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Author
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Topic: GFI and Bobbe
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Jody Cameron
Member From: Angleton, TX,, USA
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posted 05 December 2002 11:04 AM
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Tuesday I recieved a brand new black GFI D-10 from Bobbe Seymour. Tuesday night I played it on a show. I had never played a GFI or even seen one up close, but I wanted a new guitar with mechanical stability, durability and good tone. I considered many, and talked with Bobbe at length about GFI and some other brands. I decided to "take a chance" and just but the thing. I'M VERY GLAD I DID! What an incredible bargain. These steels are extremely well-built and engineered; they are light and strong, stay in tune very well, and really do sound good (this from a died-in-the-wool Emmons man). If you want a great professional steel at a great price, talk to Dr. Bobbe about a new GFI. JC |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 05 December 2002 12:56 PM
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After selling you three Emmons guitars over the years, I'm glad to hear that you like the GFI as well as so many of the other professional players do. Yes, the guitar is the bargain of the century, I just did a "Thumbstyle" teaching video with one yesterday and between the way it looked and sounded on video tape, I was very pleased myself and plan to use it a lot more in the future. Why do I play and sell this guitar? Because I truly believe it it. Thank you Jody, |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 05 December 2002 02:23 PM
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I don't know what GFI did to their guitars in the last couple of years but they are getting GREAT tone. I use to think GFI's were
a little thin sounding. No more. I heard Jeff
Peterson playing one in Bobbe's shop with my back turned and the last thing I thought it could be was a GFI. It totally shocked me. Mike Fried from Gary Allen's band is also playing one. I was very impressed at the workmanship, playability, and most importantly the tone of the new GFI's. They are putting out an excellent steel now.[This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 05 December 2002 at 02:24 PM.] [This message was edited by Kevin Hatton on 05 December 2002 at 02:24 PM.] |
Richard Plummer
Member From: nashville tennessee
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posted 05 December 2002 03:17 PM
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Yes I really like the sound of the GFI and I was also suprised at the tone of the guitar.It is built with a slick design with the neck selector switch on the right side of the guitar if I remember right.It appears to be built like a tank.Richard |
Jeff Peterson
Member From: Nashville, TN USA
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posted 05 December 2002 05:25 PM
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Jody's guitar, I believe, was an 8 + 8 that I put together. Working on these guitars is pure pleasure. The parts are all high quality, and easily adjusted. The tone is a surprising plus. No one expects this 'modern' looking guitar to have such a full-bodied tone...but it does. Very solid, playable, and a reasonable deal. No, I play Emmons, but now you have an alternative besides the boutique guitars that sometimes cost more than an Emmons. Emmons guitars aside, this GFI sounds every bit as good as any of the others....better than most. |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 05 December 2002 06:46 PM
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When I was looking for a nice steel, and kept reading about how brite and thin sounding the GFI was, I went over to Stephen O'Briens and played his...The tone I heard was very far from brite and thin sounding...It was very full with plenty of presence...I bought it on the spot...It's VERY easy to play and work on, and at 40 lbs out of the case for a D-10, it's easy on the back....Jim |
John Macy
Member From: Denver, CO USA
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posted 05 December 2002 07:17 PM
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I love the tone Ronnie Miller gets out of his GFI's...And I think Jeff's work on guitars is highly under-publicized, too. |
David Weaver
Member From: Aurora, CO USA
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posted 05 December 2002 09:04 PM
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I bought Ronnie Miller's GFI D-10 from him in St. Louis (He had a new GFI keyless in the works). I love it and I play it every day. I just wish it sounded the way it did when Ronnie played it...but that's not the guitar's fault. |
Jody Cameron
Member From: Angleton, TX,, USA
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posted 06 December 2002 10:06 AM
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REPORT FROM THE FIELD:Last night I had to pull some low end off my amp because the tone was SO FAT it was almost TOO fat. I'm not sure of the specs on the GFI pickups, but they sound real nice to me, and they are very consistent...both necks sound the same. We recorded live onto hard disk last night and when I listened back, I was VERY pleased with the tone on tape(or "on microchip", if you will). I used the GFI, a Nashville 1000, and a Boss RV-3. I feel I've sacrificed nothing in tone and gained a lot of peace of mind about the mechanics of my guitar doing what they are supposed to do, as well as smooth playability. Last night was probably THE most demanding gig I play (Frenchie Burke) and the GFI did very well IMHO. JC |
Kevin Hatton
Member From: Amherst, N.Y.
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posted 06 December 2002 02:59 PM
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If I was going to play a light weight guitar it would be a GFI. |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 07 December 2002 12:01 PM
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Yes, Jody, I played my GFI on a job last night and it is quite nesessary to NOT use much bass on the Nashville 1000 amp.Slightly over half seemed to do it for me.
Several other Nashville pro players were there and were shocked by how great this little black double neck sounded, and very pleasently. I pulled it out of the back of a pickup truck, set up,in 20 degree weather, went immediatly to the stage, plugged in and started playing the show, NO TUNING PROBLEMS!!!! How can you beat a guitar like this? Not easy. bObbe |
Damir Besic
Member From: La Vergne,TN
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posted 08 December 2002 12:20 AM
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I don`t know about GFI, but that Jeff guy can sure pick some steel. |
John Vaughan
Member From: San Jose, California, USA
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posted 09 December 2002 10:26 PM
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I have the same setup as Jody (GFI, N1000, RV-3). Bought mine from Bobbe about two months ago and played my first gig with it last Sat. night in San Francisco. I would simply echo everything said so far about the GFI's. Outstanding tone, light weight, great looking (I have the all black model), reasonable price, AND it stays in tune; but the biggest plus is the tone. It's "scary good" without having to use a bunch of equipment.JV
[This message was edited by John Vaughan on 09 December 2002 at 10:28 PM.] |
Wayne Cox
Member From: Chatham, Louisiana, USA
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posted 10 December 2002 08:43 AM
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Re: JODY, what type of pickups does your new GFI have? Are they made by Gene? If you don't know,maybe BOBBE could enlighten us?!
~~W.C.~~ [This message was edited by Wayne Cox on 10 December 2002 at 08:48 AM.] |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 10 December 2002 09:16 AM
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The pickups don't matter Wayne, The tone is in the guitar, regardless of how you are picking the tone up. We have even tried some known poor quality pickup units in this guitar while doing some experimenting and it still sounded great. However, the pickups for all GFI guitars are made by Geo.L.. I have always loved the Geo.L. pickups, as I do the great Bill Lawrence pickups. We are all lucky to have these two companies serving us. Thank you Wayne, I love your playing! [This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 10 December 2002 at 09:17 AM.] |
Allan Thompson
Member From: Scotland.
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posted 10 December 2002 10:09 AM
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I bought one from Bobbe in June of this year and my Push Pull Emmons has not been out of the case since then. I can`t say enough good things about these guitars or the service from Steel Guitar Nashville. |
Brett Day
Member From: Greer, SC, USA
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posted 10 December 2002 10:51 AM
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Bobbe, I didn't know you play a GFI. I'd seen you playing Emmons guitars, though. Brett Day, Emmons S-10 |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 10 December 2002 08:29 PM
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Brett, I'm a guy with an open mind, I listen to all guitars, I love Emmons but the GFI is a different kind of very usable package. I like it also. My mind and ears are always open.
Bobbe |
Frank Parish
Member From: Nashville,Tn. USA
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posted 10 December 2002 09:02 PM
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I remember about a dozen years or so ago being over at Bobbes shop one day and he was telling me all about these different guitars Sho-Bud, etc. I seen this black p/p out with the rest on the floor and asked about it and he said "Oh that ones not for sale. It's mine." I had to laugh and asked what about all these other guitars you've been talking about. He said "Well if you're going to play with the big boys you need the heavy artillery." I loved it and still do. Just had to throw that in there Bobbe but if you say those GFI's are coming on strong I'll believe you. Bet you still got that old p/p don't you? |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 11 December 2002 07:35 AM
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Bobbe,
I have to agree with the point you made about the GFI being a different from the Emmons, but still a great sound..The Emmons is a great sounding steel, and has it's place in history, while the GFI is a newer steel, it's got a different, but wonderful sound, and has the feature of easy adjustments, and light weight... I was wondering if you know of anyone who has put a single coil pickup on a GFI, and if so, what were the results ??...I'm tempted to give it a try on my next string change..The GFI sounds great, but I will always have an Emmons P/P in my possesion !!... |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 11 December 2002 05:09 PM
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Yes Frank, I do still have the Emmons P-P, the same one, and use it a lot. But there are some jobs that the GFI just can't be beat. Weight, Tone, dependability, value are all reasons to consider this great , under priced, little, strong guitar.
Now come up here and see me, don't make me have to come and get you! Ha! Ha!
Bobbe |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 11 December 2002 05:12 PM
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James Q, This might be a great experment, I think I'll try a single coil established brand pickup on a GFI, It has to be great!
Thanks James for your comments and take care of our mutual great friend, Stephen.
Your friend,
Bobbe |
Emmett Roch
Member From: Dripping Springs, Texas
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posted 11 December 2002 05:59 PM
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I have to agree with all the comments that have been made in this thread, but (yet one more time) I'll add mine: no airline in the world has ever been able to damage my GFI, no matter how hard they tried...I've had to repair and replace hinges and latches on the case, but that's all. The guitar has always come out ready to go to work, in tune and in adjustment. ------------------
___________________
GFI S-12 extended E9
www.garypnunn.com
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Jeff Peterson
Member From: Nashville, TN USA
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posted 11 December 2002 06:21 PM
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A single coil on a GFI is a little thin..plus the noise, 'course. Not many pickup changes on GFI's, because it is a good sounding guitar, hence, not too many people opt for a different(Lawrence: read-better) change. GFI's with Lawrence's are just that much better. Again, a great sounding guitar is just that....it just doesn't matter how you mic it....THAT is subjective. Full-range=BL710.....antennuated upper-mids= BL LXR-16....toned down output/clean full range= BL 910.
A guitar with good, basic, full tonality can handle them all...and that equals Emmons, ShoBud, JCH, and GFI. I feel that most of the rest of makes can not handle all three choices....some, not all. A really great pickup works like a really great microphone....it will just reveal all the nuances/strengths/weaknesses of whatever you put into it. If you is da' best singer around, you ain't afraid of a Neumann. |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 12 December 2002 08:38 AM
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Well said Jeff, I guess that's why Clint Black has you playing steel in his band.
Yes, you are correct and I agree, except for the subjective part, it's not subjective to people that can hear. I.M. Hawkenstuff |
Jody Cameron
Member From: Angleton, TX,, USA
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posted 12 December 2002 11:00 AM
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I agree that the GFI is not an like Emmons or 'Bud in tone...I too have an Emmons p/p as well as a Sho-Bud that I will always keep around.However, the tone is great on the GFI, and it has become my "workhorse" steel. Gonna play 'er again on the job tonight! JC |
Dave Birkett
Member From: Oxnard, CA, USA
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posted 12 December 2002 11:06 AM
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What are you guys using for amps to run the GFI through? |
Jody Cameron
Member From: Angleton, TX,, USA
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posted 12 December 2002 11:12 AM
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Dave,On one gig I use an Evans small cab. that stays set up all the time. Otherwise, I use a Nashville 1000 or 400. I use a Boss RV-3 reverb in both situations. The GFI sounds equally good through all three amps. JC |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 13 December 2002 06:24 PM
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Bobbe, I hope you're gonna have that black on black GFI ready, it's my New Year's Resolution.
GFI, through a Traynor amp, even if I can't play, I'll have the strangest setup since Jaco Pastorious! |
Joe Smith
Member From: Charlotte, NC, USA
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posted 13 December 2002 08:12 PM
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Well, I also have a new GFI. Mine was delevered right after the ice storm hit. It sat here in the house for a week before I got to pick the first note on it. We finally got our power back Wednesday evening. ------------------
Playing PSG keeps you on your toes. |
Jody Cameron
Member From: Angleton, TX,, USA
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posted 15 December 2002 04:07 PM
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Well Joe...Whaddya think? Give us a report!JC |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 15 December 2002 04:57 PM
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Jody, he wants a knee lever flag, RKR,I have one ordered for him, factory, should be a goodern". I think he's going to be very happy. |
Joe Smith
Member From: Charlotte, NC, USA
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posted 16 December 2002 07:44 PM
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Well, I used the GFI Saturday night on it's first gig.
I am very pleased with the guitar. Great tone, stays in tune, and the pedal action is just as smooth as my Mullen.
I played through my 75 Fender Vibrosonic. It's about as sweet as it can get. |
Jody Cameron
Member From: Angleton, TX,, USA
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posted 16 December 2002 08:04 PM
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Hey Gang,Well, I did my first recording session today on the GFI. I'm doing a 12-song project with a TBN artist at a really nice Houston studio. I used the GFI and a Nashville 400 miked; then to a high-dollar tube pre-amp, and and from there to the board...mono and dry (we added reverb & delay for monitors only and went to tape dry). I was really knocked out with the tones we were getting. The producer, engineer and artist as well as some of the other players
on the project were ALL commenting on the tone and the great tuning stability of the GFI. We're not finished yet, but this is gonna be a great project. This is a Christian artist, but a COUNTRY album, with country songs and a guest vocal by Stonewall Jackson. We're not done yet, but when we are, I'll post on how to obtain a copy for anyone who is interested. JC |
James Quackenbush
Member From: Pomona, New York, USA
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posted 16 December 2002 08:41 PM
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Stephen,
Traynor Bassmaster + GFI = FAT TONE !!Bobbe..The flag is VERY well made and works GREAT on the RKR... The tone of the GFI is really not Emmmons or Shobud...It's got a tone all of it's own..I would have to agree with everyones opinion on the tone being equally great sounding thru either a tube amp, or a solid state...If you're playing with any volume thru a tube amp, you really need to lower the bass down a bit, and the tone still comes across big and bold....I ran my GFI thru a compressor, and a distortion at the same time...Since the GFI II pickups have a big low end, and a healthy high end, and not much on the mids, that I get a real "runnin on empty" type tone...Very slick indeed...I'm finding that I'm covering a lot of area's of tone with this setup.. |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 16 December 2002 10:07 PM
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I agree James, what I really enjoy seeing happen is when other great , famous steel builders come into my store and scrutinize the GFI, they always have great comments to make about it. (hoping that no one will hear them!) Yes, this guitar is getting more respect by the day. And more professional players also. The industry needs this guitar. I'm glad we have it. |
Tony Prior
Member From: Charlotte NC
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posted 17 December 2002 02:35 AM
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After hearing Joe's Smiths GFI last night , and playing on it for just a few moments..I would say that the GFI would be a serious contender for my next Steel.Excellent tone . It certainly made me take notice. I'm not sold on the appearance but heck..I'm sure the steel wouldn't dig my appearance either ! tp |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 17 December 2002 08:48 AM
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Tony, I have to agree with you, again.
I have found that the "looks" grow on you and after a while, it makes other guitars look "old fashioned". One very great pro player came in my store last week and said, "you know what? LOOKS are subjective, tone isn't"! I agree with him. Neat, trim, strong,the perfect weight, no nonsense,easiest to work on, most dependible, good sounding guitar built by a famous designer of over 55 years in the guitar building business. Gene Fields.
Bobbe,[This message was edited by BobbeSeymour on 17 December 2002 at 08:48 AM.] |
Stephen Gambrell
Member From: Ware Shoals, South Carolina, USA
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posted 17 December 2002 11:29 AM
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There's NO steel more beautiful, than an old Sho-Bud. All that pretty maple, inlay--MAN, what beautiful axes!
But that black-on-black GFI looks like it oughta come out of James Bond's Aston-Martin if Jack Nicholson was driving it. And what's cooler than that??? |
BobbeSeymour
Member From: Hendersonville TN USA
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posted 18 December 2002 07:16 PM
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Yes, and the Aston-martin out performed most great cars, this is just another great comparison between Aston-Martin and GFI. This great company also builds guitars that out perform most others. Compare and see, GFI welcomes your scrutinizing. And the price is the most economical of all , by far! This has to do with high production and high quality control. Possibly the best buy on the market today, regardless of price, which is the lowest. |
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