Favorite PAF style pickups

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The steckel Duncan models are great, they used a set of 1960 PAF’s and cloned them.
-these are lower output but work great with high gain, tight and articulate

Throbak, I think sle model. Also epic.
 
Just my 2 cents, but I’ve had at a one point almost the entire line-up of Wagner pickups. They’re good for current made pickups and for the price, better than most of the popular pickups on here imo, but I didn’t find any of them to be much at all like the real PAF’s I’ve had (6 at one point, 3 now) or many others I tried. I can see their appeal, but a paf they are not IME. Some may prefer them being tighter, faster and firmer than real PAF’s typically are, but even for that I’ve had much better pickups in the same price range in the vintage category (hidden gems). If more guys knew about the various vintage Hagstrom, Japanese, Gretsch, Guild humbuckers and other hidden gem vintage pickups many of these current makers may have gone out of business lol

If you also want a truly authentic vintage paf flavor there’s a certain rawness and warm fuzzy texture surrounding the notes in all these vintage pickups I’ve had (even the duds) that I find really inspiring that Wagner’s, MPC’s, BKP’s and most recent pickups really don’t have an iota of at all, which for me makes them in comparison kind of flat, lifeless and boring to play, lacking character. The closest I’ve tried to capturing these qualities were the Tone Specifc’s and Virgil Arlo’s, but it’s still not fully the same as the real deal. It’s like a great reissue like we got with the newest Mesa’s. I have a bunch of guitars loaded with them still. I can see some may require potted noiseless pickups, but even there I gotta wonder if it’s still better to just get vintage pickups lightly potted, idk. I just don’t enjoy this more bland flavor personally. I will say though the best sounding guitars I’ve had sound amazing with almost any pickup, which is why I also always compare pickups in the same exact guitar to be fair. And that includes the sacrilege pickup comparisons I’ve even done in some ‘50’s and ‘60’s Gibson’s
 
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braintheory said:
Just my 2 cents, but I’ve had at a one point almost the entire line-up of Wagner pickups. They’re good for current made pickups and for the price, better than most of the popular pickups on here imo, but I didn’t find any of them to be much at all like the real PAF’s I’ve had (6 at one point, 3 now) or many others I tried. I can see their appeal, but a paf they are not IME. Some may prefer them being tighter, faster and firmer than real PAF’s typically are, but even for that I’ve had much better pickups in the same price range in the vintage category (hidden gems). If more guys knew about the various vintage Hagstrom, Japanese, Gretsch, Guild humbuckers and other hidden gem vintage pickups many of these current makers may have gone out of business lol

If you also want a truly authentic vintage paf flavor there’s a certain rawness and warm fuzzy texture surrounding the notes in all these vintage pickups I’ve had (even the duds) that I find really inspiring that Wagner’s, MPC’s, BKP’s and most recent pickups really don’t have an iota of at all, which for me makes them in comparison kind of flat, lifeless and boring to play, lacking character. The closest I’ve tried to capturing these qualities were the Tone Specifc’s and Virgil Arlo’s, but it’s still not fully the same as the real deal. It’s like a great reissue like we got with the newest Mesa’s. I have a bunch of guitars loaded with them still. I can see some may require potted noiseless pickups, but even there I gotta wonder if it’s still better to just get vintage pickups lightly potted, idk. I just don’t enjoy this more bland flavor personally. I will say though the best sounding guitars I’ve had sound amazing with almost any pickup, which is why I also always compare pickups in the same exact guitar to be fair. And that includes the sacrilege pickup comparisons I’ve even done in some ‘50’s and ‘60’s Gibson’s
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Well to be fair, when I say PAF, I’m only using that as a reference to low output. I’m not particularly interested in sounding like my favorite 60s and 70s records. But in a standard LP, I’ve been happiest with low output pickups in general. I got a low of cool ideas from this thread and have had some cool people reach out and offer up stuff. Will be a fun month coming up
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
Well to be fair, when I say PAF, I’m only using that as a reference to low output. I’m not particularly interested in sounding like my favorite 60s and 70s records. But in a standard LP, I’ve been happiest with low output pickups in general. I got a low of cool ideas from this thread and have had some cool people reach out and offer up stuff. Will be a fun month coming up
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That’s fair and I’m not either looking for that lol. I just think it’s important to clarify as “paf” is a particular flavor that most here get totally wrong and wouldn’t necessarily even want. Real PAF’s are no doubt incredible, but again not my personal favorites either (Gretsch’s are #1 for me). I tend to prefer low output pickups in most of my guitars in general. I find they just can be so much more expressive, nuanced and my personal favorites also the most aggressive/nasty/rude pickups I’ve tried. I find of all gear categories tubes, speakers and pickups are where I’m most like it’s gotta be vintage lol. If you want to make those other pickups sound like trash I’ll send you some of my preferred pickups to try. I’d bet real money it’ll have that effect lol as it did for me at least
 
braintheory said:
That’s fair and I’m not either looking for that lol. I just think it’s important to clarify as “paf” is a particular flavor that most here get totally wrong and wouldn’t necessarily even want. Real PAF’s are no doubt incredible, but again not my personal favorites either (Gretsch’s are #1 for me). I tend to prefer low output pickups in most of my guitars in general. I find they just can be so much more expressive, nuanced and my personal favorites also the most aggressive/nasty/rude pickups I’ve tried. I find of all gear categories tubes, speakers and pickups are where I’m most like it’s gotta be vintage lol. If you want to make those other pickups sound like trash I’ll send you some of my preferred pickups to try. I’d bet real money it’ll have that effect lol as it did for me at least
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Haha. Well now intrigued. Hey if you’ve got something that I can easily put into an LP - would love to add it to the mix
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
Haha. Well now intrigued. Hey if you’ve got something that I can easily put into an LP - would love to add it to the mix
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Yes, any of what I’d send would fit in it. Some may leave some empty space in there by being smaller, but that’s it. The only thing is they’re unpotted and most are noisy as a result in many setups, but in terms of pure tone and feel I can guarantee it should be no contest and in darker amps like your Recto’s and Ubers I find them fine in noise
 
Dimarzio PAF pro is the greatest pickup ever created.
Not very PAFish though lol
 
Bxlxaxkxe said:
This is cool!!

I’m considering doing a low output pickup shootout myself soon. I need to figure out a way to change pickups without removing strings - may use the capo trick but need to try it first.
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I believe that on a Floyd guitar you can hold the wammy bar all the way down and it gives enough room to get the pickups out. Depends on how thick (by height) the pickups are. Been forever, but I’m pretty sure I was able to do that before which is a huge plus.
 
For me, I dig the Arcane Triple Clones and Lollar Imperials. For slightly higher output bridge PAFs I go for the Tyler Secret or Fralin Modern PAF.
 
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SFW said:
A few of the ones I've had over the years...

ThroBak SLE-101 Plus:


Duncan Slash 2.0:


Lollar Imperials Standard Wind:


Duncan Antiquities:


Duncan Slash set through a Plexi:
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the ThroBak sounded great!
 
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always thought Phil X was a great player with cool tones. cool pickup and vh talk

 
Ultimately I have found I had to loosely base my interest from recommendations and YT clips if any and then buy the pickups I thought had the specs I wanted to hear. Then I had to actually get the pickups, install them and really give them a good listen, play them and see how they behaved in my guitars. I generally know if I like a pickup fairly quickly as I'm sure most of you do to.

Because even though many say the guitar wood doesn't matter my experience shows that it does and even varies from guitar to guitar and even tremelo and bridge systems and ultimately how they sound and work for you and your guitars. Kinda like how I love other people's tone playing a Mark IIC+ or III Boogie but those amps are not what I like for myself.

For PAF's, I have tried the low wind Steckel PAF 7.78K A-4 modeled after a 1961 les paul, Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAF's, 80's Schaller Kramer bridge, Dimarzio PAF pro, Duncan Screamin Demon, Duncan 59B 59N, Duncan 78 model 9.1K A-2 PAF , Duncan Whole Lotta Humbucker 8.75K A-5. I had a set of Arcane Triple Clones but I never got around to install then as I sold the LP marked for them and they were covered. I wouldn't mind snagging a black 50mm, 9.25K Triple Clone to try sometime as well just to give it a listen.

So far the front runner PAF's for me are the 78 model and the Whole Lotta humbucker each have things I like about them and if something else comes along that spikes my interest I'll give it a go like the Steckel which is cool pickup that lives up to the description of it. I have had my 78model since 2009 and have been extremely satisfied with it since. It is a great pickup and deserves to be called a PAF and not just an EVH humbucker. I'm sure there are other PAF/PAF'ish pickups out there that sound just as good and the price goes up for Holmes, Throbaks and Tone Specfics which alot of guys whose advice I trust recommend....I'm just partial to Seymour Duncan so YMMV. Sounds like you are getting the list of pickups that interest you now as we speak......:2thumbsup::yes:
 
One of the smartest things i have heard in general about pickup preference is distance from bridge. A lot of guitar makers vary in how far it is from the bridge, which will make it more or less trebly (is that a word?!). Using the same guitar is a good idea when judging pickups which is what i do. But honestly, i dont ever keep all settings same on amp, or same amp for that matter
 
harddriver said:
Ultimately I have found I had to loosely base my interest from recommendations and YT clips if any and then buy the pickups I thought had the specs I wanted to hear. Then I had to actually get the pickups, install them and really give them a good listen, play them and see how they behaved in my guitars. I generally know if I like a pickup fairly quickly as I'm sure most of you do to.

Because even though many say the guitar wood doesn't matter my experience shows that it does and even varies from guitar to guitar and even tremelo and bridge systems and ultimately how they sound and work for you and your guitars. Kinda like how I love other people's tone playing a Mark IIC+ or III Boogie but those amps are not what I like for myself.

For PAF's, I have tried the low wind Steckel PAF 7.78K A-4 modeled after a 1961 les paul, Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAF's, 80's Schaller Kramer bridge, Dimarzio PAF pro, Duncan Screamin Demon, Duncan 59B 59N, Duncan 78 model 9.1K A-2 PAF , Duncan Whole Lotta Humbucker 8.75K A-5. I had a set of Arcane Triple Clones but I never got around to install then as I sold the LP marked for them and they were covered. I wouldn't mind snagging a black 50mm, 9.25K Triple Clone to try sometime as well just to give it a listen.

So far the front runner PAF's for me are the 78 model and the Whole Lotta humbucker each have things I like about them and if something else comes along that spikes my interest I'll give it a go like the Steckel which is cool pickup that lives up to the description of it. I have had my 78model since 2009 and have been extremely satisfied with it since. It is a great pickup and deserves to be called a PAF and not just an EVH humbucker. I'm sure there are other PAF/PAF'ish pickups out there that sound just as good and the price goes up for Holmes, Throbaks and Tone Specfics which alot of guys whose advice I trust recommend....I'm just partial to Seymour Duncan so YMMV. Sounds like you are getting the list of pickups that interest you now as we speak......:2thumbsup::yes:
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i turned my friend on to tone specifics and he threw a set in his HSH custom jem made with a mahogany body and maple neck. fralin sc in the middle position.

best sounding jem i’ve ever played. for me the TS is the closest i’ve heard to my holmes for string to clarity and guitar’s tone sounding balanced and not overhyped in the highs or lows.
 
mentoneman said:
i turned my friend on to tone specifics and he threw a set in his HSH custom jem made with a mahogany body and maple neck. fralin sc in the middle position.

best sounding jem i’ve ever played. for me the TS is the closest i’ve heard to my holmes for string to clarity and guitar’s tone sounding balanced and not overhyped in the highs or lows.
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Definitely the best non-vintage pickups I’ve played. The other stuff recommended here imho is just plain worse in tone quality and detail. Haven’t tried Holmes though. The only thing I’ll say is I’m not crazy about the TS punch set and the virtuso set needs the right guitar to shine. The Bloombucker & Twang sets to me are the best ones. The latter gets super underrated from the name, but is like the Gretsch pickups and can be quite aggressive an articulate, but you can get some model real vintage Gretsch pickups for not a ton more money

If I were your friend I’d also upgrade that Fralin SC. If not TS, maybe a vintage Schaller or Bill Lawrence as cheaper options
 
EyesOfTheSouth! said:
I've had a regular PG, a Custom Shop PG, a Custom Shop High Voltage, and the 78". Not all in the same guitar........but an R9 and an SG Custom.

First off, the production PG and Custom Shop PG sounded nothing alike in the R9. I actually preferred the production model. The CS was hairy and had a huge mid push like a high output pup. The regular PG was more open and airier........albeit a little bright.

The High Voltage killed in the SG. Everything I wanted........perfect output, open, clear, and a little low end roll off without becoming bright. Regrettably sold that guitar to fund an amp. Of the other pups mentioned, it most resembled the production PG.

I personally don't like the 78'. I've tried it in a Les Paul Classic and a one hum super-strat. It does not sound like a PAF at all to me. It is not open enough for my ears and has a round edge to the attack that annoys me. But I do find that most A2 pickups get that way when the output gets up around 9k or better. I hated the high output A2's I've tried........Frankenstein, RTM, Custom Custom, etc. I'm either A5 or A4 in all my guitars at this point.
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i too like the PG and the High Voltage set. Good description by the way.
You just saved me from trying the '78 model, which i always was curious about. Thank you!
 
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I’ve tried throbaks (sle-101 plus), Wizz, Gibson custombuckers, 57 classics, and the stock Tim shaws in my ‘81 LPC.
All sound fantastic imo.
The Wizz sounded great but had alot of feedback for some reason.
 
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