The Sr product manager at Gretsch on Gretsch pick-ups - the DNA comes from Baldwin era blacktops - see his comments below
"Regarding the scoop on the Black Top F"ilter'Tron pickups, here's the low-down...
* The Black Top Filter'tron pickups are NOT identical to the HS Filter'tron.
* The DNA for the "Black Top" came from a found set of Filter'tron pickups from the Baldwin era. Its voice has a little more output but slightly less high-end sparkle than the HS Filter'Tron. Please know we intentionally do not publish detail specs of the magnets, wire or frame assembly as they are a patented Gretsch recipe.
* You should also know the specs for the HS Filter'tron pickups changed after FMIC got involved with Gretsch. It was a running change that happened sometime between 2003 & 2004. Mike Lewis took the DNA based off of an original set of Filter'tron pickups from 1959.
Hope to see you next year at the Roundup!
All the best,
Joe Carducci
Sr. Product Manager
Gretsch Guitars"
Agreed the TV Jones are not really the same - I switched out a TV jones out of a Baldwin era bass and reinstalled the original Baldwin. Less high end sparkle than TV jones - which I prefer - even though the TV Jones use magnets . Matter of taste. Found TV Jones sounded better if playing with a pick but I play 90% of the time using fingers. Baldwins though definitely have more output than a modern Gretsch pick up.
Gretsch does use ceramic and I think that is why they have more high end sparkle. Not sure about the output but as Carducci says - specs are a trade secret. Fidelitron are Fenders Gretsch knock offs and are currently available on a Fender bass or 2.
https://shop.fender.com/en/intl/electric-basses/precision-bass/cabronita-precision-bass/0145602306.htmlcomes with a Gretsch pick up knock off - not the Baldwin bladed - but the Gretsch sound.
The pre Baldwin era is a bit hard to distinguish as 2 of my traditional design Gentleman's are post July 67 (are Baldwins) - and are impeccably made. In Fact my late 68 6072 is the best build of all 4 basses. The pick-ups are hotter than the 63 & 64 I have - but those are Filtertrons vs Supertron II's. The early 70's bass pick-ups are not as hot as the late 60's but have the same output as my 63 & 64. Comparing solid bodies to hollow bodies though is not the best way to A B pickups.
Those early 70's Matsumoku J basses - are often better than the contemporaneous CBS Fenders. Go for a fraction of the price of a Fender. What is the cost and what is the value are 2 different subjects.