George Ls PF-1 equivalent?

Greg Schultz · Post by **Greg Schultz** » 12 Oct 2023 6:43 am

Hi friends, I have a JCH SD10 with a George L's PF-1 that sounds amazing. In fact I like the tone just a hair better than the tone on my Zum...which also sounds fantastic. So I want to try the Zum with a PF-1, but George Ls doesn't make them any more. And I don't want to take the pickup out of the JCH. What would be the closest pickup to the PF-1 that is available? Thanks.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 12 Oct 2023 7:36 am

Hard to say what it is about the JCH/PF1 combo you find so attractive. It could just be the guitar or the combination of the 2.

Anyway, the Paul Franklin spec'd GL PF1 used iron blades and had a DC resistance of 18.6Ω. This is only part of the PF1 character though. Wire size and other factors contribute to the sound.

I don't know that there is an equivalent in another brand. Possibly check with Scott Swartz who builds pickups at www.steeltronics.com or maybe the people at Telonics.

Check with Geo L's dealer Bill Ferguson to see if the PF-1 is still in production and avaiable.

FWIW, I had PF1's in a 96 Mullen that I wasn't happy with. I put back the original single coils but I have already sold the GL's. Perhaps someone will answer your wtb ad with a used one.

Scott Swartz · Post by **Scott Swartz** » 12 Oct 2023 5:12 pm

Since GL has transitioned out of the pickup business and the availabilty has dwindled, I went ahead and analyzed the magnetic and electrical characteristics of the GL line and can build duplicates of any of the models.

My versions will be constructed with 3D print plastic parts rather than the injection mold plastic parts used by GL so the appearance is slightly different but I can match the electrical and magnetics characteristics.

Greg Schultz · Post by **Greg Schultz** » 13 Oct 2023 6:41 am

Thank you Jerry for the info and connection to Scott Swartz. I agree it's hard to know where the magic is in a guitar + pickup combination. It also seems silly to chase a sound that is only a tiny fraction better than the sound I already have, which I like quite a bit. I'll find out when I swap out the pickup.

Scott I am intrigued. I will email you about a repro.

Greg Schultz · Post by **Greg Schultz** » 16 Oct 2023 12:03 pm

Hi Scott, I sent you an email and also message via your website. Look forward to finding out cost and process. Thanks, Greg

Dean Holman · Post by **Dean Holman** » 23 Nov 2023 3:01 pm

I know Jimmie Crawford used to like and used the PF-1’s in his guitar, but when he started building LKL JCH guitars again in the mid-nineties, he started using the Lawrence 710 pickups, and decided that he liked those even better. He told me when he got the chance, he was going to put some in his guitar. I think what he liked about the 710’s, was the sound from the Alnico magnets.

Marco Schouten · Post by **Marco Schouten** » 24 Nov 2023 9:42 am

I think that the BL XR-16 is fantastic in a JCH. It would probably be great in a ZUM as well.

Greg Schultz · Post by **Greg Schultz** » 24 Nov 2023 9:50 am

Thank you Dean and Marco. Helpful information. I may try them in the search for the magic tone.
Happy Thanksgiving