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

[mrcrazyhimself]

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.

[_xxx_]

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.

[mrcrazyhimself]

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.

[mrcrazyhimself]

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

[AJ6stringsting]

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.

[ReiGnMaN]

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.

[LiamMaru]

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.