• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: Alnico II pickups for real strat sound

So I finally got rid of my Texas Specials, and I ordered GFS Alnico II pickups
These were the first pickups I've ever soldered in myself. I MUST say they are great. Listen for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzedeh9YbOQ

If you don't have that kind of time:
The Alnico II's sound more vintage, less output
The pole pieces are not dramatically staggered, more balanced
The middle pickup is NOT reverse wound, just like vintage pickups
And you can't say it sounds like SRV or any cornered sound except for it sounds like a STRAT.

When I wired it, I took Joe's advice and moved the tone control over to the bridge pickup. I now actually use my tone controls!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Alnico II pickups for real strat sound

Yup sounds like a strat.  I'm digging the "Bold as Love" pickguard!  Is the 60Hz hum bad on those?  They sound pretty quiet on the clip.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Alnico II pickups for real strat sound

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

Yup sounds like a strat.  I'm digging the "Bold as Love" pickguard!  Is the 60Hz hum bad on those?  They sound pretty quiet on the clip.

You're right, I didn't really notice the hum all that much. I did have the pickup cavity shielded, so maybe that helped? But if it was there, it wasn't that noticeable. I really liked having a middle pickup that is not reverse wound - that was a major difference.

As for the pickguard, thanks! I made it back when I worked at a sign shop. It was printed on adhesive-backed vinyl and I applied it to a white pickguard myself.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Alnico II pickups for real strat sound

I don't have that set from GFS but I have a 60's over wound set that I swore was the best sounding pickups I've put in an electric guitar single coil or humbucker.  $70 bucks???  Who would have thought you could cram that much tone in one set of pickups that cheap.  I wanted the alico II pickups but the time when I was buying pickups they were out so I decided to go with this other set.  Cool dog in the video too.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Alnico II pickups for real strat sound

Just wanted to talk again about GFS pickups.  I had a American Series 2001 Stratocaster with GFS pickups in the guitar, and I had a Telecaster nashville Deluxe with a fishman power bridge and 3 tex/mex single coil pickups at a gig last night.  This was the first time I had ever played both these guitar live anywhere in my latests amp which is a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (40 watts 1x12)  I started with the strat becaue it was my favorite guitar I have.  I found that those pickups where very quite and had virturally no 60 cycle hum at all for a true single coil pickup thats overwound.  Notes sang out of that guitar that could make you cry.  I tried the Telecaster for one song and I hated it.  First thing I noticed was the output wasn't there I had to turn the amp way up to get heard over our drummer.  Next I noticed if I switched pickups on the guitar the neck would feed back with my amp settings like they where.  I was forced to use only my bridge pickup and I had to walk away from my amp a bit to control the feedback.  One song changed my entire views of pickups for ever.  Stock Fender pickups flat out suck the end. 

I had a lot of people smiling when I had that stratocaster cranked up.  GFS for the money flat out kicked fenders little **** and took no prisoners!  $60 folks for a Freaking SET of **** kicking pickups.  Never been happier then I am about that guitar now.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Alnico II pickups for real strat sound

Sounds like a strat alright. Would have been nice with a "before and after" video big_smile

I'm glad you got rid of your taco pickups, I'm glad I got ride of mine

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Alnico II pickups for real strat sound

ZampraZ wrote:

Sounds like a strat alright. Would have been nice with a "before and after" video big_smile

I'm glad you got rid of your taco pickups, I'm glad I got ride of mine

no "before" video could have been done because the neck Texas Special shorted out!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool