Setzer-ish sound?

[sunyx]

Hi guys, first time posting here. I just got a mid-80s Yamaha S900 shipped to me :)

Was thinking of changing the pickups from there, so far all research has pointed to Stormy Mondays for me.

However i was just wondering, is there any known combo that can produce a good Brian Setzer/Gretsch-ish kind of tone?

Thank you very much guys, look forward to hearing from you guys.

[AndyR]

I had to look it up - do you mean SA-900? So a 335-like semi acoustic?

I do think Stormy Mondays would be nice. But I suspect both Mules and Riff Raffs might be good too.

My 335 has Mules but, so far, I haven't really gone for that sort of sound from humbuckers - I head more towards "just breaking up and more British amp tones".

In my experience all three pickups rock: SMs are sweetest (I have those in a Les Paul and an SG), Mules (335) have a nice rasp to them, and Riff Raffs (SG) have a nice hard mid to them.

I'm even wondering about Mississippi Queens - I have those in a Les Paul, I think they would work well to get rock and roll out of a 335 type guitar.

I do find myself wondering how close a 335-type will get you to a Gretsch-ish kind of tone? I've never played a Gretsch, though, so I don't really know.

[sunyx]

Oops, my bad.. yup it's an SA900. I might be asking for something that doesn't exist, given that the setzer tone is based on hollow body + ebony fretboard + filtertrons.

Was just curious so figured that it should be worth a shot to see if anyone has encountered any combinations that give the guitar a sparkly spank.. 

[AndyR]

In fact, you're giving me GAS for a Gretsch... I can't afford it!!! I've spent all of NEXT year's budget for guitar-stuff already, and we're not even halfway through this year!!

[blue]

if you're not going to put filtertrons in it, I'd imagine the Stormy Monday's would be closest.  I have a couple of Gretches with TV Jones pickups, and through a Marshall you can get a sound not a million miles away from a nice PAF.  The guitar does make a difference, of course.  Your semi hollow with Stormy Mondays should be capable of at least getting in the same ballpark as the fully hollw gretch and filtertrons, while still allowing you to get more Gibsony sounds, depending on what amp you use and how it's set. Obviously a big part of Setzer's sound is the Fender amp and Roland echo's

[Telerocker]

Mules or humbucker-sized Blue Notes.