The Last Bass Outpost

So Dave if you are not interested in Gretsches - why are you here. To be insulting. A troll by definition.

You played a Baldwin Gretsch in a store once.  And you  call yourself an expert, and repeat the meme of bad instruments. (here we go again... )

Because you know so much more than the Senior product manager at Gretsch. So Dave Carducci is a liar. Interesting point. Your evidence for that please. That link was on the Fender site - I typed in Fender reviewed the basses for sale and it came up at the current site. But again Dave you know this how?

Ceramics do sound different - so now you are just talking out of your rear. But you do that a lot don't you Dave. You have no interest in Gretsch basses so why are you even here. To do your troll thing?

Dave how does a troll like you become a moderator?  A troll repeats BS over and over and that is you. That Baldwins were bad and they sound bad -is a position given from someone who played one for a few minutes in a store. You regurgitate the Fred Gretsch junior nonsense - who made inferior instruments to Baldwin- because it served his business strategy - family member rejuvenates Gretsch from evil clutches of Baldwin. A troll repeats nonsense. That would be you.

Matsumoku's are fine instruments but a know nothing like you wouldn't know anything about that. Gibson certainly thought they were good enough to make them basses.

It is fascinating how one can become an expert by not playing a group of instruments.

But no surprise here - but I will be reporting you to the other moderators.



trolling is to repeat nonsense - something you do constantly on the Baldwin issue. Players who own the old basses love them - some who read about them regurgitate their false expertise. Troll by definition.

You insult any knowledgable player with your brand of idiocy trolling.  Dave your are a fraud. Go find some other thread to irritate.

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 Please know we intentionally do not publish detail specs of the magnets, wire or frame assembly as they are a patented Gretsch recipe.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.html
comes 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.

https://www.musicradar.com/reviews/guitars/fender-cabronita-p-bass-590463

and at the Fender website

https://shop.fender.com/en/intl/electric-basses/other/coronado-bass-2013-2016/0243200509.html

CABRONITA - The original Custom Shop Cabronita was introduced in 2009 (Before there was a made-in-Mexico Classic Players Cabronita Telecaster, there was the 60th Anniversary Cabronita, which was made in California for one production year in 2011. It essentially uses the same design, with two TV Jones Filter'Tron humbuckers.

Notably after Fender started making Gretsches - those designs started mixing and matching with Fenders

Having played Baldwin Gretsches for over 30 years I have noticed Fenders now offers Fender basses with Filtertrons. The Broadkaster, TK300 & Committee are fine instruments with a great sound. The Filtertron and Supertron II were fine pick ups. TC Jones designed some its pickups after those Baldwin era blade blacktops.  So with both TV Jones & Fender implementing the Baldwin era electronics it is interesting to say the least. Funny how an idea like post CBS, Baldwin or Norland are no good - can get legs - when it is complete nonsense.

Putting the strap at the headstock cures neck dive - and brings the F in closer. Neck will stay in any position and the lateral position is also adjustable.

Everyone I know who owns one loves them. The not well regarded bit I think has more to do with the post 6070-6073 basses not resembling the classic style of Gretches.

The last couple years 80-81 did see quality control issues but those I personally never experienced.

My fretless 6070 (Bakdwin era) kicks ass and makes any modern Gretsch  hollow body redundant. Also I prefer Filertrons to TV Jones - my 7606 had a swapped in TV Jones - I put the Filtertron back in - much better. The solid body basses of the Baldwin era are all longs scale except for the TK300. They are all quite different - glued on neck, bolted or neck thru body construction giving each a variation of sound.

I used to have a 6071 and the TK300 is s better sounding instrument.

Now here's hoping a 7615 appears - I think these ones are rare as the Gretsch factory had 2 fires in that period. Never seen one other than the original catalogue picture. Nowhere on the Internet.
Now look at the instrument - it is a truly beautiful guitar- unique.

I just bought the 2232 - essentially a 2002 long scale jet - very nice instrument - but ain't no Baldwin.

The TK300 is a great short scale. Looks funky, well made. Plays great and sounds good.

Gretsch's "dark period" produced the TK300 (blond or red) , the Committee , solid body Broadkaster (blond or red) and  the 7615 "solid body bass"

Thank goodness it is the "dark period" as they go inexpensively compared to Fenders and Gibsons- - I own all but the 7615 and they are all great instruments.

If you want a quality instrument for a good price  - look for a Baldwin era bass or guitar.

TK300 is a great looking bass- and it also is well made and sounds great.

Bass solos should be few and far between. Best if the guitarist just drops out completely and drummer either simplifies or if they have the chops and can follow like a dirty shirt that's OK. Trouble with guitarist continuing to play is they force your solo to take a shape dictated by the rhythm they are putting down.

The classic 3 piece is best for a bassist. Then improvising vs soloing is a lot of fun. Rather than playing licks (which abandon moving the rhythm)  it is more interesting to alter the groove over the form after each pass. So one might go from a straight 4 to a 6/8 depending on what is happening with the guitar solo at that time - its even more fun if the guitarist never plays the same solo twice. In effect it becomes group solo as the bass/drums alter the pattern for each pass through the form based upon what they are hearing from the guitarist.

Two - whichever one I am going to play and I have a cheap Squire jazz that stays in the car in case I break a string.

Don't play different basses for different music. Have 4 electrics 3 Gretsches, 1 Pbass and 2 uprights (1 plain gut string, the other  metal wrap on synthetic core)

Usually takes a song or 2 before I settle into the bass I am playing and adjust my approach to suit the bass.

It has "Mwah" for days.  The ability to slide into notes - all those extra technique options you get with a fretless.

The luthier said she could fix my problems but that was going to cost more than pulling the frets and inserting inlays. Didn't have the money at the time. I thought it was a cheap experiment at the time but the moment I played it let alone plugged it in I realized I'd never put the frets back on.

That's it. Its heavy but it plays like butter. fantastic instrument.

Watched the ad for months and after I couldn't take it any more & bit the bullet. It went missing in the mail for over 2 weeks.  Post Office was actually processing the insurance when it finally showed up.

I play it 4 hours a day after work every day since I got it. Can't put it down.

And the Committee is a great bass.

My first bass. I removed the varnish and the ugly pick guard. Installed a Carvin pick-up and it is a keeper. Beautifully made. The varnish was a bad idea. Gretsch was trying to match the Alembic trend but those guitars were oiled not varnished.

the original pick-up I put into my 6070 a few years later

my first bass. Still own it and play it all the time.