Hot PAF style pickup

[guitarplayer100]

I wanna beef up bridge position on my les paul which has '61 zebras right now. I want something that has a little more output, maybe a little tighter bass and more a little more mids. I find '61 zebra isn't really good for metal, so I want this pickup to do nice cleans and be good for playing heavier types of music without being super hot.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Cleans and metal are hard to do in one pickup.

The PATB 1 might be the best ticket.

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I really like the 61 Zebra's, they're a really clear and versatile pickup. Might suggestion for something in the vein, but a little louder and more aggressive, but able to be cleaned up, would be a regular Duncan Custom. It should balance well with the neck '61, assuming you choose to keep that one.

 

[JB6464]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Set of zebra 59's .
Swap the 59 bridge with the A5 mag to a Alnico 8 mag , now you have a hot paf style pickup with fat tone and cleans up great .

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I'm pretty familiar with the 61s and agree with SoundAt11's suggestion of the Duncan Custom. The Custom is *slightly* scooped, but I think it would be a good match in terms of voicing, b/c I hear the 61s as slightly scooped, with their A5s. Custom certainly has tight bass and more output.

You may also want to try the Perpetual Burn. Slightly lower output than the Custom but very flat EQ across the board (so slightly more mids than the Custom), with tight bass. Custom has slightly more low end and high end than Perpetual Burn, but if your LP has a maple top, you may already have low end and high end covered. The Perpetual feels more modern/shreddy than the Custom, which sort of has the PAF thing going on, so I would start with the Custom first.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Might suggestion for something in the vein, but a little louder and more aggressive, but able to be cleaned up, would be a regular Duncan Custom.

A 14K ceramic is nothing like a PAF.

 

[RStabler]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Dimarzio PAF Master bridge and a TS-style OD.

 

[stratguy23]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

A 14K ceramic is nothing like a PAF.

I thought the same thing until I tried a Custom. I was surprised to find it had PAF-like aspects, namely an openness in the mid scoop and the fact I could get it to honk with the right pick attack. The sound certainly lives up to the 14K ceramic spec - the spiky top end is too immediate to be a PAF - but the feel to me is both vintage and modern. If I had to assign a time period to this pickup, it would be the late 70s, when hard rock started tipping over into metal.

I've been in the same boat as OP in wanting more out of the bridge 61, and Custom is the "duh, why didn't I think of that earlier" solution. They would actually probably go better together in voicing than the 59n that's usually paired with the Custom because the 61 neck, while also an A5, has a tighter bass than the 59n and crisper feel due to the mismatched coils.

 

[JB6464]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

A 14K ceramic is nothing like a PAF.

I agree !

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Brobucker...?

Bill

 

[guitarplayer100]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I think I'll give Custom a shot. Thanks everyone!

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Do yourself a favor and get a '59/Custom hybrid.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I also vote for the 59/Custom Hybrid. It is a good bridge between the dynamics of a vintage and the power and tightness of a high output pickup.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I also vote for the 59/Custom Hybrid. It is a good bridge between the dynamics of a vintage and the power and tightness of a high output pickup.

It's one of the few pickups out there that will metal it up like a high output ceramic yet clean up like a low output Alnico and have really out front and present mids. I should be cycling pickups in and out of my #1 HSS for purposes of experimentation and extending my tone education... but I just can't bring myself to do it. lolz! I've had it in there for a year and a half now. lolz!

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I think I'll give Custom a shot. Thanks everyone!

Do yourself a favor and get a '59/Custom hybrid.

I also vote for the 59/Custom Hybrid. It is a good bridge between the dynamics of a vintage and the power and tightness of a high output pickup.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

What he's won is exactly what he was hoping for, a Hot PAF. What the contestant will receive is divided into two parts, an Alnico 5 PAF coil with the bonus of a hotter Alnico 5 coil. The 59/Custom Hybrid. Back to you, Bert.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Cleans and metal are hard to do in one pickup.

Ever tried a Dimebucker?

EDIT: Not trying to hijack the thread as this is not a Hot PAF

 

[donaldr]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I really like the 61 Zebra's, they're a really clear and versatile pickup.

I also really like them. What SD pickup is it comparable to?

 

[Leon Of Late]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Seymour calls the Custom a PAF style pickup....."The Duncan Custom is an overwound PAF style pickup that uses a small ceramic magnet and custom wound coils to deliver great responsiveness while maintaining clarity for big chords". So I think the Custom is right along the lines of what the OP is looking for. Although I would personally choose the 59'/Custom as I don't really care for the sound of Ceramic magnets.

Either way it sound like he will be happier.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

i like the custom but it is not a paf by any stretch. the antiquity, pearly gates, seth lover, 59 and maybe the wlh are paf style pups. the aph and jazz are cool pups in a similar ball park but use different wire