GFS is a bust

[bigheadood]

Re: GFS is a bust

Take DiMarzio's word for it

indeed. I looked it up. I was wrong.

I think I remember Zerberus saying something like that though.
I'll try and find it.

Zerb's post

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: GFS is a bust

I've owned a bunch of GFS pickups.

I saw the U.S. operation and talked with Jay when I interviewed for a job there.

Basing your judgement on one pickup out of the entire lineup that sounds like it was wired up wrong is a terrible dis-service to the company. But more importantly it reflects poorly on you.

 

[Jack Z]

Re: GFS is a bust

Where are GFS made? If its in Asia, they will sound lousy, like all the other Asians including Duncan Designed. Replacing Asian with Asian isn't an upgrade; its exchanging one substandard sound for another. Use American-made PU's if you're serious about tone quality. You'll be so glad you did.

I so totally agree, dude.

And it works for cars too. I would so totally put my AMC Pacer or my Ford Pinto up against any Jap Lexus, Infinity or Acura. No contest. Like blueman says, if it's made in Asia, it's lousy.

And my Kodak Instamatic smokes any Nikon-this or Canon-that.

And I'd put my three-bolt bullet Strat up against any Japanese reissue. Anyday.

Finally someone stands up for what we all know is true. If it's not made in USA, it's just plain lousy. Period.

Sorry GFS.

[/sarcasm modeOFF]

 

[Fusion1]

Re: GFS is a bust

They are on Staten Island. Technically though, Staten Island IS a part of NYC on maps, just like Brookyln, Queens & Manhatten.

If you're from the area, the boroughs are the boroughs... almost like seperate states or even countries lol. People don't leave their 'spot' unless they have a good reason to. But they all make up what's known as "New York City".

Probably why I made that comment. I am from NJ and my mother's side of the family was from Staten Island and I would never consider it NYC. Just like people from the Bronx, Queens or Brooklyn wouldn't consider where they lived was in NYC unless they were maybe talking to someone not from NY and just use NYC as a reference point.

When I tell people not from Florida where I am from, I say near Tampa since it is the nearest big city from where I live.

Also you're right, I have friends/relatives from Long Island and when they head to "the city" they're not talking about Queens, they are referring to Manhatten.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: GFS is a bust

I so totally agree, dude.

And it works for cars too. I would so totally put my AMC Pacer or my Ford Pinto up against any Jap Lexus, Infinity or Acura. No contest. Like blueman says, if it's made in Asia, it's lousy.

And my Kodak Instamatic smokes any Nikon-this or Canon-that.

And I'd put my three-bolt bullet Strat up against any Japanese reissue. Anyday.

Finally someone stands up for what we all know is true. If it's not made in USA, it's just plain lousy. Period.

Sorry GFS.

[/sarcasm modeOFF]

:laugh2:

 

[FuseG4]

Re: GFS is a bust

resurrecting an old thread of mine, I wanted to say I I'm pretty sure I didnt wire it wrong!

I tried EVERY combination of wires of which goes to the switch, which ones are taped off, and what goes with the shield to ground. Most combinations either were dead (no signal) or THINNER than what I ended up with. I also tested for if it was split, and each rail was touched with the screwdriver to asses that, and so I know it wasn't split. The out of phase, parallel, and split combinations were a lot worse than what I concluded. Instead of trashing the pickup I looked under the tape to assess which leads could possibly by the coil start and finish. Looks like green and black were switched during the pickups assembly.

I did all this rewiring with the strings on and tuned to pitch and everything so that I could hear the actual tone the pickup produced by itself

So I guess I don't want to say that GFS is a bad company, I just got a product that I believe to be defective.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: GFS is a bust

That sucks. Well.... even a high end company will let one slip once in awhile. I'm sure somebody here has a story about a messed up Duncan or DiMarzio.

Can you fix it?

 

[scottish]

Re: GFS is a bust

resurrecting an old thread of mine, I wanted to say I I'm pretty sure I didnt wire it wrong!

I tried EVERY combination of wires of which goes to the switch, which ones are taped off, and what goes with the shield to ground. Most combinations either were dead (no signal) or THINNER than what I ended up with. I also tested for if it was split, and each rail was touched with the screwdriver to asses that, and so I know it wasn't split. The out of phase, parallel, and split combinations were a lot worse than what I concluded. Instead of trashing the pickup I looked under the tape to assess which leads could possibly by the coil start and finish. Looks like green and black were switched during the pickups assembly.

I did all this rewiring with the strings on and tuned to pitch and everything so that I could hear the actual tone the pickup produced by itself

So I guess I don't want to say that GFS is a bad company, I just got a product that I believe to be defective.

before you write them off completely, double check the wiring once more. im pretty sure they use the same color coding as duncans so that should make it easy

 

[FuseG4]

Re: GFS is a bust

before you write them off completely, double check the wiring once more. im pretty sure they use the same color coding as duncans so that should make it easy

Believe me when the factory wiring ended up with no signal I hopped on a few BBS's and searched and the the Duncan color codes are the first I tried!

When that sounded thin, I tried everything else, and black to hot, red and white soldered together, and green and bare to ground WAS the best combination out of all of them...

But it still sounded weak (low output) and thin but exceptionally clean.

Thats why i think it was defective!

I didnt bother to send it back, someone's giving me Fender Nocaster p'ups as a gift next week

P.S. I never really wanted to flame GFS, I was just frustrated after 3 hours over a soldering iron

 

[scottish]

Re: GFS is a bust

well then that just plain sux, sorry dude. it sounds like you may have gotten a faulty pup. its worthwhile to call jay and send it back cause he is a pretty cool dude who is always willing to help....and it never hurts to have some spare pups lying around

 

[BloodRose]

Re: GFS is a bust

Ummm, no. They're made in New York City.


For me, I'll use either Duncans, DiMarzios, Fenders or Gibsons. They get me the sounds I like.

(in best cowboy accent) NEW YORK CITY!!!!



Ive had good experience with GFS, but I can tell the diff tween them and Duncans. Just like Duncan Designeds are ok, but actual Duncans are much better.

For tele, the Duncan Jerry Donahue is the cat's meow!!

 

[theodie]

Re: GFS is a bust

Staten Island though... there's just not much there besides Mandolin Brothers! Most people are in such denial about it that New Yorkers consider it to be a part of NJ... lol

Yeah, it sort of is more jersey than NYC. Hell, Jersey (Bayonne, NJ) is between Staten Island and NYC in sort of a way.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Bayonne,+NJ,+United+States+of+America&sa=X&oi=map&ct=image

I find myself in that area once in a while these days. I was in Secaucus NJ just the other day and at times I am in Bayonne or East Rutherford.

 

[J Moose]

Re: GFS is a bust

I find myself in that area once in a while these days. I was in Secaucus NJ just the other day and at times I am in Bayonne or East Rutherford.

Them's my stomping grounds! And you didn't call...

(...sniffle...)

 

[Zerberus]

Re: GFS is a bust

indeed. I looked it up. I was wrong.

I think I remember Zerberus saying something like that though.
I'll try and find it.

Zerb's post

I can understand your confusion, in that post I should have clarified that my reason for boycotting Dimarzio and Ruby Tubes /Magic Parts (and Mesa as an unfortunate result of the latter) is not their place of production (NY, USA) but their business practices.

Actually, I should have probably left that bit out completely, as it wasn´t really relevant to the topic, but merely to underline how adamant my position on this issue is :beerchug:

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: GFS is a bust

Dude - they are humbuckers - did you really think they would sound like a vintage tele pickup?
In my experience with GFS -including a set of lil punchers in a tele- I have been just as happy with the quality as fender, gibson and seymour duncan. So far i have installed 4x sets of vintage '59's. 1 set of lil punchers. 1 set of alnico premium strat staggers. 1 set of alnico 2 staggers. All were really great pickups.I have also installed Seymour humbuckers, strat stacks, fender CS strat pups, lace sensors etc etc.
Re: my tele - true it no longer sounded like a tele. It sounded like a tele with humbuckers, but wow! What a great sound it had. Fat, full and complex. I loved the modification. Dont do it if you want your tele to sound like an old tele. Seymour makes great tele pups. GFS do also - don't dis the company because you wanted apples to taste like oranges.

 

[scottish]

Re: GFS is a bust

Dude - they are humbuckers - did you really think they would sound like a vintage tele pickup?
In my experience with GFS -including a set of lil punchers in a tele- I have been just as happy with the quality as fender, gibson and seymour duncan. So far i have installed 4x sets of vintage '59's. 1 set of lil punchers. 1 set of alnico premium strat staggers. 1 set of alnico 2 staggers. All were really great pickups.I have also installed Seymour humbuckers, strat stacks, fender CS strat pups, lace sensors etc etc.
Re: my tele - true it no longer sounded like a tele. It sounded like a tele with humbuckers, but wow! What a great sound it had. Fat, full and complex. I loved the modification. Dont do it if you want your tele to sound like an old tele. Seymour makes great tele pups. GFS do also - don't dis the company because you wanted apples to taste like oranges.

ehhh......ok?

if you read his posts, he is complaining about the pup sounding thin and nasal...yet you are saying "dude..its a bucker its not going to sound like a tele"

last time i checked buckers were on the opposite side of the spectrum from thin and nasal.

and yeah, gfs is a decent company, they do make some decent pups...but they dont compare to quality of duncans.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: GFS is a bust

I can understand your confusion, in that post I should have clarified that my reason for boycotting Dimarzio and Ruby Tubes /Magic Parts (and Mesa as an unfortunate result of the latter) is not their place of production (NY, USA) but their business practices.

Actually, I should have probably left that bit out completely, as it wasn´t really relevant to the topic, but merely to underline how adamant my position on this issue is :beerchug:

Thanks for clearing that up.

I like dimarzios, and all along, I thought the chinese were doing something right.
I guess not.

Thanks,
Nick