DiMarzio PAF Pro compagnion

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WDeeGee

New member
Hi, I have mostly been using SD's in the past, but I wanted to have something different for this Ibanez RG721, basswood body + maple neck. Stock pups were okay, but the neck was too boomy so I got a DiMarzio Paf-Pro for it. Sounds great. I want to find a compagnion for it in the bridge. There are many videos comparing HB's in the bridge position (see Mike Stampers' YouTube channel), but it seems for DiMarzio, the PAF Pro sound really great in the bridge too, other HB's tend to sound fizzy; it has a throathy growl to it, very clear yet full sound, really punchy.

But.. I was hoping to find a DiMarzio close to it in terms of sound (for high gain application) but with higher output.

Mike Stamper has quiet a bunch Paf Pro comparsion videos, so far the titan seems to be the only one he's reviewed that can rival the PAF Pro, although I wonder about the Dreamcatcher (which he has not reviewed -- yet). It's hard to gauge from other videos.

What are your suggestions?
 
Honestly I don't have much experience with the DiMarzio line. All I can say is I did pair a Duncan Jazz Bridge with a PAF Pro neck in an SG and they worked really well together. In basswood, if it were me I would pick a darker-sounding, more mid-heavy bridge however. A Jazz Bridge or equivalent would likely be fizzy like you observed. Maybe something with an A2 that has a mid-hump to it and is soft on the top end? Similar to Custom Custom (but not sure what the DiMarzio equivalent would be.)
 
If you want the same tone curve, and are using it for "high gain" why not just get another PAF Pro? Let the amp do the work. Bump the height up on the bridge, and drop the height on the neck and call it a win.

What amp and what sort of High Gain applications???
 
Joe Satriani used a Fred bridge with the PAF Pro neck for more than 15 years, so you can't go wrong with that! Arguably even better I think is a Breed neck model in the bridge, it is basically a "bigger" PAF Pro, it is no longer a regular production pickup but can still be ordered from Dimarzio, and you can usually find one on eBay or Reverb at any time.
 
As SoulForger already mentioned, several DiMarzio pickups are essentially a "hotter PAF Pro", including the Mo' Joe and Breed Neck (don't be thrown off by the "neck" part, it's a great bridge pickup!
 
I'm a huge fan of the Gravity Storm bridge and had one paired with a PAF Joe in the neck. Should work really well with a PAF Pro also.
Also a Liqufier would match well in the bridge with a PAF Pro in the neck. I have a Liqufier FS here if you are interested.
 
Breed Neck does indeed make a great bridge pickup. The Breed bridge is even bigger.
AT-1 is worth considering too; has a similar thickening effect in thin-voiced guitars.

For something not totally un-vintagey yet still beefy, the Norton might be a good option.
Plenty of mids. I've never heard it in basswood, but it rocks in a Les Paul.
 
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eclecticsynergy said:
Breed Neck does indeed make a great bridge pickup. The Breed bridge is even bigger.
AT-1 is worth considering too; has a similar thickening effect in thin-voiced guitars.

For something not totally un-vintagey yet still beefy, the Norton might be a good option.
Plenty of mids. I've never heard it in basswood, but it rocks in a Les Paul.
Click to expand...

I have direct experience with all 3 of these in an rg921 (Same guitar essentially)

Breed neck in bridge is a slightly hotter paf pro type
Breed bridge is hotter and thicker
norton will scream!! I liked it much better in my mahogany rg520qs

mo joe is supposed to be a beefier fred. I was thinking about the paf pro/mojoe or paf joe/mo joe set as an optoon
 
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If you're considering dual PAF Pros, I think that's a cool combo.

But be advised, IME, the PAF Pro in the bridge is anything but smooth and fat. It's good-sounding, and it's not thin, but it's got TONS of attack. It's a very shreddy-sounding pickup.
 
Mm, PAF Pros in neck and bridge is old Jem territory. I have one in an old Roadstar, it's cool, has a high and mid emphasis (can be squawky in some rigs), pretty articulate. I used it stock for ages and not long ago I took out the metal spacers and insulated the poles from the mag with some plastic strips, so it's an 'air' version now – lower output, bit tighter mid.
 
DiMarzio FRED.

Joe Satriani used the Fred/PAF Pro combo in his first Ibanez signature guitars. I have used it as well. Nice combo. Here's what DiMarzio says:

"We designed FRED® to bump the mid-range of the PAF Pro® EQ up a notch, but in the process something unusual happened. Harmonics that humbuckers usually don’t reproduce started popping out, particularly with overdriven amps and distortion units. FRED® has about the same power as the PAF Pro®, but the unusual overtones create a sound with more crank and growl. Joe Satriani was the first player to discover and exploit these qualities, and it’s been his main bridge pickup until the introduction of the Mo' Joe™. FRED® is really sensitive to changes in pick attack and control settings, and its distinctive tone makes a great recorded sound for both penetrating solos and tight rhythm tracks."
 
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soulforger said:
Joe Satriani used a Fred bridge with the PAF Pro neck for more than 15 years, so you can't go wrong with that! Arguably even better I think is a Breed neck model in the bridge, it is basically a "bigger" PAF Pro, it is no longer a regular production pickup but can still be ordered from Dimarzio, and you can usually find one on eBay or Reverb at any time.
Click to expand...

These are solid suggestions. A Butch mentioned, the Super Distortion/PAF Pro combo is also a fantastic bread-and-butter set if you want something classic with some grit and rock. It'll do just about everything.
 
After having a PAF Pro set I can see why Satch wanted more mids in the bridge which turned into the Fred.
 
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