GFI Ultra thoughts

Craig Bailey · Posted 3 Aug 2017 4:25 am

I wanted to get thoughts on a GFI Ultra. I was looking to upgrade to a D10 and was considering a GFI. I had a Mullen SD10 now. How does the GFI compare to Mullen? IS GFI a good brand pedal steel? I realize everyone has their personal preferences on brands. I just wanted to get some feedback from players before I bite the bullet and take the plunge. I appreciate any comments. Keep steeling.

Dave Hepworth · From: West Yorkshire, UK

Hi Craig,
I had a GFI Ultra SD10 3x5 .I now have the same spec Mullen RP .
I found the GFI a bit small and ergonomically cramped compared to the Mullen which is more "spacious" and feels you have room to move around it and not feel locked in.
The GFI has excellent engineering ,altho some of the knee lever stops were a bit fiddly to adjust at times.
The Mullen in my opinion has a better feel on the action and is perceptively lighter .
Sound wise to my ears the Mullen has a more richer tone than the GFI ,not that the GFI is lacking because it isn't ,just different ,probably the GFI is a tad brighter / thinner.
The Mullen is heavier by far but I don't mind that ,it feels stable in its playing position.
Regards Dave

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

Hi Craig,I haven't played a Mullen although they are building a guitar for me,I have a GFI Ultra D-10 8+5 and a few other guitars,The ultra is a wonderful guitar,Easy to adjust rods/bell cranks etc.stays in tune ,As far as the Ultra sounding thin ?I don't hear that at all,I hear fat mid range tone that is my favorite,The Ultra is a well made reliable guitar.I'm sure that the Mullen is also great as is Desert Rose,Justice,Infinity,MSA,Sho-Pro...there's a lot of good guitars being built these days!!
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Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

I have a GFI Ultra SD10 keyless, so...

Jeff Harbour · From: Western Ohio, USA

Quality-wise, you can't go wrong with a GFI Ultra... Ten years with mine and it's still all I need.

I can't speak directly though about its feel vs. a Mullen. The GFI design is very non-traditional. You may love the difference (as I do), but then you may miss a bit of the traditional feel.

Either way I say do it! Seems like used GFI's sell quickly... and used Mullen D-10's are for sale quite often. So, you can always switch back later. I bet you'll keep the GFI though....

Jeff Harbour · From: Western Ohio, USA

ajm · From: Los Angeles

For Dave Hepworth:

"I found the GFI a bit small and ergonomically cramped compared to the Mullen which is more "spacious" and feels you have room to move around it and not feel locked in."

Is the scale length on the guitars the same?
If not, that might explain the difference.

"The Mullen in my opinion has a better feel on the action and is perceptively lighter."
Did you mean to say "perceptively easier", because later you said:
"The Mullen is heavier by far but I don't mind that, it feels stable in its playing position."

Craig Bailey · Posted 3 Aug 2017 11:29 pm

I really appreciate everyone's thoughts on this. I love my Mullen. I just wanted to get into a double neck to start learning the C6 neck and I wanted to take a serious look at GFI because of the value you can get on a used GFI.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

re: learning C6th. Another option would be a lap steel in C6th. Smaller investment and much will transfer to the pedal steel if you go that route later. Or, maybe that would be all you need.

Stephen Rethmeier · From: Nashville TN

Craig, I had a keyless SD-10 4x5 Ultra that I recently sold to finance the purchase of a new Williams S-12. I liked the mechanics of the GFI and the way it played as compared to my Carter Pro. However, I found the sound to be thin/bright.

I was told the specific GFI sound is partially the result of the aluminum frame body. I took it to Jim Palenscar for a pick up change and he thought it sounded fine, as is.

I changed the GFI-III pick up anyway with an Alumitone and I thought it helped by making it a little warmer, but I never got that ahhhh moment with the sound/tone. Even my wife (who is a working musician) always asked me to play the Carter because she liked the way it sounded better. As such, the GFI was relegated to being used mainly as a practice guitar.

Having said that, I think you'll find more people will say they like the sound of the GFI then people who say they don't. It's obviously a preference/subjective thing. I've also wondered if the keyless body had something to do with it.

However, I can tell you that if I ever see a used GFI Ultra S- or SD-12 in extended E9 for sale, I'd probably buy it in a heartbeat for another practice guitar, if nothing else. That is to say, the quality of the guitar and the way it plays offsets (to me) the sound to a large degree. You can always experiment with pick ups.
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Williams S12 Ext. E9 keyless, Williams S12 Ext. E9 keyed, Telonics TCA 500C, Quilter Steelaire, Magic Fender clone, 1937 Model 59 Rick 6, 1940 Epiphone 7-string Zephyr, Oahu 6, 8+/- regular guitars, Kawai baby grand, two cats...

Jeff Harbour · From: Western Ohio, USA

I've only ever heard "warmth" from my GFI. It has GFI-II pickups, maybe that matters.

Stu Schulman · From: Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)

My Ultra also has GFI II pickups and warm is a good way to describe them!
_________________
Steeltronics Z-pickup,Desert Rose S-10 4+5,Desert Rose Keyless S-10 3+5... Mullen G2 S-10 3+5,Telonics 206 pickups,Telonics volume pedal.,Blanton SD -10,Emmons GS_10...Zirctone bar,Bill Groner Bar...any amp that isn't broken.Steel Seat.Com seats...Licking paint chips off of Chinese Toys since 1952.

Ollin Landers · From: Willow Springs, NC

I had a GFI SD-10 (Keyed) I bought to use as a spare guitar when Billy Knowles had my Zum SD-12 for repairs.

I was very impressed with the mechanics, fit and finish. I was less impressed with the tone. I found it acceptable but after playing a Zum all those years I guess I was spoiled in the tone department.

I only sold it to buy a Carter S-12 Uni. All things considered I would probably buy a GFI S-12 if the price was right and wouldn't be ashamed to play it out.
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Zum SD-12 Black, Zum SD-12 Burly Elm Several B-Bender Tele's and a lot of other gear I can't play.

I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The other half I wasted. W.C. Fields

Craig Bailey · Posted 5 Aug 2017 9:43 am

I wonder what the difference is between the GF-II and the GF-III pickups are?

Don Ricketson · From: Llano, Texas

Craig I have a GFI Ultra D10-8+6 I'm going to sell for $2600.00 I haven't put it up for sale yet. It's a very nice red and black. GFI pickups both necks standard Emmons setup. I believe it's a 2003 model. It's been played very little. I've had it set up as my home practice guitar. I've had to downsize due to my age (81) and a hip replacement. Now playing a Justice Pro Lite and Zum Encore. If interested leave a message at my home phone 325-247-2190. I am in Llano,Tx.
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GFI D10-8/6 Black/Red
Zum Encore 4/5 Red
Justice ProLite 3/4 Black
2-Nashville 112

"Making The Stars Shine"

Craig Bailey · Posted 5 Aug 2017 7:17 pm

Don, how does your GFI compare to your Mullen?

thanks

Don Ricketson · From: Llano, Texas

Well Craig, If I had my eyes closed I probably couldn't tell the difference between the two, but then I probably couldn't hit my ass on either one then either Sad

Seriously though both guitars feel and play great. I will be putting the Mullen D10 up for sale also, but you were asking about the GFI Ultra. I will probably be putting the Mullen up for sale also probably for $2850.00 because it has 2 cases. One for the guitar and the other for pedals, legs and rods. Remember I had to lighten the load.
_________________
GFI D10-8/6 Black/Red
Zum Encore 4/5 Red
Justice ProLite 3/4 Black
2-Nashville 112

"Making The Stars Shine"

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