Black Cat - Replacement Filtertron® Style Pickups
Creamery Custom Handwound Replacement Filterton Pickups & Upgrades
Creamery Vintage, Modern, Custom & Alternative Gretsch/Filtertron design Pickups - Both Gibson/PAF Humbucker Size & the slightly narrower Gretsch®/Cabronita 'No Ears' Mount
One of my favourite pickup designs and a range I spent a long time perfecting. The bright yet powerful & attacking Filtertron® design pickup used in many classic Gretsch guitars in both a standard 'No Ears' mount and a direct drop-in replacement for standard Gibson / PAF Humbucker size pickups - Giving you that sparkle, growl, crunch & attack you only get with the true Filtertron® (internal) design.
A reduced number of offset winds on each coil provide a rich, clear, rockabilly sound - Punch, Crunch & Attack. The stronger Alnico 5 magnets help keep great attack due to their thicker 1/4" height, boosting the output of the lower windings on each coil to balance great 'boom' & punch, volume & clarity, definition and that attacking brightness unique to this design.
A rich, snarly bridge sound with that classic sweet attacking presence in the neck position - Known for pure Rockabilly/Psychobilly sounds, they're actualy a very versatile pickup for those looking for something a little different, a little alternative to traditional humbucker sounds. Don't be fooled by the seemingly lower output, Black Cat Filtertrons can really push.
A real spank & twang and growl to these Creamery replacement Filtertron® design pickups.
Handwound in my workshop here in Manchester - Custom, Handwound Gibson/PAF Humbucker Sized or Gretsch®/La Cabronita size true specification Replacement Filtertron® Design Pickups from The Creamery.
For prices, just head straight to the online Creamery Custom Black Cat Pickups Shop.
Handwound in my workshop here in Manchester
Use the tab menu below to view the full range of Creamery Replacement Black Cat Filtertron Pickups
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Gibson / Humbucker Sized Filtertron® Style Pickups
Classic Black Cat
Magnets Double Thickness (1/4") Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Simple Three-Way Bridge Output 4.6k Neck Output 4.1k 
The Classic Fitertron Bite & Sizzle
Filtertron Style Design in a standard Gibson / Humbucker Size
Currently, the brightest pickup in the whole Creamery range. The Humbucker sized Filtertron style bridge pickup is Jangly & bright, but designed to break up the amp at gain for a biting attack.
My modern interpretation of the old classic Filtertron pickups of yesteryear in a standard humbucker size. 12 Pole screws for individual string balance give you the option to follow your neck radius and define your own tone.
The Neck pickup has a sweeter voice due to its position but still with the brightness needed from this kind of pickup.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Vintage & Modern Black Cat Filtertron Pickup UpgradesGibson / Humbucker Sized Filtertron® Style Pickups
Hot Black Cat
Magnets Double Thickness (1/4") Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Simple Three-Way Bridge Output 7.3 Neck Output 6.4k Hotter Fitertron Bite & Sizzle
Higher Output Filtertron Style Design in a standard Gibson / Humbucker Size
A hotter, overwound version of the original Black Cat pickup. Still with the classic bright tone but with an added fatness with more in the mids. A fuller tone, almost humbucker-like but with that twang unique to this design of pickup.
My hotter interpretation of the old classic Filtertron pickups of yesteryear in a standard humbucker size. 12 Pole screws for individual string balance give you the option to follow your neck radius and define your own tone.
The Neck pickup has a sweeter voice due to its position but still with the brightness needed from this kind of pickup.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Vintage & Modern Black Cat Filtertron Pickup UpgradesGibson / Humbucker Sized Filtertron® Style Pickups
'Super' Black Cat
Magnets Double Thickness (1/4") Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Simple Three-Way Bridge Output 6.3 Neck Output 5.4k Hotter Fitertron Bite & Sizzle
Higher Output Filtertron Style Design in a standard Gibson / Humbucker Size
After looking at modern variants of the old Filtertron® style pickups, and wanting to replicate the original twang & growl of the original '50s versions, I came up with these - introducing the Black Cat Filtertron® design pickups - Back to the original specifications for that brighter, attacking rock, rockabilly & blues sounds.
A reduced number of offset winds on each coil provide the extra richness. The much thicker Alnico 5 magnet helps keep the attack but being stronger due to their 1/4" height, the magnet boosts the output of the lower windings on each coil to give great volume & brightness. A real spank & twang to these Creamery Classic Black Cat Filtertron® stye pickups.
'Super' Black Cat Dual Blade Version
The 'Super' Black Cat is similar to my Classic Black Cat with the exception of dual plated steel blades taller than the usual pole screws. This helps to give a more even string balance, especially with string bending, and a slightly fuller, slightly warmer sound. Aesheticaly it looks a completely different design.
The Black Cat bridge is full yet jangly, attacking, powerful & bright, designed to break up the amp at gain for great bite, great growl to the sound. Don't let the lower output reading fool you, these are no tame pickups.
The Black Cat Neck pickup has a warmer, sweeter voice due to its position but still with the attack & brightness you'd expect from the classic Filtertron® design. It keeps great clarity & definition in the naturally darker neck position.
'Super' Black Cat Filtertron® Style Pickup - standard Gibson/PAF Humbucker Size - Direct Drop-In Replacement
These are a direct drop-in replacement for standard humbuckers and are available in regular 2-hole/screw mount or th emodern Fender 3-hole/screw mount.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Vintage & Modern Black Cat Filtertron Pickup Upgrades -
Gretsch®/Cabronita Size Filtertron® Style Pickups
Classic Black Cat - 'No Ears' Mount
Magnets Double Thickness (1/4") Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Simple Three-Way Bridge Output 4.65k Neck Output 4.1k The Classic Fitertron Bite & Sizzle
Filtertron Style Design in a standard Gretsch®/Cabronita Size
After looking at modern variants of the old Filtertron® style pickups, and wanting to replicate the original twang & growl of the original '50s versions, I came up with these - introducing the Black Cat 'No Ears' Mount Filtertron® style pickups - True to the original specifications for that brighter, attacking rock, rockabilly & blues sound.
A reduced number of offset winds on each coil provide the extra brightness. The much thicker Alnico 5 magnet helps keep the attack but being stronger due to their 1/4" height, the magnet boosts the output of the lower windings on each coil to give great volume & brightness. A real spank & twang to these Creamery Classic Black Cat Filtertron® stye pickups.
Currently, the brightest humbucker pickup in the whole Creamery range. The Black Cat bridge pickup is jangly, attacking, powerful & bright, designed to break up the amp at gain for good bite. 12 Pole screws for dialling in individual string balance give you the option to follow your neck radius and define your own sound.
The Black Cat Neck pickup has a sweeter voice due to its position but still with the attack & brightness you'd expect from the classic Filtertron® design.
Black Cat Filtertron® Style Pickup - 'No Ears' Mount - Direct Drop-In Replacement
These are a direct drop-in replacement for the standard 'No Ears' mount Gretsch & Cabronita pickups.
Currently available with chrome covers included with the option of choice of wax potted or not potted.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Vintage & Modern Black Cat Filtertron Pickup UpgradesGretsch®/Cabronita Size Filtertron® Style Pickups
'Super' Black Cat - 'No Ears' Mount
Magnets Double Thickness (1/4") Alnico 5 Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Simple Three-Way Bridge Output 4.65k Neck Output 4.1k Tighter, Focussed Fitertron Bite & Sizzle
The Twin Blade Filtertron Design in a standard Gretsch®/Cabronita Size
After looking at modern variants of the old Filtertron® style pickups, and wanting to replicate the original twang & growl of the original '50s versions, I came up with these - introducing the Black Cat Filtertron® design pickups - Back to the original specifications for that brighter, attacking rock, rockabilly & blues sounds.
A reduced number of offset winds on each coil provide the extra richness. The much thicker Alnico 5 magnet helps keep the attack but being stronger due to their 1/4" height, the magnet boosts the output of the lower windings on each coil to give great volume & brightness. A real spank & twang to these Creamery Classic Black Cat Filtertron® stye pickups.
'Super' Black Cat Dual Blade Version
The 'Super' Black Cat is similar to my Classic Black Cat with the exception of dual plated steel blades taller than the usual pole screws. This helps to give a more even string balance, especially with string bending, and a slightly fuller, slightly warmer sound. Aesheticaly it looks a completely different design.
The Black Cat bridge is full yet jangly, attacking, powerful & bright, designed to break up the amp at gain for great bite, great growl to the sound. Don't let the lower output reading fool you, these are no tame pickups.
The Black Cat Neck pickup has a warmer, sweeter voice due to its position but still with the attack & brightness you'd expect from the classic Filtertron® design. It keeps great clarity & definition in the naturally darker neck position.
'Super' Black Cat Filtertron® Style Pickup - standard Gretsch®/Cabronita Size - Direct Drop-In Replacement
These are a direct drop-in replacement for the standard 'No Ears' mount Gretsch & Cabronita pickups.
Currently available with chrome covers included with the option of choice of wax potted or not potted.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Vintage & Modern Black Cat Filtertron Pickup Upgrades
Gretsch®/Cabronita Size Filtertron® Style Pickups
Classic Black Cat 'Spaghetti Western'
Magnets Custom Made, Individual Threaded M4 Alnico Screws Coil Wire 42AWG Lead Wire Simple Three-Way Bridge Output 4.9k Neck Output 4.2k Tight, Wiry, Cutting Filtertron Sounds
Creamery Black Cat "Spaghetti Western" Pickup - No Ears Mount
I wanted to design a new type of Filtertron looking pickup, still with the same bright attack but with a lower output for a more wiry, more brittle, more 'steel string' sound and after many, many prototypes they're here - introducing the Black Cat 'Spaghetti Western' pickups for Gretsch & Cabronita style guitars.
I didn't want to just make slight modifications to the classic Filtertron spec, wanting to make something a little different, a little more unique. The idea of having 12 individual, adjustable magnets would allow you the 'dial in' each string, akin to each string having its own EQ, and unlike the classic Filterton design, I wanted much more clarity, much more definition.
Custom Manufactured, Individual Threaded & Adjustible M4 Magnetic Screws
The geometry of the slimmer 'No Ears' mount Filtertron size & style meant a new approach had to be taken with the magents. The usual threaded magnets I have made for me Wide Range Humbuckers and Sonic-Six pickups were just too fat, too wide a diameter so I've had a new custom size threaded rod magnet manufactured uniwue to this new pickup design.
Individual Threaded Magnets
The Individual threaded magnets and custom, offset coils help give the new 'Spaghetti Western' pickups a unique wiry, attacking, brittle bridge sound that really cuts through the mix without being too bright or shrill, a clear, crunchy middle position and a sweet, rich, defined neck sound.
Black Cat 'Spaghetti Western' Pickup - 'No Ears' Mount - Direct Drop-In Replacement
These are a direct drop-in replacement for the standard 'No Ears' mount Gretsch & Cabronita pickups.
Currently available with chrome covers included with the option of choice of wax potted or not potted.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Vintage & Modern Black Cat Filtertron Pickup Upgrades -
Gretsch®/Cabronita Size Filtertron® Single Coils
"HiLo" '60 No Ears Mount
Magnets Double Thickness (1/4") Alnico 5 Coil Wire 43AWG Lead Wire Simple Three-Way Bridge Output 4.3k Neck Output 3.4k Bright, Single Coil Sounds
Black Cat "HiLo" '60 Pickup - No Ears Mount
I wanted to recreate the old classic Gretsch HiLo'Tron® Pickup of the early '60s - That bright, single coil pickup in a standard Gretsch® 'No Ears' mount size just to get those great clear, rockabilly sounds with bite, with twang that really cut through the mix. A totally unique single coil sound with a little more mid-range due to the thinner coil wire and Tele-like twang due to the use of large internal ferrous plate.
Crisp, clear with single coil definition its essentially 'half a Filtertron' design - one coil rather than two but with a thick bar magnet, sideways mounted to an angled steel plate that holds the coil and six adjustable plated steel pole piece screws.
Although the Black Cat "HiLo" '60 is a single coil, it has its own unique sound, unlike the traditional Strat single coil pickup - It has more of the brittle bite of the Tele bridge with rockabilly twang mixed with a slightly sweeter high-frequency roll off, a little more mid-range than the output reading would suggest due to its use of thinner coil wire.
These are a direct drop-in replacement for the standard 'No Ears' mount Gretsch & Cabronita pickups.
Currently available with chrome covers included with the option of choice of wax potted or not potted.
> Back to the full range of Creamery Replacement Vintage & Modern Black Cat Filtertron Pickup Upgrades -
Creamery Black Cat Filtertron Reviews
Thanks for the great feedback
Its great when I get positive feedback from customers, and good reviews & word-of-mouth really help the custom shop maker so with this in mind, I've created this page of reviews.
All the comments below were either emailed to me or posted to my Twitter, Facebook, Youtube or Instagram pages.
Have a read through what others are saying about my replacement Black Cat Filtertron Pickups and get in touch if you'd like me to custom make some pickups for you. I don't have pickups all boxed up ready to send out, each order is custom made which means I can modify the specifications to suit you, your playing and your guitar.
It really means a lot
Hi mate, all good, they sound just a lot more chunky and a lot more tone. Happy camp! Just on tour now, Newcastle tonight. Freezin!
Just dropped them in. They sound GREAT - loads of jangle, very shiny, just what I was looking for. Very pleased. Thanks again!