Guitar Tricks
By Dan Torres
New Gretsch guitar Tone Switch Modification:
Actually we had done this to OLD Gretsch guitars some years ago.
Recently one of the guys brought in a new reissue Gretsch and wanted
the same kind of modification.
This is a real cool sounding modification, and a good look at how to
transpose one technology to a different application. Gretsch
guitars have always had those somewhat irritating and
confusing "tone switches" next to the pickup selector toggle switch.
Lots of people do not know how it works anyway.
How it works on a standard guitar:
It is just a selector between two tone caps. One position is a pretty
large value cap, usually .1 mfd, this rolls off a LOT of highs, almost
the whole guitar's tone. The middle position is no connection, clean,
bright classic Gretsch tone. The other position is a smaller tone cap,
pretty much like a Gibson with the tone control turned all the way down.
This simple mod replaces the overly deep largest cap with a totally new
sound - the Torres Midrange roll off. Usually this is installed on a
pot, this drawing shows how to install it on the switch as a selectable
tone.
The whole concept is to pre wire the entire midrange roll off circuit
as one unit and install it in place of one of the capacitors on the
switch.
We have already done this on the reissue Gretsch. It added a great
range to the already cool clean sound of the Gretsch - an acoustic
guitar like tone, very cool.
This modification requires a Torres Guitar Midrange kit available
direct from us, via our catalog or on the web site.
Guitar
Midrange Kit