| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Replacement Pickup Recommendations for GFI Ultra
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Replacement Pickup Recommendations for GFI Ultra
Craig Bailey

 

Post  Posted 18 Dec 2018 5:15 pm    
Reply with quote

I have a GFI Ultra D10 with the stock GFI III pickups in it. They are too mellow for my ears. I am used to playing a Mullen G2 and Mullen Discovery. Can anyone recommend a good replacement pickup?

Thanks,

Craig
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Charley Paul


From:
California, USA
Post  Posted 19 Dec 2018 9:27 am    
Reply with quote

I have a George L’s E66 in my GFI S10 Ultra. It was installed when I got the guitar, so I can’t compare it to the stock GFI pickup. I can say that is nice and clear, yet warm. It sounds great clean and overdriven, and cuts nice,y through a wash of fx!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bobby D. Jones

 

From:
West Virginia, USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 1:57 am     Replacement Pickup Recomendations for GFI Ultra
Reply with quote

I have a GFI S12U Ultra Steel, It came with a George L's E-66. I have not heard a GFI steel with GFI III pickups to compare the sound and tone.

I experimented with 4 Amp's and settings to get the sound and tone I wanted, And weight I can handle. I get some good comments on the sound and tone with the setup I use for gigging.
Good Luck in finding the sound and tone you are searching for.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
K Maul


From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 6:11 am    
Reply with quote

Lace Alumitone. Try the Robert Randolph model.
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ian Rae


From:
Redditch, England
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 7:35 am    
Reply with quote

I have Alumitones in my Excel and my Williams which are very different guitars but both sound bright when required. Can't imagine it wouldn't sound good on the GFI.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
ajm

 

From:
Los Angeles
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 2:15 pm    
Reply with quote

"They are too mellow for my ears."

What do you mean by "too mellow"?
Tonally?
Not loud enough?
Both necks or only one?

Have you tried calling GFI?
View user's profile Send private message
ajm

 

From:
Los Angeles
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 2:21 pm    
Reply with quote

I just noticed that you have a post in Steels for Sale.
It is a GFI D10 with GFI III pickups.

Is this the same guitar?
View user's profile Send private message
Patrick Richards

 

From:
Arkansas, USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 3:04 pm    
Reply with quote

Hi Craig. I tried a couple different pups in my Ultra SD10 and to my ears the Truetone was my favorite. Really quiet and nice tone across the board.
_________________
Breaking strings and gettin dings.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rich Ertelt

 

From:
Texas, USA
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 3:52 pm    
Reply with quote

I'm using a Telonics on my Ultra. It had a Truetone when I got it. Both are really good.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Billy Carr

 

From:
Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
Post  Posted 20 Dec 2018 10:06 pm     Psg
Reply with quote

I've had 3 or 4 GFI's and never cared for the stock pu's. 10-1's always worked for me in a GFI. Thanks.
View user's profile Send private message
Jack Stoner


From:
Kansas City, MO
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2018 3:17 am    
Reply with quote

I've used my Wife's GFI Expo S-10 with a GFI II pickup to track steel a couple of times when my Franklin wasn't available. My Franklin has Lawrence 710's and I hate to say it but the GFI recorded nearly as good as the Franklin.

I recorded through a SansAmp unit direct to the board.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Georg Sørtun


From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
Post  Posted 21 Dec 2018 3:44 am    
Reply with quote

My Ultra with GFI II PU sounds very even tonally, and just fine (to my taste) compared to any of my other PSGs with various PUs.

Will mention that if/when I'm not quite happy with how a PSG with whatever PU sounds, I alter the PU-load (buffer input impedance) rather than replace the PU. Most PUs will sound brighter with a higher impedance / lower load, and darker with a lower impedance / higher load.
Buffers with Vari-Z in one form or another have saved me lots of time, and money, over the years.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Norbert Dengler


From:
germany
Post  Posted 22 Dec 2018 11:05 am    
Reply with quote

i had GFI II GFI III E 66 and Wallace truetone in my Ultra. i Like the E 66 best for its bright and cutting sound. I always find it easier to cut some treble than adding treble to
a muddy sounding instrument.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bobby Nelson


From:
North Carolina, USA
Post  Posted 25 Dec 2018 1:47 am    
Reply with quote

I don't have a GFI, but have 5 different pups for my guitar, and the Alumitone is by far the brightest (in a very well rounded pleasing way) of them all.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Stu Schulman


From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
Post  Posted 31 Dec 2018 12:59 am    
Reply with quote

I've done a bunch of recording direct on my ultra and sent the tunes to a client thru email and I loved the GFI 3 pickups ,I wouldn't change them at all.
_________________
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.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Craig Bailey

 

Post  Posted 31 Dec 2018 4:56 am    
Reply with quote

Perhaps my pickup height is whats causing my sound to be too muddy.

Thanks
_________________
________________
Mullen G2, Mullen Discovery, GFI D10 Ultra,
'76 Rosewood Emmons PP, '79 Black Emmons PP
Telonics Amp, Stereo Steel, Fender Vibrasonic & many Telecasters (You can't have too many)
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Heiko Aehle


From:
Bretleben GERMANY
Post  Posted 12 Jun 2019 3:40 am    
Reply with quote

I have a GFI Expo and the stock pickups installed and I am very satisfied - great tone live and studio -
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron