Hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro on a '59B?

[Rex_Rocker]

Has anyone tried this? I like both the attack of the PAF Pro and the bite of the '59... I'm wondering if I swapped the flathead screws on the '59 for hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro, I'd give the '59 a bit more PAF Pro-ish attack without thinning it out too much.

 

[devastone]

Re: Hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro on a '59B?

They are 5-40 X 1/2" or 5/8" (probably want to measure to make sure) socket head cap screws, you can order them from mcmaster.com, just make sure you get black oxide steel, stainless won't work.

As far as the changes to a 59, I'm not sure, I've used them in a Tone Zone and it may make it a little more open, but can't say it makes a huge difference to me, others may be able to tell you more what to expect.

 

[thanaton]

Re: Hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro on a '59B?

Has anyone tried this? I like both the attack of the PAF Pro and the bite of the '59... I'm wondering if I swapped the flathead screws on the '59 for hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro, I'd give the '59 a bit more PAF Pro-ish attack without thinning it out too much.

I've tried swapping fillister screws for hex screws and didn't find that it made any difference. The PAF Pro appears to be hotter wound than either the neck or bridge '59, so there's that standing in the way of them sounding similar.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro on a '59B?

Has anyone tried this? I like both the attack of the PAF Pro and the bite of the '59... I'm wondering if I swapped the flathead screws on the '59 for hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro, I'd give the '59 a bit more PAF Pro-ish attack without thinning it out too much.

To get a slightly sharper attack, the answer is to cut the filisters flush with the baseplate. That, plus using 1022 steel screws, available at addiction-fx and mojotone. The effect best suits the neck p'up.

HTH,

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro on a '59B?

hi pep, thanks for the neck pickup hint, i give it a try next time around.
My findings were that the mass (length) of the screws (and the alloy) had more impact than the shape of the head. So if you want to keep the looks, cut the length.

 

[thanaton]

Re: Hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro on a '59B?

My findings were that the mass (length) of the screws (and the alloy) had more impact than the shape of the head. So if you want to keep the looks, cut the length.

If you trim the screw, the inductance of the pickup drops, and the pickup becomes brighter. Different allows will have a similar effect. The properties that matter are the permeability and the conductivity. In general, the higher those values are, the darker the pickup becomes as a result, though the technical differences they make are complicated, depending on the exact balance of permeability to conductivity. When the permeability is higher, the inductance increases, but so does the flux at the strings, so you get more power, but a lower resonant peak. If the conductivity is high, then the metal also creates eddy currents, which eliminate high frequencies, and the severity of eddy currents is permeability times conductivity, so you can see that it's a balancing act of getting a lot of good stuff without also getting too much of the bad.

The head shape makes a difference, but it's a more complex difference, whereas changing the inductance is not such a complex difference, it's one that is easy to hear.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Hex screws off a DiMarzio PAF Pro on a '59B?

Thanks for the replies, dudes!

For anyone who's interested, I did end up doing it. It sounds great. Kinda like a vintagey, open-sounding '59 with a hint of modern snappy attack off a PAF Pro thrown in. I think I'm going to do the same to the Jazz I've got in the neck along with an Alnico 4 magnet swap.