59 vs. PAF Joe

[dead_phish21]

Hey Guys, I've narrowed my search to one of these two buckers in the neck of my tele and was wondering what everyone thought about the tonal differences and out puts. I have red that they are very similar sounding but I would love any input. Thanks

P.S. Also what problems might I run into If I leave a single coil in the bridge and put this new pup in the neck. Output is all that I can guess, but im new and this is my first project.

 

[ACH91332]

Re: 59 vs. PAF Joe

Never used the 59 but have used the PAF Joe. It is a very very bright pickup and reminds me of a single coil. It obviously doesn't sound just like a single coil but for a humbucker it is very single coil like. It's sort of like a fat single coil. I liked it a lot originally but now not so much. That is mostly because my taste in pickups seems to change a lot. It is a lot like the PAF Pro but a little brighter and with a more dulled pick attack. I've had better results with the PAF Pro and FRED in the neck but thats because I wanted a fatter tone from the neck.

 

[dr. ad]

Re: 59 vs. PAF Joe

i believe the PAF joe is basically a virtual-vintage version of the PAF pro, which seems to enjoy a pretty good rep. i've heard the PAF pro but haven't played on it or the PAFJ; i would be surprised to find they sound anything like a 59 tho

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 vs. PAF Joe

Normally if you have a single coil & a HB, the single coil is in the neck, but with Tele's the opposite is common. It's a matter of the PU's individual EQ's and your personal taste. Whatever works.

I'm a big fan of '59N's, but I use them in 335's, LP's, and SG's, and don't know how they'd be in your Tele.

What kind of music are you playing?

 

[dead_phish21]

Re: 59 vs. PAF Joe

Mainly I play rock/indie/alt type music, but that is only because of the public platform I have with friends. I play more blues and some jazz on my own. I might play a little metal but not much, and never anything country. Funny I picked a tele huh? I mainly picked a tele for the tone, so I could compliment another guitar player with dual humbuckers. But he and I don't get to play together as much as I had planed. So since Im the only electric, the tele sounds really thin and I cant get all the sustain I want.
I really want a humbucker that is very versatile, then let my pedals and amp do the rest. I need it to clean up awsome and sound great distorted as well. (sounds like the 59?)
If Ach91332 is right and the PAF joe is super stinkin bright then that my not be the ticket because the Sam. cobalt noiseless single coil I have in the bridge is also very bright. Id like thicker and fuller to compliment the single coil but not muddy.
Thanks again

 

[blueman335]

Re: 59 vs. PAF Joe

If Ach91332 is right and the PAF joe is super stinkin bright then that my not be the ticket because the Sam. cobalt noiseless single coil I have in the bridge is also very bright. Id like thicker and fuller to compliment the single coil but not muddy.
Thanks again

If both PU's are bright, it's easier to EQ your amp & effects accordingly. A bigger problem is when one PU is bright & the other is dark.

 

[ACH91332]

Re: 59 vs. PAF Joe

Well it isn't overly bright but was FWIW. With my setup it didn't work out later when my tone preferences changed.

 

[jake_xms3_punk]

Re: 59 vs. PAF Joe

i've never tried the paf joe, i have used the paf pro for a while though. i had the paf pro in the bridge of a tele which was really bright, then put it in a musicman axis copy which sounded a lot fatter and darker but still in the relms of bright.
the 59 can be quite bright too never tried it in a tele though,