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Thread: I've installed two different GFS pickups in two guitars. Review!!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    West Seneca, New York(Buffalo)
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    Default I've installed two different GFS pickups in two guitars. Review!!

    Hey guys, I was looking into a cheaper pickup company just to try something different and to be honest, needed two pickups for gigging guitars that didn't need alot of investment. They played fine and sounded decent so just wanted to give gfs a shot because they had a bunch of interesting pickups. I bought two bridge pickups. A Crunchy PAT and a VEH.

    1st Guitar- Jackson Dinky that I holoflashed- I replaced the bland sounding EMG HZ with the GFS Crunchy Pat. Not a total screamer but a balanced EQ with a bump in the mids that offers some thickness. I would say this pickup belongs in a les paul type for a solid thick classic rock tone like zz top. In the jackson, it does sound good tho. Not as tight/hot or bright as a JB but has a bit more midrange sizzle.

    2nd guitar- LTD Strat with floyd rose- Replacing the stock pickup was not really nessicary. To be honest, the stock humbucker sounded pretty good and had an output of about 14. I replaced it with the VEH which I am happy with. To be honest, it reminds me alot of a screamin demon made by seymour duncan. This pickup has little low end but has clarity and alot of mids. I'd say if you were building a guitar for the brown sound this would give you the growl and sizzle and compressed harmonic tone for that.

    Price of two pickups- $60. I've been used to the seymours for years and I wouldnt say the sound of the GFS is that much off. I can't compare materials used but if your looking to try something new for cheap, they have a good variety in choice of tone and color.
    1986 Flat-top Stagemaster in Flip Flop Red
    1986 Flat-top Stagemaster in Hot Pink
    1990 Jackson USA Dinky in Black
    LTD ST-203 with GFS VEH Pickup
    Jackson Dinky Holoflashed with GFS Crunchy Pat Pickup
    1976 Guild S-100 Polara

    1998 Marshall JCM 900 SLX 50 Watter
    1979 Marshall Superlead JMP 100 Watt Original

    Mid 80's Marshall JCM800 4x12

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Stuttgart, Germany
    Posts
    6,183

    Default

    The only problem with their pups is that they're very low output, especially the whole PAF ("PAT") family. The sound as such is great, but in my eyes it's only interesting for people who are after more "vintage" sort of sound, none of them is even remotely usable for really high-gain stuff.
    - Sergej

    "We look forward to headlines about record cold temperatures during the December climate summit, and to hearing desperate speeches about stopping irresistible global warming during the signing ceremony, held during a blizzard."

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    West Seneca, New York(Buffalo)
    Posts
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    Default

    I'll agree there. I'm actually digging the veh in my ltd strat. Blends well volume wise with single coils and I have it setup with 10's. So its got a good mid gain type vibe.
    1986 Flat-top Stagemaster in Flip Flop Red
    1986 Flat-top Stagemaster in Hot Pink
    1990 Jackson USA Dinky in Black
    LTD ST-203 with GFS VEH Pickup
    Jackson Dinky Holoflashed with GFS Crunchy Pat Pickup
    1976 Guild S-100 Polara

    1998 Marshall JCM 900 SLX 50 Watter
    1979 Marshall Superlead JMP 100 Watt Original

    Mid 80's Marshall JCM800 4x12

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    West Seneca, New York(Buffalo)
    Posts
    1,529

    Default

    On a different note, i've found that too hot a pickup creates a muddier sound that starting with something a touch hot then having a hot amp or overdrive in front. gives more control in my opinion
    1986 Flat-top Stagemaster in Flip Flop Red
    1986 Flat-top Stagemaster in Hot Pink
    1990 Jackson USA Dinky in Black
    LTD ST-203 with GFS VEH Pickup
    Jackson Dinky Holoflashed with GFS Crunchy Pat Pickup
    1976 Guild S-100 Polara

    1998 Marshall JCM 900 SLX 50 Watter
    1979 Marshall Superlead JMP 100 Watt Original

    Mid 80's Marshall JCM800 4x12

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    17

    Default

    Here's link to a company that sold me some great pick ups ; Single Coils, Stacked Humbuckers and full sized Humbuckers that are easily comparable to Dimarzio or Seymour Duncan .... http://www.guitarpartsonline.com
    They got actives sets that are not as compressed sounding as the EMG.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    493

    Default

    I bought not one but two VEH's and both had issues..... also picked up a power rails and crunchy pat, those were good but considering the used market, I'd stick with SD's.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Queensland, Australia
    Posts
    1,810

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by _xxx_ View Post
    The only problem with their pups is that they're very low output, especially the whole PAF ("PAT") family. The sound as such is great, but in my eyes it's only interesting for people who are after more "vintage" sort of sound, none of them is even remotely usable for really high-gain stuff.
    QFT, I rececenty picked up an ESP which the store had installed GFS singles in because the old pick-ups went harmonic. They're, well, alright. But they're ridiculously low output, I can barely get my amplifier to drive with these and clean boost. Will be swapping them out soon.
    Good deals with: KramerAmsterdam, dimebagdolf, Shreddedsinew, PacerPete, Skydive69 (+1), Vej.
    1986 Lefty Hamer Chaparral USA Custom -> Ibanez TS808 -> 1965 Fender princeton

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