GFI and Bobbe

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 5 Dec 2002 11:04 am

Tuesday I recieved a brand new black GFI D-10 from Bobbe Seymour. Tuesday night I played it on a show. I had never played a GFI or even seen one up close, but I wanted a new guitar with mechanical stability, durability and good tone. I considered many, and talked with Bobbe at length about GFI and some other brands. I decided to "take a chance" and just but the thing.

I'M VERY GLAD I DID! What an incredible bargain. These steels are extremely well-built and engineered; they are light and strong, stay in tune very well, and really do sound good (this from a died-in-the-wool Emmons man). If you want a great professional steel at a great price, talk to Dr. Bobbe about a new GFI.

JC

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 5 Dec 2002 12:56 pm

After selling you three Emmons guitars over the years, I'm glad to hear that you like the GFI as well as so many of the other professional players do. Yes, the guitar is the bargain of the century, I just did a "Thumbstyle" teaching video with one yesterday and between the way it looked and sounded on video tape, I was very pleased myself and plan to use it a lot more in the future. Why do I play and sell this guitar? Because I truly believe it it.

Thank you Jody,

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 5 Dec 2002 2:23 pm

I don't know what GFI did to their guitars in the last couple of years but they are getting GREAT tone. I use to think GFI's were
a little thin sounding. No more. I heard Jeff
Peterson playing one in Bobbe's shop with my back turned and the last thing I thought it could be was a GFI. It totally shocked me. Mike Fried from Gary Allen's band is also playing one. I was very impressed at the workmanship, playability, and most importantly the tone of the new GFI's. They are putting out an excellent steel now.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 05 December 2002 at 02:24 PM.][This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 05 December 2002 at 02:24 PM.]

Richard Plummer · Post by **Richard Plummer** » 5 Dec 2002 3:17 pm

Yes I really like the sound of the GFI and I was also suprised at the tone of the guitar.It is built with a slick design with the neck selector switch on the right side of the guitar if I remember right.It appears to be built like a tank.Richard

Jeff Peterson · Post by **Jeff Peterson** » 5 Dec 2002 5:25 pm

Jody's guitar, I believe, was an 8 + 8 that I put together. Working on these guitars is pure pleasure. The parts are all high quality, and easily adjusted. The tone is a surprising plus. No one expects this 'modern' looking guitar to have such a full-bodied tone...but it does. Very solid, playable, and a reasonable deal. No, I play Emmons, but now you have an alternative besides the boutique guitars that sometimes cost more than an Emmons. Emmons guitars aside, this GFI sounds every bit as good as any of the others....better than most.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 5 Dec 2002 6:46 pm

When I was looking for a nice steel, and kept reading about how brite and thin sounding the GFI was, I went over to Stephen O'Briens and played his...The tone I heard was very far from brite and thin sounding...It was very full with plenty of presence...I bought it on the spot...It's VERY easy to play and work on, and at 40 lbs out of the case for a D-10, it's easy on the back....Jim

John Macy · Post by **John Macy** » 5 Dec 2002 7:17 pm

I love the tone Ronnie Miller gets out of his GFI's...

And I think Jeff's work on guitars is highly under-publicized, too.

David Weaver · Post by **David Weaver** » 5 Dec 2002 9:04 pm

I bought Ronnie Miller's GFI D-10 from him in St. Louis (He had a new GFI keyless in the works). I love it and I play it every day. I just wish it sounded the way it did when Ronnie played it...but that's not the guitar's fault.

Jody Cameron · Post by **Jody Cameron** » 6 Dec 2002 10:06 am

REPORT FROM THE FIELD:

Last night I had to pull some low end off my amp because the tone was SO FAT it was almost TOO fat. I'm not sure of the specs on the GFI pickups, but they sound real nice to me, and they are very consistent...both necks sound the same. We recorded live onto hard disk last night and when I listened back, I was VERY pleased with the tone on tape(or "on microchip", if you will). I used the GFI, a Nashville 1000, and a Boss RV-3.

I feel I've sacrificed nothing in tone and gained a lot of peace of mind about the mechanics of my guitar doing what they are supposed to do, as well as smooth playability. Last night was probably THE most demanding gig I play (Frenchie Burke) and the GFI did very well IMHO.

JC

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 6 Dec 2002 2:59 pm

If I was going to play a light weight guitar it would be a GFI.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 7 Dec 2002 12:01 pm

Yes, Jody, I played my GFI on a job last night and it is quite nesessary to NOT use much bass on the Nashville 1000 amp.Slightly over half seemed to do it for me.
Several other Nashville pro players were there and were shocked by how great this little black double neck sounded, and very pleasently. I pulled it out of the back of a pickup truck, set up,in 20 degree weather, went immediatly to the stage, plugged in and started playing the show, NO TUNING PROBLEMS!!!! How can you beat a guitar like this? Not easy.

bObbe

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 8 Dec 2002 12:20 am

I don`t know about GFI, but that Jeff guy can sure pick some steel.

John Vaughan · Post by **John Vaughan** » 9 Dec 2002 10:26 pm

I have the same setup as Jody (GFI, N1000, RV-3). Bought mine from Bobbe about two months ago and played my first gig with it last Sat. night in San Francisco. I would simply echo everything said so far about the GFI's. Outstanding tone, light weight, great looking (I have the all black model), reasonable price, AND it stays in tune; but the biggest plus is the tone. It's "scary good" without having to use a bunch of equipment.

JV
[This message was edited by John Vaughan on 09 December 2002 at 10:28 PM.]

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 10 Dec 2002 8:43 am

Re: JODY, what type of pickups does your new GFI have? Are they made by Gene? If you don't know,maybe BOBBE could enlighten us?!
~~W.C.~~ [This message was edited by Wayne Cox on 10 December 2002 at 08:48 AM.]

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 10 Dec 2002 9:16 am

The pickups don't matter Wayne, The tone is in the guitar, regardless of how you are picking the tone up. We have even tried some known poor quality pickup units in this guitar while doing some experimenting and it still sounded great. However, the pickups for all GFI guitars are made by Geo.L.. I have always loved the Geo.L. pickups, as I do the great Bill Lawrence pickups. We are all lucky to have these two companies serving us. Thank you Wayne, I love your playing! [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 10 December 2002 at 09:17 AM.]

Allan Thompson · Post by **Allan Thompson** » 10 Dec 2002 10:09 am

I bought one from Bobbe in June of this year and my Push Pull Emmons has not been out of the case since then. I can`t say enough good things about these guitars or the service from Steel Guitar Nashville.

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 10 Dec 2002 10:51 am

Bobbe, I didn't know you play a GFI. I'd seen you playing Emmons guitars, though. Brett Day, Emmons S-10

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 10 Dec 2002 8:29 pm

Brett, I'm a guy with an open mind, I listen to all guitars, I love Emmons but the GFI is a different kind of very usable package. I like it also. My mind and ears are always open.
Bobbe

Frank Parish · Post by **Frank Parish** » 10 Dec 2002 9:02 pm

I remember about a dozen years or so ago being over at Bobbes shop one day and he was telling me all about these different guitars Sho-Bud, etc. I seen this black p/p out with the rest on the floor and asked about it and he said "Oh that ones not for sale. It's mine." I had to laugh and asked what about all these other guitars you've been talking about. He said "Well if you're going to play with the big boys you need the heavy artillery." I loved it and still do. Just had to throw that in there Bobbe but if you say those GFI's are coming on strong I'll believe you. Bet you still got that old p/p don't you?

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 11 Dec 2002 7:35 am

Bobbe,
I have to agree with the point you made about the GFI being a different from the Emmons, but still a great sound..The Emmons is a great sounding steel, and has it's place in history, while the GFI is a newer steel, it's got a different, but wonderful sound, and has the feature of easy adjustments, and light weight... I was wondering if you know of anyone who has put a single coil pickup on a GFI, and if so, what were the results ??...I'm tempted to give it a try on my next string change..The GFI sounds great, but I will always have an Emmons P/P in my possesion !!...

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2002 5:09 pm

Yes Frank, I do still have the Emmons P-P, the same one, and use it a lot. But there are some jobs that the GFI just can't be beat. Weight, Tone, dependability, value are all reasons to consider this great , under priced, little, strong guitar.
Now come up here and see me, don't make me have to come and get you! Ha! Ha!
Bobbe

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 11 Dec 2002 5:12 pm

James Q, This might be a great experment, I think I'll try a single coil established brand pickup on a GFI, It has to be great!
Thanks James for your comments and take care of our mutual great friend, Stephen.
Your friend,
Bobbe

Emmett Roch · Post by **Emmett Roch** » 11 Dec 2002 5:59 pm

I have to agree with all the comments that have been made in this thread, but (yet one more time) I'll add mine: no airline in the world has ever been able to damage my GFI, no matter how hard they tried...I've had to repair and replace hinges and latches on the case, but that's all. The guitar has always come out ready to go to work, in tune and in adjustment.

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___________________
GFI S-12 extended E9
www.garypnunn.com

Jeff Peterson · Post by **Jeff Peterson** » 11 Dec 2002 6:21 pm

A single coil on a GFI is a little thin..plus the noise, 'course. Not many pickup changes on GFI's, because it is a good sounding guitar, hence, not too many people opt for a different(Lawrence: read-better) change. GFI's with Lawrence's are just that much better. Again, a great sounding guitar is just that....it just doesn't matter how you mic it....THAT is subjective. Full-range=BL710.....antennuated upper-mids= BL LXR-16....toned down output/clean full range= BL 910.
A guitar with good, basic, full tonality can handle them all...and that equals Emmons, ShoBud, JCH, and GFI. I feel that most of the rest of makes can not handle all three choices....some, not all. A really great pickup works like a really great microphone....it will just reveal all the nuances/strengths/weaknesses of whatever you put into it. If you is da' best singer around, you ain't afraid of a Neumann.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 12 Dec 2002 8:38 am

Well said Jeff, I guess that's why Clint Black has you playing steel in his band.
Yes, you are correct and I agree, except for the subjective part, it's not subjective to people that can hear.

I.M. Hawkenstuff