GFS pickups, are they any good? (2024)

Fuzz_Mountain

Member
Messages
9,505
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #1

I mean, they're so cheap. Are they crap or actually decent?

I'd like to try some of their humbucker sized P-90s or maybe gold foils for something different.

Worthwhile or waste of money?

SciFlyer

Silver Supporting Member

Messages
2,172
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #2

I have the GFS Surf 90s in one of my guitars and they sound great. Really nice Gretsch type of sound.

Rumble

Instrumental Rocker

Platinum Supporting Member

Messages
2,737
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #3

They seem to be ok for the most part. I have a Surf 90 that does a good rock/twang sound with adequate snarl. It replaced a GFS double lipstick humbucker that was ok, I just needed something with a little more bite. Surely there's better pickups out there, but there's also much worse.

Fuzz_Mountain

Member
Messages
9,505
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #4

Just going in a beater guitar so maybe worth the risk then.

HTSMetal

Member
Messages
2,105
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #5

They're excellent for the price. I've owned many sets (Pro Series humbuckers and Tele pickups, 1950's Repro Tele, Mini 59's, Vintage '59 humbucker, Boston Blues) and have only been disappointed by one I bought out of the clearance section (should've known better). Matter of fact, I have a set of the Vintage Alnico dogear P90's coming my way this week.

peskypesky

Member
Messages
6,908
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #6

3 Mile Stone

Silver Supporting Member

Messages
6,100
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #7

Pretty darn good for classic, more vintagey tones. Not so great if you like thicker molten hard rock tones. I thought they lacked some low end smoothness for my style. But that could work for some and I do some like them for neck pick ups.

O

Oldman

Member
Messages
166
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #8

I have one of their "Crunchy Rails" HB pickups in a strat. Sounds good for the heavy stuff, doesn't clean up well though (its a 15k pickup)....The MCP Solution HB pickup I also have is worlds better, although its 4X as much $$$. For the money GFS pickups can be good but don't expect them to compare with the high end stuff. IMHO.......

swiveltung

Member
Messages
14,480
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #9

In minibuckers, Not bad, not great. I found them a bit dirtier/muddier than Gibson, SD, Allparts. If you want that you may like them.

C

cwz

Member
Messages
320
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #10

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/gfs-pickups-thread.1398933/

for further reading..

Fuzz_Mountain

Member
Messages
9,505
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #11

cwz said:

https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/gfs-pickups-thread.1398933/

for further reading..

Thanks, didn't know there was already a thread

bgmacaw

Member
Messages
8,074
  • Jul 4, 2016
  • #12

They're very good and easily comparable to the 2 major "brand name" mass produced lines that cost 2 to 3 times as much. I've used several of their pickups, mostly P90's and HB's.

They do sell some unbranded economy lines that can be disappointing or just average. Their prices are also a little high on these but you'll get them in a few days vs the typical 6-8 weeks if you order direct from China.

SackvilleDan

Member
Messages
2,208
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #13

I've had a few - have a set of the greybottoms in an MIM Strat and a Power Rails HB in the bridge of another Strat. They sounded better than stock both times, no question. I'd put the grey bottoms on par with the pickups in my '01 MIA Standard Strat, but have no comparison in the same guitar (just my ears between the two guitars). They're a little fuller and the quack is more pronounced in the 2/4 positions. The Power Rail was super hot and crunchy, which is just what I was looking for in that Strat (a single PU EVH wannabe!)

As an aside, GFS hardware is great too - I've used a couple of their bridge assemblies to great success. For the price you can't beat them, but they're no Callaham.

TheWayfarer84

Gold Supporting Member

Messages
3,111
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #14

They're ok. Marginal upgrade for the most part.

Say you want a late 60's strat tone on the cheap, Then yeah you'll get something with enamel that sounds more like a late 60's that your stock pickups. But will it sound like a great example of late 60's pups - no. But if your putting together a beater strat, they're not bad for the price. They're just nothing to really rave about. Again, at that price point though not sure what would sound better.

For the HB sized p-90's I do think they have a couple good options. Been a while so I don't remember if it was the mean or dream 90's, but they do get some praise. Can't say I've played any, or anything similar by competitors to compare though.

DrumBob

Member
Messages
18,739
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #15

I have had some of them, and the only ones I didn't like too much were the Gold Foils. They sounded nothing like the vintage ones. The Slick pickups seem to be decent. I have some in a Strat and like them. I also like the Hot Nashville Mini Trons. I have a set of them sitting here waiting to be installed in a guitar.

Last edited:

B Money

Member
Messages
6,784
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #16

I've had good luck with the GFS pickups that I've tried. I installed a pair of the Fat PAT humbuckers in a cheap LP style guitar and have been happy with them for years.

Recently I installed a Lil Killer (10k wind) in the bridge of a MIM strat and it was just what I was looking for, added a lot of grunt and drive without being over-the-top hot.

IMO, GFS pickups are amazing considering the low cost and compete nicely with the big boys.

Mikhael

Member
Messages
4,512
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #17

I use the GFS VEH in the bridge position. It's supposed to go for the EVH "brown sound", but to me it sounds more like a DiMarzio Satriani pickup. Good rock pickup with gain, AND if you put the coils in parallel, it sounds remarkably similar to a Tele bridge pickup with no hum. Even my bassist remarked on that. Weird, but imminently useful.

The jury's still out on the True-coil single-coil humbucking pickup. Sounds good by itself, but doesn't quack very well so far.

Scrapperz

Play that guitar like there’s no tomorrow
Messages
12,844
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #18

buddyboy69

Member
Messages
5,076
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #19

52 tele set in a tele copy. I love that guitar, sounds like a tele. I have Their filtertron style in a custom build, they sound and respond great, never played filtertrons so I can't really compare. Dream 180s in another custom build that I just finished. First rehearsal this past Sunday with it, sounded awesome. Band mates all commented how great my tone was. So I have had good luck with them personally. I have 2 sets of fender custom shop strat pickups that suck in whatever guitar I put them into, the were triple to quadruple the $$$ as the GFS, so theres that. I also have a boootique set in another build that were also pretty pricey, although they are nice and very articulate, the output is too much and I can't use them live as a backup because I have to radically change all my settings.

Dynation

Member
Messages
157
  • Jul 5, 2016
  • #20

From the things I've heard, the passive pickups are pretty good. My buddy has bought some of their strat pickups and he loves them. OTOH I tried a set of RedActive HBs and I wasn't a fan of them. I found the bridge very harsh and brittle.

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GFS pickups, are they any good? (2024)

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