GFI pickups

Brandon Mills · Post by **Brandon Mills** » 4 Jul 2021 10:56 am

Someone probably knows the answer to this question. Are the GFI 2 and 3 just rebranded George L 10-1 and SS pickups? Does anyone know of a link to a good audio comparison?

Steve Lipsey · Post by **Steve Lipsey** » 4 Jul 2021 11:01 am

My aging memory (anybody remember the actual story?) suggests that they are custom versions of the George Ls...I had GFI pickups in a GFI and really didn't like them, although I don't remember why...maybe thin-sounding?
GFI made it hard to replace them by only routing out the pickup cavity to fit their pickups, which are slightly smaller than all other pickups...so I had to rout out space for the new ones. I don't remember what I got instead, but I remember them sounding a LOT better....
...so it was worth the extra effort....

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 4 Jul 2021 1:13 pm

As Steve mentioned, the GFI factory pickups (modified George L E-66 from what I understand) have a tendency to possess a rather harsh treble. GFI routes the cavity depth to accommodate these pickups with no provision for height adjustment so it is important to check the height of any replacement pickup to be certain that there remains sufficient space between the strings and the pickup top.

Brandon Mills · Post by **Brandon Mills** » 4 Jul 2021 1:15 pm

Good information!!! Thanks guys.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 Jul 2021 2:15 am

I had a GFI Expo S-10 with the GFI II pickup and it did good.
The S-10 was traded for a D-10 Ultra. It had a George L's E66 on the E9th and a GFI II on the C6th. I didn't like the E66 sound and was used to the Lawrence 710 sound I had on my Franklin so I installed 710's on the Ultra. Love the sound.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 5 Jul 2021 4:44 am

Jack, was any mods necessary to fit the 710?

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 5 Jul 2021 5:25 am

No, the 710 fits in the pickup space after some slight trimming of the sides (where the mounting holes are). I reused the mounting brackets from the George L and GFI II pickups but I had to "square" the inside of the ring. Spacing between pickup and strings is about right. I was concerned about space between pickup and strings but it worked out OK.

I also replaced the neck switch with an ON-ON-ON type, so both pickups can be on at the same time if needed.

The Ultra I have is a 2000 year model.

John Talbott · Post by **John Talbott** » 6 Jul 2021 1:35 pm

Brandon,

take a look at some of the pickups offered here:

https://www.steeltronics.com/

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 6 Jul 2021 6:06 pm

Jack, thanks for showing that. Fits nicely with your description.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 8 Aug 2021 3:40 pm

Would a 710 fit into a GFI S-10 Expo without having to modify the guitar? Mine still has the GFI II installed, but I certainly like the 710.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 10 Aug 2021 1:47 am

Ken, I believe Jack is referring to the sides of the pickup and not the guitar. I may try a 710 in my Ultra next string change. I have an E66 pickup on hand and considered using it. The E66 sounds great in my Derby SD10. I have a Justice SD10 3X5 with a 705 Lawrence and it sounds great. Hard to say which will be the best.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 10 Aug 2021 3:19 am

Thanks Larry. I had to file off the ends of a 710 to get it into a Mullen. I've used a 705 in an old Sho-Bud too. I like them a lot. I used an E66 in my BMI and I liked the sound of it A LOT. I tend to lean towards a brighter sound.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 11 Aug 2021 4:13 am

I've been reading up on those ZB repro pickups from Scott at Steeltronics. He makes a low profile version of the ZB pup, and a model that matches GFI string spacing. I find these very interesting. I'd like to hear from someone who has used them in a GFI.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 11 Aug 2021 9:09 am

Me too. I would rather have a proper fit.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 19 Aug 2021 3:29 pm

I bought an L710 and installed it in my GFI S-10 Expo this week.

The GFI has a trim plate that goes around the GFI II pickup, and above the mounting tabs. When you take off the trim plate to remove the George L's GFI II, you will see that the mounting tabs for the GFI II have been filed down, about half way into the mounting holes.

Since the ends of the George L's pickup are rounded off, the GFI trim plate (made of aluminum) are rounded off on the corners as well. The corners of the L710 are square, so some modification to the trim plate is needed if you want to use it. I did.

I took a couple of files, and worked on each end, alternating to I could keep the same thickness on the ends. It takes more than just squaring off the corners - the ends are too thick too. I kept trying to see if it would fit the L710, and filed more as needed. Finally, it fit.

Finally, I used 220 grit sandpaper and sanded off the sides of the L710 until it was flush with the GFI mounting or trim plate. It was then easy to mount into the guitar.

Also - I used some thin, stiff, felt under the pickup, between the cabinet and the pole pieces. It appears to be level.

I haven't put strings back on the guitar yet, but it appears as though the strings will be the correct distance from the pickup.

I hope this helps anyone who takes on this project.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 19 Aug 2021 5:56 pm

Ken, that's a terrific and thorough explanation. It seriously helps with my project. Keep us posted on the tone results.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 20 Aug 2021 2:45 am

Thanks Larry. Also, it looks like a scratch on the pup - it's a thin string fiber from somewhere... The trim plate is actually shiny - but I did some touch-up with flat black model airplane paint because there were some file marks showing. All is good. I hope to get it all stringed up and tuned today so I can check tone improvement and string/pup distance. I think I'll just put the 1st and 10th string on and check distance before going all the way with 10 strings.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 20 Aug 2021 5:38 am

I just mounted my 710's directly to the body and the string distance is OK. I didn't measure the distance but it looks about like the "loose 3/16" I had on my Franklin (and Mr Franklin told me they were set correct). Tone and volume OK too. If a 710 gets too close to the strings it can sound "trebly" and possibly even some distortion.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 20 Aug 2021 5:48 am

Noted, and thanks Jack. I'll measure once I get a couple of strings on it and take out the felt if needed.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 22 Aug 2021 12:40 pm

I finished up my project. The L710 is installed. l left the felt under the pickup and it turned out to be level. Without the felt, the pickup was just a little higher under the 10th string than the first string, probably because of the pickup wires, so I left it in place. The clearance between the strings and pickup is the thickness of two quarters. I'm still getting the new strings in tune, so I haven't checked for tone yet. Two quarters clearance should work fine.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 22 Aug 2021 1:41 pm

I ju8st checked mine. 2 quarters, too.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 24 Aug 2021 3:25 pm

I finally got my GFI strings on and got it tuned up. I tried out the L710 this afternoon, and I like it better than the GFI II pickup. It sounds good all the way across the spectrum. It's clear with a good punch. No distortion. It is not muddy sounding at all. Hard to describe completely, but I like it. It was worth the money, time, and effort.

Larry Dering · Post by **Larry Dering** » 24 Aug 2021 5:27 pm

Ken, my new GFI has the GFI III pickup. Not sure if the 710 will chit much but I'm tempted to try. I have s George L E66 available and I may try it 1st. I like the sound of it on my Derby SD10. I guess at string change I will have to try it. Glad you like your change and it worked out well.

Ken Mizell · Post by **Ken Mizell** » 24 Aug 2021 5:41 pm

The E66 may work. It will be easy to install it. I put an E66 in the BMI I had, and it sounded great, clear, clean, and bright.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 25 Aug 2021 2:10 am

The D-10 Ultra that I have, had an E66 on the E9th when I got it. I liked the GFI II pickup sound better. I installed Lawrence 710's and sound is greatly improved.