Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
- Thread starter brunogio
- Start date
Re: Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
the 36th is a tweaked version of the older Virtual paf and virtual hot pafs. what dimarzio is claiming is that they took the best of both of those now discontinued pu's and combined them into one the 36th bridge paf.
the gibson 57 is a pretty much straight forward paf design that has a alnico 2 magnet and some say a very harsh ice picky top end. i like them personally and did not have those issues when i used it. it had a bit more output than you would expect. and the 36th is pretty hot at 285mv. a standard paf usually goes around 200-230 mv's like a duncan 59 or the old original dimarzio paf.
IMHO the 36th is best in a strat type guitar due to its warmer top end but ymmv.
the 36th is a tweaked version of the older Virtual paf and virtual hot pafs. what dimarzio is claiming is that they took the best of both of those now discontinued pu's and combined them into one the 36th bridge paf.
the gibson 57 is a pretty much straight forward paf design that has a alnico 2 magnet and some say a very harsh ice picky top end. i like them personally and did not have those issues when i used it. it had a bit more output than you would expect. and the 36th is pretty hot at 285mv. a standard paf usually goes around 200-230 mv's like a duncan 59 or the old original dimarzio paf.
IMHO the 36th is best in a strat type guitar due to its warmer top end but ymmv.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
^ The 36th was Dimarzios shot at achiveing a sound that had the vibe of his own vintage original 1959 Les Paul Std...kind of like Duncans stab at replicating the tone of Hudsons' Guns N' Roses Les Paul.
My take is the 36th Annv. is pretty much identical in sound to my 85 patent number Gibson PAF style pickup, that goes 7.2K.... what that is, not sure.
I talked to the Gibson guy and he said my '85 patent number Les paul PAF was an undifferentiated pickup that wold later be named a 498 or a 57 Classic, whatever that means. I'm guessing a 498, since I think that at that time -'85-Shaw was still working on what would develop into a 57 Classic, but thats purely speculative.
Pretty amazin' feat, actually, if you ask me, by Dimarzio.
^ The 36th was Dimarzios shot at achiveing a sound that had the vibe of his own vintage original 1959 Les Paul Std...kind of like Duncans stab at replicating the tone of Hudsons' Guns N' Roses Les Paul.
My take is the 36th Annv. is pretty much identical in sound to my 85 patent number Gibson PAF style pickup, that goes 7.2K.... what that is, not sure.
I talked to the Gibson guy and he said my '85 patent number Les paul PAF was an undifferentiated pickup that wold later be named a 498 or a 57 Classic, whatever that means. I'm guessing a 498, since I think that at that time -'85-Shaw was still working on what would develop into a 57 Classic, but thats purely speculative.
Pretty amazin' feat, actually, if you ask me, by Dimarzio.
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blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
Big difference in tone from the magents. Whereas DMz's sound nice with their stock A5's, I've never liked the way '57's sound with A2's, bridge or neck (neck is dark and can border on muddy, bridge has a thin ribbony sound). But swap mags in a '57 and you can get some nice tones (like an A5 in the neck, and an UOA5 in the bridge). If you're not swapping mags, go with DMz or Duncan for PAF's.
Big difference in tone from the magents. Whereas DMz's sound nice with their stock A5's, I've never liked the way '57's sound with A2's, bridge or neck (neck is dark and can border on muddy, bridge has a thin ribbony sound). But swap mags in a '57 and you can get some nice tones (like an A5 in the neck, and an UOA5 in the bridge). If you're not swapping mags, go with DMz or Duncan for PAF's.
Re: Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
Howdy,
I've an Air Classic (neck) and 36th anni PAF (bridge) in my ES-335. I'm particularly impressed with the Air Classic. The Air Classic is such a musical P/U and has a pleasing mix of Bass/Mid/Treble.
The 36th anni PAF (bridge) is rather high-octane for a "vintage voiced" P/U, so it was necessary to lower it. It's good for raunchy tones, but be warned: The 36th Anni PAF (bridge) is middy! It's similar to a good P-90 tonally.
Howdy,
I've an Air Classic (neck) and 36th anni PAF (bridge) in my ES-335. I'm particularly impressed with the Air Classic. The Air Classic is such a musical P/U and has a pleasing mix of Bass/Mid/Treble.
The 36th anni PAF (bridge) is rather high-octane for a "vintage voiced" P/U, so it was necessary to lower it. It's good for raunchy tones, but be warned: The 36th Anni PAF (bridge) is middy! It's similar to a good P-90 tonally.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
Mids are good. They give more sustain (especially when bending strings) and cut thru the mix on stage.
Mids are good. They give more sustain (especially when bending strings) and cut thru the mix on stage.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
I have only compared he PAF 36th's to the 57 Classics and Burstbucker Pros in my Les Pauls. To me they are closer to the Burstbucker Pros in tone and closer to the 57 Classics in output.
I think they were made specifically with Les Pauls in mind because they are absolutely killer in a Les Paul. I aslo had some in a Jackson SL2h that I sold and they sounded awesome in it. The buyer bought it thinking he would swap them out and emailed me about 6 months later saying that he still has them in his Jackson.
They are like Gibson PAF's but with a little more output and tighter bass. I really like them a lot and opted to go with a nickel covered Norton/PAF36th combo in my Les Paul Traditional.
I have only compared he PAF 36th's to the 57 Classics and Burstbucker Pros in my Les Pauls. To me they are closer to the Burstbucker Pros in tone and closer to the 57 Classics in output.
I think they were made specifically with Les Pauls in mind because they are absolutely killer in a Les Paul. I aslo had some in a Jackson SL2h that I sold and they sounded awesome in it. The buyer bought it thinking he would swap them out and emailed me about 6 months later saying that he still has them in his Jackson.
They are like Gibson PAF's but with a little more output and tighter bass. I really like them a lot and opted to go with a nickel covered Norton/PAF36th combo in my Les Paul Traditional.
brunogio
New member
Re: Anyone Compared Classic 57 to Dimarzio PAF
Thanks Uberman
That's really what I was looking for. I have BB Pros in one LP and the 57s in the other. I kind of like the differences with the BB being rounder and the 57 having more cut. I listened to the comparison of the PAF to the original 59 LP on the DMZ site and starting thinking that it might be a nice addition given the price of that PUP.
But I may sit tight for now.
Thanks Uberman
That's really what I was looking for. I have BB Pros in one LP and the 57s in the other. I kind of like the differences with the BB being rounder and the 57 having more cut. I listened to the comparison of the PAF to the original 59 LP on the DMZ site and starting thinking that it might be a nice addition given the price of that PUP.
But I may sit tight for now.
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