GFS P90's- Anyone Used Them

[Ray G]

Hello Folks,

I'm getting the ducks in a row for a parts-Jazzmaster. I want to use P90's and I'm wondering if anyone has tried the GFS P90's. How do you like them and how do they compare to the more expensive P90's (Gibson, Lollar, Frailin).

Thanks in advance!

[aunchaki]

I can't compare them to other P-90s, but I'm sure others will chime in. All I can say is that I love my GFS P-90. It's in the neck position of my Squier Affinity -- the first guitar mod I ever did. It gives it a rougher, grittier sound -- in a good way. It's pretty high-output, so I have it down pretty low. If I had it where I'd have a normal Tele neck pickup, it would blow the bridge pickup away.

[Ray G]

Thanks for the thoughts, appreciated. Anyone else?

[wilkat1]

I'm quoting out of turn here esp. since I haven't tried 'em, but I recall Rob DiStefano stating that he likes the GFS Mean 90 better than the Cee-More-Drunkins Phat Cat.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/just-pick...le-career.html

[freshmattyp]

I'm considering P90's for a project and I'm curious to know what pot values to use - 250, 500 or 1 meg. Suggestions?

[Durtdog]

Originally Posted by freshmattyp

I'm considering P90's for a project and I'm curious to know what pot values to use - 250, 500 or 1 meg. Suggestions?

I'm no expert, but from my personal experience with P90s in a Tele, I would not recommend 250k. Way too dark and woofy for my tastes, at least in the neck.

[Ray G]

Originally Posted by freshmattyp

I'm considering P90's for a project and I'm curious to know what pot values to use - 250, 500 or 1 meg. Suggestions?

Have you tried GFS P90's?

[3 Chord]

I replaced the stock P90 in my Epi LP jr with a GFS. Big improvement. Clearer, more definition and sweeter grind. Made the sound more "alive".
For the price, I say they are decent pups.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by freshmattyp

I'm considering P90's for a project and I'm curious to know what pot values to use - 250, 500 or 1 meg. Suggestions?

Like most any true single coil, 250K.

[JohnS]

In my Epi '57 Reissue LP Jr., 500K pots and .02 cap. 250's were too bright for my taste and 500's were what Gibson used originally.

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by JohnS

In my Epi '57 Reissue LP Jr., 500K pots and .02 cap. 250's were too bright for my taste and 500's were what Gibson used originally.

Interesting, since it's widely recognized that 500K pots add treble and 250K pots are warmer. Gibson typically uses 300K pots, but even that can vary these dayze.

[JohnS]

I sent away to Gibson for a Jr schematic. What they sent me was a copy of a obviously very old drawing (couldn't tell the drawn date) and showed 500K and .022 cap.

[spankdplank]

With P-90s, I would go with 500K pots over 250K. In a two pot set up like a tele, a 500k on one pot and 250k on the other will also work well. In the three guitars I have built with P-90s, I have tried various combinations of pot values and for me at least, all 250K is too dark and muddy. Because P-90s have such a pronounced midrange emphasis, I think the higher pot value is needed to bring out the sparkle and string definition.

[Ray G]

Anyone tried GFS P90's?

[2Buck Chuck]

I have a TC-90, with Seymour Duncan P-90s- very powerful, great tone. According to Fender's wiring diagram for the TC, the pots are 500k ohm. I have not tried GFS.

[2Buck Chuck]

Originally Posted by aunchaki

I can't compare them to other P-90s, but I'm sure others will chime in. All I can say is that I love my GFS P-90. It's in the neck position of my Squier Affinity -- the first guitar mod I ever did. It gives it a rougher, grittier sound -- in a good way. It's pretty high-output, so I have it down pretty low. If I had it where I'd have a normal Tele neck pickup, it would blow the bridge pickup away.

VERY COOL - that's what I'm planning on creating. I'm thinking about a new MIM Standard Tele, since from what I've read here they have a humbucker route in the neck position. I'll install a P-90 instead.

[boneyguy]

Originally Posted by Ray G

Anyone tried GFS P90's?

I think you're being ignored.

I wish I could help but I've only used the GFS Tele pu's

[xStonr]

Every GFS p/u I've had, I replaced.

[eichaan]

I'm interested in this too. I have a guitar with Tele neck pickup and coil-tapped humbucker in the bridge, and I am thinking about a GFS single coil size humbucker for the neck and a Mean 90 for the bridge.

[weiner71]

I put a GFS P90 in the neck of my tele. Sounds outstanding. I have 250k pots in it. It is very warm. I have a standard tele bridge pup in there and if I had put in 500k's my ears would bleed every time I switched between them.

I had a LP Jr. for a while and I would say that the p90 in that was comparable to to the GFS.

I would stick w/ 250k pots for sure.

edit, I had the soap bar one in the neck.

[aunchaki]

Originally Posted by weiner71

I put a GFS P90 in the neck of my tele. Sounds outstanding. I have 250k pots in it. It is very warm. I have a standard tele bridge pup in there and if I had put in 500k's my ears would bleed every time I switched between them. I would stick w/ 250k pots for sure.

I also stayed with the original 250K pots. No complaints.

[bender-freak]

Originally Posted by xStonr

Every GFS p/u I've had, I replaced.

i have tried several sets of GFS pups in different Teles, LP's, etc......they are still in those guitars and still getting compliments from other players when i do play....cheap price is just an added bonus, i don't consider them to be cheap in sound/quality....

the best pups for anyone are going to be the ones they like...

tried a set of Twang Kings in my partstele and after 2 weeks they came back out and the GFS went back in...still have the TK's but am giving them to a buddy of mine who is coming for a visit in October...he sounds fantastic with them, but they didn't "do it" for me...

[Gibson]

I have a GFS Mean 90 (humbucker-size) in the neck of my soon-to-be number two Tele. I don't have a huge amount of previous experience with P-90s, but I like this one very much.

The name is appropriate too, I think. Gives me a great "mean" blues sound.

[freshmattyp]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I have an Epi Dot Studio I'm going to work over with some GFS Dream 90's and new hardware. Kind of like the one Rob DiStefano sold here not too long ago. Mine has been sitting in the case for a year waiting for me to find the time and money to get it in shape.

[mitril]

I had the GFS Fatbody in the bridge of my Tele '72 Custom and it was a really great improvement. I recently sold the guitar and the GFS came out.
It will get a 2nd life in one of the Pinecasters I am putting together at teh moment. I am making 2 at the same time but with different necks, ebony and rosewood.
One of the guitars will feature a SD Jerry donahue in the bridge and a Swedish Lundgren PU in the neck, the other one will have the Fatbody and probably 2 P90's. So far I haven't decided what P90's to purchase so I am watching this tread with interest.
I am choosing between a pair of Toneriders HybridP90, Wilkinson's ultra cheap WM90 or the GFS P90's.

[Freewheeler]

Originally Posted by Ray G

Anyone tried GFS P90's?

http://www.propellihattu.fi/yamaha/

I put a pair of GFS Custom vintage P-90s (replaced the bridge and neck pups) in my Yamaha SA-530 TVL and woah! More highs, more bottom, more "air". Lower output than the stock Yamahas but much more versatile. From twang to crunch just by adjusting the volume pot. Quality stuff at ridiculous price!

[echale iii]

If their P-90s are anything at all like their Mean 90s, then I'd say you were in for a treat, sound-wise! I absolutely love the Mean 90s in my Epi Les Paul Standard.... Very nice string definition on clean, lots of snarl and bite with the gain turned up some....

[Rob DiStefano]

Originally Posted by echale iii

If their P-90s are anything at all like their Mean 90s, then I'd say you were in for a treat, sound-wise! I absolutely love the Mean 90s in my Epi Les Paul Standard.... Very nice string definition on clean, lots of snarl and bite with the gain turned up some....

+1 ... love the Mean 90's.

[Gary in Boston]

I have a "Dream 90" on an old Vega guitar. It is a really great pick up. It's in cased in steel so it's pretty quiet

I also own a 1957 Les Paul TV Jr. as well with as real a P90 as you're going to get.

It's warmer and perhaps a bit louder and harsher. The GFS pickup is a heck of a deal though and I would use them any time over just about anything out there.

There you have it.

Gary

[TelesExtreme]

Originally Posted by aunchaki

I can't compare them to other P-90s, but I'm sure others will chime in. All I can say is that I love my GFS P-90. It's in the neck position of my Squier Affinity -- the first guitar mod I ever did. It gives it a rougher, grittier sound -- in a good way. It's pretty high-output, so I have it down pretty low. If I had it where I'd have a normal Tele neck pickup, it would blow the bridge pickup away.

I'm am building a mahogany tele and plan to put a single coil pickup in the bridge and either a humbucker or P90. My goal is to get a dirtier country rock sound, but I'm not really sure what kind of pickups to use. What are you using? Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Kevin