Gretsch Supertron

The Gretsch Supertron in my opinion was the pinnacle of Gretsch pickup manufacturing innovation. It's bassically a Filtertron that increases output by replacing the polepieces with two plates that actually TOUCH the magnet. This concentrates the magnetic field where the strings are.
Moving the strings in a stronger magnetic field generates more electrical output. So basically you get a hotter pickup without increasing the coil windings OR utilizing a larger magnet. The result is a fuller richer Filtertron. I've read that the original idea was to get a more even volume when bending strings...but a nice added benefit is the tone. These days there are lots of higher output Filtertrons out there that use more windings and different magnets...but in my opinion you can't beat the Supertron design.

The particular Supertron I'm reviewing is an original late 60's one. It read 4.5K on my meter and I had little to go on as to where to use it. I emailed TV Jones and he suggested the neck...but after a few tests I found it sounded best at the bridge in the reissue Gretsch Corvette I was using. TV Jones' neck Supertrons read 4.0 or so and I used one in the same guitar. It complimeted this pickup well.

I had a Gretsch Electromatic Corvette reissue. Though I loved the guitar, the "Megatron" pickups were a little harsh sounding. Ceramic magnets? I don't know. Anyway I pulled them. I already had another Corvette with Hilotrons... so I decided to go with Supertrons to get an Astrojet sound. Ebay had this pickup for 80 bucks and I jumped on it.

At the bridge this has all the Filtertron greasy twang but with a smoothness and authority. Closest pickup I can compare it to is a TV Jones Powertron but it's less mid-scooped. It sounds more buttery and
crunchy driven hard.

Originals were only made for a short while. If you can't find an original, TV Jones makes excellent ones too. The originals aren't wax potted, which I like. Maybe TV Jones can wind them without the wax as a custome job?

4.45 KOhm Humbucking Filtertron but with blades instead of polepieces to
concentrate the signal. This particular example was built in the 60's by Gretsch and featured in guitars like the Viking, Astrojet, later Chet Atkins models, and a few other guitars. It was probably the last innovative pickup design Gretsch created. I'm not sure what position it was made for but It sounded best in the bridge position.

Gretsch Electromatic Corvette. The idea is to get an Astrojet sound cheap. The Magnatrons came out. They weren't bad...just a little harsh.

Higher output like a Powertron but with more mids. Perfect bridge Filtertron pickup. I play mostly clean to mildly breaking up in various Fender Blackface amps. Tone is bright but not twangy. More of a Setzer style crunch. At the neck it was a little muddy. I'm ordering a TV Jones neck Supertron for that position but if it's too muddy I might leave a Hilotron there. But in my experience a vintage Supertron is THE bride pickup for a Gretsch guitar for me.

I hope it's never stolen I paid 80 bucks for it off Ebay and they usually sell for 200 bucks nowdays.
Snap these up if you can find one. It's not easy.