GFS Experiences

TNTales · 03-29-2010, 08:51 PM

Hey guys, I'm looking to tryout GFS pups. They're cheap and I'm curious as to their quality. I tried Harmony Central and they seem to have a love it or hate it review.

Are they good pickups? Are they just sensitive to height, etc? Share your experiences with GFS if you don't mind.

Thanks.

dhb2000usa · 03-29-2010, 09:20 PM

I've used both the GFS Alnicos and the blowout specials. Love em both.

Roxy · 03-29-2010, 10:38 PM

Great stuff for the $$$

motoman45 · 03-29-2010, 10:52 PM

i want a set of the clearance pups for a new build...cant pull the trigger, the price is awesome...

Papa Joe · 03-30-2010, 12:05 AM

My JT 140 came with GFS humbuckers,installed by the previous owner.I don't know what it souned like before but it sounds real good now.
I replaced the Duncan Designs in my Jagmaster with GFS Nashville Vintage pups and it is a huge improvement. YMMV...

peskypesky · 03-30-2010, 12:19 AM

it's important to remember that GFS sells GFS pickups AND non-GFS pickups.

dman · 03-30-2010, 02:11 AM

I've got GFS Neovin vintage p'ups in my main Squier Strat...very pleased with them, but these are VERY height sensitive. Gotta keep them close to the strings.

papacitorick · 03-30-2010, 11:05 PM

i used a handwired pg from them with their neovin megas texas pups in it. i am very pleased with it and plan to purchase possibly their boston blues for the SX that i recently got.

Mike S. · 03-31-2010, 03:41 AM

Two thumbs up from me regarding the GFS branded/spec pups.

Stratatattat · 05-07-2010, 02:18 PM

i got a set of the clearance pups once...i used the overwound ones and they sounded awesome! really hot and the treble had just enuff bite to be pleasing and not make me wanna stick a nail in my ears!

adamjn · 05-07-2010, 02:43 PM

I had a Squier 51 with a NeoVin in the neck position and a dream 180 in the bridge, and thought they were fantastic, big improvement over the stock pickups. The NeoVins are super clean, an almost EMG sound to my ears, and the Dream 180 was a screamer that cleaned up very nicely, sparkly and jangly. And as previous folks have mentioned, the prewired setups (not the HANDWIRED) are not GFS pickups.

softwarejanitor · 05-07-2010, 02:59 PM

I just put a set of GFS Lil' Killers in my 2000 Chinese Squier Strat SE last night along with a Wilkinson trem... It was what I hoped for... took it from a thin cheap ceramic Strat tone to a full out shred monster with rich tone. For single coil sized humbuckers the Lil' Killer set sounds great. Definitely a great deal for the $$$. I did have to slightly enlarge the ends of the pickup holes in the pickguard to fit the Lil' Killers, but that was no big deal. My trusty Swiss Army Knife made short order of it. I also put in a set of GFS's Gotoh-style locking tuners the other day (pretty nice and they fit with no drilling or reaming in the SE) and I'm expecting a set of GFS's roller string trees on Tuesday (along with another Wilkinson trem for my MIK Squier Stratocaster). I may end up ordering GFS's complete Strat electronics upgrade kit so I can swap out the dime size 500k pots and cheap switch, jack and cap for some quality parts. Right now the original parts seem to be working O.K., so its not a priority. Oh... need to find the best place to order a good graphite nut from since GFS for some weird reason doesn't seem to carry nuts (unless you buy a neck or guitar kit)... even though they've got ala-carte practically every other part you'd need to build a guitar. Go figure.

Telepicker · 05-07-2010, 08:43 PM

I put some GFS Surf 90's in a Tele I put together and they are amazing. Full bandwidth sound. I'm very pleased with the results. I do thumbpicking style with them. They look kinda cool too, sort of like DeArmond Dynasonics, but fit in a standard humbucker rout.

I also just got some Retrotrons which I plan to put in my Jagmaster like Papa Joe.

jimbojo · 07-07-2010, 11:29 PM

I just experienced a GFS Mean 90 soapbar in the bridge on a Strat I just picked up, this pick up is pretty awesome, obvious single pole bite but still warm and thick, breaks up real nice wit a little volume also.

richieryan · 08-04-2010, 01:22 AM

I put the premium vintage alnicos in my SE and love the tone! Very sensitive to pick attack. I didn't change the pots, but did solder in the GFS recommended cap.
I bought a set of clearance overwounds last fall, but have yet to use them, so I'm sticking them in a cheap Korean VN squire strat (plywood) that I'm rebuilding to give to a couple I know as a gift for their 14yr-olds birthday.
I'm sold on GFS in that I like what I have so far and see no need to spend high-dollar for boutique pups, esp for a Squier.

ratdog472 · 08-04-2010, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papacitorick

i used a handwired pg from them with their neovin megas texas pups in it. i am very pleased with it and plan to purchase possibly their boston blues for the SX that i recently got.

Have you pulled the trigger on the boston blues? I am seriously looking at a set of those and was trying to find someone who had used them.

Also the Lil Killers intrigue me. I wonder how they are coil split as well as in humbucking mode.

stratcross · 08-06-2010, 11:43 PM

I put a Fat Pat in my Tele and I love it,nice classic rock crunch.

papacitorick · 08-06-2010, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratdog472

Have you pulled the trigger on the boston blues? I am seriously looking at a set of those and was trying to find someone who had used them.

Also the Lil Killers intrigue me. I wonder how they are coil split as well as in humbucking mode.

haven't done it yet, just trying to decide which git will become the next project.

wickedtools · 08-07-2010, 09:55 AM

GFS has some good pups and parts on the budget, glad they are around

telepath · 08-07-2010, 06:58 PM

They have so many in their catalogue, its hard to generalise , i guess, but seemingly , most folks will tell you that they are pleased with them ,

I have only tried the Fatbody Alnico Tele Pups, but they are incredible for the money. Especially the Fatbody Tele Neck pup. Just ... wow.

Maybe they are not in the Boutique league. But... You could have to spend a whooole lot more to go a little 'better'

Rockabillybob · 08-07-2010, 07:32 PM

I had Surf 90's installed in a Gretsch 5122. A big improvement over the original pups in the 5122, but I have a strange relationship with them. One day I pick up the guitar and think it sounds great, next day I play it and think I'll sell it. It could be my problem, not the pups. The Surf 90's do look like a Dynasonic, but instead of twang it's more of a clank. Gawd, it's hard to put sound into words, ain't it?

Strat-toter · 08-12-2010, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by papacitorick

haven't done it yet, just trying to decide which git will become the next project.

Boston blues as well...I want the Klein S-5's but they are WAY too $ for me right now. I have heard they sound like the S-5's?

edandis · 08-12-2010, 05:53 PM

I think the Boston Blues with a clear pup cover would look great with my blue bullet but after hearing the D. Allen pups and for a little bit more I would prefer them. So far I've managed to save $40.00, Xmas gift maybe.

edandis · 09-09-2010, 02:28 PM

Just installed the GFS 64 gray bottom staggers in my Bullet, good improvement overall. I would highly recommend them if you can pick them up on clearance. These were well worth the $44.00 I paid for them.

I originally wanted the Boston Blues, but heck, they're never on clearance.

tjnugent · 09-11-2010, 09:37 AM

I bought a Wilkenson compensated tele bridge from them and had no problems at all.. Fast shipping too. I like the prices and the fact that they have sound files for some of their pickups. That really helps.

OllieBee · 10-05-2010, 05:21 PM

I got the $18 clearance vintage set from them... I think these are non-GFS, but at the same time, I've no complaints from them. They were a hell of an improvement over what came in the guitar. I like them a lot.

D34dBaWx · 10-05-2010, 08:42 PM

I have used their hot rails type pickups and a fat paf. They were cool pickups. The hardware they sell was a bit more sketchy though. Its was very hit or miss. But they will take stuff back pretty easy if it doesn't work out for you.

Papa Joe · 10-05-2010, 09:29 PM

The only problem I had with them was their neck plate screws.They were way too short..An e-mail got a prompt correction.

mijstrat72 · 10-12-2010, 08:51 PM

I've purchased all kinds of stuff from GF and have yet to be dissappointed. The most recent being a set of dream 90's for my Epiphone dot. They really helped turn that guitar around for me.

Now I'm looking at a set of mean 90's and a blank tele control plate.

tjnugent · 10-12-2010, 09:00 PM

GFS is the modders part supplier of choice... We all would be lost without them.

guitar guy · 12-01-2010, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by softwarejanitor

Oh... need to find the best place to order a good graphite nut from since GFS for some weird reason doesn't seem to carry nuts (unless you buy a neck or guitar kit)... even though they've got ala-carte practically every other part you'd need to build a guitar. Go figure.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Guitar-Nuts_p_1467.html

lol, silly softwarejanitor.

guitar guy · 12-01-2010, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjnugent

GFS is the modders part supplier of choice... We all would be lost without them.

Either lost or broke.

tjnugent · 12-04-2010, 07:40 AM

I have never used their pickups but GFS is probably the best online store for guitar players. Jay, the owner knows his market well and is always on the ball, improving the product and bringing new gear to market with the end user in mind. It isn't all about profit for him, but I am sure he makes a great living. I have a lot of respect for him as a business man/guitarist.

There are a lot of good online stores, but I like his best because it is one guy making it happen and he makes waves on all the guitar forum sites. His new line of guitars are fantastic for the price... I have not played them, but I know through others writing reviews that you get a lot of guitar for the money. He has great colors too..

TJ

Strat-toter · 12-04-2010, 02:45 PM

FWIW, I have used their pups single coils as well as humbuckers types and was not very impressed. I just put some TOG P-Buckers in my Epi SG and they really, REALLY sound great. YMMV

Acidhouse · 12-08-2010, 02:00 PM

I may be the odd man out. I have been using GFS for years. Their customer service is great. I love the fact that you can buy so many great parts at such great prices and I have bought a ton of their pickups. I have purchased three of the Premium Alnico Sets, the Retrotron Liverpool, the gold Lipstick, the Texas Blues set, the 70s Gray Bottom set and also a couple of their non-GFS sets. Somewhere along the way I fell out of love with their tone. I wound up getting rid of all the sets except for one set of Premium Alnicos and those will probably go soon. I just recently installed them in another guitar and just felt a sense of Meh after playing them. I'm not sure why but their tones are just not doing it for me anymore but at one point I really loved them.
I read somewhere that their pickups are actually made by Artec but wound to GFS's specifications. I don't know that that's true as GFS doesn't seem to have a lot of overlap with Artec's products. It could also be that the same factory that produces Artec also makes GFS. It could also be total bunk that was written on another forum that I am passing on now.
Anyway, my guess is that if you go with GFS, you will probably love them too. Most people do. I wish I still did love their pickups. It would make my life a heck of a lot easier.

dngrsdave · 12-08-2010, 02:19 PM

I've only made 2 purchases through GFS and have been Happy with both. I bought a Strat pickguard and a push-pull tone pot last Spring and they worked out Fine.

I just got a set of Humbucking pickups for my Ibanez RG 220B yesterday and put them in last night. I got a Fat Pat for the Neck and a Crunchy Rail for the Bridge. They are a perfect compliment to one another. I have a 5 way switch and split the coils to get some Awesome single coil tones as well as all the Crunch and Gain I need.

I Highly recommend GFS to anyone. They have Low prices and Great products with Fast shipping.

ratdog472 · 12-11-2010, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acidhouse

I have purchased three of the Premium Alnico Sets, the Retrotron Liverpool, the gold Lipstick, the Texas Blues set, the 70s Gray Bottom set and also a couple of their non-GFS sets. Somewhere along the way I fell out of love with their tone.

What did you not like about the Liverpools?

ozsquier · 12-29-2010, 05:11 AM

I have the old I28 10K Staggered jobs...very nice indeed.

Jimmy Dean · 01-01-2011, 02:15 PM

I have made several purchases from GFS & am very happy. I think it is a great source for modding Squiers. I put Pro Tube PU's on my '51 & just love 'em.

Caddy · 01-01-2011, 05:32 PM

I just put a set of GFS Premium Vintage hand beveled PU's in my 2000 SE Start last week and am amazed at the change in that guitar. It has tone now! Of course, I also installed the import tremolo with brass block and new pots, USA spec 5-way switch, white pearloid pickguard, new tuners, , new Switchcraft jack and football cover, and Sprague Orange drop cap, so really there is nothing left original, except the body and neck. It is a great guitar now!

My twenty-five year old, youngest, son keeps kidding me that it was nice of me fix it up for him!