GFS Tele Bridge Pickups...

T_L_H · March 3rd, 2008, 08:46 AM

Ok, so, for my newest project, I'm planning a doing a Tele custom arrangement with a single coil in the bridge position and a humbucker in the neck position. I'm planning on using a Dream 180 for the neck, but I'm searching for a bridge pickup. I've got my eyes on the Alnico Fatbody Oversized Polepiece or the Vintage Voiced. Any opinions?

robt57 · March 3rd, 2008, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_L_H

Ok, so, for my newest project, I'm planning a doing a Tele custom arrangement with a single coil in the bridge position and a humbucker in the neck position. I'm planning on using a Dream 180 for the neck, but I'm searching for a bridge pickup. I've got my eyes on the Alnico Fatbody Oversized Polepiece or the Vintage Voiced. Any opinions?

FWIW, I have the GFS Fat TC Alnico [I05 part/model# ?] in one Parts Caster which is Maple neck, and a 1999 Tele Alder Body [painted]. 4 way switching.

In fact, I like it about 90+ percent as much as my Standard Fralin. And it was not close to 90% of the cost of the Fralin for sure.

Trimmed&Burnin · March 3rd, 2008, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robt57

FWIW, I have the GFS Fat TC Alnico [I05 part/model# ?] in one Parts Caster which is Maple neck, and a 1999 Tele Alder Body [painted]. 4 way switching.

In fact, I like it about 90+ percent as much as my Standard Fralin. And it was not close to 90% of the cost of the Fralin for sure.

I agree,
I've used the Fatboy and really like it BUT that extra 10% of tone and responsivness is worth the extra cost of a Lindy Fralin to me,, especially if it's going on a custom job,,,,, but I dont hesitate to recommend the Fatboy to a customer trying to keep costs down.

T_L_H · March 3rd, 2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trimmed&Burnin

I agree,
I've used the Fatboy and really like it BUT that extra 10% of tone and responsivness is worth the extra cost of a Lindy Fralin to me,, especially if it's going on a custom job,,,,, but I dont hesitate to recommend the Fatboy to a customer trying to keep costs down.

Keeping the costs down is definitely something I'm trying to do. That 10% isn't as important to me as the pricetag on a Fralin as opposed to a GFS pickup...as horrible as that sounds. Ha!

robt57 · March 3rd, 2008, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T_L_H

That 10% isn't as important to me as the pricetag

It is my experience will ALL things. The last 10% of the best stuff is 90% of the cost.

Tony474 · March 3rd, 2008, 05:35 PM

Worth pointing out that the Fat TC Alnico I05 isn't the same thing as the Fatbody, which has the part number I20 (GFS also does an overwound Fatbody, which is something else again).

I don't have direct experience of any of these but I do have a Vintage Alnico 50 (I29) in one guitar with a Fatbody neck pickup (I37). Great combination, works for me but others can tell you more about the actual items you're asking about specifically.

T_L_H · March 3rd, 2008, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robt57

It is my experience will ALL things. The last 10% of the best stuff is 90% of the cost.

I wouldn't doubt it. But I don't have the money to spend on the extra 10% currently, so I'd like to get as good a sound as I can for as cheap as I can until the day when I make enough to afford the 10%.

robt57 · March 3rd, 2008, 05:47 PM

I am with you. I do like the few high end PUPs I do have I must say.
CS 57/62s and Fralins and I have some SH-1s in my Faux 335 [DOT].

But I like it even better when they are cheap, free or an unexpected deal.

Like the GFS FAT TC I got. Never expected it to be as good as it is.

T_L_H · March 3rd, 2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony474

Worth pointing out that the Fat TC Alnico I05 isn't the same thing as the Fatbody, which has the part number I20 (GFS also does an overwound Fatbody, which is something else again).

I figured this out after a bit of confusion. Ha! Thanks...

bluescube · March 4th, 2008, 07:05 AM

I have the 7K Fatbody tele bridge and it is wonderful!

6942 · March 4th, 2008, 07:23 AM

I put a GFS Vintage Alnico 50 in a Squier Tele...................NICE!!

Cheers!!
Steve

toadman · March 4th, 2008, 07:33 AM

alnico fatbody sounds good in my partscaster.nice vintage twang

T_L_H · March 4th, 2008, 08:44 AM

After looking at some more reviews, and listening to some sound clips, I think I'm gonna go with the Fatbody for the bridge and pair that with a Dream 180 in the neck position.

cloink50 · March 4th, 2008, 02:49 PM

+1 on the Vintage Alnico 50. It really breathed some new life in my MIM Thinline.

I also have a L'il Puncher XL Cool Vintage in a parts Tele. It's a hummer but spanks like a Tele with some extra.. er punch. I paired it with a L'il Crunchy Mini Humbucker in the neck. Seperately both pups make it sound like a Tele. Together, I get a nice warm PAFfy crunch when overdriven.

robt57 · March 23rd, 2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloink50

+1 on the Vintage Alnico 50. It really breathed some new life in my MIM Thinline.

I also have a L'il Puncher XL Cool Vintage in a parts Tele. It's a hummer but spanks like a Tele with some extra.. er punch. I paired it with a L'il Crunchy Mini Humbucker in the neck. Seperately both pups make it sound like a Tele. Together, I get a nice warm PAFfy crunch when overdriven.

I wanted to ask, is it set up to split to a single coil? And if yes, how is it in that mode?

Thanks

bluescube · March 24th, 2008, 08:17 AM

The Fatbody 7K bridge pickup is Grrrreat!

alcoholfueled51 · March 26th, 2008, 10:56 PM

I just installed a 10k Fatbody today. Sounds amazing! It reminds me a bit of the HW1 pickups (in the new HW1s) but with a bit more shimmer and not as muddy. Even though I've seen posts commenting on the thick baseplate, the pickup sounds great! I have one installed in a swamp ash tele and one in an alder tele. Both sound great and work well with high gain too!

HOWEVER, (the small print) the baseplates on mine came loose since it was only secured with a light dab of glue and ended up giving off nasty microphonic squeals, so I had to re-secure it with wax. I think this is the kind of thing that would be a real bummer to a consumer /w little time (even assuming you have all the tools (wax, soldering iron) and experience in fixing such things)

Interestingly, though, I haven't had problems with their other tele pickups and lipstick ones with baseplates

flapjack · March 27th, 2008, 02:54 PM

It has been in one of my teles for a long time now and I really like it. Compared to the quarter pound that I have used in the same guitar, the fatbody has more sparkle/brightness to it. It sounds more like what I think of as a traditional tele bridge pup, but with a bit more power and thickness to it. Sorry about my description - I always find it hard to describe with words what I hear.

bluescube · March 28th, 2008, 06:33 AM

Hmm......I wonder if I should have gotten the 10K version instead of the 7K? The 7K has a real vintage tone with a bit more fullness and no icepick in the treble.

cloink50 · March 28th, 2008, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robt57

I wanted to ask, is it set up to split to a single coil? And if yes, how is it in that mode?

Thanks

Yes.. both pups in the parts tele are set up to split. The first time I played the split L'il Puncher, it surprised me. It actually sounds a little darker. I'm not disappointed tho'. I split the pups to get some variety in available sounds. Mission accomplished! But I sort of expected it to be a little brighter in single coil mode.

FirstBassman · May 19th, 2008, 05:13 PM

OK, just for precise clarity here, the model number of the 10k Fatbody is I71. Correct?:

http://store.guitarfetish.com/alfa10kovteb.html

I don't see a 7k bridge pup.

What is the difference in sound between the 7k and the 10k?

And what is the difference in sound between the 10K I71 and the Fatbody Oversized I20?

Thanks!

flapjack · May 19th, 2008, 09:15 PM

I have only tried the 10K, which I really like, so I cannot describe the difference in sound between it and the 7K. I hope someone who has tried both, if there is anyone, will chime in.

Tony474 · May 20th, 2008, 03:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FirstBassman

OK, just for precise clarity here, the model number of the 10k Fatbody is I71. Correct?:

I don't see a 7k bridge pup.

What is the difference in sound between the 7k and the 10k?

And what is the difference in sound between the 10K I71 and the Fatbody Oversized I20?

Thanks!

Just to get the numbers straight, you're right that the 10k Fatbody is I71. The I20 is the "regular" 7k Fatbody bridge pickup while the I37 is the neck unit.

Other GFS Tele bridge pickups around the 7k mark are the I05 "Vintage Voiced" and the I29 "Vintage Alnico 50". I have one of the latter in one guitar, teamed with the Fatbody neck pickup, and it's a great-sounding combination. The I29 is bright and clear without being shrill and has good strong bottom-end response.

All the same, this doesn't answer your question about the difference in sound between the I20 and I71, and anyway sounds are a bit hard to describe in words... Jay at GFS is a very helpful guy and perhaps an e-mail to him would elicit enough info to enable you to choose from what's available. Besides, GFS pickups are such good value that it's possible to experiment a bit without losing a fortune.

FirstBassman · May 20th, 2008, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony474

Jay at GFS is a very helpful guy and perhaps an e-mail to him would elicit enough info to enable you to choose from what's available.

I did. He said to get the 7k I20.

I'm so confused . . .

I'm playing at a party in a couple of weeks and would like to take the SX and get this resolved by then I hope.

Al Nico · May 20th, 2008, 09:31 AM

I haven' tried the 7K Fatbody... but the 10K Fatbody still has a good amount of chime and shimmer to my ears. It does not sound overwound, and is a very good match for the Fatbody neck, both volume- and tone-wise. It's not as snappy and aggressive as a trad wound bridge, but it can get into P90 territory with the tone rolled down and decent OD pedal.

March 3rd, 2008, 08:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
T_L_H TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Somewhere... Age: 16 Posts: 82	GFS Tele Bridge Pickups... Ok, so, for my newest project, I'm planning a doing a Tele custom arrangement with a single coil in the bridge position and a humbucker in the neck position. I'm planning on using a Dream 180 for the neck, but I'm searching for a bridge pickup. I've got my eyes on the Alnico Fatbody Oversized Polepiece or the Vintage Voiced. Any opinions?

March 3rd, 2008, 05:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Tony474 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Bushey, near London, England Age: 61 Posts: 1,808	Worth pointing out that the Fat TC Alnico I05 isn't the same thing as the Fatbody, which has the part number I20 (GFS also does an overwound Fatbody, which is something else again). I don't have direct experience of any of these but I do have a Vintage Alnico 50 (I29) in one guitar with a Fatbody neck pickup (I37). Great combination, works for me but others can tell you more about the actual items you're asking about specifically. __________________ Proud to be The Man From Uncool.

March 3rd, 2008, 05:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
robt57 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Lost Yankee in Nashville Age: 51 Posts: 2,027 2 Photos	I am with you. I do like the few high end PUPs I do have I must say. CS 57/62s and Fralins and I have some SH-1s in my Faux 335 [DOT]. But I like it even better when they are cheap, free or an unexpected deal. Like the GFS FAT TC I got. Never expected it to be as good as it is. Last edited by robt57 : March 4th, 2008 at 12:22 AM.

March 4th, 2008, 07:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
toadman Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: andoverandoverandover,ct Age: 45 Posts: 865	alnico fatbody sounds good in my partscaster.nice vintage twang __________________ toadman the plank spanker www.slugnickel.com www.zydecohogs.com "The ultimate result of protecting man from folly is to fill the world with fools" Herbert Spencer

March 27th, 2008, 02:54 PM	#18 (permalink)
flapjack Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 145	I have the 10k fatbody bridge pup It has been in one of my teles for a long time now and I really like it. Compared to the quarter pound that I have used in the same guitar, the fatbody has more sparkle/brightness to it. It sounds more like what I think of as a traditional tele bridge pup, but with a bit more power and thickness to it. Sorry about my description - I always find it hard to describe with words what I hear. __________________ flapjack

March 4th, 2008, 07:05 AM	#10 (permalink)
bluescube Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Greensboro NC Age: 41 Posts: 1,036 6 Photos	I have the 7K Fatbody tele bridge and it is wonderful!

March 4th, 2008, 07:23 AM	#11 (permalink)
6942 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Western Maryland Posts: 1,362	I put a GFS Vintage Alnico 50 in a Squier Tele...................NICE!! Cheers!! Steve

March 4th, 2008, 08:44 AM	#13 (permalink)
T_L_H TDPRI Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Somewhere... Age: 16 Posts: 82	After looking at some more reviews, and listening to some sound clips, I think I'm gonna go with the Fatbody for the bridge and pair that with a Dream 180 in the neck position.

March 4th, 2008, 02:49 PM	#14 (permalink)
cloink50 TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Western MI Posts: 19	+1 on the Vintage Alnico 50. It really breathed some new life in my MIM Thinline. I also have a L'il Puncher XL Cool Vintage in a parts Tele. It's a hummer but spanks like a Tele with some extra.. er punch. I paired it with a L'il Crunchy Mini Humbucker in the neck. Seperately both pups make it sound like a Tele. Together, I get a nice warm PAFfy crunch when overdriven.

March 24th, 2008, 08:17 AM	#16 (permalink)
bluescube Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Greensboro NC Age: 41 Posts: 1,036 6 Photos	The Fatbody 7K bridge pickup is Grrrreat!

March 26th, 2008, 10:56 PM	#17 (permalink)
alcoholfueled51 NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Age: 28 Posts: 7	I just installed a 10k Fatbody today. Sounds amazing! It reminds me a bit of the HW1 pickups (in the new HW1s) but with a bit more shimmer and not as muddy. Even though I've seen posts commenting on the thick baseplate, the pickup sounds great! I have one installed in a swamp ash tele and one in an alder tele. Both sound great and work well with high gain too! HOWEVER, (the small print) the baseplates on mine came loose since it was only secured with a light dab of glue and ended up giving off nasty microphonic squeals, so I had to re-secure it with wax. I think this is the kind of thing that would be a real bummer to a consumer /w little time (even assuming you have all the tools (wax, soldering iron) and experience in fixing such things) Interestingly, though, I haven't had problems with their other tele pickups and lipstick ones with baseplates

March 28th, 2008, 06:33 AM	#19 (permalink)
bluescube Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Greensboro NC Age: 41 Posts: 1,036 6 Photos	Hmm......I wonder if I should have gotten the 10K version instead of the 7K? The 7K has a real vintage tone with a bit more fullness and no icepick in the treble.

May 19th, 2008, 05:13 PM	#21 (permalink)
FirstBassman Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 879	OK, just for precise clarity here, the model number of the 10k Fatbody is I71. Correct?: http://store.guitarfetish.com/alfa10kovteb.html I don't see a 7k bridge pup. What is the difference in sound between the 7k and the 10k? And what is the difference in sound between the 10K I71 and the Fatbody Oversized I20? Thanks!

May 19th, 2008, 09:15 PM	#22 (permalink)
flapjack Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 145	I have only tried the 10K, which I really like, so I cannot describe the difference in sound between it and the 7K. I hope someone who has tried both, if there is anyone, will chime in. __________________ flapjack

May 20th, 2008, 09:31 AM	#25 (permalink)
Al Nico Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 267 5 Photos	I haven' tried the 7K Fatbody... but the 10K Fatbody still has a good amount of chime and shimmer to my ears. It does not sound overwound, and is a very good match for the Fatbody neck, both volume- and tone-wise. It's not as snappy and aggressive as a trad wound bridge, but it can get into P90 territory with the tone rolled down and decent OD pedal.

May 20th, 2008, 10:04 AM	#26 (permalink)
Tony474 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: North Bushey, near London, England Age: 61 Posts: 1,808