Are the Gretsch 2202 and 2210 pickups the same?

[tornadobass]

I like mine just fine, too, and its looks get nice comments. It's a good fit to an instrumental blues band I'm in. But it's hard to pay more for a pickup upgrade than I paid for the bass used, so it'll keep the stock pickup, which sounds fine anyhow.

 

[GG7]

I like mine just fine, too, and its looks get nice comments. It's a good fit to an instrumental blues band I'm in. But it's hard to pay more for a pickup upgrade than I paid for the bass used, so it'll keep the stock pickup, which sounds fine anyhow.

It was pretty obvious to me that mine didn't have very good pickups in it. Changing the stock strings over to DR Sunbeam short scale 45-105 made a huge difference in the right direction, but when I plugged into my Bassman 100t's vintage channel that is dialed in for my two american made Fender Jazz Basses and my Rickenbacker 4003, it sounded pretty dull, and very limited tonally.

If it were not for the control I have with the active tone stack of that amp, which I am now using exclusively for the Jr. Jet II, I would have already ordered the new pickups.

Don't limit yourself on a viable upgrade to a great bass just because it was cheap to purchase! If you have the same one I do, you are only getting about 25% of the tonal potential thats inherent in the rest of the guitar, because the pickups and pots are so inferior.

 

[GG7]

so it'll keep the stock pickup, which sounds fine anyhow.

If you have one of the single pickup versions and bought it used, you may very well have one of the early production originals THAT HAVE a TV Jones pickup in it!

Could be why you are so happy with the sound, as you should be if that is indeed the case with your bass!

 

[GlennW]

The magnet came off with the brass back cover, held on by a very small spot of glue perhaps. The blades came out easily with needlenose pliers.

Pics would have been NICE.

Were the blades inside of a slotted (for the blade) plastic bobbin?

Where was your 2202 made?

Maybe the early Korean ones had a different pickup. At some point they moved production to China, and may have changed pickups.

 

[DrSteve]

Does anyone know what year Gretsch switched from the TV Jones designed pickup to the current hummbuckers? Would be helpful in searching for a used one. Thanks

 

[tornadobass]

Pics would have been NICE.

Were the blades inside of a slotted (for the blade) plastic bobbin?

Where was your 2202 made?

Yes, that's correct. Side by side plastic slotted bobbins, with one blade in each slot. Mine was bought used and didn't have a country of origin sticker. But it is the white pickguard model.

Had I known in advance that the project would succeed, I would have taken pictures...but I was a bit skeptical.

Btw, thanks to Chuck at Lindy Fralin Pickups for some suggestions along the way.

 

[Bongolation]

Well, ahem...my adoring fan base will have surely noticed by now that after years of dithering about, I finally got a much abused but sound script-head G2202 yesterday for $100 off local CL, figuring a 30" short-scale might be easier on my Link Removed.

In that this thread provided photographic proof that Chromes actually and properly fit this rascal, I'll order some.

Here is a quick snap of the pickup. Is this the (notionally) "TV Jones designed" one that gets the love?

When I plugged this joker in to see if it worked, with the mismatched, crudded-up and dented (!) cheap rounds that were on it I was shocked by how gutsy it sounded into the bedroom Ampeg B-100R with tone controls at 12.

When I was taking it apart to clean the filth off of it, I was also amazed at what a heavy pickup this is, certainly not typical for a cheap unit. I briefly thought it was still screwed down.

Thanks for any info on the bass and/or pickup. There is not a single marking on the bass except for what's on the face of the head.

 

[mazareth]

The pickup in my G2202 is dead silent. One of my favorite qualities is the 13th fret neck join. Mine is MIC.

 

[Super Iridium]

Mine is an early MIK model (see headstock). I love, love, love the sound of the stock pickups, and so I have not replaced them.

One bit of advice, however -- on mine, all of the other electronic components (switches, jack, pots) sounded scratchy and uneven, like the whole thing was being held together with spit and tape. I took out everything and replaced it all with proper wiring, CTS pots, Orange Drop cap and Switchcraft switch and jack. I also shielded the entire cavity with copper tape.

Now it sounds like butter. And for the record, there's no shame in dropping a few bucks to improve a cheap bass like this one.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

Now it sounds like butter. And for the record, there's no shame in dropping a few bucks to improve a cheap bass like this one.

Especially when its pro-level equivalent is $2k (Gretsch Thunder Jet).

 

[Pocket4]

I bought the olive green burst model Electromatic, which I believe is the G2202? Such a hideous finish got me moving on total disassembly, chucking plastic parts and the pickguard, and I'm going to rout out the heavy body and cap it with spruce. My recollection of the pickup sound was impressive, but I've got a Thundertron in my parts box and not sure whether to mate both pickups or not. I would need to fashion a pickup ring for the original pup, as a wood working project. Seems there are no metal rings that fit. Anyway, the charm is in the potential of the project.

 

[Bongolation]

Don't get too carried away here.

We're talking about some plywood instrument -- not that that makes any difference here except weight and perhaps price, but still...

Anyway, "improving" the passive electronics is a bubba fiction and a complete waste of time and money if they're not broken -- an B500K pot that works without noise or defects is exactly equal to any other B500K pot that works, irrespective of price, likewise with the jack and bleeder capacitor (capacitance matters, composition does not in this application). There will be absolutely no sonic improvement over the unbusted stock electronics of the same values, and disregard as technically ignorant anyone who tells you differently.

The electronics are fine in the one I got, which is something of a miracle given the level of abuse it's seen. Alpha dime pots, a stout jack and (uncommonly) a .068mFd bleeder cap, and everything's solidly grounded where it's supposed to be.

 

[RedHotFuzz]

Don't get too carried away here.



We're talking about some plywood instrument -- not that that makes any difference here except weight and perhaps price, but still...



Anyway, "improving" the passive electronics is a bubba fiction and a complete waste of time and money if they're not broken -- an B500K pot that works without noise or defects is exactly equal to any other B500K pot that works, irrespective of price, likewise with the jack and bleeder capacitor (capacitance matters, composition does not in this application). There will be absolutely no sonic improvement over the unbusted stock electronics of the same values, and disregard as technically ignorant anyone who tells you differently.

Are you saying I shouldn't tear apart my incoming new bass and replace all the stock wiring with Monster Cable for Ultimate Sonic Fidelity??? ;D

 

[Son of Wobble]

Are you saying I shouldn't tear apart my incoming new bass and replace all the stock wiring with Monster Cable for Ultimate Sonic Fidelity??? ;D

Personally, I'd rather have a single orange drop capacitor than all the talent in Jaco's fingers. YMMV.

 

[Bongolation]

Are you saying I shouldn't tear apart my incoming new bass and replace all the stock wiring with Monster Cable for Ultimate Sonic Fidelity??? ;D

Only if you find virtue in changing the air in your tires for better mileage.

The stuff I've seen advocated on gear forums by gristleheads who actually believe in this nonsense is quite remarkable.

I think the champ in my memory (against much stiff competition) was some character on the Dudepit about a dozen years ago who said he immediately replaced the jack in every new bass he got with a Switchcraft, "because it increases output by 50%."

Naturally, he got belligerent when told this was a physical impossibility. His argument, the inevitable one, was he knew it was true because he heard it.



And there's always someone there ready to sell you all this crap, too.

There's usually significant work that needs to be done on new gear, but "upgrading" the passive electronics is rarely part of it.

 

[Son of Wobble]

Only if you find virtue in changing the air in your tires for better mileage.

The stuff I've seen advocated on gear forums by gristleheads who actually believe in this nonsense is quite remarkable.

I think the champ in my memory (against much stiff competition) was some character on the Dudepit about a dozen years ago who said he immediately replaced the jack in every new bass he got with a Switchcraft, "because it increases output by 50%."

Naturally, he got belligerent when told this was a physical impossibility. His argument, the inevitable one, was he knew it was true because he heard it.



And there's always someone there ready to sell you all this crap, too.

There's usually significant work that needs to be done on new gear, but "upgrading" the passive electronics is rarely part of it.

Bongo, you seem a little aggressive. Have you taken your orange drop capacitor yet today?

 

[OrvCraig]

There's a single pickup model for sale near me with a headstock that says, "Synchromatic." Is this an original G2202 made in Korea? Do I get an award for resurrecting such a long dead thread?

 

[DrSteve]

I'm not the one who grants awards, but if I were...

If the shop has both the Syncromatic and Electromatic, I'd like to hear your opinion of the comparison.
I'm not sure if the Electro was an upgrade or not.

 

[OrvCraig]

I sprung for the Synchromatic. The pickup is hot! I've been playing a couple of Hofner Ignition basses and had to turn the practice amp down significantly.

I've picked up a couple of the new two pickup models and they're good, especially for the money, but they are not the same. The new basses do not have humbuckers. They are single coils, so the tone isn't as hot and thick.