How are the GFS P90's?

[tugboat]

Has anyone tried GFS P90's? I'm wanting to try some aftermarket P90s in my PRS Soapbar II SE. I've been noticing some weird overtones recently on the B and high E string on the bridge pickup. Not sure if it's the pickup, or if changing string brands would cure it. Hopefully one of those two and not the guitar!

My first reaction is to get some Fralins, but if the GFS P90s are as good as people say their Strat pickups are, I might go ahead and try the GFS pickups since a set of them are $100 cheaper than a set of Fralins.

[boneyguy]

Haven't tried them myself but they get good reviews on Harmony-Central.com.

It could be your strings causing problems but weird overtones are more likely to come off of the wound strings. I would be more inclined to take a look at your bridge and how the string is riding in the saddle. Or perhaps loose saddles.

It seems to me unlikely to be a pickup problem at least as you've described it.

[JohnnyCrash]

Dig em smacks...


I loved mine. I want more P-90 guitars as well as more GFS P-90s (and maybe a few more Seymour Duncan P-90s too). I am addicted to Gibson Les Paul Juniors, SG Juniors, heck any Gibson with P-90s.

[tugboat]

It's not so much weird overtones as harshness. Kinda that nails-on-the-chalkboard thing. My first reaction is that I doubt it's the bridge because it's one of those wraparound Les Paul Junior deals, but I'll check. The guitar came stock with 9.5's (never heard of those, but it's a PRS thing apparently). I re-strung it with 10's and that's when I noticed it. I played it quite a bit though before I got my Weber 5F1a kit up and running (sounds KILLER, btw), so the strings were probably a bit worn down by the time I plugged it in to anything. Maybe the new strings just exacerbated the problem?

I'm going to get some new strings today to see if that'll cure it, and then I have to decide whether I want a set of Fralins or some GFS pickups if changing strings doesn't cure it.

[tugboat]

Originally Posted by JohnnyCrash

Dig em smacks...


I loved mine. I want more P-90 guitars as well as more GFS P-90s (and maybe a few more Seymour Duncan P-90s too). I am addicted to Gibson Les Paul Juniors, SG Juniors, heck any Gibson with P-90s.

P90's kick arse. After I get a real job (just finished my Master's this past May and am looking for a real job), I'm going to go all out and do one of three things:

1) buy a Gibson 1960 reissue singlecut Les Paul Special
2) buy a PRS McCarty Soapbar
3) find a guitar building class wherever I end up getting a job and build my own Les Paul Special

It would be really killer if PRS made their new Singlecut 245 with the option for P90's or Humbuckers. That would really throw a wrench in things because I love the PRS neck but want P90s. Of course a humbucker guitar will come later. A used Gibson Les Paul Standard or a 335 may be in order there.

[Gibson]

I recently put a GFS Mean 90 (humbucker-sized) in the neck position of my tele. Loving it so far.

[elin500]

I got a GFS P90 in the neck position of my tele. It's the vintage one. I like it alot, it has a nice round tone yet it's not as mushy as a humbucker. The GFS compares favorably to my duncan P90's in my usa Hamer special.

[fierce_carrot]

Threw a pair in my Les Paul and LOVE IT!!

[jeffhigh]

I don't really want to recommend the GFS p90's cause the customer service was so bad (bought on ebay, out of stock, multiple next week promises, 5 weeks to post etc)but.........
I just fitted a bridge dogear to my homebuilt'59 DC Les paul Junior and wow....
This is the gutsiest pickup in any of my guitars,punchy and twangy with a full tonal range.
I dont have another solidbody guitar with a bridge P90 (duncans in neck and middle on a tele) but this eats the gibson p90 in my mid 60s es 125 tdc,

[Telenator]

You might try lowering the PRS Soapbars a little before you go off changing pickups. Lowering them will improve tonal balance, possibly eliminate the over-tones you're hearing, and create the need to turn your amp a little louder to compensate for the reduced signal. That's a very good thing if you're using a tube amp.

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by jeffhigh

I don't really want to recommend the GFS p90's cause the customer service was so bad (bought on ebay, out of stock, multiple next week promises, 5 weeks to post etc)but.........
I just fitted a bridge dogear to my homebuilt'59 DC Les paul Junior and wow....
This is the gutsiest pickup in any of my guitars,punchy and twangy with a full tonal range.
I dont have another solidbody guitar with a bridge P90 (duncans in neck and middle on a tele) but this eats the gibson p90 in my mid 60s es 125 tdc,

I've got about 4 different GFS pickups... then I've got all kinds of other stuff from them. Never had any issues.

That's weird... oh, just saw you're in Aussie... that could complicate things I guess :)

[jeffhigh]

"That's weird... oh, just saw you're in Aussie... that could complicate things I guess "

Nah they just tend to put up items for auction and then discover they are out of stock. It took 5 weeks for them to actually post it and then only nine days for it to arrive.
But I now see they are moving out of ebay entirely at the end of the month

[JohnnyCrash]

Originally Posted by jeffhigh

"That's weird... oh, just saw you're in Aussie... that could complicate things I guess "

Nah they just tend to put up items for auction and then discover they are out of stock. It took 5 weeks for them to actually post it and then only nine days for it to arrive.
But I now see they are moving out of ebay entirely at the end of the month

Ouch. 5 weeks is a drag.

I just order GFS stuff from their main website... I'd be a little pissed off too.