CustomShop69 or GFS Greybottoms?

[Dimitree]

Hello guys, this is my first topic here..
I'd like to change the pickups on my strat, and I don't know if choose the Fender Custom Shop 69 or the GFS Greybottoms Vintage Rock (not overwound).. What are the differences, in terms of sound, between these 2 sets?

thanks
Dimitri

[Joobsauce]

I'm going to say that 60's repros from GFS are going to sound a LOT closer to the CS 69s, though I've heard great things about both sets.

[cooltone]

I have CS 69's in one strat and GFS vintage staggers in another. Aside from the neck pickup (which the 69's win hands down), the GFS pickups have more clarity, sweeter tone and are more evenly matched (plus, they cost much less).

[Russ]

I just put a set of copperheads in they are price wise inbetween the two www.copperheadpickups.com you would want the 67 set you can have them custom would ( calabrated) and have the poles alnico 5-2 if you want. my latest set is a 5-2 67 neck a 59 5-2 mid. and a hot 6.5 bridge 59. Sounds great.

[Dimitree]

thanks guys
I'm wondering if there are any differences between the CS69 and the GFS greybottom, or the GFS are the replica of the CS69? does the eq is different? I don't want a crisp sound full of highs like a classic 50 strat..I want a clean sweet sound like The Edge (U2), and the position I use more is the quack position, middle-bridge..

[cooltone]

Sorry, I can't give you a specific comparison. I don't believe that GFS tries to replicate anything specific from Fender's custom shop. I do know that there's a much better 'quack' in the 2 and 4 positions with my GFS set than the CS 69's.
As far as differences between a 'clean sweet' sound and 'crisp sound' goes, you may be talking pickup height rather than pickup quality differences.
If you want a RWRP middle pickup, the CS 69's are not what you are looking for.

[Russ]

All the sets talked of do sound better than the stock MIM classic 50s 60s. So IMO get which ever you like the idea of. IMO RWRP mid pup does muddy up the inbetween quack sound. The mid pick up on my new copperhead set can sound quite quacky on its own depending on my attack lots of harmonics . Nice sustain on all, huge pallet of sounds avaliable with changes in the Volume and tone controls. love em. I have a set of GFS 64 texas they are good sounding pick ups , lots of good sounding pick ups out there, hard to say which pick up in which guitar is the right one for a person , certianly the CS 69s , GFS 60-70 , copperhead 67s , plus all the other guys pick ups built with or built on the Fender late 60s pickups will or should produce a tone in that ball park. A good amp is what you need as well to hear any big difference between the MIM classic and other better more accurate built pups.
Why I choose copperheads is because they #1 are Canadian, which I am #2 the guy will make what ever you want no extra charge. and though more money than GFS , not as much as most other builders.
IMO nothing wrong with any of them different guys will have different thoughts and experences.
IMO if you can not compare them your self you may always wonder if you made the right choice. Pickups are only part of the whole deal only one part of the tone chain.

[melody]

All the sets talked of do sound better than the stock MIM classic 50s 60s. So IMO get which ever you like the idea of. IMO RWRP mid pup does muddy up the inbetween quack sound. The mid pick up on my new copperhead set can sound quite quacky on its own depending on my attack lots of harmonics . Nice sustain on all, huge pallet of sounds avaliable with changes in the Volume and tone controls. love em. I have a set of GFS 64 texas they are good sounding pick ups , lots of good sounding pick ups out there, hard to say which pick up in which guitar is the right one for a person , certianly the CS 69s , GFS 60-70 , copperhead 67s , plus all the other guys pick ups built with or built on the Fender late 60s pickups will or should produce a tone in that ball park. A good amp is what you need as well to hear any big difference between the MIM classic and other better more accurate built pups.
Why I choose copperheads is because they #1 are Canadian, which I am #2 the guy will make what ever you want no extra charge. and though more money than GFS , not as much as most other builders.
IMO nothing wrong with any of them different guys will have different thoughts and experences.
IMO if you can not compare them your self you may always wonder if you made the right choice. Pickups are only part of the whole deal only one part of the tone chain.

Well said!!~