GFS pickups and Seymour Duncan Pickups equivalents

[Orange Jackson]

 

Comparing a GFS to a Seymour Duncan pup is about like comparing a can of Coke to a nice bottle of single malt scotch. EG

 

 

Right on the money.

 

There's no comparison between the two brands.

[Ancient Mariner]

See your hearing specialist.

 

 

You are entitled to your preferences, but I've tried a few guitars with Duncans in and didn't like the tone at all. Each makers tends to have a 'signature' tone style and I just don't like theirs. Dimarzio, GFS and Gibson humbuckers sound much better to me.

 

Worth bearing in mind that none of these makers are boutique: they're all mass produced pickups for the massed market, except that SD and Dimarzio charge more because they can and their business model requires it. There's certainly no difference in build quality between them, and I've been surprised at just how nicely the GFS PUs are made.

 

They're all coke of one variety or another. If you want single malt go to TV Jones, BG, WGS or one of the other specialist makers.

[Meowy]

GFS pickups are good, but pound for pound they have no equivalent for Duncans or other top shelf brands. Similar voicings, sure; but to ask for a GFS equivalent for a Duncan is like asking what are Hundai's equivalent cars to BMW's.

[Orange Jackson]

You are entitled to your preferences, but I've tried a few guitars with Duncans in and didn't like the tone at all. Each makers tends to have a 'signature' tone style and I just don't like theirs. Dimarzio, GFS and Gibson humbuckers sound much better to me.

 

 

I'm sorry but, NOOO.

 

The GFS pickups that I have owned (vintage59s and fat paf) have sounded flat, dimensionless, and cheep, they quite honestly were crap. There was nothing rich sounding about them, and they sound exactly like $30 pickups.

 

They are great pups for putting in guitar that you are about to sell, I give them that.

 

Why not just save up 30 more bucks and get the real thing, it's like night and day. Seriously, it is arguably the most key part of your tone, why skimp on that?

[Preacher]

I'm sorry but, NOOO. The GFS pickups that I have owned (vintage59s and fat paf) have sounded flat, dimensionless, and cheep, they quite honestly were crap. There was nothing rich sounding about them, and they sound exactly like $30 pickups.

 

Seems like he was just stating his preference and allowing others theirs.

 

IMO Duncans are not "top shelf" - that's BG, TV Jones, Fralins, etc.

[blueballoon]

 

I'm sorry but, NOOO. The GFS pickups that I have owned (vintage59s and fat paf) have sounded flat, dimensionless, and cheep, they quite honestly were crap. There was nothing rich sounding about them, and they sound exactly like $30 pickups. They are great pups for putting in guitar that you are about to sell, I give them that. Why not just save up 30 more bucks and get the real thing, it's like night and day. Seriously, it is arguably the most key part of your tone, why skimp on that?

 

 

Well put.

[Orange Jackson]

Seems like he was just stating his preference and allowing others theirs.

 

 

Well, if someones has a preference for dirty water over clean water, than of course that is their right, but it is helpful for others if generally we try to keep the record straight, that dirty water simply is not as good as the clean stuff. Opinions be damned.

[Ancient Mariner]

But your brand of dirty water is so much better than mine.

 

Look, I've used Duncans and they may have complexity (in your opinion) but they also have something which irritates the hell out of me.

 

But have it your way if you must - you obviously know so much better.

[TruSlice]

Seems like he was just stating his preference and allowing others theirs. IMO Duncans are not "top shelf" - that's BG, TV Jones, Fralins, etc.

 

+1

 

 

Duncans' have pretty much become the defacto standard for meaningful quality, and they well deserve it though by no means are they "boutique," with the exception of the Antiquity collection. (Seth Lovers com close though).

 

 

I have me a set of Nordstrand P90's that absolutely blow other Duncans that I have had out of the water, and they are only $90 each comparatively.

 

 

The only GFS pickup that I've had was a Fat Mini, and it was a dead lifeless log that did nothing great - it would move air and that'd be about it. Not really worth the time to put it in, really.

[littlemilo]

You are entitled to your preferences, but I've tried a few guitars with Duncans in and didn't like the tone at all. Each makers tends to have a 'signature' tone style and I just don't like theirs. Dimarzio, GFS and Gibson humbuckers sound much better to me. Worth bearing in mind that none of these makers are boutique: they're all mass produced pickups for the massed market, except that SD and Dimarzio charge more because they can and their business model requires it. There's certainly no difference in build quality between them, and I've been surprised at just how nicely the GFS PUs are made. They're all coke of one variety or another. If you want single malt go to TV Jones, BG, WGS or one of the other specialist makers.

 

 

Agreed, I'm not a fan of SD stuff. I know I've given away a 59er and a Phat Cat, and still have a few others in the rejected pickups drawer. I prefer Gibson and DiMarzio for mass-produced buckers.

 

GFS has made some oddball single coils that sound great in certain guitars. Ive never had that experience with a Seymour Duncan. Of course, YMMV.

[D34dBaWx]

I have a strat with JB in it and another with a duncan custom custom in it. I got a string threw hardtail strat that I want to set up for some chugging metal. What gfs pickup should I go for?

[copperheadroads]

 

I'd say that, approximately, Power Rails = DiMarzio Super Distortion Crunchy Rails = Duncan JB Crunchy Pat = lower output Dimebucker

 

 

power rails would be like a dimebucker

crunchy rails is more like a lawrence xl500

as for a super distortion the closest thing -i have bought one of those clearance pickups non gfs pickup with the hex screws will get you close i actually nailed the sound of a super distortion with it but its a secret i had to rewind it & add some mojo

the jb id say a fat pat but a jb is wound a little hotter but both have similar ingredients

[Mackin]

I have a strat with JB in it and another with a duncan custom custom in it. I got a string threw hardtail strat that I want to set up for some chugging metal. What gfs pickup should I go for?

 

For chugging metal ? I'd go Power Rails for slow chug and Crunchy Rails for fast chug.

 

happy chuggin'

 

[Mackin]

 

power rails would be like a dimebucker

 

 

Are you sure ?

 

The Power Rails are all about big mids n' bass with a smooth high end. Sounds like a Super "D" to me...

[guitarcapo]

A word of advice:

 

Stay away from any GFS pickups with the words: "crunchy" "hot" "high output" or "overwound" in the name. They all suck and you might notice that THOSE pickups are the ones for sale at a discount or used briefly from disappointed customers on Ebay most often.

 

That said, the vintage alnico PAF copies they make are very close to a Duncan Seth Lover in sound.

[D34dBaWx]

 

A word of advice: Stay away from any GFS pickups with the words: "crunchy" "hot" "high output" or "overwound" in the name. They all suck and you might notice that THOSE pickups are the ones for sale at a discount or used briefly from disappointed customers on Ebay most often. That said, the vintage alnico PAF copies they make are very close to a Duncan Seth Lover in sound.

 

 

I was just about to pull the trigger on one of those rail pickups.

[Bob411]

I was just about to pull the trigger on one of those rail pickups.

 

I'm off to ebay to buy more, even cheaper.

[t2mikeman]

 

I'd say the Crunchy PAT is close to a Dimarzio Super Distortion. The GFS 59 is close to (duh) the Duncan '59 SH-1 Not sure about the Fat PAT. The VEH is similar to a Duncan '78. The Crunchy Rails is maybe a Dimebucker, and the Power Rails is maybe a Lawrence 500XL.

 

 

 

the last two sound nothing like a dimebucker or Bill lawrence, other than their visual styling they sound completely different.

 

The crunchy rail BTW is also the MOST NOISE FREE PICKUP I HAVE EVER USED (ive been through 4 duncans, 3 bill lawrences, and two dimarzios personally and have played many others).

 

Its a strange phenomenon. I can not figure out why this is , but i can tell you that with these pickups i have no need for a noise gate .

~mike~

[trollin']

 

I'm sorry but, NOOO. The GFS pickups that I have owned (vintage59s and fat paf) have sounded flat, dimensionless, and cheep, they quite honestly were crap. There was nothing rich sounding about them, and they sound exactly like $30 pickups. They are great pups for putting in guitar that you are about to sell, I give them that.

 

 

I pretty much agree with these sentiments on the topic of GFS pick-ups. I've never gotten anything that sounds nearly as clear or articulate from them than I have from Seymour Duncan/Dimarzio/Gibson/EMG...etc

 

You get what you pay for.

[t2mikeman]

 

A word of advice: Stay away from any GFS pickups with the words: "crunchy" "hot" "high output" or "overwound" in the name. They all suck and you might notice that THOSE pickups are the ones for sale at a discount or used briefly from disappointed customers on Ebay most often. That said, the vintage alnico PAF copies they make are very close to a Duncan Seth Lover in sound.

 

 

i whole heartedly disagree. for metal imo the crunchy rail is one of the best i have used. It specifically does not "suck", but rather is punchy, agressive, relatively tight and balanced, and very very low noise.

~mike~

[t2mikeman]

 

power rails would be like a dimebucker crunchy rails is more like a lawrence xl500 as for a super distortion the closest thing -i have bought one of those clearance pickups non gfs pickup with the hex screws will get you close i actually nailed the sound of a super distortion with it but its a secret i had to rewind it & add some mojo the jb id say a fat pat but a jb is wound a little hotter but both have similar ingredients

 

 

 

 

ive been through 3 500XLs from B and Becky.

 

Honesly i would agree with the fella who compared the crunchy rail with a jb. Its like a hotter jb.

 

It is most definitely NOT like a 500xl and both bill and the owner of GFS will tell you they are COMPLETELY utterly nothing alike aside from being humbuckers with blades.

~mike~

[t2mikeman]

You are entitled to your preferences, but I've tried a few guitars with Duncans in and didn't like the tone at all. Each makers tends to have a 'signature' tone style and I just don't like theirs. Dimarzio, GFS and Gibson humbuckers sound much better to me. Worth bearing in mind that none of these makers are boutique: they're all mass produced pickups for the massed market, except that SD and Dimarzio charge more because they can and their business model requires it. There's certainly no difference in build quality between them, and I've been surprised at just how nicely the GFS PUs are made. They're all coke of one variety or another. If you want single malt go to TV Jones, BG, WGS or one of the other specialist makers.

+1 +infiniti

Other than the fact that i like some duncans, i cant agree with that post enough.

 

Everyone says you get what you pay for, and frankly that logic is WRONG.

 

You get what you get, and you pay as much as the company believes you are willing to pay.

 

GFS pickups are indeed constucted EVERY BIT as well as a duncan. They just dont have the name.

 

 

~mike~

[Bob411]

A word of advice: Stay away from any GFS pickups with the words: "crunchy" "hot" "high output" or "overwound" in the name. They all suck and you might notice that THOSE pickups are the ones for sale at a discount or used briefly from disappointed customers on Ebay most often. That said, the vintage alnico PAF copies they make are very close to a Duncan Seth Lover in sound.

 

Just tried ebay. I found 0 used "crunchy" "hot" "high output" or "overwound" in the name. Unless you count 3 or 4 used guitars with them installed. I'll try again tomorrow.

[SPONGEBOB]

 

I pretty much agree with these sentiments on the topic of GFS pick-ups. I've never gotten anything that sounds nearly as clear or articulate from them than I have from Seymour Duncan/Dimarzio/Gibson/EMG...etc You get what you pay for.

 

 

amen... Whenever I state something like this I am lambasted by Jay and his many fans here, for being a know nothing asshole.

I have tried 4 different GFS sets and was underwhelmed.. Not really bad, and worth what I paid, but thats as far as it goes.. They really have not shown me much. I feel the same about a Kent Armstrong set I tried as well. meh is the best description.

If you have a bit more money there are better options. Last pickup I bought was a used PRS Dragon II... Incredible vintage bucker sound, and a sweet sounding single coil cut as well.. I think I paid all of $60 shipped...

GFS has its place, and yes, they are an upgrade to Agile, SX and many other lower end MIK, MIC guitars, but NO WAY do I put them on a good USA built Les Paul, 335, strat, tele etc..bob

[t2mikeman]

 

amen... Whenever I state something like this I am lambasted by Jay and his many fans here, for being a know nothing asshole. I have tried 4 different GFS sets and was underwhelmed.. Not really bad, and worth what I paid, but thats as far as it goes.. They really have not shown me much. I feel the same about a Kent Armstrong set I tried as well. meh is the best description. If you have a bit more money there are better options. Last pickup I bought was a used PRS Dragon II... Incredible vintage bucker sound, and a sweet sounding single coil cut as well.. I think I paid all of $60 shipped... GFS has its place, and yes, they are an upgrade to Agile, SX and many other lower end MIK, MIC guitars, but NO WAY do I put them on a good USA built Les Paul, 335, strat, tele etc..bob

 

 

After trying my crunchy rail my buddy is ditching his JB in USA jackson (pre fender).

Different strokes.

~mike~