Opinions on the GFS Vintage-Split?

Wondering if anyone's used the GFS Seth-Lover knock-off Vintage Split deisgn with staggered poles. I see them around but little is published in the way of reviews.

As I understand it, they use a ceramic bar magnet rather than cunife pole piece magnets and are regular sized, rather than the larger WR size. The cover and the pole pieces look like a WR, but in construction, they are completely different from an original WR. As for tonal similarity, I have never used the GFS so I can't say. I have 75 Custom with an original WR and I can say that I have never heard a humbucker that sounds like a real WR--a very deep/round bass and a very chimey and articulate top end with lots of string definition.

I'm loving the GFS Fat Pat I put in my MIM. I wanted the split vintage, but they were sold out at the time. I'm glad I went with the Pat; it matches up well with the "hot" bridge that came stock with the '07 MIM.

I have a G&B split in the neck of mine, it is alnico. It sounds very nice, even if it is not exactly Fender WR spec. I got it from www.axesrus.co.uk (UK only) but they might advise. It was either
http://www.axesrus.com/axepickup_files/GFSTELEN.jpg (note pic name gfstele) or http://www.axesrus.com/axepickup_files/g116gold.jpg

Jefrs....can you get some definition (a little highs at all) from it in the neck slot or do you have it in the bridge? I'm after something that'll give me some clarity on switch stop 1 (or 3 as Fender calls it - neck only). Thx! -PJ

PJ, I've just spotted your Q.

I have it in the bridge of AmSer07. It is the Tele Alnico split coil (by G&B) from Axesrus, it's about 8k. Although G&B do some OEM work, I do not know how similar to the GFS it is. It is standard hb size with only two fitting screws, so not yer actual repro Fender WRHB.

Other mods, 4-way, B500k vol, TBX tone. So series, neck, parallel, bridge. It is a good match for the 'high output' American bridge pickup (heights of both adjusted to suit mix/taste). But note those controls seem to bring out the best in both the pickups.

It is a beautiful pickup, very bright and clear full tone. I had a pro jazzer pinch it off me and play it for the rest of the evening in preferrence to his ES175. It's got that Ooo! sound. It can also do Keef goes mental.