Gfi Pu

Karol Wainscott · From: Kokomo , Indiana

I have a GFI Ultra SD-10 . It has the GFI-II pick up. If I was to change to a different PU , what would you guys suggest and why. I want to understand the tone , etc. from different pick ups. Thanks

David Nugent · From: Gum Spring, Va.

What you have in your guitar is basically a slightly modified George L E-66, so changing to another George L would most likely not yield noticeable results. When I owned a GFI I opted for a Truetone pickup wound to 18.5, vast improvement in tone over the factory unit IMO.

Karol Wainscott · From: Kokomo , Indiana

Thanks David. I know others have made changes so I thought I would just ask here on the forum as to re-invent the wheel . I figure I will get various opinions and will choose one and see what happens.

David Higginbotham · From: Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA

I used 10-1's and I was happy for awhile. Switched to SS-10's which are a 10-1 with stainless blades and I was happier. Went to Emmons single coils at 19.5 and I was happy for a couple of years. Original 705's were great too but the re-issue 705's were the best of all and that is what I still use. GFI has been my main guitar for many years and always will be. These new 705's are the perfect match for me. As David already mentioned, the GFI pickups are made by George L's and although the GFI 1,2, & 3 pickups sound different, they still sound like George L's.
Dave

Stephen Rethmeier · From: Nashville TN

I have a GFI Ultra with the -III pick up. I asked the forum the same question as you and got a variety of suggestions. The Alumetone Tonebar was one and the Truetone was another that I remember. I'm taking mine down to Jim Palenscar at Steel Guitars of North County this week to have a Tonebar installed (and a vertical lever added). He and I talked about it and he thought the Tonebar would give me a warmer tone than the -III.

The interesting thing was that he played my GFI briefly through the same amp I use at home (Quilter Steelaire) with the same settings and he thought it sounded muffled. Adjusted the settings to something brighter and he thought it sounded normal. He did ultimately adjust the height of the pick up because he said that sometimes that can cause the tone to be brighter the closer to the strings. I took it home and played it at a gig a few days later, but felt like it was still too bright and ice-picky at times. Just "shows to go ya" that sound can be subjective...

My frame of reference is my Carter SD-10 with a George L pick up. Jim said that part of what I'm hearing is the difference between a wood body and a metal body. He thought the Tonebar would close the gap between the two. We'll see. If I don't feel like it does, I'll probably sell that steel and get something else. Maybe another Carter since I love the tone of mine.
_________________
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...

Karol Wainscott · From: Kokomo , Indiana

Thanks David and Stephen for your inputs. To me the GFI-II does not play balanced , meaning I have some bright strings and some darker string notes . Would like to hit a constant sound then I could dial in bright or darker on the amp. Stephen when you get your change made would you please post your thoughts. Thank you fellows for your inputs .

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

Karol Wainscott · From: Kokomo , Indiana

Georg, I am using Cobra coil premium strings . My amps are a peavey NV 112 with the Ken Fox chip mods , reverb pan mod and speaker change to EPS-12c Eminence . I also play through a Peavey Vegas 400.

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

OK. What are the individual string gauges?
These are mine...

...and I use those gauges (thicker 3d and wound 6th) on all my E9 steels - Jagwire or LiveSteelStrings.

Are you using a buffer, or an active VP before the amp?

My GFI w/GFI II PU sounds quite well balanced through a buffer > passive VP > original NV112 w/neutral EQing, so I find it a bit strange that you cannot make your GFI sound to your taste with original PU.
Not that I am totally surprised, as it isn't the first time I have observed that an unbalanced string-set and/or wrong PU load makes a GFI sound a little "off". GFIs tend to be "sharp" sounding if picked too close to the bridge - call it a "feature", but they should sound just fine through any steel-amp when played right Smile

Karol Wainscott · From: Kokomo , Indiana

Georg , my strings are as follows : .013,.015,.011,.014,.017,.020,.026w,.030w,.034w, .036w . My set up is guitar to Goodrich Matchbox , to volume pedal to Boss DD6 , to amp.

Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

The Matchbox is fine (I have 2). Maybe a little brighter-sounding than the buffer I prefer, but a good "match" for the GFI II.

Your string gauges are pretty standard - "light E9", and IMO not as well balanced sound-wise for the GFI steel and PU as the slightly heavier gauges I use. Especially the 6th string where I would use a wound - involves moving of rods on bellcranks for longer throw.

I sure would have liked to pick that GFI of yours so I could pin-point why it doesn't sound well-balanced across the strings. But anyway, the Ultra is a light steel with a distinct (and pleasant) tone, and I recommend you play around with string types and gauges before replacing the PU.

Karol Wainscott · From: Kokomo , Indiana

Georg, I probably should have thought of that as I have been down that road with 6 string telecasters to get the right strings. Any way I will try that and see what happens. Thanks

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