get any noticeable drop.
I’ve been gigging with this guitar with the mod done only to the neck pickup and it’s not been that noticeable volume wise
One thing you can do is raise the pickup if there is volume drop
I liked the sound better with the mod!
Yeah me to, I’ve actually left this guitar modded, I find it opens it up a little more
Do you think this could also work with the BroadTron pickups on my Gretsch G5220 ?
Very interesting mod. I have never seen that one!
I only found out about it recently and it’s pretty cool. It’s nice that you can just reverse it too. I read that apparently you can do this with Humbuckers too (remove the one row of adjustable poles) but I’ve never tried it
Please tell me, if the length of the screws is less than 12, is it okay? For example 6 or 8,10 mm?😂
Put some TV Jones Brian Setzer signatures in and be done with it.
Where is the fun in that?
@@LeighFugeGuitar the fun is in having badass pickups. 😎
But honestly, great video, cool mod.
@@miketaylor6053
This doesn't cost anything and can be reversed so it's like having 2 pickups in one
@BryanClark-gk6ie thank you captain obvious.
My gretsch has supertrons so this sadly not an option
I love your channel its amazing i hope one day my dreams it comes true to play guitar with echosmith i love that band im grew with there music i hope this 2024 my dreams it comes true to play guitar with there its my dream 🌟⭐⭐🎸🎸🌞🎸🌟⭐🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
That bridge pup is placed so far off the bridge to start. Removing the bridge side poles, you could end up with a middle position ;0
I love there song future me 😊😊😊🌟🌞🌟🌟⭐🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸and cool Kids
I took all the screws out of my Gretch, much better now
Most Filtertrons arent actually built to original Filtertron design: winders use an Asian kit that uses a humbucker dimensioned magnet and humbucker keepers.
Actual Filtertrons use a much thicker magnet and the pole piece screws hold the whole assembly together, and even more so than PAF poles are not meant for height adjustment. At all.
This is true, but I think it's fairly safe to assume that no one out there will be trying to mod a vintage Filtertron. This mod works fine and it safe for more modern designs of the Filtertron.
Tv Jones makes Trons. I would trust his work.
zero benefit to this on over drive, just removed all the bottom end... how does that cut through anything? especially on clean!
Oh geez...really negligible result. Live no one will notice and maybe studio mixed it would be noticeable. I think this mod is more noticeable in a full size humbucker since true filtertrons are fairly low output and sparkly anyway. GFS fake'trons prob sound good with this mod.
Jesus, how to much are you talking
As much as is in the video
@@LeighFugeGuitarhe had some yoda grammar in that comment lol
ooh no one talkin bout ooh your such a magic man ooh .influencer jargon is so fn annoying
I don’t recall any talk of magic or jargon here. What are you actually talking about? 😂