GFS Pickups RetroTron Memphis

Humbucking passive

Deltatone Les-Paul style
Replaced neck and bridge
Replaced stock pickups, the stock ones were too dark sounding

The output on these are pretty strong. I use a Peavey Bandit, one of the first transtubes that came out in 1995 and it drives it nicely. I use an Ibanez tubescreamer 808 reissue for distortion and a H2O chorus/delay. I play all different styles, mainly rock, blues, county,folk, bluegrass, gospel. All positions are very usable and sound as expected for this type of pickup, very articulate and shimmery, almost like they have a touch of chorus built in.

Been playing since the late sixties. I own 20 or so other guitars, a few high end ones including a luither built tele and a vintage reissue Strat. I would buy these again if they were lost or stolen. I bought these just to have something a little different than what I already own and am very happy with the tonal qualities of these pickups. Can't really think of anything to improve them. I especially like the retro look, at first the gold plating looked a little pitted but buffed right out so really no issues I can think of, just a good set of pickups for a good price.

Humbucker/dual coil design replicating the Gretsch/TV Jones Filtertrons of the 50's and 60's. Drops into standard humbucker mounting rings on most any similarly-equipped guitar.

Installed into an S101/ES335 copy in both neck and bridge positions, replacing the factory(Epiphone)standard humbuckers, which were muddy sounding. Also wanted to try and replicate some of that Rickenbacker 12-string jangle in the high end.

These are moderate output humbuckers, dead quiet. I play behind a Randall RG200DG3 hybrid combo with another 2X12 extension cab, all loaded with Celestion Seventy 80's. These pups are very well balanced and full, and have that sweet, chimey high end on the E and B strings above say the 14th fret. Perfect for any semi or full hollowbody guitar; the more maple the better. Excellent for Beatles, Tom Petty, Byrds, and similar cover tunes from the 60's and 70's rock library. They sound excellent through a mild compressor, like the EH Soul Preacher and a phaser like the Small Stone; again, vintage psychadelic-era rock vibe.

Yes, I'd replace in a heartbeat. I purchased these before I got around to actually making the investment in a Ric, for which I also went to GFS for a pickup modification/change(NYII's). I think the price of TV Jones and even the new Gretsch/Fender pups, makes the GFS Retrotrons an easy and affordable choice. I've been playing and teaching music for over 40 years; I'm not easily impressed, especially with all the ultra high gain, active pup designs for the various metal genres. Installed in a semi- or full hollowbody guitar, these things are magic.

Dual-coil, humbucker design to retrofit Gretsch/TV Jones Filtertron pups. 6.8K bridge, 6.3K neck; not for distortion monsters.

Installed on an S101 ES335 copy both neck and bridge positions. Replaced stock humbuckers of unknown origin, most likely Epiphone clones as they come from the same factory. Have SD Phat Cat P90's in a different color 335 copy, but wanted a smoother, rounded, and full tone with more chime.

Output level is moderate/low by today's standards. I use a Randall 200W Hybrid 2X12 combo amp also powering another 2X12 extension cab, both loaded with Celestion Lead 80 speakers. I nearly always have both a plate reverb and chorus running on the amp, but also frequently use an EH Soul Preacher compressor/sustainer and an EH Small Stone variable phaser to simulate the rotating Leslie speaker effect. A Boss TR-1 tremelo pedal is also used less frequenly, as is a Vox 847 Wah Wah pedal. I play a huge amount of 60's - 70's classic rock....Jefferson Airplane, Byrds, Beatles, Moody Blues, and a big chunk of Tom Petty's work. These pups were advertised/described to nail the vintage Rickenbacker toaster/Filtertron-HiLoTron "jangle" and are sheer magic on a semi-hollowbody like a Dot, 335, Sheraton, etc. In spite of that chimey-ness, the overall tone quality is full and round, almost "sweet." I'd say they are an especially good match for any hollow or semi-hollowbody that is predominantly maple. Being a dual-coil/humbucker design, they are dead quiet, and as you can see from the type of other equipment being used, respond and work well with both modern and classic effects/pedals. I have played this guitar with both an EH Soul Preacher and an MXR DynaComp, and both brands of compressors heighten pick attack and add just enough overdrive of their own to take a little of that extra sweetness off the top, BUT leave the jangle in the high end....VERY cool tones! My backstage/rehearsal rig is a 30W solid state Randall with a retrofit 12" Celestion Greenback, and again, wonderful vintage tone, although warmer and suitable for more country styles or straight rhythm work.

Yes, I'd replace these in a minute and have even considered keeping a spare set around for another project. These are the ONLY set of humbuckers I have in six different electrics I use professionally. I typically play vintage output single coils in a couple of different Strats and a Ric, or P90-type pups in both solid and semi-hollowbody guitars. Most, and I emphasize most, humbuckers tend to blend tones beyond my liking and are not as articulate as single coil designs OR these Memphis Retrotrons! I looked at both the Seymour Duncan and the TV Jones products, but a pair of them will run between $250 and $300. AT $80 delivered, there is no equal to the Memphis Retrotron's. I think the Alnico II magnet structures in the Memphis a very much a key component to both the sweetness, jangle, and clarity of the Memphis pups. I've been playing for 42 years, both drums and guitar.

This is a humbucker pickup designed to look similar to a Gretsch FilterTron.

GFS is the product division of GuitarFetish.com, an online retailer based in Framingham, MA, well-known for their budget-price, high-quality guitar hardware and accessories.

I had originally installed a GFS RetroTron Liverpool in the bridge position on my Squier '51. The Liverpool is GFS' version of a Gretsch FilterTron, and is a very good pickup, especially for the low low price (about $38).

After using it for about a year, I grew disenchanted with the Liverpool's throaty-ness - it just didn't have the chime'n'jangle I wanted for my '51. I went back to the GuitarFetish website to see what else they had to offer, and to check out some of the sound samples on their site. A new member of the RetroTron family, the Memphis, caught my attention - it was billed as having the classic Rickenbacker jangle, but in a 'bucker. I've been a big fan of Rickenbacker guitars for years, so this really looked like something I would dig!

This is the PERFECT humbucker for my '51! As advertised, it really nails the jangle and sparkle of the classic Rickenbacker toaster, but with the bite and power and presence of a Telecaster bridge pickup. It chimes and sings and jangles, but can really bite too when played hard. On a Squier '51 it adds a distinctve Rickenbacker flavor to the Strat/Tele hybid already inherent in the guitar.

Like a Ricky toaster, it has a very brite top and rolled off low end that make for a ringing chime on the treble strings and nice, crisp crunch that's never muddy or overpowering on the bass strings. Fantastic.

As I've stated, THIS is the pickup I was searching for for my '51. It has elevated the Squier from a pretty good el cheapo guitar to a truly exceptionally good sounding instrument.

On my first gig with '51 after the pickup swap, I ended up using it for most of the evening, foregoing my '62 Gretsch Tennessean - it just sounded SO good!

I'm now anxious to pick up a cheap hollowbody like an Epiphone Dot and drop a pair of Memphis pickups on it to see what kind of magic it will bring to that guitar.