6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

[Theobalt]

Hi!

I have a PAF7 in an Ibanez Apex 2 as a neck pickup (the guitar came stock with two PAF7, the bridge is now a black winter). I really like how responsive this pickup is. It can sound soft or bite only with the attack of the pick. I really like that bite (that snarl? English isn't my first language, could we say it is snarly?). Although the guitar was developed for Korn (nu metal), this is the nicest humbucker I've played for blues. Although it can handle heavy distortion obviously, I think it is at its best clean or with a tad of overdrive.

I was wondering which pickup would be closer to that one for a six string guitar (a Godin xtSA, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, silvered maple body with poplar wings). I was considering the dimarzio PAF pro. Based on your experience, what do you think?

Thanks!

 

[Mincer]

Re: 6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

There are a few pickups with the same sort of EQ. Look at the 59, Antiquity, and the Seth Lover. These are all not only in the same EQ range, but power range as well.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

Well, there was a Dimarzio PAF......

You can probably still find them used.
The 36th Neck is also a very versatile pickup that handles gain well.

 

[Masta' C]

Re: 6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

The PAF7 is quite a bit different from DiMarzio's other "PAF" models. For one thing, it uses a ceramic magnet instead of the traditional Alnico. Furthermore, it wasn't directly based off any of their existing designs.

You could probably get in the ballpark with a ceramic magnet swap into a 36th neck model or an older Virtual PAF (if you can find one). However, I'd recommend looking into the Transition neck model.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: 6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

You could probably get in the ballpark with a ceramic magnet swap into a 36th neck model or an older Virtual PAF (if you can find one). However, I'd recommend looking into the Transition neck model.

Probably a PAF Master Neck since it has the Virtual Vintage thingy too. Or the PAF Master Bridge, even.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

I didn't say the PAF-7 was MADE the same way the older Dimarzio PAF was made. I'm assuming it would SOUND like their interpretation of a PAF. Dimarzio's own website says "As the popularity of 7-string guitars has grown, so has the demand for a clean-sounding, lower-output pickup that performs like the classic humbuckers of the late 50s". That sounds very similar to their description of the older 6-string PAF. Why would we assume that the 7-string PAF sounds nothing like their own 6-string PAF ?

 

[Masta' C]

Re: 6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

Why would we assume that the 7-string PAF sounds nothing like their own 6-string PAF ?

Because it doesn't. And if you read the rest of the very page you quoted, DiMarzio straight up tells you it wasn't based on any 6-string model.

Sure, it's low output and clear sounding like a "vintage" pickup, but it has very little "PAF"-anything going on. Source: experience

Where the 36th and PAF Master have a slight boost in the midrange, the PAF7 is slightly scooped and the tonality feels rather flat in comparison. I have a feeling that the PAF7 and 36th use a similar wire gauge, but the PAF7 is underwound with the ceramic being used to make up for the loss in output. Virtual Vintage technology (i.e. iron slugs placed inside the bobbins) keeps the Ceramic from being too harsh.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: 6 string pickup similar to Dimarzio PAF7?

I know the Dimarzio website says that CONSTRUCTION is not based on the 6-string models. I am, and have been, talking about the TONE and EQ of the pickup, not the construction. You are comparing it to the 36th and PAF Master. Neither of those are the original Dimarzio PAF. Neither of those sound like the original Dimarzio PAF. I've owned both the Paf-7 (currently) and original Dimarzio PAF (played it for years), and i would say the PAF-7 sounds/feels more like the original Dimarzio PAF than it does either the 36th or PAF Master. Your experience may vary, but that is why we are all allowed to state our OPINION here.