The Steel Guitar Forum

A while back I exchanged emails with David Higginbotham discussing changing out pups on my GFI guitar.

I was wondering if others have tried different pups on their GFI's and could share their findings.

I love the 705 on my Rains guitar and since I have "the tinkering fever" I was looking for suggestions and also which models where easy drop in exchanges needing no alterations.

Contact Dave Beaty at Telonics, he builds great pickups!!Also a wealth of information!!!

I have a Telonics 409 in a GFI, Ultra D10 , E 9 neck. The major difference is the guitar is much more responive to picking, you don't have to play as hard. Much cleaner high end and bigger bass sound. It sounds more like my Zum with a 409, so I don't have to adjust the amp as much as before when I switch guitars. Two quarters spacing one the bass side and one quarter and a dime on the treble side. Then adjust the pole pieces for flat level using a index card and a flat amp. Then adjust for push pull like tone on the low strings and bell like tone on the high strings with the amp still flat. Pedal wide open (Both times. )

Then adj the pedal and amp controls for your favorite sound.


Install the pickup and play it a few days before you adj the pickup flatness so, you know which strings need adjustment. Do the adjustments, play the guitar for a couple more days and do the tone adjustments. Do not do the adjustments after you have played a gig. Let your hearing rest.



I plan to install an 84 in the C6 neck. ( I have the Telonics PRO vol pedal and rack system.)

Drew Belk uses a Bill Lawrence 705
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hC-6G2OOqE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APXrYG2bCBc

Those are great videos. I'd like to know if the 705
dropped in or if alterations to the guitar was required.

I don't want to change pickup cavity.

I have a Truetone with a coil tap in my GFI. Absolutely love it.

Ha! I had a GFI for awhile. It had the Barcus/Berry pups that ate their own guts! Gene was kind enough to give me a great deal on his newer pups.

The GFI's I've had over the years all sounded good to me with a George L 10-1 pu. The GFI pu is the only thing I've found about GFI that I don't care for. Just my tastes.

Order a Truetone pup from Jerry Wallace. What a great guy to talk with. Very understanding of my lack of knowledge concerning pups.

Would like to have tried a Lawrence 705 but physically sets to high according to measurement I had taken from my Rains.

Single coil and a GFI frame, hope this makes for a great tone.

Can't wait until "tinker time"

you`ll notice a little hum but the sound will improve at leas that`s my experience.
i got truetones on both of my GFI s