GFS Pickups

shae · Post by **shae** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:18 pm

Hey guyz,

Background (skip this if you're not interested): So I found out my pickups aren't going to be available for about 10 weeks due to the guy who winds them being sick. He's an old local dude and the feedback/price is definitely what I want to go for hence I'm more than happy to wait 10 weeks till he makes 'em.

So here's where it gets interesting. I decided to put aside my pickup snobery and try out a pair of GFS Fat Body Telecaster pickups. I ordered both the neck and the bridge and also in the process of getting a neck pickup cover for it (no cover = lame). What's the general consensus on these pickups? I've read quite a bit about them being a fantastic bang for buck (you're not kidding! $60 for the pair shipped! D: ) but most of them replies seem to be from weekend warrior, jazz fusion types. I want feedback from musicians I can actually relate to (and not just fret warriors). Any feedback is muchos appreciated, as GFS certainly do deserve their own thread given how big they've got over such a short period of time, but specifics about the GFS Fatbody Tele pickups would be even better.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:23 pm

I have a GFS mean 90 in my artcore and a fat PAF in my jazzy, both fantastic pickups, I'm going to put a dream 90 in the artcore neck position when I get around to it.

They're not just good for the money, they're good full stop.

euan · Post by **euan** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 5:06 pm

Yeah I have the 50s set in my Tele. I like.

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 7:34 pm

I'm a big fan, and used to have bookamrks (which I'll try and dig out) where people have done "pepsi challenge" style shootouts, where GFS p'ups have toppled competitors five times their price. I've had (and loved) a set of Dream 90's in my SG before I sold it, which were knockout, and I still have a Memphis neck humbucker and 60's style bridge in my telecaster. Really rate them, wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:15 pm

i've got a gfs in the bridge of my telecaster. it sounds great.
but their idea of cloth-covered leads is a joke. it's just cloth over pvc, which really defeats the whole purpose.

James · Post by **James** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:23 pm

bubbles_horwitz wrote:i've got a gfs in the bridge of my telecaster. it sounds great.
but their idea of cloth-covered leads is a joke. it's just cloth over pvc, which really defeats the whole purpose.

What is the purpose, that it's easy to strip? It's not that hard with plastic covered.

Post by **Mike** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 8:47 pm

Teh purpose is mojo wank.

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:25 pm

James wrote:
bubbles_horwitz wrote:i've got a gfs in the bridge of my telecaster. it sounds great.
but their idea of cloth-covered leads is a joke. it's just cloth over pvc, which really defeats the whole purpose.
What is the purpose, that it's easy to strip? It's not that hard with plastic covered.

with cloth you don't have to strip it, you just pull it back, solder, then push it back into place.

Post by **dots** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:33 pm

bubbles_horwitz wrote:i've got a gfs in the bridge of my telecaster. it sounds great.
but their idea of cloth-covered leads is a joke. it's just cloth over pvc, which really defeats the whole purpose.

that would be a pain in the ass, actually.

Post by **dots** » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:33 pm

Zaphod wrote:I have a GFS mean 90 in my artcore and a fat PAF in my jazzy, both fantastic pickups, I'm going to put a dream 90 in the artcore neck position when I get around to it.

They're not just goof for the money, they're good full stop.

+1, 100%

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:15 am

I bought GFS Dream 90 and Vintage Split pickups for my Epi G-400 and a wiring kit to replace all the crackly broken stock shit (including pickups literally falling apart with wax flaking out) and have a fresh start. And one of those vintage vibrola things for good measure.

It's all very good for the money. Brought this guitar back from the dead, it'd been so long since I used it that it was like having a new guitar, especially with all the new sondz and whammiez. It's had it's neck broken off, everything replaced and it totally fuckin rocks and stays in tune decently and went on a road trip to vegas.

arcadedave · Post by **arcadedave** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 12:25 am

Good job, saving stuff ftw

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:05 am

i have fatbody in my esquier. it ruaels

i put a fatbody bridge pickup in erics tele i re-did. it ruelz

i think billy put one in his too.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:36 am

Cool vintage rails in my tele bridge for amazing tones!

shae · Post by **shae** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 2:42 am

Sparky wrote:Cool vintage rails in my tele bridge for amazing tones!

What are your thoughts on them? How do they sound when played clean? Overdriven?

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:17 am

GFS = GOOD FUCKING SHIT

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:29 am

shae wrote:
Sparky wrote:Cool vintage rails in my tele bridge for amazing tones!
What are your thoughts on them? How do they sound when played clean? Overdriven?

Sloan wrote:GFS = GOOD FUCKING SHIT

I don't know how to explain it. You guys know what my telecaster looks like. It's got a Bigsby B5 on it (which probably does something for the tone), but it's definitely my favorite bridge pickup. It has just the right output to sound twangy clean, but sounds great with overdrive and fuzz.

If it would help your decision making, I could make a demo tomorrow running it through my rig on clean, overdrive and BIG MUFF.

shae · Post by **shae** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 4:41 am

Sparky wrote:
shae wrote:
Sparky wrote:Cool vintage rails in my tele bridge for amazing tones!
What are your thoughts on them? How do they sound when played clean? Overdriven?

Sloan wrote:GFS = GOOD FUCKING SHIT
I don't know how to explain it. You guys know what my telecaster looks like. It's got a Bigsby B5 on it (which probably does something for the tone), but it's definitely my favorite bridge pickup. It has just the right output to sound twangy clean, but sounds great with overdrive and fuzz.

If it would help your decision making, I could make a demo tomorrow running it through my rig on clean, overdrive and BIG MUFF.

That would be great dude! But don't go out of your way or anything, because as I stated, I've already purchased the Fatbody pickups.
But I'm just really curious because I got this 80s Tokai Telecaster a while back that had a rails in the bridge that looked very similar to the GFS stuff... this is going back 6-12months and I was really shocked by how AMAZING it sounded! I'm almost certain it wasn't Bardens, because they're really expensive and the guys I got my Tokai from were reputable (in other words, if they were Bardens, they wouldn't have sold it for $400 as the Bardens are worth +$300!) but yeah... I'd definitely love to throw $25 towards it to see how it is. The GFS Fat body neck and a bridge rails pickup sounds REALLY tasty at the moment if it's the same pickup as I had before.

aphasiac · Post by **aphasiac** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:39 am

paul_ wrote:I bought GFS Dream 90 and Vintage Split pickups for my Epi G-400 and a wiring kit to replace all the crackly broken stock shit (including pickups literally falling apart with wax flaking out) and have a fresh start. And one of those vintage vibrola things for good measure.

I was gonna buy a pair of GFS Vintage Splits, cos they're the cheapest Fender wide range clones you can get. Do they actually sound good though? reviews appear mixed if you google for em - some love em, but lots of others hate em for being too weak/bassy.

that SG looks hot as hell btw - first SG ive ever liked.

Post by **Mike** » Mon Aug 11, 2008 7:41 am

aphasiac wrote:some love em, but lots of others hate em for being too weak/bassy.

1meg pots.