Recommended pickup for a GFI Ultra S10 with Wallace TT?

Nicholas Martin · From: Texas, USA

Good evening everyone. I have an old Ultra S10 which I am refurbishing. I used to play this thing a lot and although I liked the instrument, I never was crazy for the tone. It tended to sound thin as I got up to the 12th fret, and it seemed to lack richness.

I believe the pickup is a Wallace true tone. I haven't taken it out, but it looks exactly like one with the black and white layered pickguard material and the big pole pieces. It is screwed right down to the deck, so I can't really raise it or lower it.

One modification made to this guitar before I purchased it was the addition of a tone control. Could it be possible that this tone control is contributing to the dull sound? When I roll it all the way off, the sound is much brighter, so it seems to be working well.

What pickups should I be looking for to get a rich, bright and complex sound out of this guitar? Lace sensor? Lawrence? Something from Steeltronics? Would prefer a noiseless pickup for this particular instrument.

Thanks for all your help through the years keeping this great music alive.

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

I’d bypass the tone control as it affects the final signal. Amps have ample EQ ability to adjust your tone. I’ve used countless pickups in my GFI’s over the years and finally settled on the Re-issue 705. Emmons single coils wound to 19.5 - 20.5 is much better than the Tru-Tone with significantly less hum, IMHO. George L’s SS-10 are also a great match if you can find a them. GL 10-1 was good but a bit dark. E-66 was good but too bright. EON was decent.

After years of swapping pickups and playing different venues and numerous amps and rack systems…I found the Re-Issue 705 to be the best match across the EQ spectrum & conceal my picking nuances. They’re also dead quiet.

Dave 🙂

Nicholas Martin · From: Texas, USA

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

You can likely post in the WTB section and find someone who has an extra not being used. I think Mullen sells them and maybe other builders as well.
Dave 🙂
https://mullenguitars.com/product/lawrence-705-humbucker-pickup/

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

STEELTRONICS is getting good reviews on the Forum:

https://www.steeltronics.com/

~Lee

Nicholas Martin · From: Texas, USA

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

Shame on me for failing to mention Steeltronics! Scott bends over backwards to deliver quality products and has been relentless in working with customers to meet their specific needs. More so than any other builder of pickups!

I had a set of ZB style pickups and installed one on the top neck of my GFI for a short time. It sounded nice and I have absolutely no complaints. But I’ve become so accustomed to the 705’s over the years and the deterioration of my hearing that I decided to stay with the 705’s. The issue is mine and not Scott’s pickups! I’d definitely consider steeltronics as a viable option!

Dave 🙂

Larry Dering · From: Missouri, USA

I put the reissue 705 in my new Ultra last year and it's so much better. One issue is the pickup cavity is not big enough for the pickup mount so it has to be carefully shaved down to fit the opening. Also there's no room for adjustment in height. Scott at Steeltronics makes a 705 style that will fit and it's not as tall so you have adjustment. Scott is now the supplier of GFI stock pickups.

Jerry Van Hoose · From: Wears Valley, Tennessee

The Steeltronics 507 fits perfectly in a GFI with 3 quarters distance, strings to pickup.

Nicholas Martin · From: Texas, USA

Thanks everyone. A forum member offered me a good deal on an alumitone. If that doesn't work out, I'll try the slender steeltronics.

The main complaint I have is a sort of thin sound above the 12th fret, it almost sounds like excessive string pull. The guitar sounds amazing open, good at the fifth fret, and then thinner and thinner above that.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

I have a new Steeltronics GFI pickup. $100 shipped (n US). I bought it as I was having trouble with 3rd string volume level with a Lawrence 710 pickup. I tried the Steeltronics and it fixed the problem. The person that bought the GFI wanted the 710 and I elongated the mounting holes and was able to compromise and get it working.

Bruce Derr · From: Lee, New Hampshire, USA

Another vote for the reissue 705. I have one in my Ultra S-10 and like it a lot. I added a single-coil switch and a series-parallel switch for some variety, but I generally use the normal humbucking wiring.

When I installed it, I had to drill a new hole for the pickup wire because there was no room for the wire to be routed laterally under the pickup to the old hole where the original pickup wire went through. No big deal, but necessary.

Also as others have mentioned, the base plate has to be trimmed (I bought mine second-hand and it was already trimmed for a GFI cavity), and the pickup is too tall to allow for any height adjustment. I have had no problems with the height as-is, though.

If I was doing it now I'd certainly go with the Steeltronics 507. The photo on the Steeltronics website shows the 507 with a 2-wire output but I imagine Scott would do a 4-wire version if requested.

If you decide to try a coil switch, be aware that there isn't an easy place to mount the switch. I made a bracket and screwed it to the side rail near the changer. An easier way is to get an L bracket at a hardware store and screw it down somewhere on the underside.

Nicholas Martin · From: Texas, USA

Thanks everyone. Fooling around with the lace sensor today. Definitely a ton of output and a little bit clearer with the bar past the 12th fret, but it picks up a lot of noise; I need to work on my blocking I guess!

I'll definitely go for the steeltronics if I'm not getting what I need.

I will say this pickup looks nice; my gfi is black and the chrome/black alumitone matches.

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