Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

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Gunner4Life

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I recently bought a new Jackson DK2, and I basically hate the JB. I originally ordered a set of the Slash pickups, which I have loved in the past, not realizing the pickup cavities were too shallow for them. The tech who does all my work suggested the Blues pickup, I was intrigued with the PATB's for years, even been considering a custom build with the PA design, but never tried them... Blown away! Very articulate, touch sensitive, great harmonics that ring like bells or a piano or something, just an all around nice pickup... I brought this guitar home from the shop and played it for probably 3 hours straight, could not put it down. I have it paired with the stock '59, the combo in the middle position sounds great as well.

These pickups really fly under the radar, generally speaking.
 
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Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Awesome pickup that has gotten a lot of love around over the years. Definitely a pickup that flys under the radar
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Is it just me, or does this pickup, instead of just getting muddy, does it get a cocked wah sound when you roll back the tone control on the guitar? Just a tad rolled back takes bite off, but not a lot, but rolled back maybe halfway seems to give me this cocked wah Schenker sorta sound :biglaugh:
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

You really should try the PATB-1 in the neck... :firedevil
 
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Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

I have an A4 PATB1n/A8 PATB3 set in my Mayones Maestro and it simply kill fascists.

HTH,
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

PATB3 is perhaps the best pickup Seymour Duncan makes, perhaps a close run with the alt8. It's got that vintage clarity and openness, but it also has the juice of a hotter pup. it's superb. I love it with an a5, and I don't dare to change it out for an alnico8....
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Thanks for the really great feedback on this pickup. Yes, it is certainly underrated...I kind of think that whole PATB is.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Scott Marceau said:
Thanks for the really great feedback on this pickup. Yes, it is certainly underrated...I kind of think that whole PATB is.
Click to expand...

That's absolutely true. But as I've said it before to Olson and to MJ, the main reason for that are looks. People are often deterred by looks: it comes in black and nothing but black. To offer zebra, at least, would give it a lot more 'friends', not to mention covers...
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Totally agree on the whole PATB line being underrated.

For higher output pups, I've used a PATB-2 and it is AWESOME. Especially for Floyded guitars, but not limited to them, it should always be in the consideration set for higher output pick ups. It's like a cross between the JB/Distortion/Custom. Very cool.

I actually had a PATB-3 in the neck of my Jackson with the PATB-2 in the bridge. It made for a nice neck pup with that combo. If I ever want to try out a medium output set, I may put the PATB-3 in the bridge and get a PATB-1n in there to see how it goes. (Right now I'm loving Black Winters)
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Yup. +1 to everything said above. I love mine in an Epiphone LP Custom. I've got the matching PATB-1 for the neck but haven't gotten it in yet. Perhaps this weekend. ;)
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

I plan on getting the PATB1 for the neck. I enquired about zebra to match the 59 in the guitar it's in, but no dice.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

The form factor, which is proprietary (trembucker, flat p'ups rings only), and the lack of covers certainly contributes to make'em "unpopular", specially on a LP, due to the unusual look.

Having said that, in the "right" guitar (my Mayones Maestro is a good example) they look great and...simply kill fascists! ;)

The PATB should be OEM p'ups for that guitar. Mayones, you already use the '59/JB set with it... hint, hint!!!!!
 
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Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Underrated, no. Underused, perhaps. The PATB-3 is the kind of pickup that sounds amazing the first few times you play it. Then after a while you kind of start wondering how it can sound so darned good yet be missing something. It's kind of like a tweaked 59' in my opinion, or perhaps a parallel axis version of the 59'. It has less treble or very rounded on top. It's not a hot pickup, more like a hot vintage pickup perhaps, but has a loose feel which may be a parallel axis thing. In one way it has enough treble for singing solos, but in another way you wish it was more present. That may be the missing mids perhaps. It doesn't hold up for tight, heavy rhythms and is more suited for rock than metal. Cleans are fair, but you're not going to be impressed with its clean sound. In the end, it's like a modern twist on a vintage PAF. The price tag probably steers people from it which is why it isn't in a million guitars. I personally think the PATB-1 is better and more versatile overall, but if you're into more modern overdriven blues, the PATB-3 is awesome for that.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

The only thing I'm hearing it missing, is being in my Ibanez too lol... Though I may go with a high output PATB-2 in the bridge, instead. It's the pickup design I like the most.

Or a Crazy 8, or my custom shop PATB- Custom Custom.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Another thing to add; it splits really well! Output-wise as well as tone-wise, fits in very well when mixed with a middle position single coil, and sounds good on its own when split.
 
Re: Blues Saraceno PATB.... One of the Most Underrated Pickups?

Scott Marceau said:
Thanks for the really great feedback on this pickup. Yes, it is certainly underrated...I kind of think that whole PATB is.
Click to expand...

I wish I had more experience with them. It took a bit of a leap to jump out of my comfort zone with screws and slugs. But I have a Crazy 8 in my Les Paul right now, and it maintains such clarity under any type of gain and has better dynamics than any other pickup I've tried. I don't care if it looks unconventional. It IS unconventional, and I love it.

Plus Rich Ward had some great tones with the PATB-1 for a long time.
 
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