DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
- Thread starter SFW
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Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
Howdy,
The only HBer I own is the SD '59 and it's adequate, if trebly in my old ES-335. All i can tell you about DiMarzio's vintage voiced offerings is that they employ his Airbucker technology; a slight "improvement" on Seth Lover's original design.
DiMarzio isn't really trying to make a carbon copy of the old Gibson PAFs, warts and all. When I told Mr. DiMarzio that I was looking for some vintage voiced, covered HBers for my ES-335 he recommended his Air Classics, not the 36th Anniversaries. This was also after I told him that I'm a Beatles/'Stones kind of rhythm guitarist, fwiw.
Eggman
Howdy,
The only HBer I own is the SD '59 and it's adequate, if trebly in my old ES-335. All i can tell you about DiMarzio's vintage voiced offerings is that they employ his Airbucker technology; a slight "improvement" on Seth Lover's original design.
DiMarzio isn't really trying to make a carbon copy of the old Gibson PAFs, warts and all. When I told Mr. DiMarzio that I was looking for some vintage voiced, covered HBers for my ES-335 he recommended his Air Classics, not the 36th Anniversaries. This was also after I told him that I'm a Beatles/'Stones kind of rhythm guitarist, fwiw.
Eggman
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Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
Again - no experience with the "36th" I could care less. However...
I put the DM PAF as my #2 favorite sounding PAF style.
#1 Pearly Gates
#2 DM PAF
#3 Duncan 59
#4 Gibson BB1/2
They are all PAF "style" and all subtly different
Again - no experience with the "36th" I could care less. However...
I put the DM PAF as my #2 favorite sounding PAF style.
#1 Pearly Gates
#2 DM PAF
#3 Duncan 59
#4 Gibson BB1/2
They are all PAF "style" and all subtly different
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
It's debatable whether the "Air" technology is an improvement. People who want an exact vintage tone often find it weird.
It's an interesting technique, it approximates the sound of a degaussed or weaker grade of alnico magnet, while allowing use of a full strength A5. There's a number of reasons DiMarzio feels strongly about sticking with A5 or ceramic. Fewer magnet varieties to stock is easier for any number of commercial reasons.
There are some functional arguments as well. A fully charged A5 holds a charge better than a degaussed one, when exposed to other fields. So it's a more rugged pickup. But... anything that can degauss a magnet is pretty bad for the pickup, and if it's strong enough will still affect the fully charged magnet. Demagnetization in normal use is a myth for a decent quality magnet.
(Propping the guitar with the pickup pressed against the back of a speaker isn't reasonably considered as normal use in my opinion)
And it provides a different tone, and in the case of half-aired pickups emphasizes the non-Aired coil, so it's a useful technique even when not pursuing purely retro tones.
It's debatable whether the "Air" technology is an improvement. People who want an exact vintage tone often find it weird.
It's an interesting technique, it approximates the sound of a degaussed or weaker grade of alnico magnet, while allowing use of a full strength A5. There's a number of reasons DiMarzio feels strongly about sticking with A5 or ceramic. Fewer magnet varieties to stock is easier for any number of commercial reasons.
There are some functional arguments as well. A fully charged A5 holds a charge better than a degaussed one, when exposed to other fields. So it's a more rugged pickup. But... anything that can degauss a magnet is pretty bad for the pickup, and if it's strong enough will still affect the fully charged magnet. Demagnetization in normal use is a myth for a decent quality magnet.
(Propping the guitar with the pickup pressed against the back of a speaker isn't reasonably considered as normal use in my opinion)
And it provides a different tone, and in the case of half-aired pickups emphasizes the non-Aired coil, so it's a useful technique even when not pursuing purely retro tones.
UberMetalDood
New member
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
Hi SFW. No other pickup I know sounds like Dimarzio PAF or airbuckers. I have the 36th set in my les paul standard model. I never heard pickups with the kind of midrange nor harmonics that those Dimarzio pickups produce. With the SD Antiquity or Seth lovfer is a different sound and pleasing but there is no such thing as one being better than the other. My personal taste grows with the Paf 36 I have now after the Seth lover from before because the sound of my Les Paul is like it's jumping out of the amplifier in an alive fashion.
It's not necessarily reminiscent of like those expensive Les Paul VOS models but something similar in a way. I'm trying to say that it is just short of being sweet vintage like the Gibson VOS but has the hint of hifi and definition. I like these pickups better in this guitar than any other I tried.
I will not tell you a reason to prefer one over the other because I think it would be ridiculous and biased opinion. My impression of those Dimarzio is like "vintage modified" because it has sweet vintage with definition. It's not flat like some pickups that sound plain, like comparing a square and a cube.
The pearly gate is a pickup I want to try but I don't have a guitar to put one in right now. If I don't like my Carvin pickups in my new guitar next week I will try the PG out.
Hi SFW. No other pickup I know sounds like Dimarzio PAF or airbuckers. I have the 36th set in my les paul standard model. I never heard pickups with the kind of midrange nor harmonics that those Dimarzio pickups produce. With the SD Antiquity or Seth lovfer is a different sound and pleasing but there is no such thing as one being better than the other. My personal taste grows with the Paf 36 I have now after the Seth lover from before because the sound of my Les Paul is like it's jumping out of the amplifier in an alive fashion.
It's not necessarily reminiscent of like those expensive Les Paul VOS models but something similar in a way. I'm trying to say that it is just short of being sweet vintage like the Gibson VOS but has the hint of hifi and definition. I like these pickups better in this guitar than any other I tried.
I will not tell you a reason to prefer one over the other because I think it would be ridiculous and biased opinion. My impression of those Dimarzio is like "vintage modified" because it has sweet vintage with definition. It's not flat like some pickups that sound plain, like comparing a square and a cube.
The pearly gate is a pickup I want to try but I don't have a guitar to put one in right now. If I don't like my Carvin pickups in my new guitar next week I will try the PG out.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
The weakened mag thing is pretty random IMO - had to have a mag of questionable quality/charge in the first place. Then, when it degaussed, it had to do so in a musical way. And not totally crap out. Rare I'd think...
The weakened mag thing is pretty random IMO - had to have a mag of questionable quality/charge in the first place. Then, when it degaussed, it had to do so in a musical way. And not totally crap out. Rare I'd think...
51501984
New member
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
Didn't they rename the dmz paf 223 the 36th anniversary? I've got the 36th anniversary bridge that still has the dp223 model # which I like but i have other pafs I prefer . Then there's the 36 anniversary dp103 but I haven't tried that one
Didn't they rename the dmz paf 223 the 36th anniversary? I've got the 36th anniversary bridge that still has the dp223 model # which I like but i have other pafs I prefer . Then there's the 36 anniversary dp103 but I haven't tried that one
Nevstavalni
New member
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
I think that this information is the best.
I think that this information is the best.
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Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
I think the 36th Anniversary dp223 bridge and dp103 neck pickups use the air technology, I don't think their previous "PAF" pickup did. That's my understanding, anyway. The Air Classics came out first, then they applied the air tech to their PAF to come up with the 36th Anniversary PAF's.
Al
I think the 36th Anniversary dp223 bridge and dp103 neck pickups use the air technology, I don't think their previous "PAF" pickup did. That's my understanding, anyway. The Air Classics came out first, then they applied the air tech to their PAF to come up with the 36th Anniversary PAF's.
Al
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
The 36th like the Pearly Gates is very bright and clear with a lot of bite. They are both intended to sound like vintage PAFs in actual Vintage Les Pauls, so it stands to reason. I like the PG better because it has more underlying warmth. To me the the 36th while sounding very good, with a three D depth, has a cold steeliness to it that I can't put my finger on. And it bugs me. I don't think this is the Airbucker thing because I have one Dimarzio Air Classic bridge which is just magical. Other Air Classics I tried don't touch this particular one. The magical one is under wound in comparison to published specs by accident or intentional by the way.
Be aware that are two 36th versions. The original which is interchangable with the neck and middle positions, and an stronger wound Bridge only model.
The 59 is an excellent platform for experimentation with different magnets.
The 36th like the Pearly Gates is very bright and clear with a lot of bite. They are both intended to sound like vintage PAFs in actual Vintage Les Pauls, so it stands to reason. I like the PG better because it has more underlying warmth. To me the the 36th while sounding very good, with a three D depth, has a cold steeliness to it that I can't put my finger on. And it bugs me. I don't think this is the Airbucker thing because I have one Dimarzio Air Classic bridge which is just magical. Other Air Classics I tried don't touch this particular one. The magical one is under wound in comparison to published specs by accident or intentional by the way.
Be aware that are two 36th versions. The original which is interchangable with the neck and middle positions, and an stronger wound Bridge only model.
The 59 is an excellent platform for experimentation with different magnets.
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
There are the DP223 and DP103 in the 36th Anniversary pickups, the first one is meant to be used in the bridge position and the the second in the neck if you are using them as a set, however they both say that either can be used in the bridge or neck positions if you want, presumably if you are using a different pickup in the other position. I don't think that is "two versions", it's two pickups of different strength that make a set if used together. They are the only 36th Anniversary PAF's that I know of. There are of course options for covered or uncovered, but they are the same pickups. There also is a "PAF" pickup that preceded the 36th Anniversary ones, but I don't think it used the Air Gap technology.
Al
There are the DP223 and DP103 in the 36th Anniversary pickups, the first one is meant to be used in the bridge position and the the second in the neck if you are using them as a set, however they both say that either can be used in the bridge or neck positions if you want, presumably if you are using a different pickup in the other position. I don't think that is "two versions", it's two pickups of different strength that make a set if used together. They are the only 36th Anniversary PAF's that I know of. There are of course options for covered or uncovered, but they are the same pickups. There also is a "PAF" pickup that preceded the 36th Anniversary ones, but I don't think it used the Air Gap technology.
Al
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Mononoaware
Active member
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
Just a side-note here on Aceman's post: my personal tastes also run toward the original DP103, pre-36th Anniversary. I have one that measures a little over 8k that, while it's not "3D", is full of magical woody goodness I have yet to find in another pickup.
Just a side-note here on Aceman's post: my personal tastes also run toward the original DP103, pre-36th Anniversary. I have one that measures a little over 8k that, while it's not "3D", is full of magical woody goodness I have yet to find in another pickup.
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
It might be magnet pole orientation, does the one you like has more (highest) highs than the ones you tested?
It might be magnet pole orientation, does the one you like has more (highest) highs than the ones you tested?
Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
It's not really in the highs. The one I like has better clarity and articulation in the lower mids while still having the girth there. It also is more 3D with even better picking dynamics.
It's not really in the highs. The one I like has better clarity and articulation in the lower mids while still having the girth there. It also is more 3D with even better picking dynamics.
Re: DiMarzio PAF 36 Anni vs Duncan 59, PG, Seth?
Thats interesting but very possible with dimarzio. When I opened up my 90's AN and saw a newer one opened on web there were many differences, and this still happens but they aren't announced.
Thats interesting but very possible with dimarzio. When I opened up my 90's AN and saw a newer one opened on web there were many differences, and this still happens but they aren't announced.
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