The Steel Guitar Forum

How thick are GFI crossrods?

1/4"

By 'crossrod' I take it you mean 'cross shaft' (John) as you seem to be looking for substitute cranks.
All my GFI's are 5/16' square. The latest GFI cranks are 7 hole with L or R mount/clamp to fit 5/16 square.

My GFI Has 5/16 Square Cross rods. I bought it used not sure of the year it was made. It has 6 hole Bell Cranks. A 7 hole would help on some pulls.

I bet if you call GFI, they will sell you the parts... they sold me a knee lever kit.

Very easy guitars to work on.

I bought a GFI S12U ULTRA second hand. Started playing it about 2 months ago. Had to change from Nashville to Day set up, Had to change D&F levers from left to right knee, Got pedals and levers timed. Every time I sit down and play it, The more I like it. Just getting comfortable with the change of levers. Got the E9 side back, Now to the B6 and adventure for sure. A lot lighter than my old S10. E-mailed GFI, I had a question, They E-mailed an answer back the next day. That's service.

I've been playing my second GFI since 1999. It's been to almost every state and several European countries, been dropped, thrown, etc and has NEVER let me down.

It started life as an S-12, but years ago I dropped the three bottom strings (and their accompanying hardware), both to save on freight charges at those European airports and the fact that nobody I worked for did much swinging. It has worked for me for a long time and a ton of miles.

I've been playing a GFI S10 "ULTRA" for over four years,and it's been a great guitar ! Broke only one string during that time. Great tone,and lightweight.
Mine has the stock GFI 11 pickup. I think it sounds good,but does anyone suggest a different one ?
I also read someone's post awhile back about replacing the original 1/4" jack for louder output.
Any thoughts ?

Exactly...If I remember he said he replaced it with a Switchcraft jack. I think it was a Youtube video where he was trying to sell his GFI. Good pun !

So I have a GFI Ultra with a GFI III pick up. I really love the mechanics, very smooth and easy to play. I also have a 90s Carter Pro with a George L E-66 pick up and I prefer the Carter tone over the GFI. I see that some have changed out the GFI pick up, but not that many. That surprises me because it sometimes sounds like icepicks in my ears. I've played it through a variety of amps and it has never sounded as good as the Carter. I got a Black Box and it sounds a little better, but not much. What am I missing? Is there a pick up that I can drop in that will roll off the highs and give me some ear love?

Georg Sørtun wrote:
My "cure" for the GFI's characteristic "icepick" attack-sound - which I like by the way, is to use a BOSS LMB-3 as buffer. The LMB-3 lets me tune the GFI - and just about any other PSG for that matter - for the characteristics I want.

Georg, thanks for taking the time for such a detailed response. I'll look into this option as well.

in my 50 some years of playing I alwas played Emmons and Dekley.Now I play a GFIexpo x1and love it.Sounds as good as any of the ones i had witch were indorsment gjitars.Worked Nashville several years: Paycheck,Wesley riles,Jenny Pruet,Charley McCoy,Hugh X lewis, Stan hitchcox,back in the 70s and 80s..thanks Jeff for a fine guitar..And was a B and C sesson player..

I've owned a S-10 Ultra keyless for many years. More guitar than my talent deserves! Would recommend to anyone at any level.Service from GFI is above and beyond. Joe.

Agreed. The service from Bob at GFI was more than I would ever ask of any builder. He went as said before in this thread "above and beyond". And the guitar I had was a killer. Wish I'd kept it. I bought it used and even though I didn't get it directly from GFI he was right there to help as if I had.

I went from a Carter Starter to an S-10 Expo. I won't over-explain that to you.

Not bashing the Carter, it helped me realize what I ultimately wanted, which I wouldn't have known without it.

I was always a Fender guy anyway. Thanks Gene!

I bought my S 10 W/pad in November, 2011 and it just keeps getting better.

I have just purchased a GFI Professional single body 10 string 3 x 4.
The guitar was built in 1995 and is essentially an ULTRA with a Bracus Berry pickup and milled alloy bell cranks (very similar to the parts on an old MCI 12 string I used to own).
It is in absoloute mint condition.
The barcus Berry pickup sounds OK but later in the week I'm taking delivery of a George L's E66 pickup.
I'm hoping that will beef things up a little as the tone at the moment is a bit reedy to say the least.
I've also ordered a vertical knee lever kit from GFI so I'll be fitting that at the same time as the pickup. May be looking for tips/help re that.
I'll post some "before" and "after" links to the new and old pickups when the new one is installed.

This is my second GFI, my first one being a D10 ULTRA which I sold in a moment of madness several years ago!

This is the new guitar


and this is the one I sold like a dumb ass!

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