Any PAF PRO users here?

[Ed Hunter]

Hi i wanted to get ur insights on a pup that has my interest for my basswood charvel. This charvel is real finicky about what paf is in it. Right now it is loaded with a 59b but there are some issues concerning the low end being mushy in this guitar. The jb that was in it before had good low end definition but was not paf low output. So i hear the paf pro has a tight mild low end in basswood guitars? And it has a paf vibe? I dig the old school rodded paf VH tone so if the paf pro has that element it would be a big bonus? Any info is appreciated thanks, ed

 

[Aceman]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

I had a PAF pro in a Yamaha strat for quite a while. I really liked it.

In the big scheme of things, however, it wasn't what I would describe as a "PAF" style pup.

Far too much midrange for it to be considered that. Definitely had that open wah tone about it. Output was on the warm side, but not much. Hotter than a regular PAF though, but not superdistortion level.

No comment on basswood and low end. I used mine spit sometimes in conjunction with the middle pup. Sounded very stratty.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

I had a PAF pro in a Yamaha strat for quite a while. I really liked it.

In the big scheme of things, however, it wasn't what I would describe as a "PAF" style pup.

Far too much midrange for it to be considered that. Definitely had that open wah tone about it. Output was on the warm side, but not much. Hotter than a regular PAF though, but not superdistortion level.

No comment on basswood and low end. I used mine spit sometimes in conjunction with the middle pup. Sounded very stratty.

Just about everything I was going to say has been described here. It is emphatically not PAF at all but it rocks just the same.

I will add that I think it's at it's best in basswood. There are tons of great clips on youtube with ibby guys rocking a set of em.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

Aceman thanks for the reply. I should have not used the word PAF! LOL since they are many PAF tones. Anyway what i am really after is a clear,articulate,medium output pup with great note seperation so notes dont smear together? Does the paf pro fit those requirements?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

I'm wondering if the Custom 5 is the answer. I like the PAF Pro in the neck position of 24 fret guitars. That's really the only place I've used it. The guys are right there's not much that is P.A.F. about it. I don't mean to say that it sounds like the Jazz, but it's the same kind of thing. The Jazz reads about P.A.F. levels but the tone is not really in that family. The only other time I liked it in the bridge was on an old Root Beer Jem. I liked the split sounds with the middle pickup too. But the specs seemed to vary more back then, and the one in this particular guitar read up in the 9k range. I you want the PAF Pro sound in the bridge but with more punch, lots of guys report great results from the Breed neck pickup used in the bridge position.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

I'm wondering if the Custom 5 is the answer. I like the PAF Pro in the neck position of 24 fret guitars. That's really the only place I've used it. The guys are right there's not much that is P.A.F. about it. I don't mean to say that it sounds like the Jazz, but it's the same kind of thing. The Jazz reads about P.A.F. levels but the tone is not really in that family. The only other time I liked it in the bridge was on an old Root Beer Jem. I liked the split sounds with the middle pickup too. But the specs seemed to vary more back then, and the one in this particular guitar read up in the 9k range. I you want the PAF Pro sound in the bridge but with more punch, lots of guys report great results from the Breed neck pickup used in the bridge position.

thanks for the reply and didnt satch use the pro on satch boogie? I like that tond it has a EVH hft vibe to it

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

I'm wondering if the Custom 5 is the answer. I like the PAF Pro in the neck position of 24 fret guitars. That's really the only place I've used it. The guys are right there's not much that is P.A.F. about it. I don't mean to say that it sounds like the Jazz, but it's the same kind of thing. The Jazz reads about P.A.F. levels but the tone is not really in that family. The only other time I liked it in the bridge was on an old Root Beer Jem. I liked the split sounds with the middle pickup too. But the specs seemed to vary more back then, and the one in this particular guitar read up in the 9k range. I you want the PAF Pro sound in the bridge but with more punch, lots of guys report great results from the Breed neck pickup used in the bridge position.

thanks for the reply and didnt satch use the pro on satch boogie the fred didnt exist yet? I like that tone, it has a EVH hft vibe to it

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article/10-things-you/May-2010/112235

That could have been a Seymour Duncan, I'm not an expert on old Satch but he has said he used a Kramer with a JB/59 combo a lot on Surfing. I always thought that was kind and gracious of him considering his Dimarzio connection. He could have easily been vague about it but he did a whole spread in one of the guitar magazines about the Surfing gear, and included Seymours and the use of some Lace Sensors for clean rhythms. That's yet another case for the Custom 5, in that some have described it as falling between a hot 59 and a JB lite.

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

The PAF Pro isn't a real PAF, but then again I'm not sure if it was intended to be? The best description I can think of for the PAF Pro is that is has a vocal tonality and it has a sweet lyrical style. What differentiates it from a real PAF is that it doesn't have the gritty midrange. Instead it's tone is clear and slightly compressed with a strong treble spike around 2-2.5k and a bass bump around 250K. It is plenty warm and its clarity really works well with effects.

The only thing I didn't like about it as a bridge pickup was its lack of output. If you have a very expressive and fluid playing style it is a great pickup. It also is very forgiving and makes anyone sound good. It is the sound of Joe Satriani.

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

The PAF Pro isn't a real PAF, but then again I'm not sure if it was intended to be? The best description I can think of for the PAF Pro is that is has a vocal tonality and it has a sweet lyrical style. What differentiates it from a real PAF is that it doesn't have the gritty midrange. Instead it's tone is clear and slightly compressed with a strong treble spike around 2-2.5k and a bass bump around 250K. It is plenty warm and its clarity really works well with effects.

The only thing I didn't like about it as a bridge pickup was its lack of output. If you have a very expressive and fluid playing style it is a great pickup. It also is very forgiving and makes anyone sound good. It is the sound of Joe Satriani.

snowdog thanks for the info i think i will try one

 

[Gforce9]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

I think the Custom 5 may be the ticket. I just put the C5 in a Studio Hamer thinking 1- it may be too hot and, 2- I may have to put an UOA5 mag in it to like it and was wrong on both counts (in this guitar). Very nice blend of vintage AND cojones.......

 

[Ed Hunter]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

I think the Custom 5 may be the ticket. I just put the C5 in a Studio Hamer thinking 1- it may be too hot and, 2- I may have to put an UOA5 mag in it to like it and was wrong on both counts (in this guitar). Very nice blend of vintage AND cojones.......

the thing is the c5 will have the same low end problem the 59 is givin me? A ceramic custom has a much tighter bass. The paf pro has a clean tight bass from what i gather and has medium OP.

 

[oilpit]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

thanks for the reply and didnt satch use the pro on satch boogie the fred didnt exist yet? I like that tone, it has a EVH hft vibe to it

Satch Boogie is 150% JB...

 

[marcello252]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

Anyway what i am really after is a clear,articulate,medium output pup with great note seperation so notes dont smear together

it seems like your heading to a ceramic magnet...

 

[Kam]

Re: Any PAF PRO users here?

the thing is the c5 will have the same low end problem the 59 is givin me? A ceramic custom has a much tighter bass. The paf pro has a clean tight bass from what i gather and has medium OP.

Not at all, the C5 is a pretty tight pickup. I used it for a while in an SG tuned to C# with a set of .11s and there was nothing loose or sloppy about it.

But then, I've never tried it in basswood and I've never really thought that the '59 was all that loose, either, so it might not work for you as well as it did for me.