PAF type pickups to try?

  • Thread starter Thread starter harddriver
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rockify":1znui0zd said:
Lindy Fralin Pure PAF'S


These pickups are awesome and I have a set (Alnico IVs) in my Heritage 150CM!!! I heard Wade's MCP Black Belts are also true to the vintage PAF sound.
 
i like my holmes 450
not a ton of output. but very sweet and expressive

chubtone loves arcane and i'd like to try those based on his comments.
 
the godwood is hardly a paf
dc is so high that it's unlikely to have paf specs (wire type and gauge)
42 awg enamel wouldn't fit in the bobbins
it's a pretty hot pickup

I'll still vote for the mule over anything
damn... those things sound good
really bell like chimey response with just the right amount of warmth
not ultra fat like the 36th or ultra scooped like the '59
 
ericsabbath":3a7z8lvy said:
I'll still vote for the mule over anything
damn... those things sound good
I'd like to know what the OP went with here. I'm eyeballing a STELLAR R9 that's more than likely going to come down the pipe next month. If it doesn't sound 'perfect', I'll be getting Mules in 'er.

OP, let us know :thumbsup:
 
I am going to stay with the 36th anniversary's for now been playing them for about two weeks. I can't find alot that I don't like about them really regardless of the price. I may try out some different bridge pickups but it's only out of curiosity's sake and there has been some good ones mentioned in this thread.

Short list to try:

SD Antiqities
BK Mules
Fralin Pure PAF

To be honest all the PAF builders have claimed to have cracked the PAF DNA code, who can legitimately back up those claims? That is a question yet to be answered? Tone is so subjective, but that is why I wanted people to weigh in on what they have experienced in the boutique PAF market.
 
harddriver":1fjojikn said:
I am going to stay with the 36th anniversary's for now been playing them for about two weeks. I can't find alot that I don't like about them really regardless of the price. I may try out some different bridge pickups but it's only out of curiosity's sake and there has been some good ones mentioned in this thread.

Short list to try:

SD Antiqities
BK Mules
Fralin Pure PAF

To be honest all the PAF builders have claimed to have cracked the PAF DNA code, who can legitimately back up those claims? That is a question yet to be answered? Tone is so subjective, but that is why I wanted people to weigh in on what they have experienced in the boutique PAF market.
Valid point about the DNA... You know, it also has a LOT to do with the woods used back in the day and the like. An Epi is gonna be greatly different than the real deal of a '57 to '59 Lester, no doubt about it. The Mules - I believe - still have a hint of BKP magic in them. That said, the Classic 57s from Gibson are also quite good pups. And the Sheptones are probably the ones with the most development taken into account to make them as close as possible to the real deal. But the real deal won't sound like the real deal if it ain't in the real deal...

Thanks for the update - was wondering :thumbsup:
 
The comments about the older wood vs newer is something I was thinking. More specifically the whole bit about more dense mahogany today that is chambered vs the old lighter tone wood with no weight relief.

So what pickup works best with the new wood LP's ? It seems to me the new LP I have has a slight sharp feel to it when the notes emerge from the body compared the softer note resonance of the older mahogany body guitars.
 
Ventura":2cjq73or said:
harddriver":2cjq73or said:
I am going to stay with the 36th anniversary's for now been playing them for about two weeks. I can't find alot that I don't like about them really regardless of the price. I may try out some different bridge pickups but it's only out of curiosity's sake and there has been some good ones mentioned in this thread.

Short list to try:

SD Antiqities
BK Mules
Fralin Pure PAF

To be honest all the PAF builders have claimed to have cracked the PAF DNA code, who can legitimately back up those claims? That is a question yet to be answered? Tone is so subjective, but that is why I wanted people to weigh in on what they have experienced in the boutique PAF market.
Valid point about the DNA... You know, it also has a LOT to do with the woods used back in the day and the like. An Epi is gonna be greatly different than the real deal of a '57 to '59 Lester, no doubt about it. The Mules - I believe - still have a hint of BKP magic in them. That said, the Classic 57s from Gibson are also quite good pups. And the Sheptones are probably the ones with the most development taken into account to make them as close as possible to the real deal. But the real deal won't sound like the real deal if it ain't in the real deal...

Thanks for the update - was wondering :thumbsup:
Exactly. This is just like dressing Mo up in a bra and thong and claiming he is now Kate Hudson.
 
glip22":ezatsq4m said:
Ventura":ezatsq4m said:
harddriver":ezatsq4m said:
I am going to stay with the 36th anniversary's for now been playing them for about two weeks. I can't find alot that I don't like about them really regardless of the price. I may try out some different bridge pickups but it's only out of curiosity's sake and there has been some good ones mentioned in this thread.

Short list to try:

SD Antiqities
BK Mules
Fralin Pure PAF

To be honest all the PAF builders have claimed to have cracked the PAF DNA code, who can legitimately back up those claims? That is a question yet to be answered? Tone is so subjective, but that is why I wanted people to weigh in on what they have experienced in the boutique PAF market.
Valid point about the DNA... You know, it also has a LOT to do with the woods used back in the day and the like. An Epi is gonna be greatly different than the real deal of a '57 to '59 Lester, no doubt about it. The Mules - I believe - still have a hint of BKP magic in them. That said, the Classic 57s from Gibson are also quite good pups. And the Sheptones are probably the ones with the most development taken into account to make them as close as possible to the real deal. But the real deal won't sound like the real deal if it ain't in the real deal...

Thanks for the update - was wondering :thumbsup:
Exactly. This is just like dressing Mo up in a bra and thong and claiming he is now Kate Hudson.
Pics or it didn't happen.


On 2nd thought, I'll take your word for it. NO PICS!
 
PAFs all sounded exactly the same, as do all similar model Les Pauls.
 
squank":1biaqthz said:
glip22":1biaqthz said:
Exactly. This is just like dressing Mo up in a bra and thong and claiming he is now Kate Hudson.
Pics or it didn't happen.


On 2nd thought, I'll take your word for it. NO PICS!
Men, if I could transform myself into Kate Hudson I'd probably be spending a lot less time on a gear forum, and probably a hella lot more time "exploring" the new me :lol: :LOL:
 
Ventura":3evdn6vj said:
squank":3evdn6vj said:
glip22":3evdn6vj said:
Exactly. This is just like dressing Mo up in a bra and thong and claiming he is now Kate Hudson.
Pics or it didn't happen.


On 2nd thought, I'll take your word for it. NO PICS!
Men, if I could transform myself into Kate Hudson I'd probably be spending a lot less time on a gear forum, and probably a hella lot more time "exploring" the new me :lol: :LOL:
LOL

Oh wait, ewwww. :D
 
I have the Duncan Bonamassa PAF's in my R9. Very accurate pickup.
 
Pat mentioned this above, but I really dig the Arcane pickups. The guy has a great pedigree and isn't just some guy who lost his job a few years ago and bought a pickup winder and is trying to earn his living out of his basement. He worked for Tyler Guitars, designing all their pickups. He worked for Tom Holmes and in doing so learned the secrets of the guy many consider to build the best PAF clones out there. Holmes charges $400 each for his PAF's. You can get the Arcane for about $120. He also builds all the pickups for the megabucks James Trussart guitars.

On a slightly hotter note, the Arcane Brownbucker is my absolute favorite slightly hot PAF for vintage EVH type tones. And, his '69 Experience strat pickups sound killer too.
 
Chubtone":32xmiet2 said:
Pat mentioned this above, but I really dig the Arcane pickups. The guy has a great pedigree and isn't just some guy who lost his job a few years ago and bought a pickup winder and is trying to earn his living out of his basement. He worked for Tyler Guitars, designing all their pickups. He worked for Tom Holmes and in doing so learned the secrets of the guy many consider to build the best PAF clones out there. Holmes charges $400 each for his PAF's. You can get the Arcane for about $120. He also builds all the pickups for the megabucks James Trussart guitars.

On a slightly hotter note, the Arcane Brownbucker is my absolute favorite slightly hot PAF for vintage EVH type tones. And, his '69 Experience strat pickups sound killer too.

Is this the right site for Arcane pickups? http://www.tone-giant.com/arcane.html
 
why not just go to the source, and get an SD seth lover for starters?
 
I have 36 anni's in a Burny LPC and they are aggressive but in a good way. I have Wolfetone Marshallheads in an 80's Gibby V that I love. Not as aggressive in the mids as the Dimarzio's but so well balanced from low to high.
 
blackba":2zba9ma8 said:
Chubtone":2zba9ma8 said:
blackba":2zba9ma8 said:
Is this the right site for Arcane pickups? http://www.tone-giant.com/arcane.html

No, it's this one.

http://www.arcaneinc.com/#/about/4014179

Cool, thanks. Do you know if you can order from him directly? I checked bassexchange (supposed to be a dealer) and they didn't have any listed on their site.

Ahem! Cough, cough...... you could buy from one of his dealers, say someone like maybe..... me.
 
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