Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

[Jocelyn]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

I think it's because their next-to-nil resale value.

Would YOU search for an used GFS p'up? Or an used Epiphone p'up???

I, for one, sure wouldn't...

That' s a good observation. I agree with you.

To the OP, do try GFS or some Duncan Performers. Or see if any one wants to bump of there stock pickups that they have replaced with Duncans or Dimarzios ext. But I do suggest GFS.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

I think it's because their next-to-nil resale value.

Would YOU search for an used GFS p'up? Or an used Epiphone p'up???

GFS pickups are on a whole 'nother level from any other cheap pickups around.

They are as good as anything out there... not sure what your experience is with them. They are a newer business and are evolving. You might have had a bad experience with GFS in the past, but for the past few years have turned out some stellar sounding cheapo pickups. They don't have a full line like Duncan does, but they make great tele, strat, P90 and PAF style pickups.

I, for one, sure wouldn't...

Good for you, but I'm always looking for a deal.

 

[dominus]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

What's interesting to note, is that GFS sells a lot of pickups every month and you rarely see many of their pickups used on Ebay. Not a lot of people getting rid of their GFS pickups.

I think it's because their next-to-nil resale value.

Would YOU search for an used GFS p'up? Or an used Epiphone p'up???

I, for one, sure wouldn't...

Could be the resale value, could be the sound. I wouldn't search for used Epiphones, but that's because I have tried a number of stock Epiphone pickups and hated them all. (Oddly enough, I had a Schecter CB-2000 that came with an Epiphone blade pickup. Thought that was odd, but a Google search reveals that I wasn't the only one to notice that.)

I sold all of my Duncans, kept all of the GFS pickups except for the Mean 90. Great sounding pickup, but I wanted a humbucker in that guitar. The only GFS I didn't like was the 59, BUT I made hybrids out of them and they're f-ing incredible sounding. I didn't like the Duncan 59 either though. I just replaced a 59/Distortion set with a Crunchy PAT set. The guitar sounds MUCH better to my ears.

Used Duncan set - $100
New GFS set - $50-$65

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

To zenmindbeginner and dominus:

if you get results you're satisfied with with them, more power to you!

I install'em quite often in cheap guitars for my customers, and if they're happy, I'm happy too!

They can even sound good in certain instruments and all that but, make no mistake: they're NOT Duncans, nor they can be put in the same league.

I'd like to use myself as an analogy: many moons ago I was invited to join a wine tasting club. In the many years I've participated in the sessions, every year I was able to distinguish and appreciate the different taste of the different wines that had different price tags. When I started, a $ 10 bottle was the same as a $ 100, and it took time to my pallate to tell the difference. Anyway, I just couldn't tell from a $ 100 bottle to a more expensive one, so I "hit my ceiling", as they would say.

So, the moral for me was not to spend a lot of money in wine whan I wasn't able to fully appreciate the difference. And I'm happy ever after, mostly drinking bottles in the $ 35-$ 75 range. The few more expensive ones I buy from time to time is just to my friends as a gift.

HTH,

 

[cokekolev]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

I think it's because their next-to-nil resale value.

Would YOU search for an used GFS p'up? Or an used Epiphone p'up???

I, for one, sure wouldn't...

NOT true. People in Europe pay more money for used GFS pickups than new ones from the States.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

They can even sound good in certain instruments and all that but, make no mistake: they're NOT Duncans, nor they can be put in the same league.

+1.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

Used Duncan set - $100
New GFS set - $50-$65

Depends on the deal. If you look, they're out there. I've gotten most of my Duncan's and Dimarzios used, for $35 to $45. When I can get a couple of used Duncans or DiMarzios for $70 to $75, I wouldn't even consider a pair of new GFS HB's.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

To zenmindbeginner and dominus:

if you get results you're satisfied with with them, more power to you!

I install'em quite often in cheap guitars for my customers, and if they're happy, I'm happy too!

They can even sound good in certain instruments and all that but, make no mistake: they're NOT Duncans, nor they can be put in the same league.

I'd like to use myself as an analogy: many moons ago I was invited to join a wine tasting club. In the many years I've participated in the sessions, every year I was able to distinguish and appreciate the different taste of the different wines that had different price tags. When I started, a $ 10 bottle was the same as a $ 100, and it took time to my pallate to tell the difference. Anyway, I just couldn't tell from a $ 100 bottle to a more expensive one, so I "hit my ceiling", as they would say.

So, the moral for me was not to spend a lot of money in wine whan I wasn't able to fully appreciate the difference. And I'm happy ever after, mostly drinking bottles in the $ 35-$ 75 range. The few more expensive ones I buy from time to time is just to my friends as a gift.

HTH,

Really thoughtful post dude. I use them to supplement my Duncans and we all need a cheap guitar right? I just wasn't expecting the guitar to sound that good... I HATE outsourcing American jobs going to Asia and so sort of didn't want anything to do with GFS. Friends kept urging me to give them a **** raving left and right about the cheap and quite capable pickups. I took the plunge and have been extremely pleased.

You are absolutely right about them being not Duncans... but they whoop ass all over Duncan Designed tele and strat pickups. Their tele and strat pickups are as good as anything out there in their price range. GFS are the kings of cheap parts and pickups, the value you get is soooo high compared to what you spend.

I will never replace a Duncan with a GFS pup though, it just ain't gonna happen.

Looks like I need to upload a recording I did with my Xaviere...

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

Depends on the deal. If you look, they're out there. I've gotten most of my Duncan's and Dimarzios used, for $35 to $45. When I can get a couple of used Duncans or DiMarzios for $70 to $75, I wouldn't even consider a pair of new GFS HB's.

yeah, but you can get used GFS for $35 a set

 

[blueman335]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

yeah, but you can get used GFS for $35 a set

That's fine if you're hard-pressed and your total budget for PU's is $35, but you're still better off saving up another $30 and getting a couple used Duncans or DiMarzios.

 

[formula73]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

That's fine if you're hard-pressed and your total budget for PU's is $35, but you're still better off saving up another $30 and getting a couple used Duncans or DiMarzios.

Some might say that about Epiphone vs Gibson.:scratchch

 

[blueman335]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

Some might say that about Epiphone vs Gibson.:scratchch

I wish there was only a $30 difference. When it's a $300 Epi vs a $3,000 Gibson...

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

I wish there was only a $30 difference. When it's a $300 Epi vs a $3,000 Gibson...

Right, if you want a setneck guitar in the under $400 price range, Epiphone pretty much has that market in a headlock.

 

[formula73]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

I wish there was only a $30 difference. When it's a $300 Epi vs a $3,000 Gibson...

I meant in the sense of saving to get something worth keeping. The op is talking about putting no-name brand tires on a Dodge Omni. You're talking about putting Pirellis on the same thing.

Nice tires or not, it's still an Omni.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

Pickups lose a lot of value on the used market. Since GFS pickups are so cheap even when new, I doubt most people would bother selling them. When a pickup you spent $30 on is worth maybe $10 to $15 on E-Bay, minus fees, the hassle of taking photos, dealing with questions, packing and shipping, etc., it isn't really worth it to sell them.

 

[Reload in 5]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

That's fine if you're hard-pressed and your total budget for PU's is $35, but you're still better off saving up another $30 and getting a couple used Duncans or DiMarzios.

yeah but the cheapest you can generally get a set of duncans is about $90. ($45x2)

 

[uOpt]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

No, some popular Duncans like 59 and JB can be had for less than 45 shipped.

I agree that 45 is a good "default" price for a non-special Duncan with wear but you can do better.

 

[Artie]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

^Yup. If you have a little patience, it's amazing some of the great deals that show up on our own Trading Post. Keep an eye out.

 

[Frogman]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

Hand made in California. Boom, done.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=244650

 

[blueman335]

Re: Cheaper pickups for cheaper guitars

I meant in the sense of saving to get something worth keeping. The op is talking about putting no-name brand tires on a Dodge Omni. You're talking about putting Pirellis on the same thing.

Nice tires or not, it's still an Omni.

I think PU's are more comparable to the engine rather than the tires. :14: