Dare I say 'cheap' pu's?

[Gordon, rimbaud country]

Hi everyone; I don't post often but I just saw Chris S's post plugging the amp forum, made me laugh, so I had a look round there and now here... and, question for today. I'm thinking about putting a p90 in at the neck, and before I put money down on a rio grande or a lollar, I wanted to get some echoes on cheap brands, say mighty mite or GFS, who both do p90s. Money does make a difference sometimes, but if you think it'd be a mistake,well, just let me know.
Thanks.

[Durtdog]

I have a Mighty Mite P-90 in the neck of one Tele. Sounds really good, like a P-90. I think I paid about $12 for it. I also have an assortment of different types of GFS pickups, but no P-90. I think they're also really good and for the price, it's easy to try them.

[Gordon, rimbaud country]

Thanks for the reply, Mr durtdog. One thing puts me off gfs is their over the top sales pitch on ebay, but I'm just being difficult there. Any other words of wisdom, suggestions appreciated.

[Ringo]

I have a GFS "Memphis" mini humbucker en route, going to try it in the neck position of a Tele, I'll post results when it's done.
Deaf Eddie just installed some of the GFS "Nashville" pu's in an Epiphone, he loves them.
I do agree that the seller's descriptions are a bit over the top but I think for the $ they are probably all pretty decent.
I've had other "cheap" pu's that sounded good, the Duncan designed humbuckers sound about the same as the real Duncans to me.
I've had some Kent Armstrong Strat pu's that rate with any that I've owned.
And some of the MIJ / MIM Fender pu's are great too.

All you can do is try a pickup out in your guitar, that's the real test, if you like it then it passes.
The rest is all hearsay and hype.

[Martinp]

I hhave no real input about cheap pickups, but I've gotten some really good pickups cheaply -
like a van zandt for $25, an rio tallboy for $35
and a Seymour for $27, I even got a set of rio Jazz Bass pickups for $45.
they're out there, but you have to shop a bit, or if on EBay pass on some until you find something with the right price
good luck

[Darrell]

I have spent a small fortune on the after market pickups. The only one's I have kept are, the AS standards, the MIM neck and bridge, the OV, and the APTII. Just so happens, I paid the least amount of money for all of them.

[BB]

The best deal I ever got on pickups was SK's before his price increase. Incredible bang to buck ratio. Stew Mac Golden age pickups are another price / perfomance winner. Now, if they only made tele pups! I usually buy mine used and I've lucked out and found two sets of GA buckers for $20 each. Recently, came across a brand new GFS Dream 180 for $20 and a nice set of gold covered alnico PAF's from a early 80's Japanes LP for $20.00. I can't seem to pass up a pickup deal when I see one. My parts drawer is pickup laden!

[Gene Machine]

He makes a bunch of low priced pickups. I have some humbucker fit 'filtertron' style ones i'm going to put in my les paul this weekend... i'll do a post just for *****$ and giglles.

i have heard good things about his stuff.

[bek]

I have a GFS Dream 90, which I put in the neck spot of my semi-hollow slide guitar, replacing an Epi 'bucker. The GFS is smooth, clean and dead quiet. In this guitar it seems a little "polite," but I haven't even tried to adjust the thing much. The GFS service was good, and it seems like an awfully good value; it clearly seems better-constructed than the Epi I took out. It does not sound like a humbucker, even if it is the same size and shape, so you're getting the P90 sound.