GFS pickups?

[D-Rock]

Any users here? Experiences?

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Low cost imports that many people seem to love. I have not played any to say more.

 

[JamesPeters]

I've used lots of them. Most of my guitars have them installed still, various kinds.

Lots of the negative or "they're only good for the money" online reviews come from people who 1) don't have much in terms of gear to hear what the pickups can do (PODs, Vamps, etc.), 2) don't have a lot of experience with various pickups, 3) don't have the patience or forethought to try different pickup heights (very important to do this, and not just cram them as close to the strings as possible lol), and/or 4) have expectations that they're going to sound identical to some other pickups.

A good example is the Crunchy Rails. One guy made it his ambition to post his youtube clip on as many forums as possible. He compares the Crunchy Rails to a Duncan JB, which I think sounds so different it's not even in the same ballpark. In his clip though, it sounds similar AND more muddy. He's using a Vamp with the gain set very high on the most "brutal" sounding patch (something that "incinerates the note" as my roommate might say), and it's highly doubtful he bothered to lower the pickup until the sound cleared up properly. I avoided the Crunchy Rails for a long time because of what this guy said, indirectly, because his opinion was spread over so much of the 'net everyone presumed it was the consensus about the Crunchy Rails from most users. It's not.

 

[Mudder]

I have a set of Boston Blues in a strat that are killer. I've also had great luck with the Retrotron types, specifically the hot Nashville. Great pickups, and not just for the money.

 

[dstroud]

I've had several of the humbuckers and the Neo 9 - I dug all of them.

 

[D-Rock]

I'm looking at this specifically.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Crunchy-PAT ... c_139.html

Seems to have what I'm looking for. Moderate output, fat & crunchy.
Waiting to hear if they come in F-Spaced for my Strat.

 

[CaseyCor]

I love GFS Pickups. I've got a Crunchy Rails in my Artcore, and have played a few other models. The Chruncy Rails is a great pickup! Tight, articulate, and ballsy. First pickup I've been happy with in my Artcore.

 

[JamesPeters]

I'm looking at this specifically.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Crunchy-PAT ... c_139.html

Seems to have what I'm looking for. Moderate output, fat & crunchy.
Waiting to hear if they come in F-Spaced for my Strat.

I have it in two guitars. It's like a Dimarzio Super Distortion in general, rounder/smoother (more of an "authentic classic sound" behind it) with a bit more upper mid push. Like the Super Distortion it is thick/rich sounding but also responds in a classic sort of way when you're not smashing the strings hard. I'd recommend this over a Duncan JB (for what the JB is supposed to be well-regarded for) and in most cases over a Dimarzio Super Distortion.

 

[D-Rock]

I'm looking at this specifically.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Crunchy-PAT ... c_139.html

Seems to have what I'm looking for. Moderate output, fat & crunchy.
Waiting to hear if they come in F-Spaced for my Strat.

I have it in two guitars. It's like a Dimarzio Super Distortion in general, rounder/smoother (more of an "authentic classic sound" behind it) with a bit more upper mid push. Like the Super Distortion it is thick/rich sounding but also responds in a classic sort of way when you're not smashing the strings hard. I'd recommend this over a Duncan JB (for what the JB is supposed to be well-regarded for) and in most cases over a Dimarzio Super Distortion.

Great info thanks. I'm wondering if it may be hotter than what I'm looking for...(?) But that's what height adjustment's for I guess.
Maybe the VEH model would better for my needs. I'm looking for something less hot and abrasive than a JB, but not weak in comparison to it.

 

[JamesPeters]

Great info thanks. I'm wondering if it may be hotter than what I'm looking for...(?) But that's what height adjustment's for I guess.
Maybe the VEH model would better for my needs. I'm looking for something less hot and abrasive than a JB, but not weak in comparison to it.

I'd say it's worth a try, since it seems to suit what you're after. It's not meant to be a super mega flamethrower of a pickup. It's about the same as the JB for output but sounds more classic.

The VEH is nice but it's got a more zingy/squared-off edge to the sound, sort of cardboardy in an interesting way.

By the way, in case you've never used a Dimarzio Super Distortion, it's generally like a JB but a bit more "polite" and focused. My comparison to the Super Distortion must have thrown you off due to the name of that pickup. When it was originally made (early 70s) I'm sure it was considered super hot and all that. It's not a weak pickup but there are a lot more aggressive sounding pickups available. Getting back to my comparison--I prefer the Crunchy PAT over the JB and Super Distortion since it sounds more "natural/round" while also being focused enough for aggressive playing when I want.

 

[dstroud]

I'm looking at this specifically.
http://www.guitarfetish.com/Crunchy-PAT ... c_139.html

Seems to have what I'm looking for. Moderate output, fat & crunchy.
Waiting to hear if they come in F-Spaced for my Strat.

I have it in two guitars. It's like a Dimarzio Super Distortion in general, rounder/smoother (more of an "authentic classic sound" behind it) with a bit more upper mid push. Like the Super Distortion it is thick/rich sounding but also responds in a classic sort of way when you're not smashing the strings hard. I'd recommend this over a Duncan JB (for what the JB is supposed to be well-regarded for) and in most cases over a Dimarzio Super Distortion.

Great info thanks. I'm wondering if it may be hotter than what I'm looking for...(?) But that's what height adjustment's for I guess.
Maybe the VEH model would better for my needs. I'm looking for something less hot and abrasive than a JB, but not weak in comparison to it.

they have a return policy - you can always just check it out.

 

[CaseyCor]

Why not buy them both? Cheap, and you could always send one back/flip it here.

 

[messenger]

I've got a Lil' Killer in the neck of my Super Strat and love it. I bought the vintage model but its a bit to quiet, so I ordered a hotter version. Still haven't gotten around to installing it. I think I'm going to order a VEH for the same guitar as I find my Duncan Blues Saraceno a bit too thin and bright.

 

[TeleBlaster]

Scooped, bass heavy. Fairly clear. Adjusting the poles helps but it is what is. Not terrible, especially considering the price.
I've tried pickups at 6x the cost that sounded worse.

 

[Anonymous]

The VEH is nice articulate mid gain humbucker, as good as anything out there regardless of the price!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I dig the fat pat and the crunchy rails. Both great pickups. Better sounding than alot of pickups 4x the price.

 

[JamesPeters]

Scooped, bass heavy. Fairly clear. Adjusting the poles helps but it is what is. Not terrible, especially considering the price.
I've tried pickups at 6x the cost that sounded worse.

I don't hear the Crunchy PAT as "scooped", even in my darkest sounding guitar. (I've tried it in 5 fairly different sounding guitars.) Maybe it was just how it worked out in that one guitar of yours...that's always possible.

I can't say any of the GFS pickups I've used have sounded particularly "scooped".

 

[D-Rock]

Scooped, bass heavy. Fairly clear. Adjusting the poles helps but it is what is. Not terrible, especially considering the price.
I've tried pickups at 6x the cost that sounded worse.

I don't hear the Crunchy PAT as "scooped", even in my darkest sounding guitar. (I've tried it in 5 fairly different sounding guitars.) Maybe it was just how it worked out in that one guitar of yours...that's always possible.

I can't say any of the GFS pickups I've used have sounded particularly "scooped".

James, have you by chance used the Crunchy PAT in a Strat/alder type guitar?

 

[TeleBlaster]

Scooped, bass heavy. Fairly clear. Adjusting the poles helps but it is what is. Not terrible, especially considering the price.
I've tried pickups at 6x the cost that sounded worse.

I don't hear the Crunchy PAT as "scooped", even in my darkest sounding guitar. (I've tried it in 5 fairly different sounding guitars.) Maybe it was just how it worked out in that one guitar of yours...that's always possible.

I can't say any of the GFS pickups I've used have sounded particularly "scooped".

I've got an extremely bright guitar that a I'm trying to sort out now. I tried the Fat Pats.
It's a 72 Deluxe RW. USA Custom neck, alder body.
It's essentially a hard tail Strat.
500K pots .047 caps, 50's wiring.
Those pickups in this guitar had a surprising amount of bass, and a little sizzle on the very top.
Mids were very flat and quiet. Adjusting the pole pieces helped, but nothing dynamic or fat happening in the mids.
I did not bother trying 250K pots with this set because they were already bass heavy and I don't want mud.
I would rate them as OK in the right guitar, but not at all fat enough for taming a real bright maple/alder 25.5" Strat.
Not terrible, and for the cost I will hang on to them because they could come in handy one day.
Towards their credit, they are fairly clear. The real downfall would be that they are leaning towards the "bass pickup" realm, but again,
not too terribly so.

Edit: Try them, really, at $23.00 it's at least worth a go.

 

[JamesPeters]

James, have you by chance used the Crunchy PAT in a Strat/alder type guitar?

Yes, I currently have one in a guitar like that. The other is in a mahogany/SG style guitar. It sounds great in both guitars.

I tried the Fat Pats.

Ah. I haven't tried that one. I've tried more classic type pickups, and higher output pickups, but not that one. Maybe because its description reminded me of the Duncan Custom 5, which sounded scooped or perhaps "dry/dark" to me.

We're mostly talking about the Crunchy PAT here, so that's why I didn't understand what you meant.