DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

Man....just talking about the L500XL again reminded me of how long I've wanted to try it. I could see it happening in some kind of guitar with a substantial/full body such as an ESP Horizon paired with either a L500R or the time-honored '59N.

The 500XL sounds great in Nuno's sig Washburn N4, although the bizarre extended cutaway feels strange to me. I like beefy guitar bodies.

 

[gregory]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

The '59N was paired very successfully with the much hotter Lawrence L500XL by both Nuno Bettencourt and Dime, although Dime later used the Duncan Dimebucker with some similarity to the L500 in his sig Washburn. It's actually where I got the initial idea to try the Distortion/'59N (I was concerned the L500 might be a little TOO hot, so I chose the Distortion....not sure how the true output compares).

A lot of players pair an SH-1n with hotter pickups, and an SH-2n with hotter pickups, and an APH-1n with hotter pickups. The list goes on; it's standard operating procedure for many. Requesting recommendations or recommending anything for the neck that isn't typical Duncan vintage neck output is often met with resistance. I wouldn't take that to mean they don't work well with the vintage output bridge pickups, including those that make a calibrated set; otherwise what humbucker could you even run with a vintage output bridge pickup?

I'm not a big fan, so I don't really know, did Darrell Abbott really use a 59n in the neck and not a 59b as claimed by Seymour Duncan marketing?

...but I don't know if you got my point:
How can the same pickup used in both the bridge and neck make for a good combination if it creates any appreciable amount of bass in the neck position, when the tried and true approach is to use a hotter pickup in the bridge in that situation?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

FWIW, the PAF Pro which was replaced twice by the Duncan '59 is a standard aftermarket one with black polepieces stamped "DP151" on the baseplate. I've also got a PAF Pro with silver polepieces and a DiMarzio logo on one of the bobbins stamped "S1" that I was told came off a late 90's Ibanez. The standard aftermarket one has a taller magnet than the S1. I got them both second hand, so I don't know if that's how they come stock. I've never had them both in the same guitar. I ought to try them to really A/B them, but having them on different guitars, I can say they both sound like PAF Pros, lol.

 

[daenius]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

The reason why I've posted this link is not what the article says (in a way that I find discussible on the basis of my own humble experience) but what it shows objectively:
-brass baseplate with four holding screws made of magnetic alloy (vs the NS basseplate and brass holding screws of a P.A.F. or Duncan SH1);
-hex poles VS screws & slugs in a P.A..F or SH1.;
-polished AlNiCo bar VS rough cast one in a P.A.F. (and in old SH1's);
-4.3H for almost 9k of DCR, when a P.A.F. clone would be expected to have a lower DCR and a higher inductance (my SH1's from different eras measure(d) 7.5k to 8.6k and 4.2H to 4.8H, if memory serves me)...

Etc. Non limitative list, to be continued if necessary.

These material differences explain the different Q factor noticed and contribute to a different tone IMHO/IME.

It doesn't make me lose my sleep either and if the PAFpro makes some players happy, I'm simply glad for them. I was just underlining that a DM "PAF(R)" is not quite the same thing technically speaking than a " P. A. F."... nor than a SH1.

Thx to Rex_Rocker to have shared his experience anyway!

PAF(R)?! When the hell did they register "PAF"??????????????

 

[gregory]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

The PAF Pros from my EBMM are identical, with DP 151 stamped on the base plates and taller than standard-height magnets.

This is what I casually pulled up on the S1:
"The S1 is our PAF Pro with chrome polepieces. No other difference."
http://www.jemsite.com/forums/756030-post2.html

 

[gregory]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

When [...] did they register "PAF"?

They filed in 1977 and it was approved in 1978.

 

[freefrog]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

PAF(R)?! When the hell did they register "PAF"??????????????

https://trademarks.justia.com/731/16/paf-73116336.html

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: DiMarzio PAF Pro vs. Seymour Duncan '59B - my thoughts

A lot of players pair an SH-1n with hotter pickups, and an SH-2n with hotter pickups, and an APH-1n with hotter pickups. The list goes on; it's standard operating procedure for many. Requesting recommendations or recommending anything for the neck that isn't typical Duncan vintage neck output is often met with resistance. I wouldn't take that to mean they don't work well with the vintage output bridge pickups, including those that make a calibrated set; otherwise what humbucker could you even run with a vintage output bridge pickup?

I'm not a big fan, so I don't really know, did Darrell Abbott really use a 59n in the neck and not a 59b as claimed by Seymour Duncan marketing?

...but I don't know if you got my point:
How can the same pickup used in both the bridge and neck make for a good combination if it creates any appreciable amount of bass in the neck position, when the tried and true approach is to use a hotter pickup in the bridge in that situation?

I have no reason to doubt Duncan if they said it. I am pretty sure Nuno's Washburn N4 had the '59N though. I played one many years ago in a store and it sounded quite good, although the Stephens extended cutaway would take some getting used to for sure....