GFS: Good... or glorified paperweight?

[JBG]

While looking for something different in the pickup department... I stumbled across the guitarfetish website and their GFS pickup line. They've got some cool looking vintage-esque pickups, but do they sound any good? I've read mixed reviews, but couldn't find anything on TGP about them. Any thoughts?

[bouteqtive]

heres my view: dont listen to anything written on his site...he really likes to exaggerate in those descriptions. HOWEVER his pickups are quite good as long as you do your research (HC reviews) and find out exactly what you want. send him an email, i think he might help you in choosing pickups. alot of people on this forum badmouth him because he's operating out of asia and because of his descriptions. but give them a shot, you can always sell them if you dont like em, seeing that they cost like $30 each.

[fierce_carrot]

I've got them in 4 different guitars and I give GFS a thumbs up rating.

[wlalpaugh]

I have them in a strat, very nice sounding. Are they Lollars or Fralins? Definitely not, but at their price they're better sounding than many genuine fenders I've tried.
Walt

[bek]

I have a couple GFS pickups, and I think they are a good value. I have a 59 PAF recreation, which sounds great in a Hamer with an actual SD 59 (replaced the SD JB). Very similar tone. The other one is a Dream 90, which I have paired up with a Gibson P94 in another guitar. I like the GFS better than the Gibson, but I tend to like neck pickups more than bridge pickups, anyway. The 90 is more round and vintage-sounding, whereas the 94 is hotter and harsher. Well-packaged, quick delivery, very decent stuff.

[Jon Silberman]

The Mean 90s are wonderful and not only for the $$, they're fine overall PUPs.

[Will Chen]

I'm giving their loudmouth line a shot. I have no expectations as the noise has been pretty quiet on that model so we'll see...

[?&!]

Originally Posted by Will Chen

I'm giving their loudmouth line a shot. I have no expectations as the noise has been pretty quiet on that model so we'll see...

I had 3 Loudmouths in one of the Xavier first generation Zemaitis rip-offs (after some routing, of course). They're punchy, loud, and have a very aggressive midrange bark, which was perfect for what I as looking for. I've tried a bunch of GFS pickups, and as others have stated, they aren't Lollars, but they are a great value.

[Will Chen]

Originally Posted by ?&!

I had 3 Loudmouths in one of the Xavier first generation Zemaitis rip-offs (after some routing, of course). They're punchy, loud, and have a very aggressive midrange bark, which was perfect for what I as looking for. I've tried a bunch of GFS pickups, and as others have stated, they aren't Lollars, but they are a great value.

Sounds interesting. I'm hoping to hot wire an axe with series/parallel/split wiring and I figured the hotter the better.

[c_mac]

I have used the Dream 90, Lil Punchers, Premium Vintage Staggers, and Fatbodies. I have Fatbodies in both the bridge and neck position of my back-up Tele and I have a Fatbody in the bridge of my main Tele along with 2 Premium vintage Staggers in the neck and middle position. All in all I have been very happy with their pickups and I don't care what anyone says, I would put the Fatbody set up against any Tele pickup whether it be Fralin, Lollar, or any other boutique maker. A Fatbody neck pickup is heavenly.

[eurotrashed]

I have 70's greybottom overwounds in my strat (7.2k, 8k and 10k) and I like them. They have nearly perfect reviews on HC.

[dman11]

I got the GFS Dream 180's replacing epiphone alnico's in my G-400 SG. Definitely an improvement. Surprisingly great pickups.

[Jahn]

The GFS Retrotron Memphis humbuckers are the real deal, especially in the neck position. Great Ric-type chime at a ridiculously cheap price.

[Allan55]

Originally Posted by bouteqtive

heres my view: dont listen to anything written on his site...he really likes to exaggerate in those descriptions. HOWEVER his pickups are quite good as long as you do your research (HC reviews) and find out exactly what you want. send him an email, i think he might help you in choosing pickups. alot of people on this forum badmouth him because he's operating out of asia and because of his descriptions. but give them a shot, you can always sell them if you dont like em, seeing that they cost like $30 each.

He's not operating out of Asia, his R&D, offices, and warehouse are just outside Boston, and made all over the world. Jay's stuff is all good quality and cheap, since there is no middleman to pick you pockets. I have Installed alot of his pickups for myself and friends, and have been quite happy. Good+cheap=winner!

[JBG]

I checked out the HC reviews, and it was a mixed bag. But hey, for 30 bones I can try one out. I was just looking for something that either looks off the beaten path, or sounds a bit off the beaten path (as opposed to SD or DiMarzio p/u... I'm a rabid fan of the DiMarzios for my personal & custom guitars).

The GFS' are going into new builds, so there's no real preconception of tone ("my strat sounds like this and I want it to sound like that..."). I almost want a lo-fi tone, but with hum cancellation.