New Pickups For the Spectrum DX (and the "S")

Alright...I've bit the bullet (again) on this and ordered a set of Crunchy Pats from GFS. So, now I'm down another CAD$56.
For those keeping score at home that's now a total of about CAD$120, for a guitar that originally cost me $150!

Just what I was trying to avoid in the first place. Wish I'd never started.

Barry, i imagine your phone conversations with bezdez went something like this car repair shop...

how to irritate people...

If you go through ebay/paypal, make sure all your correspondence is via their message system for future reference. That way they have everything on record.

Sorry to hear of your hair pulling experience. How much have you left?

I've just returned from the Post Office where that damn pick up was waiting for me, and guess what?
It cost me another $11 for the bloody return postage!!
Now I'm out of pocket about $131.

I have a proper pair of GFS's on the way, but I also have this pair of crappy Bezdez pickups that I can't even use.

What a nightmare.

Are we having fun yet??!

Ar-r-r-r-g-g-g-g-h-h-h-h ! ! !

No.

Well it's about bloody time!

But today I installed a set of GFS Crunchy Pats in the S! (thank you. thank you very much.)
I didn't take pix since there isn't much visual difference save for the fact that the pups now look like real pups, with a slug coil and a coil with adjustable screws, in place of those strange fixed pins.

UBC's are next to useless, although I must say in a positive vein, that they do display typical Mats quality...in the build at least. The bottoms are sealed in good quality plastic which actually extends to include heavy duty plastic mounting tabs, into which are inserted brass threaded inserts to take the screws! Nothing like the cheap bent metal tabs seen on "modern" construction. Even the springs are terrific. Higher quality metal, much bigger diameter, and shorter so you don't have to fight to hold on with three hands in order to insert the damn screws.

No, the difference of course is all audio. Power baby! Rock and Roll is mine!
The Crunchy lives up to its name alright. I get massive tone and an overdrive that's scary when you turn it up on the clean channel! The bridge sounds a tad on the trebel-y side but OK. Don't care a lot since I don't play lead much, but I really like the neck sound. Very full and bluesy to my old ears. I'll be using it a lot methinks.

Both sound very nice on coil cut and of course...you can hear 'em! Readings on this set are 10.5 neck/14.6 K bridge.
So ends this sad tale of woe. And daddy can finally watch his blood pressure go down to normal. Along with his bank balance.

Edit (Aug 5):
I neglected to mention the wiring hookup for those wanting perhaps to do the same thing:

• red + white to push/pull tone pot
  
• green to switch
  
• black + bare to ground
  

Good on ya, mate!!

Those GFS's are worth it at twice the price.

Result..

Heard a lot of great things about the GFS pups. And their guitars too. They've gotten really good reviews, and they're super cheap.

Barry, reading this just makes us cringe for you.

Yeah, some body parts are still a little um, coiled, over this episode.

This now makes 3 sets of GFS pups that I've bought. All have been just superb. I used Mean 90's in the Aria Pro II TA60, Fat Pats in the Parker PM20, and now Crunchy Pats in the S.

The other Spectrums have Wikinsons in the DX (this thread) and genuine MMK45's in the ST (although they're 3 wire and not tapable)

Highly recommend the GFS pups (again).

Solved?

We could always order takeaway pizzas by the dozen to his address, or
failing that organize a Facebook party at his place, inform the local
teenage masses on FB.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?hl=en&v=mxXlDyTD7wo&gl=US