GuitarFetish / GFS

[PFDarkside]

I went and did something very un-dude-like... I guess I'm trying my hand at being like dominus.

I bought a Squier with a very interesting finish at a very low price. At the risk of making it a money pit with upgrades, how does GuitarFetish/GFS stand up to other hardware and pickup manufacturers?

Surprisingly the guitar plays pretty well, no sharp fret ends and a little light steel wool will give a slick neck. The nut will need a little filing/sanding along with some nut sauce. For shortcomings, the tuners are very sloppy and now I understand the difference a cheap, thin block makes. I was thinking of using GuitarFetish/GFS for either a brass or steel block along with their locking tuners and maybe saddles. I'll probably upgrade the pickups simply for some different tonal options as well. I've read mixed reviews, but more leaning positive for their pickups.

What's the story? This will obviously be a specialty guitar, so balancing the performance vs money pit angle is a concern. GFS is at the price point that I'm good with for this guitar, but am I going to get the improvements I think I will?

 

[Progbusters]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

some of it works. some parts are not described thoroughly - like it a TOM bridge is meant for a Les Paul or not. if a knob fits an american pot or a metric pot. etc etc. their website doesn't give detailed specs on their items so it will suck if you order a part that doesn't fit. i do have a GFS kwik plug harness and pickups in my strat and it works/sounds pretty good. (greybottom hot set)

 

[thebingopete]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

Some players claim their pups sound as good as SD and DiMarzio, I just say they are great pups for the price point. I gave their necks a couple tries, although playable, not really satisfied. Haven't tried the hardware and from what I've read and searched, the best they offer isn't bad but you can find comparable quality for less if you search hard enough.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

 

[Diego]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I have an El Mucho Cheapo Squier Affinity Strat that I upgraded with a GFS steel trem/block.
The block is way bigger/thicker than the stock zinc unit, and the improvement in sound, even with stock pickups, is inmense.
A lot of that bell-like attack that we know from Strats comes from the trem unit. It's a must-do upgrade IMO, that I don't regret for a second.
I don't know how much more expensive brass is, but I wouldn't bother to be honest.

No experience with GFS pickups, though. Mine had Toneriders for a while and it sounded very good.

 

[Wattage]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

GFS block has been taller than some Squiers I have had to put them in. No real issue if the back plate doesn't matter to you

I've gotten some good deals from GFS but I can't say I care much for their pickups

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I'll confirm the body thickness, thanks.

I'm really curious about the tuners.

 

[Diego]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

GFS block has been taller than some Squiers I have had to put them in. No real issue if the back plate doesn't matter to you

I've gotten some good deal from GFS but I can't say I care much for their pickups

I'd forgotten about that. I can't use the backplate anymore with my Squier for that reason. I don't care though.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I have had very good results with the stuff I've gotten from GFS. I bought a set of their Sperzel-style locking tuners and liked them so much that I've been slowly upgrading the tuners on all my guitars to them. I've also gotten good results from their pick ups and I am quite satisfied… Especially for the money. So far I've tried their Dream 180s, Dream 90s, Gold Foil single coils, and Lil Puncher for Tele. The Lil Punchers are kind of "meh," but I was really impressed with the others.

 

[dotsdad]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I agree with Diego. A steel block will dramatically improve the tone and sustain.

GFS parts are good for the money, but not really good. the threads in the steel block strip easily and the bar will flop around.

One trick with the
Squier trapeziod tuners: unscrew them and pop the trapezoid covers off. Put some gun lube on the gears, the put the covers back on. While your at it, put gun lube on the nut too. Thrn the stock tuners will work great.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I went and did something very un-dude-like... I guess I'm trying my hand at being like dominus.

Haha that guy wanged out hard and ripped of one of our forum members. That's why you don't see him around anymore.

I haven't seen any gfs stuff in person but briguy has a few nice builds from them.:wave:

 

[dystrust]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I'm really curious about the tuners.

I've heard good reviews, but I have a set on an el-cheapo partscaster and only 4 of the 6 locking mechanisms work. Otherwise, they're run of the mill MIC tuners. IOW not horrible, but not something I'd let anywhere near a guitar I play with any frequency.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I've heard good reviews, but I have a set on an el-cheapo partscaster and only 4 of the 6 locking mechanisms work. Otherwise, they're run of the mill MIC tuners. IOW not horrible, but not something I'd let anywhere near a guitar I play with any frequency.

That's what I was afraid of...

Haha that guy wanged out hard and ripped of one of our forum members. That's why you don't see him around anymore.

I haven't seen any gfs stuff in person but briguy has a few nice builds from them.:wave:

Nothing will beat housefire bass.

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I've used some GFS stuff and had good luck with it, but for aftermarket hardware in general I lean towards Wilkinson for a lot of stuff.

GFS pickups are better than they have any right to be for the $$$. I wouldn't put them head to head with something like the antiquity series, but they beat the HELL out of the stock pickups in fenders American standard line, or the garbage that was in the last off the shelf Les Paul I checked out.

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

Actually you want a great budget single coil? Wilkinson makes one that'll blow your mind at $30 for a whole strat set.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

Mostly going for over the top Humbucker tones I think, but thanks for the feedback.


Looks like this is the body that's a touch thinner than standard. Doh!

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

Mostly going for over the top Humbucker tones I think, but thanks for the feedback.

Depending on what "over the top" means to you, you might try their Dream 180s. I replaced the stock V7/V8 pickups in my RG with them (of course, going WITHOUT pickups would've sounded better than those), and every time I play it I get reminded of just how great they sound. Hard to describe... kinda "Pearly-Gates-ish" with a little more meat. Very responsive to playing dynamics and easy pinch harmonics. I play in a classic rock cover band and they fit into that genre very comfortably. I've been exploring different pickups with my builds and upgrades, but if I had to pick an all-time favorite it'd be those. They come in a wide variety of finishes as well (I opted for the pearl tuxedos).

 

[Diego]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

Depending on what "over the top" means to you, you might try their Dream 180s. I replaced the stock V7/V8 pickups in my RG with them...

Ew. Easily the worst pickups a mid-priced guitar has ever had from factory, in my experience.
I had a RG1550 and I took them off as fast as I could.
Even the modest DD HB102/103 sets are a huge improvement over those crap paperweights. They truly made the guitar worse than it was.

I quickly checked Ibanez's current Prestige line and all of them have Dimarzios now, apparently. At least they're getting that right.

A bit off-topic maybe, but I never ever ever miss a chance to talk crap about Ibanez V7/V8 pickups.

 

[GourmetSaint]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I've built a couple of guitars using their parts including pickups. I don't use their pots or switches and I buy Switchcraft plug sockets. Everything else is GFS. Great outcomes.

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[BriGuy1968]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

Even the modest DD HB102/103 sets are a huge improvement over those crap paperweights. They truly made the guitar worse than it was.

...A bit off-topic maybe, but I never ever ever miss a chance to talk crap about Ibanez V7/V8 pickups.

My BC Rich Perfect 10 Bich has the HB102s and I don't mind 'em at all... not really feeling the need to swap them out.

...but the V7/V8s were just the worst. I bought that guitar when I was still mostly an acoustic guy and didn't really understand how much pickups could differ and make a difference. I didn't even play it through an amp... just liked how it felt... blamed myself for not being able to make it sound like I wanted. After I replaced the melted pickups in my Westone (JB/Jazz) and realized how good it sounded... and how much BETTER it sounded than the RG, I started thinking about it and finally pulled the trigger on new pups. Wow... talk about rags-to-riches! As you said, the V7/V8s "truly made the guitar worse than it was."

I really don't see it as "talking crap" about the V7/V8s... it's more like doing a public service! [emoji12]

 

[baritone]

Re: GuitarFetish / GFS

I tried a few of their Strat-sized blade humbuckers- not sure which models. I thought they sounded pretty cool with a splitter & a treble-bleed, like this guy did to all of his guitars.