Just wanted to let you know that the GFP was all that you said it was. I have a custom Mark Wescott 7-string with the most beautiful sound. Playing that axe in a jazz setting has always been problematic because I could never get a natural acoustic sound at an appropriate volume level without feedback. The GFP pickup you made for my guitar is incredible. The sound is absolutely true to the guitar and I can play it at higher volume levels without having to use the amp's notch filter. The GFP beats anything I've heard!
Fred Fried
http://www.fredfried.com
"Before touring with The Waybacks became a full-time adventure, I had the good fortune to work for a very upscale guitar shop in Northern California and had a chance during my tenure there to audition at length most of the recent crop of acoustic instrument pickups. Quite simply, none of them could touch the GFP for ear-pleasing accuracy. The GFP lets your audience hear your guitar, not just your pickup."
Stevie Coyle
www.waybacks.com
Perceived output level: Good strong output.
Tone: Perfectly balanced with very clear bass.
Sonic evaluation: I play a Martin D-35 through a Fender Acoustasonic SFX. It sounds best with the amp set flat. The GFP pickup is perfectly transparent and has an extremely wide dynamic range. No matter how I play I cannot overload this pickup. This is the answer to my prayers.
Posted at www.harmony-central.com
Reviewed in October 2003's issue of Guitar World Acoustic (reprinted with permission):
Piezo in the Sky: SC Laboratories GFP Acoustic Pickup System by Shawn Hammond
If you're an acoustic guitarist familiar with the pickup scene, chances are you know all about piezo-crystal transducers - both their advantages (resistance to feedback, decent dynamic range and relative affordability) and disadvantages (most infamously, the "quacky" character they add to a guitar's tone). Those of us without a wad of cash to spend on a killer preamp and a multi-input "blender" pickup system have become somewhat resigned to that piezo plastic vibe.
Fortunately, not everyone is so accepting. SC Laboratories' new GFP Acoustic Pickup System - an under-the-saddle piezo setup - is not only affordable but sounds incredible. No quacking from this baby - just a natural acoustic tone that will sound like music to your ears.
The GFP looks like your average piezo setup and is invisible to the casual observer once installed. Its Line Driver circuit (a class A unity-gain buffer) is housed in an endpin-jack unit and a nine-volt battery sits inside the guitar near the neck joint. (There are no onboard controls.) While there's nothing distinctive about the GFP's looks, the unit's design actually differs markedly from that of the mass of its piezo peers. Despite familiar looks, some key differences make a world of sonic difference for the GFP. For instance, unlike most piezo systems, its bridge transducers are located between, rather than under, the strings. SC Laboratories says this "acoustic diffusion" design prevents feedback, preserves high-end detail, and adds an air of openness by eliminating the need for a high-pass filter (a common feedback-prevention device found in piezo circuits.) In addition, the company says the GFP employs built-in ambience detection that "listens" to the sound inside a given guitar and adjusts to emphasize natural characteristics.
After years of piezo letdowns, I must admit I was very skeptical about the GFP before I played a mid-level Tacoma dreadnought outfitted with the system through an assortment of combo amps, including an AER Compact 60, Genz-Benz Shenandoah Acoustic 100 and Crate CA-60D. It didn't take long before I realized that the GFP is one great freakin' pickup. Through every amp I played, the GFP gave me palpable bass-register "oomph," rich midrange response and gorgeous clarity in treble passages - no matter how soft or hard I played. The sound was amazingly open, airy and warm - all without any diminished dynamic range or responsiveness.
Naturally, the quality of your guitar and amplification system is equally important in any tone equation - and you'll still want to go with a good condenser mic for studio work. However, if you're looking for a practical, affordable route to fantastic live tone but hate traditional piezo tone, you've got to get your hands on the GFP.