Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

[MisterE]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I don't know about any of the GFS PAF's but I can say that as a consumer I am very satisfied with the GFS '64 straggers grey bottoms. I purchased them at one of their clearance sales for $45.00 and I have no plans to replace them.

However, seeing that I do have some experience installing pickups and given the quality of SD's, I would most likely buy them used rather than GFS.

I cannot however fault anyone for buying GFS pups. They are IMO great bargains and I believe there is a market for them.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

Here's my issue with buying used pickups.

Not everyone on this forum is an engineering wiz. Personally, I get flustered when my pots start blitzing and my jack goes kaput, so I rely on my tech to keep my electronics working.

I'll assume that MOST people who buy GFS pickups don't have the funds or the knowhow to go swap happy on their wires and magnets.

Point is, I like to know that when I buy something, it hasn't been molested. Some teenage "luthier" decides his Invader didn't sound right in his Schecter and strips it yanking it out. At least with GFS, I know I'm getting a new product.

I'll admit, I can't tell a good lead wire from a bad one, when it ships from UPS.

I've bought many used PU's online, your fears are exaggerated.

To most of us here on the forum, you've got it backwards. You're paying a tech to do something simple, that you can do yourself, and then having to scrimp on PU's. Wrong place to put the money. Don't put all your faith in techs; some don't know much more than you do.

No, guys who buy GFS are short on cash, but some do the swap outs themselves, just as with more expensive PU's. No hard correlation between PU cost and who does the work. Actually if anything, guys who buy GFS probably tend to do their own work, as they don't have the cash for techs.

Swapping PU's is low tech, no skill, no experience required. I know, because I have no prior handyman skills or experience. There's no 'wiz' about it. A kid can change out PU's on a guitar. You've got yourself worked up thinking this is way beyond your skill level. It's not. Don't sell yourself short. If you can operate a cell phone, you can swap a PU. Look at some online video instruction. Take the mystery out of it. Practice on a cheap Asian PU.

While you're at it, pick up Dan Erlewine's book 'How to make your electric guitar play great'. It's taught many of us how to do our own set ups (the simple parts of them anyways) and save us a lot of money.

For decades I used to be totally helpless when it came to guitars, didn't know anything, couldn't do anything. But Erlewine's book and this forum taught me that there's a lot of things I can do, easy things, that don't take expensive tools or skills. Very few of us are luthiers. We all started out not knowing any more than you do. But we came here and learned.

One of the most important things a guitar player can do is understand his instrument, how it works, how it can work better. The guys here taken ordinary guitars and made them play and sound so much better. And these guys aren't geniuses, let me assure you. :14: It's basic stuff, that others have taught them. Pull back the veil, look at your guitars with new eyes. They're simple instruments and you can, and should, control every aspect of them. Take charge of your tone.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

crunchy PAT for those styles

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I've used pickups from stock imports, GFS, duncans, dimarzios, gibsons, lollars, fralins, antiquities, bareknuckles, etc.

This whole thread's constant bickering and arguing is silly. As with any company there will be good and bad products. Not every single pickup Duncan makes is a classic.

With that said I don't think risks of buying used items are exaggerated, you get no warranty, you really don't know what you are buying (this could've been someone's little experiement), etc.

If buying that way works for you great, but don't dismiss someone else's opinions or comfort zones working with things because it's different from your way of doing things.

If someone feels more comfortable purchasing a GFS p'up and taking it to a tech that they trust vs buying a used SD/DMZ p'up and doing the work themselves so be it. It isn't your guitar, it isn't your money, etc.

To be honest most of the GFS pickups I've tried really weren't that horrible. They have some really cool pickups I'd personally like to try and this is coming from someone that usually buys/uses Fralins, Lollars, and Antiquities. My cheapest pickups right now are a set of Duncan P-Rails.

I'd say for what the OP is looking for given the options he's looking at I'd suggest the Crunchy PAT for the bridge now the neck I like using different pickups a lot of times. I'd probably go with a lower output, cleaner sounding neck like one of their Vintage 59's, maybe a Fat Pat, maybe a Classic II.

There are a lot of factors that imho outweigh the differences pickups make (and again this is coming from someone that's used crap pickups to handwound boutiques).

And the whole resale value argument is silly, pretty much anything you can buy is going to average about half of what you put into it used. A lot of the time reselling gear you buy used depreciates in value. I think you are exaggerating how the market actually works. I buy/sell gear all the time. I'm actually considering selling my P-Rails Hot set for around $100 USD and using some of my tax return to get a set of Lollar P90 for hb route p'ups. Sure I could probably make the P-Rails work for my uses but if I mod them imho it's dishonest not to depreciate the value accordingly. I have a guitar with humbuckers (lp semi hollow) and I have a guitar with single coils (tele) so really my primary interest is to have a P90 equipped guitar I could probably argue the Lollar P90 sound is a better sound than the P-Rail P90 with a mag swap. I've used the Lollar pickups in another guitar and was blown away by them. I love my P-Rails but they don't give me that blown away feeling.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I've never tried GFS pickups, so can't directly comment on their sound or quality, but I can see some reasons why you would buy one over a used higher-priced pickup.

So, a used SD doesn't cost much more... IF you can find the exact pickup you want used. Maybe that's easy in the USA, and maybe elsewhere too if you're looking for a common pickup - but try searching for a 4-conductor zebra 59b used and you may have a long wait.

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

not to mention what if you want a specific color option like zebra, all white, all black, chrome, gold, etc? buying used is a crap shoot

idk for things like pickups I definitely like buying new you get a warranty, you have the ability to exchange it if you don't like it, and you get options to make it your own.

Something like a pedal I don't mind buying used because oftentimes whether you go used/new you are stuck with whatever you buy. No stompbox I've owned new or used ever needed warranty work, etc.

So I think it just depends on the product you are buying.

Pickups really aren't that expensive, even for the Fralins/Lollars I like to buy.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

This whole thread's constant bickering and arguing is silly.

You're doing your part. :cool2:

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I've bought many used PU's online, your fears are exaggerated.

To most of us here on the forum, you've got it backwards. You're paying a tech to do something simple, that you can do yourself, and then having to scrimp on PU's. Wrong place to put the money. Don't put all your faith in techs; some don't know much more than you do.

No, guys who buy GFS are short on cash, but some do the swap outs themselves, just as with more expensive PU's. No hard correlation between PU cost and who does the work. Actually if anything, guys who buy GFS probably tend to do their own work, as they don't have the cash for techs.

Swapping PU's is low tech, no skill, no experience required. I know, because I have no prior handyman skills or experience. There's no 'wiz' about it. A kid can change out PU's on a guitar. You've got yourself worked up thinking this is way beyond your skill level. It's not. Don't sell yourself short. If you can operate a cell phone, you can swap a PU. Look at some online video instruction. Take the mystery out of it. Practice on a cheap Asian PU.

While you're at it, pick up Dan Erlewine's book 'How to make your electric guitar play great'. It's taught many of us how to do our own set ups (the simple parts of them anyways) and save us a lot of money.

For decades I used to be totally helpless when it came to guitars, didn't know anything, couldn't do anything. But Erlewine's book and this forum taught me that there's a lot of things I can do, easy things, that don't take expensive tools or skills. Very few of us are luthiers. We all started out not knowing any more than you do. But we came here and learned.

One of the most important things a guitar player can do is understand his instrument, how it works, how it can work better. The guys here taken ordinary guitars and made them play and sound so much better. And these guys aren't geniuses, let me assure you. :14: It's basic stuff, that others have taught them. Pull back the veil, look at your guitars with new eyes. They're simple instruments and you can, and should, control every aspect of them. Take charge of your tone.

Big +1

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

Bigmouth=Great
Crunchy PAT=Pretty good
Lipstick Tubes=Suck, but I haven't tried enough of them to say I don't dislikes lipstick tubes in general.
Retrotron Nashville=Sound great in the clips, but sucked on the guitar I tried them on.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I had bought a guitar to fix up a while back. I had a Pearly Gates bridge PU laying around so I put that in it. Sounded good, of course. Hated the feel of the guitar, though, and learned that I do not like Floyds, so I pulled the Pearly and purchased a GFS Crunchy Pat to replace it. Anyway, I thought the Crunchy Pat sounded like crap. Too mushy and not enough definition. It felt spongy or something. I don't know, I didn't like it at all, which was fine because it served its purpose in selling the guitar.

I have had good customer service from GFS and the hardware I've purchased has been good quality. You can't beat the price. However, if I am buying pickups for guitars that I plan on hanging on to and actually playing, I'll stick with higher quality pups like Duncan.

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

You're doing your part. :cool2:

I'm just pointing out that you seem to only have experience using SD p'ups when you do p'up swaps and you only buy them used. Or at least that's the impression you've given me thus far.

So how can you judge a product you haven't used or A/B'd in real life and dismiss it as garbage?

I install a variety of pickups in a variety of guitars everyday. Believe me if I thought GFS were total junk I wouldn't install them for people. I for one would love to throw a set of their Surf 90's into a guitar of my own. The Mean 90 is a terrific pickup as well. I've liked the strat/tele single coils I've heard from them too. Do their humbuckers stack up to the Lollars, Antiquities, and Fralins? No, but that's hardly a fair comparison and even then that's just my opinion on what sounds better.

If I were to put a set of their humbuckers in one of my guitars I'd be shopping around their Classic II, Fat pats, etc. But I prefer lower/vintage output humbuckers.

My LP has a set of Fralin Pure PAF's in it if that's any indication of the type of tone I go for, that's what I consider a versatile set that can handle anything.

If you found something you like great, GFS makes a quality product too, and they are definitely filling a market need. No mfr really nails it home for everyone. There are DiMarzio offerings I prefer to Duncan offerings....and there are boutique offerings I prefer to Duncan's CS/Antiquities.....doesn't make anything bad they are just different.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I'm just pointing out that you seem to only have experience using SD p'ups when you do p'up swaps and you only buy them used. Or at least that's the impression you've given me thus far.

I have more Duncan's than any other brand; all their PAF's and P-90's, and some of the others. I love Seymours appreciation of the classics. I also have various DiMarzio, Gibson, Rio Grande, Lollar, Fralin, Gunsher, Carvin, and Schaller HB's and P-90's. The majority have been acquired used. Just got to look and be patient. I'll buy a PU when I find a good deal, whether or not I have a guitar to put it in, and vice versa. Eventually they get matched up.

I also have a couple GFS Mean 90's, which is a decent PU; not up to American boutique level, but good for the money. There's less to go wrong in making a P-90. When it comes to HB's, I think it's worth getting the better ones.

 

[buckethead]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I have to say buy SD for what you need in all honesty, but i as know it kurt cobain didnt have a guitar tone , amp tone and guitar for that matter. Not putting him down but all his sound evolved from sound techs and engineers from the recoding or nevermind onward. from which probably began to care about tone and amps. I cannot say any one pickup , guitar and or amp can define kurt cobains sound.

PS ducan might still have the real world exchange program, but dont quote me, for sure GFS does not.

 

[gripweed]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

I noticed nobody has really even mentioned what pickups Kurt used in his guitars, which would help hone in on what tone you're looking for. Many of his guitars had stock pickups, but when he did use a replacement pickup it was a hotter wound pickup. He used both Dimarzio Super Distortions and Duncan Customs. I'll let you all argue over whether or not he should use GFS or something more expensive.

 

[formula73]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

For all the talk about getting slammed on for using cheap guitars that are 90% of my Gibsons, you sure are pretty enthusiastic about slamming some import pups that'll probably get him 90% of the way to a Duncan.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

For all the talk about getting slammed on for using cheap guitars that are 90% of my Gibsons, you sure are pretty enthusiastic about slamming some import pups that'll probably get him 90% of the way to a Duncan.

Let's look at the math. If you figure that on a $2,500 Gibson, the PU's, electronics, hardware, and frets represent maybe $500 of the cost (which includes a healthy profit for Gibson). That leaves a few pieces of wood that make up the difference, of which a few hundred dollars worth is labor and finishing materials. You're still paying $1,500 for a piece of wood, and most of the time it's not even flamed. Nice as it may be, it seems like a lot of money. How much do you think Gibson pays for that piece of raw wood?

I have a variety of high-end PU's, many of which sound better than Gibson's limited offerings. If I had a bunch of Gibson guitars, I'd swap out the PU's in most of them, adding to the cost.

For a matter of $10 or $20 more, you can get a used Duncan instead of a new GFS. As someone who's heard many examples of both cheap and expensive PU's, I can assure you that the extra $10 you spend on a used Duncan is not reckless or overly indulgent. It probably won't break up your marriage or cause you to miss paying the rent or car payment. I can fully understand players not wanting to spend an extra $1,000 or $2,000 on a guitar to get that extra little bit of tone quality, especially in this extended recession. In a live band situation, no one is likely to hear a difference, room acoustics and mix being what they are. What I can't understand is not paying $10 more to get that extra tone quality of a real Duncan. What are you doing with the money you save, buying a sandwich? Geez, skip lunch and get a Duncan.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

The VEH is truly a uniquely-designed pickup, as opposed to most of their copy-cat models. It's underwound at about 14k, using 43 gauge wire and uses an A5 magnet. Mellow mids and biting highs with a fat bass response. A friend of mine bought one for a Frankenstrat, didn't care for it, but put it in a Les Paul and it was amazing. Good for fat guitars that need bite and character.

I'd like to put a Mean 90 in the neck of my guitar and if I find it too bassy, I'll sub an A4 (they come with two A5 mags) but I've heard a lot of good things and a few great-sounding clips, that coupled with a decent amp, create a very classic P-90 character for not a lot of money.

 

[IanBallard]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

Kurt Cobain liked the Dimarzio Super Distortion and had one in most of his guitars. He also liked Jazzmasters and Mustang type guitars, so he had a varied arsenal of fat-distortion tones and some jangly single-coil tones, which he used liberally in his songs. I'd say the Crunchy Pat would get you close. For "Nirvana" type music, boutique tones just aren't necessary. He often played through a DOD Metal distortion pedal or a Boss SD1, into solid state amps into Marshall cabs loaded with Greenbacks, so it was a sterile, if not midrange dominant tone. He did use Marshalls, Vox and Mesa amps after he had a decent budget for gear, after Nevermind came out, from what I understand.

 

[marcello252]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

He often played through a DOD Metal distortion pedal or a Boss SD1

Actually he used Boss DS-1, DS-2 and Big Muff Pi the most, I'm pretty sure because I was a fan and I ran across a lot of pictures, live there was always a DSx glued on the floor with tape (and a EH small clone or a Polychorus) and in the records you can here them clearly.

 

[PRSfan nym 1985]

Re: Which GFS Pickup? (Poll)

pretty much the key to getting cobains tone is to get something like a small clone and a good 90's distortion box (boss orange boxes).

as was mentioned kurt used a variety of guitars and pickups throughout his career.

regardless of what you pick you can play kurt cobain's music and get similar tones with a lot of different pickups, guitars, etc.