GFS Pickups GFS Pro-Tube Lipstick

This is a single coil passive Lipstick Pickup rated at about 8k resistance.

It was installed in the middle position of a 82-85 MIJ Squire Strat. A 57' reissue I believe. So it has a small radius and a Maple fretboard.

I replaced the stock pickups. Actually, I bought another pickguard and started fresh so that I would still have the stock pickguard and matching electronics if I wanted to go back or if I needed to sell it.

The neck PU and the bridge PU are both GFS Lil' Killer 15k's. The 5-way switch wiring is standard but neither tone knob is functional. Just a single volume.

I'm not aware of any artist, major or not, who uses GFS pickups. Insert joke about me the being the best artist using these.

I changed the pickups because I like to change pickups. And that's all the reason I need.

I installed it in the middle between two humbuckers because I like the idea of having something different in the middle position and because I thought the combination of the Lil Killer and Pro Tube would sound cool in the notch or "quack" positions.

The output level is higher that a standard vintage-styled single coil, but alongside the 15k single coil sized rail humbuckers, it mixes better than I had hoped. I have the humbuckers set fairly low so that they would mix decently. I tend to play with distortion or overdrive at all times, even if just a little, and it sounds even through all the positions. Clean, there is a notable drop in volume, mostly bass.

For recording I use a Behringer V-AMP Pro that usually goes direct. I practice through a Roland Cube 30 and for everything else I'll use one of several 70's - 80's Peavey 40-120 watt solid state or solid state/tube hybrid amps with a distortion stompbox. I have too many to list. Let's just say I use what my mood strikes me with.

To my ears, the Pro Tube sounds scooped in a very glassy, natural way. I've only played with an older Danelectro with lipsticks a couple of times and I don't remember anything special about them soundwise. I certainly don't recall anything that sounded this good.

The pickup is a little short on bass, but for me, more than makes up for it with style in the upper mid-range. Boosting the freqs around 800-1000kHz makes this thing sound obnoxiously good. Like being oiled up and shot naked out of glass cannon into an army of scantily clad Amazonian women. If you're into that sort of thing.

The Pro Tube is excellent for all types of music. Even metal. By having it in the middle I am never more than one click away from having a ultra-sexy blues breaker tone, especially under mid to heavy distortion.

I can't imagine a position this PU wouldn't be good for. One day soon, I would like to get another pickguard and load it up with nothing but these Pro Tubes. But for now, I'm happy to have this thing be my secret weapon in the middle.

I'm obsessed with trying out new pickups. I've probably tried 45-50 aftermarket pickups and I've yet to buy the same one twice. That being said, the Pro Tube stands a very good chance of being the pickup that breaks the trend.

I've been playing 12 or 13 years. I own several strat type guitars, a BC Rich, a Fender Jagstang, a Halo 7-string, an Aria Pro II Les Paul, and a couple that I've made. Random acoustics and basses of little importance to anyone but me.

I love the sound, looks and price of this pickup.

I hate that like all the other GFS pickups I own, it makes my other pickups sounds like cheap, tacky crap. Don't get me wrong, sometimes Cheap and Tacky is the sound I want, but don't go to GFS looking for it.

I wish this pickup fit a standard single coil hole just a little tighter. The springs that are included do not hold the pickup as low as I would like or need. It's an easy fix, just use longer springs, but I wish I had known before I had everything wired and strung up.

I am happy with this pickup. I've made myself sick looking for cool sounds, and I don't see an end in sight, but this thing always makes me smile and makes my very few friends say "woah." just like Bill and Ted.