Has anyone tried the Guitarfetish GFS Redactive Active Pickups?

[Shask]

Has anyone tried the Guitarfetish GFS Redactive Active Pickups?

I did some searching, but strangely I saw very little about these. It kind of looks like the Red ones are closer to the Seymour Duncan Blackouts, the the Gold ones closer to the EMG 81s.

Any thoughts on these for cheap actives?

 

[gunch]

Sounds like it has a little more low mid content than an 81

 

[Shask]

Sounds like it has a little more low mid content than an 81

Yeah, I saw that. That video actually inspired this thread, lol. I have the HBZ pickups in a guitar, and I actually like them. They are much bassier and chunkier than the EMGs. It seems like the GFS pickups might be kind of in between.

This video is the Golds. I think the Reds are a little less EMG-like with the cocked wah thing.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Iirc the reds are voiced fo be more versatile with Alnico pickups, and the golds are supposed to be more hot with ceramics. Ive read from one guy the Reds are kinda sorta similar to the 57/66 set

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I had one several years ago. A reasonable venture into actives. Not quite the same output as actives, but the hidden gem is the dip switches on the eq, reminds me of the Seymour Duncan old school Livewires of 30 years ago that had them on their bass offerings.

 

[Shask]

Iirc the reds are voiced fo be more versatile with Alnico pickups, and the golds are supposed to be more hot with ceramics. Ive read from one guy the Reds are kinda sorta similar to the 57/66 set

That is interesting because I was thinking about trying a 57/66 set, but also thought about trying some of these cheap pickups as an interesting experiment first.

This guitar has Fishman Moderns in it, but kind of getting sick of the cocked wah thing. I threw my EMG 81 in it, and that was OK. I switched it to an EMG 85 yesterday, which sounds OK in some situations, but not others. I was looking at 57/66 or Fishman Classics, but the GFS pickups caught my attention also, as it seems like they are somewhere in between the EMGs and Blackouts, and would be a cheap experiment.

 

[youngthrasher9]

You’d probably have to dig pretty deep with google but I remember there was a guy on the Duncan forum who tried the redactives really early on that posted a decent amount of info about his experience.

 

[Shask]

You’d probably have to dig pretty deep with google but I remember there was a guy on the Duncan forum who tried the redactives really early on that posted a decent amount of info about his experience.

It is weird because the reviews I have read have all been positive, but they don't really seem very popular. You would think you would find more about them.

I went ahead and ordered a set of the EQ switching ones to put in place of Fishman Moderns. I am curious about them in general, especially if they live in the EMG 57/66 space. For $67 a set, it is worth trying. I would like some actives that aren't the typical cocked-wah 81 type thing.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

It is weird because the reviews I have read have all been positive, but they don't really seem very popular. You would think you would find more about them.

I went ahead and ordered a set of the EQ switching ones to put in place of Fishman Moderns. I am curious about them in general, especially if they live in the EMG 57/66 space. For $67 a set, it is worth trying. I would like some actives that aren't the typical cocked-wah 81 type thing.

Let us know how it goes, try it in all the varied eq settings, record them so that you can a/b them.

 

[Shask]

Well... my 30 minute thoughts...

After 2 days of messing with these, I finally got them working well. I kept getting distorted crackly tones with no volume, and all kinds of weird issues. I kept pulling wires out, and jumping leads, and all kinds of things, and finally realized that the pinout on the connector is not the same as EMG/Fishman. The black/white wires are reversed, so this was pretty much sending the signal into ground. Easy solution, but damn, that was pissing me off, lol. I didn't want to take out the Fishman wiring, so I basically just soldered the GFS wires on top of the Fishman ones, so I have like 10 extra feet of wires going to nothing in this guitar, lol.

I briefly tried it will all 3 EQs up first, because I read somewhere that these were more like cuts as compared to the original non-EQ version. This basically sounded like a big muff pedal because it was way too much bass, so I flicked the bass boost off. I currently left it with the gain and treble boosts on.

So far, I think it sounds really good! It reminds me more of the Fishman Modern with more bass, than an EMG 81. The mids are at a lower frequency, more in the cocked wah range, than the crunch range. Crapload of output. I only tried it into my FM3 so far, but I had to back the input to -18db, and it was still a ton of smooth gain. I am thinking about turning off all 3 switches to see how it sounds at its tamest. The just the bass off, I definitely get a Fishman Modern with more chunky bass vibe.

My first impression is that these sound great for $33. I don't notice a HUGE difference between these and an EMG or Fishman, Not the same, but in the same neighborhood. I am going to try more switch combinations, and try them into my tube stuff. I currently have 2 batteries on them, for a total of around 15v. I run my EMGs in other guitars all at 24v. When played into a clean channel, I get a very full bodied clear tone without any distorting.

Not sure if the red goes with the looks of the guitar, but not really a big deal.

 

[Shask]

Spent a couple more hours messing with it tonight. I think I stumbled upon my favorite settings first before trying different things. I tried different things, but I still preferred gain and treble boost on.

In general, I like the treble boost on best. I thought it would get plinky, like a single coil (which I hate), but it brings in more of the upper mid crunch. Without it is more like an EMG 85. Smooth, big low end, but not much pick attack. You need the treble boost on to get the crunchy pick attack.

I think the bass boost is way too much unless you are going for stoner doom or something with no definition. Even with this off, it still has bigger low end than an EMG 81 or Fishman modern.

The Gain boost... I think I could go either way, but I am going to leave it on. With it off, it is probably around a Duncan Custom level of output. Enough for my FM3, but a little light with my 5153 50w. With it on, it is more than an EMG 81. Probably comparable to the Fishman Modern.

Overall, it has that smooth, polished type thing the EMGs and Fishmans have. I dont think of this as less than those. Just different. It maybe has a little more background hiss, but not enough for me to care. As I mentioned last time, I think the bridge, when set with the gain and treble boosts on, is comparable to the EMG 81 or Fishman Modern, with a bigger low end, with some more smoother lower mids. I think if you are basically looking for something EMG or Fishman ~like, but want a bigger low end, and not so clinically tight, these could be a good choice.

Every change I made to the bridge, I also made the the neck. I think the changes translate similar to both.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

You actually make me wanna try the single coil version. I got a couple of guitars I wanna keep active but retain (or am forced to) the HSS config, so getting the single coils with the tone toggles to boost the gain and bass and cut the treble would be very useful.

 

[Shask]

You actually make me wanna try the single coil version. I got a couple of guitars I wanna keep active but retain (or am forced to) the HSS config, so getting the single coils with the tone toggles to boost the gain and bass and cut the treble would be very useful.

Might be worth trying. Could try these or the EMG SAs.

I was getting some buzzsaw tones, so I put in new batteries. I did 9v at first, then 18v. The 18v has a similar effect as EMGs where the low end gets bouncier, and clean sounds are more full and less distorted. I might try 24v soon. Hopefully they can handle them, lol.

I kind of want to try the Gold ones also. I have a feeling they will have less bass, and more of the cocked wah thing. I definitely notice the reds are just more of everything. Kind of like when you go from an EMG 81 to a Duncan Distortion. Still heavy, but in a less precise brutal kind of way.

I might order some Golds, and a Crunchy Rail, because I have always been curious about those.

 

[Shask]

Confirmed these run on 24v. I switched them tonight and played for an hour or two. Sounded good. Didn't catch on fire.

 

[Dambo55]

I'm surprised more guys have not tried these out?

They been around some time now.

I have a FrankenF-Series LTD guitar I'm thinking about using these on, it's a HS set up.

Anyone try the regular, non EQ ones?

 

[Cromcast]

Confirmed these run on 24v. I switched them tonight and played for an hour or two. Sounded good. Didn't catch on fire.

Yoo I've been debating trying these out for a while and was wondering if you still liked them, and if they're still running well at 24v? I do 24v on all my EMG guitars too and have a bunch of harnesses for it but I didn't wanna get this set and blow them up using them on 24v for too long. I'm glad I found someone who has them and has some experience with them! Let me know when you get the chance, thanks

 

[Shask]

Yoo I've been debating trying these out for a while and was wondering if you still liked them, and if they're still running well at 24v? I do 24v on all my EMG guitars too and have a bunch of harnesses for it but I didn't wanna get this set and blow them up using them on 24v for too long. I'm glad I found someone who has them and has some experience with them! Let me know when you get the chance, thanks

Yep, I still have them! I was playing them into my new Fortin Synergy module last night, and it was sounding very aggressive and gnarly.

I haven't had any issues with 24v. I still think these are kinda in between a regular active and a passive. You get the output and feel of an active, but they are not as clear and smooth as an active. Almost like if you mixed an EMG 81 and a Duncan Distortion together. They are more aggressive and sludgier than an EMG, but clearer than a full passive. If that makes sense! lol.

I keep thinking about ordering a set of the Golds to compare. They have a 20% off sale right now, but many of the pickups are out of stock.

 

[Cromcast]

Yep, I still have them! I was playing them into my new Fortin Synergy module last night, and it was sounding very aggressive and gnarly.

I haven't had any issues with 24v. I still think these are kinda in between a regular active and a passive. You get the output and feel of an active, but they are not as clear and smooth as an active. Almost like if you mixed an EMG 81 and a Duncan Distortion together. They are more aggressive and sludgier than an EMG, but clearer than a full passive. If that makes sense! lol.

I keep thinking about ordering a set of the Golds to compare. They have a 20% off sale right now, but many of the pickups are out of stock.

Badass, thanks man! I think I'm gonna try a set of these with that 20% off sale, half active half passive pickups sound amazing and unique. I have an EMG 81 and a Duncan Distortion and I really like both so these sound like they'd be great. And yeah that totally makes sense! I'm slightly scared to try the 24v mod on them though haha apparently they said 18v wont work on them in an email to someone else who's tried them, even though the person tried the 18v mod and it worked just fine. They might be covering their own asses incase of a defect or maybe they just haven't tested it. One thing I don't like about them is the dip switches being on the under side of the pickup, it seems difficult to put everything together and string the guitar up just to test the sound then have to take the strings back off (especially on my floyd rose) to pull the pickup all the way out and flip the switch. Have you found any solution for that? I think I'd first be trying it with the gain and treble boost on but not the bass. Thanks again for the detailed responses dude I appreciate it!

 

[Shask]

Badass, thanks man! I think I'm gonna try a set of these with that 20% off sale, half active half passive pickups sound amazing and unique. I have an EMG 81 and a Duncan Distortion and I really like both so these sound like they'd be great. And yeah that totally makes sense! I'm slightly scared to try the 24v mod on them though haha apparently they said 18v wont work on them in an email to someone else who's tried them, even though the person tried the 18v mod and it worked just fine. They might be covering their own asses incase of a defect or maybe they just haven't tested it. One thing I don't like about them is the dip switches being on the under side of the pickup, it seems difficult to put everything together and string the guitar up just to test the sound then have to take the strings back off (especially on my floyd rose) to pull the pickup all the way out and flip the switch. Have you found any solution for that? I think I'd first be trying it with the gain and treble boost on but not the bass. Thanks again for the detailed responses dude I appreciate it!

I played it some more tonight, still no issues.

I have them on a Floyd guitar, so I just kind of loosened the strings, dropped the Floyd bar to the body, and pulled the pickups up just enough to flick the switches with a toothpick, lol.

Yeah, even with the bass switch off they have far more bass than an EMG or Fishman. Probably similar to a Duncan Distortion or Custom or something. They are not nearly as tight as typical actives. I like the treble switch on for extra aggressive pick attack. Without it on, it is much smoother. Gain boost on makes it hotter than an EMG 81.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I still have the Redactive Golds sitting in the box waiting to go into my PS60. Just been too preoccupied with other shit to do the swap lol. Looking to do it sometime tomorrow or Thursday... hopefully