BlueParfait
Well-known member
Nice the PAF 36 neck is one of my all time favs
TheBiggestJerk
Well-known member
Read the stellar reviews.
Speeddemon
Well-known member
Same here.
The only pickup that managed to boot the 36th Anniv PAF Neck out of my #1 LPC, was a Duncan Pearly Gates Neck...and that made that guitar a full Duncan setup with a Custom/59 Hybrid bridge.
I still have one in another LPC together with a Super D bridge (=all Dimarzio).
@TheBiggestJerk how do you find the 36th Anniv Bridge model works for ya? I heard so-so stories about that one. Did you try other bridge pups in this RG as well for comparison?
TheBiggestJerk
Well-known member
I have them in several other guitars as well. Les Paul specifically. I love the sound. I have tried a lot of other pickups… all PAF style. DiMarzio also makes single coil - sized humbucker, that’s also PAF based - ProTrack. I have couple of large gallon sized zip lock bags full of pups. I like the PAF sound, specifically Ed’s brown sound from VH1, but also ZZTop, Jimmy Page, and AC/DC etc…not all humbuckers are created equally. Some get muddy, others have this almost digital ice picky quality. The DM 36PAF is crystal clear. It’s tight in the bottom and low in the mids, so it’s not nasally. The closest thing I’ve found to it is the H4 which has a little more bass. The RG had the stock Ibanez Quantum prior. I’ve only had the RG to about a year and I really know the sound I like. I also play a lot of jazz so I need a neck pup that had that 60s tone rolled back bassy sound. I also have the 59’ Neck PAF in a couple.
https://www.dimarzio.com/pickups/rail-hum-canceling-strat/pro-track
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Rottweiler
Well-known member
57 classic plus is a great choice also. Pretty close in spec to the duncan 78. I can go from classic rock, thru vh1 and Kill em All. They break up with a hard pick attack. I do use bright amps tho.
I've had a set of 57/57+ in my LP for 20 years now. I will say the neck pickup, at least mine is fairly muddy.
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C
chumbucket
Well-known member
I dig the 36s too. I've put them in a bunch of guitars. The neck pickup is superb. They're on the hot PAF side for sure. The Duncan 59 can't hold a candle to them. The 36 isn't scooped like the Duncan's. Hard to go wrong with them but they don't really give up the goods for metal.
Speeddemon
Well-known member
In that case you owe it to yourself to try one of these as a neck pickup:
Duncan:
- SH-12 Screamin' Demon. Seems to bridge PAF with hot single coil in a way. Nicely bright without being strident. Great under gain! It replaced the stock somewhat scooped '59n in my ESP Horizon NTII.
-SH-PG1n Pearly Gates neck. Raunchy/slightly hairy/sizzly PAF tone. Maybe a tad less low end than the DiMarzio 36th, but more raunch and attitude up top. Not too hot either.
DiMarzio:
-36th Anniv PAF neck DP103.
A great allrounder, great PAF tone.
-Breed Neck: very guitar dependant. Basically a big, open PAF sound at its core, but can be (too) jangly in brighter guitars with a maple neck.
Once I put it in my all mahogany/ebony FB Gibson Flying V, it was pure magic. And the split tone too! That pickup should not come without a push/pull pot or small toggle switch.
Oddball option:
-Evo Neck (a bit higher output, but clear/defined/tight and punchy with still nice character)
Dave L
Well-known member
I´ve never tried the 36th, but I do have the earlier Virtual Hot PAF in a LP and Dimarzio says it´s similar. Great sound.
