Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
- Thread starter jerryjg
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pstarove
New member
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
There is no such pickup as Duncan PAF. There are PG, APH-1, '59, Seth Lover and Antiquities, each of them is a variation on PAF designs. Spec-wise, the closest Duncan to the Dimarzio PAF will be the '59 bridge: 8.1K, Alnico5 magnet.
Sonically, people say that Dimarzio PAF is tighter and has less screechy highs and less boomy bass than the '59b, but I haven't heard any of them so I can't confirm this.
Do a search on the forum, there is a lot of info on this subject.
There is no such pickup as Duncan PAF. There are PG, APH-1, '59, Seth Lover and Antiquities, each of them is a variation on PAF designs. Spec-wise, the closest Duncan to the Dimarzio PAF will be the '59 bridge: 8.1K, Alnico5 magnet.
Sonically, people say that Dimarzio PAF is tighter and has less screechy highs and less boomy bass than the '59b, but I haven't heard any of them so I can't confirm this.
Do a search on the forum, there is a lot of info on this subject.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
Yup, the closest Duncan PAF to the DiMarzio PAF is the '59 Model. I prefer the DiMarzio PAF. It's just more balanced overall to me. It's sweet when you want it to be and aggressive when you want it to be. It's a great pickup in the neck of a Les Paul or Strat and it's even really sweet as a Strat bridge pickup.
Yup, the closest Duncan PAF to the DiMarzio PAF is the '59 Model. I prefer the DiMarzio PAF. It's just more balanced overall to me. It's sweet when you want it to be and aggressive when you want it to be. It's a great pickup in the neck of a Les Paul or Strat and it's even really sweet as a Strat bridge pickup.
Mr. B
New member
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
I have both the Duncan 59 and the Dimarzio PAf In the neck position on a couple guitars each. I do prefer the Dimarzio. The Duncan is not quite as woody and warm, and seems a bit bass heavy (unbalanced). The Dimarzio is better balanced and a little more agressive when you need it to be. Very authentic sounding as far as I'm concerned. I have never tried that Dimarzio in the bridge. I wish Dimarzio made a regular PAF (non-air, non-virtual) wound a bit hotter for the bridge so it would balance w/ the neck. Would buy that in a second for my Les Paul. I also really like the Dimarzio Virtual HOT PAF in the bridge.
I have both the Duncan 59 and the Dimarzio PAf In the neck position on a couple guitars each. I do prefer the Dimarzio. The Duncan is not quite as woody and warm, and seems a bit bass heavy (unbalanced). The Dimarzio is better balanced and a little more agressive when you need it to be. Very authentic sounding as far as I'm concerned. I have never tried that Dimarzio in the bridge. I wish Dimarzio made a regular PAF (non-air, non-virtual) wound a bit hotter for the bridge so it would balance w/ the neck. Would buy that in a second for my Les Paul. I also really like the Dimarzio Virtual HOT PAF in the bridge.
fullfistrock21
New member
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
a dimarzio PAF and brobucker could sound great in that paul
a dimarzio PAF and brobucker could sound great in that paul
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
If you want a PAF, check out the DiMarzio Air Classic.
If you want a PAF, check out the DiMarzio Air Classic.
notesfield
New member
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
How does the Air Classic improve upon the PAF? Which Duncan does the Air Classic most closely resemble?
How does the Air Classic improve upon the PAF? Which Duncan does the Air Classic most closely resemble?
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
I haven't really sat and pondered it all that much, but in the bridge or neck of an Ibanez SZ320, it sounds VERY similar to the real PAFs in my '62 LP.
It really doesn't. The whole "Air" thing sets them apart.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
The way DiMarzio gets around the whole degaussed magnet thing is with the airbucker technology. It allows them to use full-strength magnets but get a more vintage sound out of the pickup as if it had a degaussed magnet, or one that has gotten a little weaker over the years. It's not really an improvement, just another flavor.
The way DiMarzio gets around the whole degaussed magnet thing is with the airbucker technology. It allows them to use full-strength magnets but get a more vintage sound out of the pickup as if it had a degaussed magnet, or one that has gotten a little weaker over the years. It's not really an improvement, just another flavor.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
Well.... it does allow you to swap magnets, and still retain the Air thing.
pstarove
New member
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
This is true, I have changed Alnico5 magnets in my Dimarzio Airbuckers to Alnico2s and I couldn't be more happy!
This is true, I have changed Alnico5 magnets in my Dimarzio Airbuckers to Alnico2s and I couldn't be more happy!
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
Yeah, I have an A8 in an Air Zone.... something that would've been a lot more difficult to achieve w/o "Air".
Yeah, I have an A8 in an Air Zone.... something that would've been a lot more difficult to achieve w/o "Air".
Re: Duncan PAF vs. Dimarzio PAF
between the Dimarzio PAF and the Duncan 59 i prefer the Dimarzio.... The Duncan 59's i own seem to have more noise and seem a bit brighter to my ears but that maybe just the tele i have the 59's in... I love the way the 59's look with the wooden spacer showing... i had high hopes they would be what i was looking for in a humbucker... Not for me... with some of my high gain amps it allows a lot of hum to get thru.... I even wondered if the 59 matched set i bought was a bad set... They hum almost as bad as a P90 under high gain... I've tried the set in other axes , with different pots switches and wire, sheilding, and they still allow more noise thru then i like... Can't figure that one out.... They are noisier then my JB's and Customs.....
In a Warmoth strat i have had both PAF PRO's and PAF Classic Covers from Dimarzio in it.... Plus various other Dimarzio's over the years.... the PAF Classic Cover is good pickup and pretty close to noise free operation.... Right now i left the neck PAF classic covered and a bridge F spaced PAF PRO in it... great combo with a lace sensor in the middle
Don't get me wrong i love my Duncans but in this case the Dimarzio's won me over...
between the Dimarzio PAF and the Duncan 59 i prefer the Dimarzio.... The Duncan 59's i own seem to have more noise and seem a bit brighter to my ears but that maybe just the tele i have the 59's in... I love the way the 59's look with the wooden spacer showing... i had high hopes they would be what i was looking for in a humbucker... Not for me... with some of my high gain amps it allows a lot of hum to get thru.... I even wondered if the 59 matched set i bought was a bad set... They hum almost as bad as a P90 under high gain... I've tried the set in other axes , with different pots switches and wire, sheilding, and they still allow more noise thru then i like... Can't figure that one out.... They are noisier then my JB's and Customs.....
In a Warmoth strat i have had both PAF PRO's and PAF Classic Covers from Dimarzio in it.... Plus various other Dimarzio's over the years.... the PAF Classic Cover is good pickup and pretty close to noise free operation.... Right now i left the neck PAF classic covered and a bridge F spaced PAF PRO in it... great combo with a lace sensor in the middle
Don't get me wrong i love my Duncans but in this case the Dimarzio's won me over...
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