Anyone Tried The GFS "Jimi" Pickups?

[Skarekrough]

They got me curious:

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

I've been getting restless with my fave MIM Strat. I have a loaded pickguard sans pickups downstairs I previously had some Fender 57/62 pickups in and then some Van Zant's that I never gelled with.

The GFS' caught my eye and I figured it'd be hard to go wrong. They should be arriving today. Just wondering if anyone else has tried them. They certainly seem right up the alley of some of the folks on here!

[ToneMalone]

Very interesting, and at $59.95/set they're certainly quite a bit cheaper than Fralin Woodstocks at $220/set.

[Wattage]

About 1/2 what I paid for my Fender CS Custom 69's.

Thing is Jimi's pups were made during a time when Fender's winder wasn't calibrated properly and they were down about 200 winds on average according to legend. They are advertising those as overwound? Funny cause the Fender CS69's measure about 5.5 each and the GFS are not that far off. They sound like they making out of the right stuff, **** for $60 bucks and some time it's worth a shot.

[Fusion1]

Wonder if these are available only in white?

[ratherdashing]

Wonder if these are available only in white?

Standard Strat single coils, these ones included, have removable covers. Covers are available in many colors.

[BloodRose]

review please!!

[Skarekrough]

review please!!

They're due to show up today.

If everything works out I should have them installed by late this evening. I'm hoping I'll be able to squeeze in a half hour of play time and maybe some recording on the PodXT with backing tracks.

They'll be replacing the stock setup in a MIM Strat.

[Skarekrough]

Well, I've got about twenty minutes worth of time under my belt with them.

Initial review is that they're really nice sounding pickups! They're really VERY warm and very clean sounding. Very vintage as well but without some of the weakness that tends to come with it in spots. Very even response and nicely calibrated.

The hum, however, may drive me nuts over time. This may very well be the set that gets me to do the guitarnuts wiring.

I've only played through the PodXT, and for some reason I can NEVER get single-coils to sound good through a Pod. For some reason I find I NEED to hear them through a live amp, and that's not likely to happen for at least a few days.

For sixty bucks, they're definetley worth it! I don't think you'll find a better deal for single coils out there!

For the real tonal stuff I need to give them some time. The original pickups in my Strat, let's say I have a certain affection for them. I went through a few diferent kinds and when i went back to the original I really felt like I was at home again with them. These ones I think could take over; they just have that warmth I've been looking for.

[BloodRose]

very cool!! I cant stand single coil hum tho..

[Skarekrough]

very cool!! I cant stand single coil hum tho..

I have a Van Zant middle reverse-wound downstairs I may just drop in if I can't deal with it. But man, these are some sweet sounding pickups!!!!

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Very interesting, and at $59.95/set they're certainly quite a bit cheaper than Fralin Woodstocks at $220/set.

Do you mean Kinman Woodstocks, or does Fralin make them as well?

[ToneMalone]

Do you mean Kinman Woodstocks, or does Fralin make them as well?

Yes, they're not in his catalog but Lindy will make them for you special order, no extra charge, and they're called "Woodstocks". They're stamped on the bottom along with a peace sign. Essentially an exact copy of a '68-'69 strat pickup. I've got a set with the steel baseplate on the bridge pickup in a 60's Classic MIM strat. The other strat is a stock '71.

[Dave_Mcpherson]

Wow, that's pretty interesting. I recently ordered some GFS Boutique over-wound pups..still waiting on them! Your results sound really good though :-). I'm replacing really cheap strat pups..so, these should be a blast. How bad is the hum???

[Skarekrough]

The hum's noticable....all in all probably no worse than the stock pickups. The only issue is that without having a reverse-wound middle pickup the only refuge from it is the Volume knob.

I did some playing at lunch. Damned good sounding pickups. I'm almost never a fan of the neck and middle pickups and both of them just kill in this set.

[AniML]

The hum's noticable....all in all probably no worse than the stock pickups. The only issue is that without having a reverse-wound middle pickup the only refuge from it is the Volume knob.

I did some playing at lunch. Damned good sounding pickups. I'm almost never a fan of the neck and middle pickups and both of them just kill in this set.

I have been a fan of GFS pickups for quite a while. I have used a number of humbucker models and a handful of singles, but never the Strat sets. I was very happy with all of them

I was about to get the GFS Premium Alnico strat set when an opportunity came along for a set of Fralin Vintage Hots came along (thanks Lew!)

I wonder how close the GFS would come to the Fralins in terms of tonal complexity, bloom etc?

I may have to find out if the extra $ was worth it to me...

[Fusion1]

I've never tried or heard GFS pickups myself, but read the reviews. I've also noticed the price has steadily increased in $$$ since Jay at GFS has offered them for sale. I guess that may indicate people really like them, but still at the end of the day aren't these pickups just made to spec by Jay from some country outside the US, or is Jay having these wound in the states?

[Skarekrough]

I've never tried or heard GFS pickups myself, but read the reviews. I've also noticed the price has steadily increased in $$$ since Jay at GFS has offered them for sale. I guess that may indicate people really like them, but still at the end of the day aren't these pickups just made to spec by Jay from some country outside the US, or is Jay having these wound in the states?

They're wound overseas, that is true. But he also has gone through the process independently as far as setting it all up and the specs which they have to meet. They test the pickups when they come in for quality and consistency.

They're doing well...and deserve to. It's a quality product for an attractive price.

[Fusion1]

So is it safe to assume these would be on par with something like Duncan Designed since they also are made to spec but overseas?

[Kivitel]

More info please! I'm thinking of getting a set of these or the other GFS strat sets.