WHOA! Opinions of These GF Pickups

  • Thread starter Thread starter stevieb
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I mentioned these pups in your other thread. I am not a luthier so all I can say is I like the set of overwounds I got from GF. I really don't know if they are like the more expensive name brands because all I have to compare them to is the stock ones that came in the guitar. Like I said, at 16 bucks a set plus S&H it was no big loss if I hated them but I don't hate them. I like the sound a lot compared to the stock pups.
 
I have played one of their overwound humbuckers and it was absolutely worth the price.

Like ch2os7, I didn't do any scientific comparison with more expensive pickups.
 
yup!

apl said:
OK, those are NOT the good GFS pickups. They're ceramic magnets and won't sound like a Strat should sound. Ceramic pickups are way cheaper to make but they don't sound good. Consider these instead...

http://store.guitarfetish.com/provalstpiou.html
Click to expand...

I agree, the sound is different than the stock pickups but I like the sound. Like I said, this is just my opinion and everything is preliminary at this point. All I've really had time to do is test them to make sure they work and jam a little.

For my taste it still sounds like a strat but not the same as with the stock pickups. Maybe that doesn't make a lot of sense but it is the best I can do to explain it. I don't have the experience or expertise of APL on this subject.

My guess is...the stock squire strat pickups were probably ceramic magnets so I am probably comparing stock ceramic to overwound ceramic. I like the overwounds better. YMMV
 
stevieb said:
Wonder if these would do for my Squire upgrade project?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/vistsewhwobl.html

http://store.guitarfetish.com/ovstserewowh.html
Click to expand...

I got one of their pre-wired pickguards with these pickups in it for my battered '94 Mex strat. They're a definite step up from the stock pickups, and my only regret after hearing how good they sounded was NOT getting the wired pickguard with their high end end pickups even though it would have cost more than I originally paid for the guitar (got a good deal on it!)

These pups will be a good sounding upgrade for ya, but you might want to consider springing for the hi dollar ones.
 
apl said:
OK, those are NOT the good GFS pickups. They're ceramic magnets and won't sound like a Strat should sound. Ceramic pickups are way cheaper to make but they don't sound good. Consider these instead...

http://store.guitarfetish.com/provalstpiou.html
Click to expand...

Big plus 1
that is the very reason GF is blowing these pickups out. they are a better upgrade in comparison with the stock pickups in a SX strat but the pickups apl mentioned are the better SF strat pickups
the Neovin pickups are also very nice too they are matched sets, the Mega Texas neovins are nice with very warm tone.
Guitar Fetish NEOVIN Pickups
 
I also replaced the original ceramics in my MIM Strat with a couple of GFS single coils and a Retro-tron a few year back. I think it made a big improvement-especially with that Retro-tron with a coil tap switch.

Here was the original MIM p'ups:rolleyes:
Splattercaster-1.jpg


Here is the upgrade-new black pickguard & pickups;)
Splattercastercloseupmod.jpg
 
Anfrotan That is one Gorgeous strat!
love.gif
I think I like the original pickguard better than the black one.
 
Roguetitan said:
Anfrotan That is one Gorgeous strat!
love.gif
I think I like the original pickguard better than the black one.
Click to expand...

I wanted the Retrotron in the bridge, and didn't want to rout the pickguard.
Another problem is that the paint on the pickguard is unprotected-no clear coat over it, and I knew it would start flaking off in no time at all.

This Strat was given to my by a friend that had a stroke and couldn't play for quite a while-he now has a classical guitar with nylon strings that he can play with no problem.
 
apl said:
They're ceramic magnets and won't sound like a Strat should sound
Click to expand...

Really? What's a Strat supposed to sound like? :confused:

apl said:
Ceramic pickups are way cheaper to make but they don't sound good.
Click to expand...

That statement is a total load of crap. Ceramic pickups may be cheaper to produce but whether or not they sound "good" is dependent on the guitar that they are used in. I use a Duncan Distortion ceramic pickup in my Strat and it sounds great.
 
ocnor said:
Really? What's a Strat supposed to sound like? :confused:



That statement is a total load of crap. Ceramic pickups may be cheaper to produce but whether or not they sound "good" is dependent on the guitar that they are used in. I use a Duncan Distortion ceramic pickup in my Strat and it sounds great.
Click to expand...

Oh Hell here we go
facepalm.gif

i am almost certan that apl was specifically speaking about the GF pickups but then again he may be saying all ceramic pickups sound like crap...who Knows
idn_smilie.gif

Oncor don't get your pantys bunched up in your butt crack just because someone don't like the tonal output of ceramic pickups.
Lets just say YOMV and leave it at that:)
 
ocnor said:
Really? What's a Strat supposed to sound like? :confused:
Click to expand...

The timeless American Strat sound so loved by millions can only be had by using single coil pickups with Alnico polepiece magnets. IMHO.

That statement is a total load of crap. Ceramic pickups may be cheaper to produce but whether or not they sound "good" is dependent on the guitar that they are used in. I use a Duncan Distortion ceramic pickup in my Strat and it sounds great.
Click to expand...

What sounds good or bad is in the ear of the beholder. Ceramic Strat pickups might sound better for hard rock/metal whilst Alnico pickups might sound better for the clean/blues/jazz material. It really depends on what type of music you play and the sound you are going for.
 
I have yet to see anything from Guitar Fetish which actually worked exactly the way it was supposed to work. Many of their things are close, but not being a player of horse shoes, I've never been a fan of close.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
up date

I had time last night to check out the cheap ceramic magnet GF pickups some more. They definitely are a step up from the stock Squire pups but they do change the sound of the guitar.
For example: I really liked the clear pristine sound of the stock neck pickup (think Beachboys:In My Room) but the overwound is not quite as clean. It doesn't have quite the sparkle but it still has a good sound. Another sound I liked with the stock pups was the number 4 position on the switch with the middle and bridge active. It had a real nice mid boost Fender strat sound. The overwounds have a nice mid boost but it is fatter than the stock pups.
There were a couple of effects that the overwounds really didn't flatter but overall, it is a definite improvement.

Again, these are only my observations and I realize when it comes to guitar tone ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL. My comparison is only with the stock Squire pickups and not with GF alnico single coils or any others.

My orginal intention was that I would put the middle reverse wound in and leave the stock neck and bridge hoping to cut the hum in at least the 2 and 4 positions. I shielded the cavity and decided to change them all just to see how it sounded. The hum is practically gone and I like the different sound.
 
GF emailed back to me and said those clearance pups were not upgrade pups- I think I will hold off.

But they hold a little attraction to me for another project: I have thought of putting TWO sets of single coils in the Strat copy I had (and could get back, if I choose.) One set of clean sounding pups, and another set of hotter pups, the pairs nestled as close to each other as possible, so they look like three humbuckers. I already have a pick guard that was cut for H/S/S, I have a spare 5-way switch, and a spare 3-way switch (the 5 for normal switching between either set of pups, the 3 for clean/hot/both sets.)

Thinking...
 
the other project

stevieb said:
I have thought of putting TWO sets of single coils in the Strat copy I had (and could get back, if I choose.) One set of clean sounding pups, and another set of hotter pups, the pairs nestled as close to each other as possible, so they look like three humbuckers. I already have a pick guard that was cut for H/S/S, I have a spare 5-way switch, and a spare 3-way switch (the 5 for normal switching between either set of pups, the 3 for clean/hot/both sets.)

Thinking...
Click to expand...

Be sure to keep us posted if you decide to do that. I would be interested in hearing that. Seems like a good idea!
 
Light said:
I have yet to see anything from Guitar Fetish which actually worked exactly the way it was supposed to work. Many of their things are close, but not being a player of horse shoes, I've never been a fan of close.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
Click to expand...

You remind me of this prick
simon-cowell-thumbsdown.jpg


why don't you just STFU and go away!
you probably never even used GF pickups
besides that you are a retailer and cant make
a profit on them otherwise you would probably be giving them high praises.

I know exactly what you pay wholesale on the brands you recommend and your profit margin I also know how much you gouge the customer to install them.

so I guess ya from your standpoint GFS pickups are real pieces of shit:rolleyes:
 
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