DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

[Rex_Rocker]

Has anyone tried this? The specs look like it could work: 7.7K and Alnico 4. But DiMarzio seem to want to emphasize that this pickup feels hotter than the specs would suggest.

For me, the perfect neck pickup is bright enough in the high mids to counter the position's natural mud, but I also hate a chirpy top-end attack and boomy lows, so I tend to stay away from traditional Alnico 5 pickups ala Jazz or '59. In the broad sense, I like the PAF 36th Anniversary Neck, but if anything, I feel it's a tad weak, and it struggles to keep up even with the '59B. I also like the Phat Cat Neck, but there's a hint of that chirpy attack that I don't like to it.

I would be pairing it with a Whole Lotta Humbucker in the bridge for a slightly edgier than traditional kinda Les Paul tone. Would the PAF Master not overpower it? Would it be too dark and/or boomy? Distorted tones are a priority, but would the cleans still work? What do you guys think?

 

[TVFV]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

Some guy on YouTube did the exact same you're thinking about. Look up Paf Master bridge in the neck. The guy's name is Joshua Shelton.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[gregory]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

Has anyone tried this? The specs look like it could work: 7.7K and Alnico 4. But DiMarzio seem to want to emphasize that this pickup feels hotter than the specs would suggest.

Probably because there can be more to a pickup than a resistance measurement and a magnet type.

That out of the way, they also say that the pickup can be used in neck position.

I would be pairing it with a Whole Lotta Humbucker in the bridge

It should probably work.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

Some guy on YouTube did the exact same you're thinking about. Look up Paf Master bridge in the neck. The guy's name is Joshua Shelton.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

Thanks! I checked out the dude's video, but it seems like he has it paired with a pretty loud and fat bridge pickup. I wonder how it would do with a brighter, more tame bridge pickup ala WLH.

That out of the way, they also say that the pickup can be used in neck position.

Oh, you're right! They do. I wonder how it would match with a PAF-type in the bridge, though.

 

[gregory]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

Isn't the WLH overwound?

Besides some guys like an equal or hotter neck for higher gain.

I've seen the LiquiFire paired with the Screamin' Demon, for example. Dual Super-Ds is another, more common one.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

Isn't the WLH overwound?

Barely. I've still got to try it thoroughly, but the first impression I got was that it wasn't in a whole different league compared to the '59B in terms of output.

Besides some guys like an equal or hotter neck for higher gain.

That's why I've considered the PAF Master Bridge. I find the PAF 36th Anni Neck borderline weak, and it's still one of DiMarzio's higher output PAF's, according to their site. I absolutely hated how weak the Jazz was in this guitar's neck position.

 

[AJK1]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

I had them in the neck and bridge of a LP i had, they sounded great, and the balance was perfect
To me, they sounded fat and warm, with great tone, but they are not bright.
Great pickups, i sold the guitar but it sounded great

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

I think it would be worth trying a magnet swap in your jazz neck. Consider an A2 magnet to make it into an APH-1 (whick I found to be marginally louder and hotter than the 36th anniversary neck). Otherwise try a UOA5 like the WLH (although I have not tried that myself).

You may find A4 Neck pickups respond differently to gain. My concern is that it could end up sounding brighter than you expect and possibly a bit grainy or fizzy. That is the opposite of what I hear from the 36th anniversary neck which is fat and smooth with gain. The APH-1 seems generally very smooth and to me it feels like putting a microphone into the guitar's heart and soul.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

I had them in the neck and bridge of a LP i had, they sounded great, and the balance was perfect
To me, they sounded fat and warm, with great tone, but they are not bright.
Great pickups, i sold the guitar but it sounded great

Did you have the PAF Master Bridge in the neck?

I think it would be worth trying a magnet swap in your jazz neck. Consider an A2 magnet to make it into an APH-1 (whick I found to be marginally louder and hotter than the 36th anniversary neck). Otherwise try a UOA5 like the WLH (although I have not tried that myself).

You may find A4 Neck pickups respond differently to gain. My concern is that it could end up sounding brighter than you expect and possibly a bit grainy or fizzy. That is the opposite of what I hear from the 36th anniversary neck which is fat and smooth with gain. The APH-1 seems generally very smooth and to me it feels like putting a microphone into the guitar's heart and soul.

I don't have that Jazz anymore. I now have a Phat Cat in the neck position.