Truly Manic Monday

Hi all. Please bear with me since this is the first time I've done something like this and I'm trying to base it on LRs I've read from the past few weeks.

As usual for any given day of the work week, I did not have anything for lunch, but I am heading shortly to my best friend's house for a gumbo he started several hours ago (perfect freezing weather for a good authentic, made from scratch South Louisiana gumbo). He cooked it for the folks heading to his house to watch the Saints take on Atlanta.

My G&L question is more like a theme that I will try to explore today (and possibly again later in the week, depending on responses) concerning the MFD pickups in my (and all other) S-500.

Pickups: Sense vs. Sensibility

Today's question: Has anyone changed their MFD pickups for another brand, and if so, why and which ones (brand and placement on the guitar)? And don't forget why to both parts of the question.

I love the single coil MFDs and the wide range and variety of tones that can come from them. If I were able to buy an S-500 with a humbucker MFD (if these even exist) in the bridge position then as far as I'm concerned, I would never need another guitar for the remainder of my life - but I'm sure not going to get in and do any routing to fit humbucker MFDs, even if they do exist. The guitar to to close to perfect to have me monkey around with they way if was originally cut.

Now please understand that I am relatively new to the G&L experience extraordinaire and and thrilled with the capabilities of my S-500, 3-bolt bird's eye maple neck - despite 25 years of playing a rosewood fingerboard partscaster. The concept of individually adjustable pole pieces for the player, as opposed to the factory, is quite intriguing - even though I haven't done much with adjusting anything but just a couple of turns higher on the bridge pickup high E string.

The noise factor is not bad to begin with utilizing the MFDs, and my "project" when everything comes together and I have the time, is to shield the cavity and underside of the pickguard to reduce whatever noise I can (but that's another topic for another day).

So, aking the question in another way: for those of you who play out, record, or just pluck the strings on your G&L for the pure pleasure of playing, would you - if price and labor were not a consideration (imagine if you will, someone willing to buy everything and do the work at G&L for you for no cost) - change the MFD pickups and why or why not? Think of this as you chance to imagine your "perfect" pickups in an already truly magnificent guitar. And if you don't have MFDs in your - say, Legacy, do you wonder what your guitar would be like with them?

I'm not trying to start a war over which ones are the "best." I just want to know what players think about these unique pickups as opposed to the traditional magnetic posts.

And by the way, go Saints! If you have a favorite NFL team, by all means I expect to hear about that, too (in a friendly manner, if possible ).

Now I'm off to get that body and soul-warming gumbo...

Phillip

HiYa Phillip,
I'm pretty new here myself.
Yeah go Saints! We have the '49'ers, but the season wasn't so hot for us.
I've always followed the Saints ever since Bum Phillips had Ken Stabler (after he was with the Oilers).
I've only ever been in Louisiana once, but I enjoyed New Orleans and Baton Rouge briefly.

Love my '05 S-500 just the way it is (s/s/s) for the variety it can handle. And the MFD has more bottom than my Legacy (Tribute) AlNiCo pickups. More Hi-Fi too. I play lil' ol' wallpaper background dinner jazz with a quintet, and the S-500 gets a great jazz sound (plus everything else).

I think the G&L's I've had apart all had "swimming pool" routs, so no wood chopping is required to change pickup styles: only pickguard modifications.

I won't be modifying my G&L's because they already provide what I'm looking for, and I've had a bellyfull of modifying guitars in the past.

My only other desire is to try out a Commanche. But I'll be keeping my other G&L's!

Hi Phillip

This might make you wet yourself - check out the pickups:

Yes, they make an MFD humbucker - standard on the F100. I'd love to get my hands on one of them, in Fullerton Red....

The MFD pickups are fantastic. I love the ones in my ASAT Classics. I have tried different pickups in them. I currently have an OC Duff Plankster in my semi-hollow Bluesboy, which is an overwound vintage tele style pickup. I also had a set of Don Mare pickups in another of the ASATs, I put the stock MFDs back in a couple of days ago. The Don Mares are the best pickups I've ever heard - they're going into a parts-a-caster I'm building.

If I were to change anything about the MFDs, I'd try and tame the high end, they can be a little (and it is only a little) harsh sometimes.

I ate Gumbo for the first time ever about a month ago - I made it myself following this mans recipe. Damn, it was good.

Hi Phillip, they're some interesting questions you're asking. I've got an S-500 which I bought with Legacy pickups installed, but I found them weak and kind of vanilla sounding. After putting the original MFD's back in I'm much happier - the PTB tone system and wide frequency response of the MFD's give so much flexibility that I can't see me ever taking them out.

My only reservation about the MFD's is that the bridge pickup is a little anaemic compared to the others. I'd like it to put a smile on my face the same way the bridge MFD on an ASAT does. I have other strat type guitars with pickup sets from Fender custom shop and Seymour Duncan. Fender in particular do a good job of overwinding the bridge pickup to give it the same 'juice' as the other pickups. As you suggest, an MFD humbucker would be a great alternative in the bridge to get around this problem.

If I ever was to take out the MFD's I think I would drop in some Fender Fat 50's. They're the nicest 'classic' sounding single coil pickups I've heard in a stratocaster. I've got a set of Lace sensors kicking around that I'd like to try in an S-500 too. They're hi-fi like MFD's, but also noiseless and I'm guessing they'd sound really cool with the PTB tone system.

Enjoy that Gumbo man! It's beer, seafood and sunburn all the way down here in sunny Hobart. Then afternoon

Hi Phillip,

Great question for yer first LR duty, but not sure about the Saints, especially since I am writing from the Atlanta area. Right now we're in a bit o' trouble.

I just love those MFD's, and really love those big 'ol MFD's. I have changed p-ups in almost every other guitar, I own but Leo knew what he was doing here. The Z coils are another one I don't see changing. Did change Duncan p-ups in my ASAT Deluxe to Dimarzio's, dirtier tone to me. Others were Broadcaster p-up in a 62 tele reissue, Dimarzio's in a tele deluxe and Jerry Donahue Duncan p-up set in my parts G&L JD5, all for tone reasons. Perfect pickup would be a daunting task to change MFD's. Big ones I definately would not change.

I am an ASAT guy but the reviews on those S-500's have peaked my interest.

Hi Phillip,

In all the years I have played guitar, I have never changed any of the pups. The most I have had done on one particular guitar was replacing the inferior OEM tuners with a set of Schallers on my first (non-G&L) electric. But that doesn't mean I don't have a wide set of different pickups and sonic options. I just got it done by getting a lot o' geetars I have to confess that I got my PRS 245 Sunburst purely because their pups were supposedly made in similar fashion and the same materials as the original PAF's. If price and labor is not an issue, I would go for another guitar anytime. So for me personally, there is no real need to experiment with different pups. And just Like Tim, I do love then wide bobbin MFD. Actually, thinking a bit harder, I like all my MFD's. Even the humbucking ones in my F-100 RE and 25th Anniversary.

Well, I'm rooting for the local Seahawks. They play the Rams this Sunday for all the marbles in the NFC West. Lets see if its possible to win a division with a losing record

- Jos

NO, I've never pulled out MFD's but I do have an 82 500 that I bought which already had a set of dimarizos in it, since the guitar is already routed a bit I'm thinking of either turning it into an S-500 special as I have a set of blades or I may order a set of vintage strat pups for her.

Phillip, great start. And some interesting questions.

I have not changed any pickups on my G&Ls. Just last night I tried my F100-Return with the MFD humbuckers and it will cover almost any thing that I would do. They have a wide range in tone from fat to not too thin. The legacy pickups can get shrill but I consider that good as you can trim them back. G&L pickups do everything that Fender does and generally better. The exception may be the Clapton Strat. I have a Fender that I put the Lace Sensor Chrome Domes (Hot Golds) in two years ago and they are the closest to the Clapton sound that I have. They are my favorites in the Fenders that I have.

On a side note, I have 2003 Asat Tribute Special that I replaced the tuners in a week ago. I had several sets of American G&L (G&L Logo) tuners laying around and I drilled the hole to install them and that is pretty slick. They are much better than the stock Tribute tuner. The plastic rings in mine were breaking. Cannot tell they have been replaced other than they have the G&L logo. I am not aware of any after market drop ins for the Tributes.--- Darwin

Sorry about your team last night Sam, But we will probably meet each other again. BTW I am the Gumbo guy. I have heard horror stories about the stock pickups in the s-500, something about them being ceramic. That was from a bunch of PRS guys that I know ( I collect (hoard) PRSi, G&L, Hamer and a variety of boutique guitars). I own 1 (at least) of every G & L made except the tributes. I have an S-500 on the way as we speak, I belive its a 92, I wanted to give it a shot. I am a Legacy premium SSH lover. I just recieved a Commanche and will be trying out the z's tonight. IDK about changing the pickups as I have not tried that yet. I am a typical bucker guy. Doesn't really answer any of the questions. Food for thought,if you like your pickups leave them alone.
G

Welcome George. If you own one of every G&L except Tributes, that is a stunning accomplishment.
Got any photos of your G-200 or HG-2 guitars you can share? We love "porn!" - ed

To come in late and briefly. I have no intention of changing the pickups in my G&L. I bought the ASAT special over the classic specifically FOR the pickups. That was all she wrote.

HiYa Phillip,

Love my '05 S-500 just the way it is (s/s/s) for the variety it can handle. And the MFD has more bottom than my Legacy (Tribute) AlNiCo pickups. More Hi-Fi too. I play lil' ol' wallpaper background dinner jazz with a quintet, and the S-500 gets a great jazz sound (plus everything else).

I think the G&L's I've had apart all had "swimming pool" routs, so no wood chopping is required to change pickup styles: only pickguard modifications.

This is so cool dude! I am planning to have one too as my birthday present! I would love to check this G&L out, I’ll rock the town having this one!

Hey Guys! I am thinking about buying the 30th Anniversary F-100, anyone try one out yet? It is has MFD pu's and I am assuming that the bridge would be HOT (15.6K) like the 25th Ann. or the 2009 F-100?

Does anyone have any experience with the hotter MFD PAF pu? I want this guitar for rock, and the F-100 being mahogany, I want some of that Les Paul-ish tone, but not a Les Paul tone... will the F-100 deliver just that or is it more an SG tone?


What about the hotter MFD pu's? Are they more open sounding than the TB-4 or SH-4 (JB) ? What are the characteristics of this pu? I like the 70's Dimarzio Super Distortion with it's ton of pick attack.... Will the MFD Bridge pu have a percussive attack (early VH tones possible??) or is it a smoothened attack/tone?

Last, the 30th has a stainless steel tremelo system. Any ideas why??? Will stainless steel sound worse???