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what do you guys think of gfs?
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Author:  peters instruments [ Mon Aug 23, 2010 4:20 pm ]
Post subject:  what do you guys think of gfs?
i have heard of this company before, but was just looking through some of the stuff today for the first time( particularly at some of the p-90 pickups). anyone ever used these before? i really dont know what im looking at. i had been thinking about getting some dimarzio p90's but i definately like the price of the gfs though. what do you think?
Author:  Mike Baker [ Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
I've dealt with them a few times. Their hardware is decent. As long as you do due diligence to know what it is you're getting, there shouldn't be any surprises. I've used their tuners as well, and they work just fine, but they're not "name brand"(except for the Wilkinson stuff).
Their pickguards are great, IMO. You'll pay double for the same quality elsewhere. I've not used their pickups yet, but have purchased their "Vintage '59" humbuckers for my current build. I'll let you know what I think, hopefully in the next 2-3 weeks. Their Alpha pots are fine, as well.
However, if you have problems, they only do email. There is no phone, and you will never talk directly with a real, live person. I've never had any problems except a minor one, and they fixed it fast.
Author:  Mike Baker [ Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
Some more info on the pickups. There are those that love them, and those who don't. I know that their P90s are well spoken of by some on the TDPRI. You might give them a visit and check out the Tele Home Depot and the pickups sub-forum. A search for guitarfetish, or just P90 pickup should yield you some useful info.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/index.php
Author:  Mustang_jt [ Mon Aug 23, 2010 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
I have bought quite a bit of stuff from them. I was actually pleasantly surprised by their crunchy rail pickups. Those are the only pickups I have used so far. I have bought quite a bit of hardware from them, knobs, bridges, Wilkinson Trems, control plates, ferrules etc. All decent stuff. I have also tried their foot pedals, these are what made me try their pickups, for the price they can't be beat.....notice I say for the price. As for customer service I have found them to be quite good. One of the pedals I bought was the tuner pedal, I had had it for about 3-4 months when I noticed that when it was off, the LED would be flashing with a simultaneous buzz through the amp. I had noticed the light right away but hadn't played with the amp loud enough to notice the buzz till then. I emailed them, they said they had gotten a bad lot and I had a new one with a return shipping label at my house 2 days later.

Like I mentioned I have only tried the crunchy rail humbuckers so far, and I was shocked by the clarity, specifically when distorted. I have not tried extremely high end pickups, mostly Seymour Duncan and BG Pups. The GFS are definitely not boutique, but once again for the money you get way more than you are paying for....1/2 the price of Seymour Duncan, but not 1/2 the sound or quality. I haven't tested them enough to say they are as good, but some reviews online rave about them, some say they suck, which makes me wonder about quality control. I have a few more sets that I plan on using soon, one is a neovin set for a Tele, and some 59 vintage, or whatever they call them.

-John
Author:  peters instruments [ Tue Aug 24, 2010 9:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
Mike Baker wrote:
Some more info on the pickups. There are those that love them, and those who don't. I know that their P90s are well spoken of by some on the TDPRI. You might give them a visit and check out the Tele Home Depot and the pickups sub-forum. A search for guitarfetish, or just P90 pickup should yield you some useful info.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/index.php


thanks for the suggestion i am over there all the time didnt even think to ask, yielded some good suggestions [:Y:]
Author:  martinedwards [ Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
I've used them and for the $ there are no better.

customer service is "no problem, a new one is already in the post" standard. EXCELLENT.

they AREN'T boutique pups, but they're a LOT better than stock in budget guitars and for my own use and students here in school, I'm perfectly happy with them
Author:  Ian Cunningham [ Sat Aug 28, 2010 2:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
GFS sells great stuff. Everything is decent quality at a good price. They have an insane variety of pickups, especially their humbucker sized jobbies. Nothing boutique, but they are what they are and they are quite good. They'll get ya goin.
Author:  Mike Baker [ Sat Aug 28, 2010 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
O.K., so I've had a chance to hear their "Vintage 59" humbucker set. I'm pretty well finished with my first guitar, in which these are installed. I just have a few minor details to finish, such as waiting for the rear control plate's finish to dry, and I'll be posting a thread with pics. But on to the pickups.
I can not believe this set of pickups cost what it did. Really nice pickups, even if they were twice the price. Keep in mind, I've never played "boutique" pickups. My experience with pickups includes factory pickups from the major guitar manufacturers, as well as aftermarket, such as Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio, EMG, etc. It's gonna be real hard for me to justify buying those other guys anymore. I'd say if these are any indication of the quality of the rest of GFS' line of pickups you don't have anything to lose trying them. Love 'em.
Author:  peters instruments [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 8:21 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
mike with a review like that i think i might just try some. i was thinking i probably would anyway, the price is certainly right. like you i dont really have any experience with boutique pickups (when it comes down to it, i just cant afford the things). i have a couple builds im finishing up and hopefully a few more on the way so i think i will give some of these a try.
Author:  Mike Baker [ Mon Aug 30, 2010 10:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
peters instruments wrote:
like you i dont really have any experience with boutique pickups (when it comes down to it, i just cant afford the things).

I'm with you on that. For the price of a set of some of the pricier pickups, I could almost build a whole guitar, lol.
These are the only GFS pickups I have experience with, but I won't be shy about trying others when the time comes. I'm contemplating some single coils for a strat build I have laying around that I never really liked the tone of. Maybe their 70's grey bottom set.
Seriously, though, I've spent twice as much on other manufacturers and not been happy, so I don't see that I'd be out much to try them. They have a lot of different types of humbuckers and single coils. I chose the vintage 59 because i like old school classic rock, and they work really well for that. But they have some overwound ceramic magnet sets that I'm contemplating for a hard rock, heavy metal axe I've got. So many choices, I'm sure I'll eventually run across a set I don't like, but like you said, for the price I'm not risking a whole lot to try them.
Author:  Ron M. [ Tue Sep 14, 2010 11:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
I recently put their lipstick humbucker in a lap steel build, and I'm happy with the way It sounds and looks. I split the humbucker and the single coil sounds great. GFS Tech Support is ok. They don't have a telephone number that you can call, but will respond by email within 24 hours.

R.M.
Author:  skankstro [ Wed Sep 15, 2010 4:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
well i think there VEH pickups are great based on the audio for it, but other than than a pickup will only be as good as you want it to be or think it is, its all in your head if i gave you 2 guitars; no name and 1 used gfs and the other gibson and said the gibson was the one with the gfs pickups you would naturally think that one is better because we associate gibson with good sound, and with the actual gibson pickups you would think them to be gfs
Author:  peters instruments [ Wed Sep 15, 2010 11:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: what do you guys think of gfs?
skankstro wrote:
well i think there VEH pickups are great based on the audio for it, but other than than a pickup will only be as good as you want it to be or think it is, its all in your head if i gave you 2 guitars; no name and 1 used gfs and the other gibson and said the gibson was the one with the gfs pickups you would naturally think that one is better because we associate gibson with good sound, and with the actual gibson pickups you would think them to be gfs


there may some truth to that in a few cases but the simple fact of the matter is there are good pickups out there, mediocre ones and some that are just flat out bad. all pickups arent created equal thats the only reason guys are willing to spend 300 bucks on boutique pups.
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