G&L MFD compared to Fralin Steel Pole (SP42 or SP43)

[FAC]

Perhaps a somewhat obscure question...

A few months ago, I posted about my new (to me) G&L ASAT and how much I liked the guitar and the pickups.

That prompted a bout of GAS where I was toying with the idea of getting a G&L S500 (basically a strat with the MFD pickups)...but I really prefer to play a guitar before I purchase it, and as a lefty, I would need to special order the guitar (not something I really want to do).

Rather than gambling on a custom guitar order, I'd be willing to experiment swapping the pickups in my current strat for MFDs...then I saw that Fralin makes something similar (the Steel Pole series...a single coil pickup with steel poles and a bar magnet, not unlike the MFDs).

Long story short...anyone have any experience comparing the Fralin Steel Pole with the G&L MFDs?

Thanks.

 

[FAC]

Re: G&L MFD compared to Fralin Steel Pole (SP42 or SP43)

yeah...I figured it was an obscure request, ha ha ha. Anyone have experience with the Fralin Steel Pole pickups in general?

I recall a few years ago they were popular around here for strat bridge pickups (well, maybe more than a few years...like when I first joined).

 

[FAC]

Re: G&L MFD compared to Fralin Steel Pole (SP42 or SP43)

I feel so alone in this thread...ha ha ha.

I ended up getting a set of the SP42's and installing them in my strat.

1. The SP42s are nothing like the MFD pickups in the G&L, despite the fact that both use adjustable pole pieces and bar magnets instead of the typical strat pole magnets. While they are slightly hotter than the typical strat pickup, they are by no means a hot pickup.

2. The SP42s do not have the extended top and bottom that the MFD does...the SP42s are essentially like a fatter, less ice-pick strat pickup, whereas the MFDs are very different, and much, much, hotter.

3. I installed the whole set, but ended up putting a Fralin Blues Special in the neck, and keeping the SP42 bridge and middle. The neck pickup was not necessarily muddy, but it did not have the "piano-like" character that I like from a good strat neck pickup. Amazingly, the SPs play very nicely with the Blues Special. The fourth position, for example, is great...very clear, articulate, and quacky.

4. I am currently smitten with the SP42 in the bridge and middle positions...it might be my favorite strat bridge pickup yet (I've tried stock, Fralin Blues Special with baseplate, and Lollar Special in that position). There is no icepick, there is a bit more midrange, it is still "VERY strat" (this does not approach a P90 at all, although the construction might suggest it), just a bit fatter and smoother...absolutely great for what I would consider classic rock tones.

5. The in between settings are still nice and clear and quacky, even between the bridge and middle with both SP42s. Seriously.

So there you go. Hope the info helps someone out there.

Keep in mind I have only had these in for a week or so, so take my enthusiasm with a grain of salt...but my original question is answered: the comparison between the MFD and SPs are what they are...they are very, very different sounding pickups.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: G&L MFD compared to Fralin Steel Pole (SP42 or SP43)

I've had the SP 43 in one of my FR strats for several years now..Very P90 sounding..Cleans up nicely,beefy but not ever muddy sounding..Not spectacular,but decent bridge/middle tones with the middle Tex Mex pickup I have in this guitar..I have also wired up this guitar to have the PTB setup like some of the G&Ls and it works very well in this setup.