DHart
Well-Known Member
I've been an avid member of a number of different music/guitarists forums for a long time (TGP, S-T, MLP, HC, TDPRI, etc.). But never heard of this forum until now - so, I got here as quickly as I could! 
If you know me, you'll know that I am a classic tone fanatic - tweaking and modding, pickup swapping, potentiometer testing... all in an effort to fine tune the tones of my guitars to my sonic bliss. It seems I always have a guitar or two "in process", and many that have reached that stage of not needing to be "messed with" any more!
Latest is this ES-Les Paul, which I recently acquired from G.C.'s used listing. While I once enjoyed typical low-wind PAF humbucker tones, my tastes have shifted toward more articulate, detailed, sparkly clean and bright pickups - so I am preparing a new wiring harness with CTS 1M pots, .015uF PIO caps to receive a pair of TV Jones T-Armond pickups.
I've been a Strat player (mostly) for decades. Some Les Pauls, ES-175, and acoustics mixed in a bit, as well. For some reason Teles and Gretsches never caught my interest until a few years ago when I got an urge to get a Tele. Well, that did it. Teles quickly became my top choice guitars and their numbers multiplied in my stable - most began for me as separate Fender bodies and separate Fender necks from Stratosphere - then were built up with carefully chosen individual components. I found that to be the best way for me to create Teles which ideally met my specific tastes.
Then, not long ago, I discovered how much I appreciate the tones of several Gretsch pickups. It started with a Fender Cabronita Thinline, that I bought as body only from Stratosphere - but with pickups and electronics intact. I changed the volume pot from 500k to an 880k (1M nominal) and there is no tone control - suddenly I was so thrilled with how the Fideli'tron pickups sounded! So bright, clear, and sparkly!
That led me to ordering a set of HS Filter'Trons for a D'Angelico hollow body of mine (which originally had PAF-style humbuckers in it.). And switching to 1M pots - also converting the tone pots to No-Load. Fantastic improvement in how this guitar sounds to me now.
On the thrilling wave of Gretsch-style pickups, I decided to switch out the Gibson Classic '57s that were in my Gibson ES-339 Studio. I ordered a set of TV Jones TV-HT "HIlo'trons" for the ES-339. WOW, what an amazingly wonderful change in tone this guitar took on!
And, I bought my first Gretsch guitar as well... a G6119T Tennessee Rose.
Soooo.. this OLD dog has learned that there continue to be exciting NEW tone horizons that I had not explored, even during decades of being a guitarist. What a HOOT!
Old dog CAN learn new tricks!

If you know me, you'll know that I am a classic tone fanatic - tweaking and modding, pickup swapping, potentiometer testing... all in an effort to fine tune the tones of my guitars to my sonic bliss. It seems I always have a guitar or two "in process", and many that have reached that stage of not needing to be "messed with" any more!
Latest is this ES-Les Paul, which I recently acquired from G.C.'s used listing. While I once enjoyed typical low-wind PAF humbucker tones, my tastes have shifted toward more articulate, detailed, sparkly clean and bright pickups - so I am preparing a new wiring harness with CTS 1M pots, .015uF PIO caps to receive a pair of TV Jones T-Armond pickups.
I've been a Strat player (mostly) for decades. Some Les Pauls, ES-175, and acoustics mixed in a bit, as well. For some reason Teles and Gretsches never caught my interest until a few years ago when I got an urge to get a Tele. Well, that did it. Teles quickly became my top choice guitars and their numbers multiplied in my stable - most began for me as separate Fender bodies and separate Fender necks from Stratosphere - then were built up with carefully chosen individual components. I found that to be the best way for me to create Teles which ideally met my specific tastes.
Then, not long ago, I discovered how much I appreciate the tones of several Gretsch pickups. It started with a Fender Cabronita Thinline, that I bought as body only from Stratosphere - but with pickups and electronics intact. I changed the volume pot from 500k to an 880k (1M nominal) and there is no tone control - suddenly I was so thrilled with how the Fideli'tron pickups sounded! So bright, clear, and sparkly!
That led me to ordering a set of HS Filter'Trons for a D'Angelico hollow body of mine (which originally had PAF-style humbuckers in it.). And switching to 1M pots - also converting the tone pots to No-Load. Fantastic improvement in how this guitar sounds to me now.
On the thrilling wave of Gretsch-style pickups, I decided to switch out the Gibson Classic '57s that were in my Gibson ES-339 Studio. I ordered a set of TV Jones TV-HT "HIlo'trons" for the ES-339. WOW, what an amazingly wonderful change in tone this guitar took on!
And, I bought my first Gretsch guitar as well... a G6119T Tennessee Rose.
Soooo.. this OLD dog has learned that there continue to be exciting NEW tone horizons that I had not explored, even during decades of being a guitarist. What a HOOT!
Old dog CAN learn new tricks!
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And enjoy the journey...

