• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

has anyone done a "shoot out" .... Historic vs Gretsch Jet with DYNASONIC single coils ?

Dr. Green

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
if you have owned both .... what is your take on how they compare ???
( either PAF clone or P90 Lesters )
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
Although they look somewhat alike, they don't compare, they are two different animals. Floating bridge vs tune-o-matic, Gibson P90s or humbuckers don't sound anything like Dynasonics (or Filtertrons), Jets are semi-hollow vs solid-body LPs. I know when I pick up a Jet I immediately start playing different than I do when I play my Les Pauls. Dynasonics just have such a unique character to them. Recently I went through a phase of swapping pickups on my Zemaitis guitars, and on my favorite one, a solid body, there was NO comparison, when I swapped from a very good set of PAF style pickups (Tyson Precious and Grace), to a set of Dynasonic style pickups (MR2000SB by Gabojo Amplification), the guitar was transformed, and of all my Zemaitis guitars (5) it has become my favorite. These pickups would probably sound great in a resonant lightweight LP!

from this...
K6BFuVW.jpg


to this...
nYsGUt7.jpg
 

Dr. Green

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 12, 2018
Messages
683
I heard someone playing the Jet yesterday and was intrigued
it had the shape of a Lester but the the treble quality was far better
it was very extended without being strident or brittle like some Historics can be
dynamics were good .... very full range and at 2200 full blown retail new made in Japan it represented a far better value IMHO over something like a R7 which are 3x the price

on the flip side it did not have the real nice hollow mid range "honk" like the best reissues have .... the construction quality was about equal tho

that last Jet would be perfect for a Japanese Elvis impersonator playing in Vegas

japanese-elvis-impersonator-toki-toyokazu-performs-during-the-2016-picture-id503940380


" I am just a Hunk O burning love" ..... Elvis
 
Last edited:

Tommy Tourbus

Active member
Joined
Jan 1, 2005
Messages
871
I've got a Gretsch Custom Shop Penquin with Duncan Dynasonics. Sounds nothing at all like a Gibson. Worlds apart. The Dynasonics are very cool, but they're not similar at all to humbuckers or P90's. With gain they sort of have a rough and raunchy quality that might remind you of a P90 but it's similar in attitude, not so much in sound. P90's are thick in the mids, and the Dynas are more focused towards the highs
 

Big Al

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 24, 2002
Messages
14,537
I've used both. Because they are completely different. Same reason I use Teles and Jrs and Rickys and Melody Makers.....
 

blauserk

Active member
Joined
Mar 12, 2002
Messages
1,778
Not even apples and oranges ... apples and bananas. DeArmond-loaded Gretsches are underrated guitars for blues in my book, because they get dirty great, particularly on the neck pickup. And they can be clean and bright and spanky like a tele on steroids on the bridge. For historic money, you can get Gretsch Custom Shop, which produces some spectacular guitars in crazy colors. But although the Custom Shop produces consistently good quality, I've found Gretsches more sonically different from one example to the next, particularly DeArmond/Dynasonic guitars (some are dark, some bright), so I would wait until you found one that sounded good to you. I have a Gretsch with Dynas that is one of the guitars that I would never sell, and a lot of Historics have gone through my house. But you have to think of each on their own terms rather than as substitutes. Watch some Grech Koch videos and act when one of them moves you.
 

RocknRollShakeUp

Active member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
766
Although they look somewhat alike, they don't compare, they are two different animals. Floating bridge vs tune-o-matic, Gibson P90s or humbuckers don't sound anything like Dynasonics (or Filtertrons), Jets are semi-hollow vs solid-body LPs. I know when I pick up a Jet I immediately start playing different than I do when I play my Les Pauls. Dynasonics just have such a unique character to them. Recently I went through a phase of swapping pickups on my Zemaitis guitars, and on my favorite one, a solid body, there was NO comparison, when I swapped from a very good set of PAF style pickups (Tyson Precious and Grace), to a set of Dynasonic style pickups (MR2000SB by Gabojo Amplification), the guitar was transformed, and of all my Zemaitis guitars (5) it has become my favorite. These pickups would probably sound great in a resonant lightweight LP!

from this...
K6BFuVW.jpg


to this...
nYsGUt7.jpg

What a fookin’ cool guitar.. that thing has got so much Mojo, it hurts!
 

Ace139

Active member
Joined
May 29, 2003
Messages
1,759
What up Stumphead?

Agree with the comments above. I have a Nicky CC and recently purchased a new Gretsch Custom Shop Silver Sparkle Penguin with the Dynasonics Singles. The Dynasonics sound like they are way lower out put - have not measured - but just based on volume and difference in tone when keeping settings the same the LP is louder and has more dirt. They are also more focused really hearing each string and they are also brighter than the LP. BBuckers have way more sustain and are not bright as the Dynasonics - but I think that's pretty normal when you compare humbuckers to single coils. Still in the new phase with the Gretsch but it really makes me want to play big open chords - they sound HUGE. I think Malcom Young used Filtertrons - but I really get an AC/DC tone with the Gretsch. Like Big Al said "they are completely different".

Hope that helps
 
Top