GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

[wfswfs]

Hi all...

Its a commonly asked questioned but then this time around.
its with the new WR that gfs came out with (or maybe awhile ago.) Just found them online

http://www.guitarfetish.com/GFS-WideTone-Oversized-Humbucker-Correct-Vintage-Size_c_488.html

They previously came out with a vintage split which supposed to be like a Fender Wr.

So interested in knowing anyone tried these new stuff...

Thot of buy em to upgrade my squier tele.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

Because of the description I'm inclined to believe these are just Trem-spaced/Fender-spaced humbuckers in the larger Wide Range cover. It talks about polished ceramic magnets, which isn't the right construction.

If they are just budget overseas humbuckers, I'm not certain I would consider them necessarily an upgrade on a Squire. Maybe. They might sound different and could be an affordable/reversable change to make.

If you really want the original Wide Range sound, you would need something like the Duncan Custom Shop Wide Range humbucker where the pole pieces are magnets using the correct materials and construction methods, as near as can be replicated now. http://customshop.seymourduncan.com/wide-range-humbucker/

My understanding is even an original vintage Fender Wide Range humbucker will not sound correct these days as I've read the magnets have not held their charge very well over this length of time. I've read that was actually an inherent problem discovered fairly early with the originals. Not sure if that contributed to them being a rare sight in Fenders. Someone else with more experience with real Wide Range Humbuckers and the reissues will have to chime in to get better information.

 

[dominus]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

Because of the description I'm inclined to believe these are just Trem-spaced/Fender-spaced humbuckers in the larger Wide Range cover. It talks about polished ceramic magnets, which isn't the right construction.

They have two models, one with ceramic, and one with AlNiCo magnets.

If they are just budget overseas humbuckers, I'm not certain I would consider them necessarily an upgrade on a Squire. Maybe. They might sound different and could be an affordable/reversable change to make.

Got any experience with GFS pickups? I've found a few models that I liked better than a lot of American branded pickups.

 

[allstarrme]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

All the current fender widerange pickups use a bar magnet and regular pole pieces.

I think the best up grade to start with is replacing the pots with 500k or 1 meg values. I would definitely try the gfs pickups if they made a bass version.

Curtis Novak makes vintage style replacements with cunife magnetic poles as does the duncan custom shop.

I don't mind the current fenders, at least for bass.

 

[Hairmail]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

I know for a fact that the Fender wide-range models are just regular humbuckers put under oversized covers, and then the rest of the space is filled with wax. The GFS models seem to be the same sort of deal. They're probably an upgrade over the stock ones but you're not going to be getting the real wide range models with CuNiFe magnets.

If you're looking to upgrade your squier with real wide range pickups, you're going to have to go boutique or custom shop, but honestly there's no point in spending more on pickups than you spent on the guitar.

 

[AlexR]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

All the current fender widerange pickups use a bar magnet and regular pole pieces.

I think the best up grade to start with is replacing the pots with 500k or 1 meg values. I would definitely try the gfs pickups if they made a bass version.

Curtis Novak makes vintage style replacements with cunife magnetic poles as does the duncan custom shop.

I don't mind the current fenders, at least for bass.

These guys have threaded rod magnets.....but not Cunife. The only person who has got hold of cunife recently is The Telenator. At $400 per pickup they are quite expensive and an extremely limited run. The Duncan version uses A5.

 

[richardcj]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

As I understand it there is a fundamental difference in design between Wide Range and conventional humbucker. The 'bucker has two coils with steel poles/screws and a common magnet underneath. The wide range should be essentially two coils with magnetic poles (single coil style). I have directly compared an alnico 5 'bucker (came in my G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy) and an alnico 5 wide range design (I replaced it with - came from a custom UK maker) and it is like night and day. The wide range design gives significantly better clarity and note definition.

To me it is like having a fat single coil, but not like a P90, more like a strange single coil/humbucker lovechild. For want of a better description. If it is a properly designed and made wide range type I really recommend trying one.

 

[AlexR]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

Yes...any pickup that has rod magnets has a significantly different fundamental tone to a bar magnet beneath and magnetised poles.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: GFS Widetone vs Fender Widerange?

Don't forget Mojo Tone, they make Wide Range HB's in two versions, one to work with 1M pots, and one to work with the 250k pots that come in the reissues. They have rod magnet poles (not CuNiFe though). Another option that is supposed to be an improvement over the stock WR's.
Al