DiMarzio 36th PAF vs. Duncan APH-1N?

[Rex_Rocker]

Kinda toying with the idea of either in the neck position to go with Suhr SSH+'s. How do you guys think these two compare? I like the idea of a smoother, rounder, yet clear neck humbucker that's not too scooped, overly bassy, or too attacky. Kind of the opposite of a Duncan Jazz, but not going to the extreme of an Air Norton.

I've tried the DiMarzio, and I remember liking it, but it's been a while. Never tried the Duncan, but it seems like they would be some overlap tonally?

So to the people who have experience with both, how do these compare? Output? EQ?

Thank you!

 

[beaubrummels]

IME Duncans are always clearer than DiMarzios. But the APH-1N is soft on the top and bottom end and has a wide mid-hump. The 36th PAF sounds like a slightly murky Seth to me, not too unlike a Burstbucker Pro I have. Outputs are similar. They don't sound alike at all to me.

 

[Mincer]

The APH-1 has sort of a bell EQ curve. It is fantastic in a 1 guitar band, as it takes up a huge swath of frequencies.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Ah, interesting! Thanks for the feedback!

So anyone has anything to say in defense of the 36th?

 

[Mincer]

Well, I haven't used it...but if it is modeled after a PAF, the EQ would be like an upside down bell...ie, opposite of the APH-1.

 

[marcello252]

have/had both, IMHO there's no competion, APH-1 wins hands down, I've never liked that strange 'delayed' attack of the 36th (you can't hear it, you feel it under the fingers, I really don't know how to explain it otherwise).
More, the APH-1 is one of the best sounding PAF like pickup ever created and (trust me, even if you don't know me, I had chance to play a pair of the holiest of the holy grail guitars) it's really close to what a vintage PAF really feels

 

[AdrianSD]

Aren't the Jazz and APH-1 neck the same wind, different magnets?

 

[Mincer]

Aren't the Jazz and APH-1 neck the same wind, different magnets?

Yes, but very different EQs. Jazz has more treble than anything, while APH-1 has more mids than anything.

 

[Teleplayer]

Ah, interesting! Thanks for the feedback!

So anyone has anything to say in defense of the 36th?

If you only use a single 500k control pot, the 36th anni PAF, may be suitable as it is more middy and has a warmer overall balance (like a low output alternative to the air norton).

If using 2 control pots, ie. volume and tone controls, the APH-1 may be more suitable. It is warmer than the SH-2 Jazz, but not thick sounding like the Dimarzio. I’m a little concerned that neither of these pickups have sufficient output to properly balance with the bridge humbucker you are using.

 

[Mincer]

I think the APH-1 would balance fine. I've used it with hot pickups and you can get it to balance. It takes up a lot of frequencies which really helps with the balance.

 

[ToneFiddler]

maybe consider the APH-1b in the neck?

 

[Teleplayer]

The SSV neck is a good match in output level for the SSH+. However it might not be the tone the OP is looking for.

 

[orpheo]

I found the 36th to have a bit of spongy feel, where the aph is more direct, more forward. Not even talking about EQ, just how it feels.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, I've had the 36th Anni before, and I remember liking it. Like I said, it's been a while since I've tried it, but I remember it being more balanced than the '59 as in less scooped. I also totally get what you guys are saying by "spongy" or "delayed attack" that the 36th had. I actually liked it becauase of that. I really don't like when neck pickups get too attacky, which is exactly what I don't like about the Jazz or the PAF Pro.

My other recollection of the 36th was that it was REALLY low output, for some reason. Like abnormally so. But that was also me trying to match it with hotter pickups. Recently, the Gibson 490R (A2 and 7.5K-ish wind) balanced fine with the SSH+, which if I had to say, is ever so slightly lower output than the JB, so there's the counterpart, I guess.

Do you guys feel the A2P is more attacky, then? If so, then I think that might make me lean more towards the DiMarzio.

 

[esandes]

What is there in the DMZ "PAF" design that is truly PAF?

 

[orpheo]

What is there in the DMZ "PAF" design that is truly PAF?

Perhaps the wire gauge, 42 awg, but not much else I think. The insulation, I think, is not plain enamel. The baseplate though is nickel silver which is paf-correct. Knowing Dimazio, they just made a pickup that evokes PAF-sounds and vibes instead of making an actual reproduction of a PAF. Which in a way makes sense.

The A2P is not perse more attacky; the alnico2 mag softens the attack. It is more like, it's faster? The 36th feels like a spongy attack, as if it's slightly delayed, where the a2pro is faster. The EQ curve feels similar to me, though.

 

[fretburner]

Ah, interesting! Thanks for the feedback!

So anyone has anything to say in defense of the 36th?

In my guitars, the 36th is like a 59n with less bass and less brightness.

APH1 is my fave neck pup of all time. I have APH2 as well, very similar, a little louder and brighter. Got some Gibson Slashbuckers as well, but haven't installed them yet.

 

[fretburner]

Do you guys feel the A2P is more attacky, then? If so, then I think that might make me lean more towards the DiMarzio.

Pick attack and articulation are 2 of my fave things with the APH1. It also has that classic "honk" and just the right amount of brightness.

 

[Mincer]

APH-1 is my favorite neck pickup, too, and the pickup I have in most of my electrics. To me, it has more 'bloom' than 'attack'. I associate 'attack' more with A5 and ceramic pickups.

 

[ErikH]

With the SSH+ in the bridge, the natural neck selection would be the SSV. But, between the two mentioned, I'd go with the APH1. From DiMarzio, I'd pick the Air Classic over the PAF 36th. Possibly the bridge version with the hot bridge pickup.