DESCRIPTION:
In this video I try to compare a Gretsch Ampli Sonic and a National Hot Rod cone. I hope that this video may give you an idea of how different their tone is.

But first of all, please don't take this video as your trusted reference in terms of comparing a Gretsch Ampli Sonic cone and a National Hot Rod. This is not a direct apple to apple comparison, because the Gretsch Ampli Sonic is not in its prime state. While the National Hot Rod is brand new.

I have no problem whatsoever with how the Gretsch Ampli Sonic sounds. The main reason I replaced the cone was because it's already collapsed, and I could not play the low strings on high register without the string buzzing and rattling (it got so low the part of the strings between the biscuit and the tailpiece touched the cover plate). I tried few other ways to fix it before I finally decided to replace it.

To summarize what I hear is this :
- The Gretsch Ampli Sonic is more vintage sounding (don't know if it's because of the aged cone or not).
- The Gretsch Ampli Sonic has better reverb, in my opinion.
- The National Hot Rod is of course louder, has much better sustain and vibrations.
- From the spec between those two cones, the National Hot Rod is about a quarter inch taller than the the Ampli Sonic, so expect your guitar to have a higher action after installing the Hot Rod. Mine is much higher, I think I'll have to get myself used to it. Since I don't know how to trim or set the bridge.
- The National Hot Rod sounds like it has more Mid - Treble range compared to the Ampli Sonic, which has more Bass. And in this case I might be wrong.

Here's the gear that I used for this video :
- Gretsch Honeydipper G9202 Delta Blue
- John Pearse 700M .013 (same set of strings between the before and after).
- I used the old biscuit from the Honeydipper, even though the National Hot Rod came with its own unslotted biscuit and bridge. I don't have the tools and the skill to do my own slotting.
- Recorded directly with a Canon Ixus digital pocket camera.
- No audio editing. I only edit the title and visual fade in - fade out, things like that.

Feel free to share your thought about this video.

Best regards,
bluesblabber