Hot PAF style pickup

Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I don't think it's a PAF either, but given the SD description of the Custom I can see how someone learning for the first time or just reading the site could imply, or is it infer, that it was at least in the ballpark.
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I am very much a vintage pickup kinda guy and prefer alnico 2 and 5.

But I used a Custom bridge and PG neck for a few years in a Stratocaster. Installed two mini switches, one for each pickup, to allow for a selection of series/parallel/single coil tones too. It worked out very, very well.

Eventually I wanted a more natural, organic, "pick a word that describes it" tone than the Custom bridge pickup has, found a PRS Custom 22 that was way underpriced, replaced the Dragon pickups and went back to using alnico 2 paf style pickups.

But I really liked that Custom for a long while there and felt that it did sound a lot like what a "hot paf" might sound like. It does have that ceramic sound though.

Would like to try the 59/Custom hybrid someday.

If the Zen-mon says it's even nicer than the Custom, it probably is. :)
 
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Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Leon Of Late said:
- 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".

- I would personally choose the 59'/Custom as I don't really care for the sound of Ceramic magnets.
Click to expand...


- Was that Seymour that said that, or the marketing department?

- Likewise, I don't like ceramics in my PU's either. A '59/Custom is a interesting PU, although I think it's better with a warmer magnet.
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

I describe the Custom as a PAF on Steroids. And PCP. The thing is freaking muscular in an East German women's swim team way.

Yes - it does have the general EQ style of a basic PAF. Bass, less mids, highs. Fattish bottom, present mids, and sharp highs.

However….
- The ceramic is going to give it a tight tone that is just not A5/PAF
- You aren't going to turn it down to PAF levels
- The bottom is going to be way bigger and the highs will scream like no PAF (in a good way!)

So is it PAF-esque? Sure. Is it a hot PAF? Depends where you draw the line between mild/warm/hot/scorching. I say it is bit on the too hot to be called hot PAF.

Always hard to tell how hot is hot when people say "Hot" PAF.
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Early VH was also recorded with a Super70's , which is a low PAF wind and Alnico 8 mag.
I get really close with a 59/A8 , it's got that low wind 8.2k PAF vibe but with the fat tone like a custom .
 
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Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Probably the closest thing to a hot PAF that's wound like a real PAF would be the '78 from the Custom Shop. It comes with an A2 by default.
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

blueman335 said:
A 14K ceramic is nothing like a PAF.
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The guys that make it would disagree with you:

Summary

A custom overwound PAF like humbucker with moderate output that is perfectly voiced for supreme blues, rock, and metal clarity.
Description

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.
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

SoundAt11 said:
The guys that make it would disagree with you:
A custom overwound PAF like humbucker with moderate output that is perfectly voiced for supreme blues, rock, and metal clarity.
Description

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.
Click to expand...


The "guys that make it", or the guy that designed it, or the marketing department, or some ad agency? I play blues; no blues player I've talked to at gigs and festivals uses ceramic magnets (I'm sure there's a few though). They're into vintage PU's. Sorry, Customs aren't 'perfectly voiced for blues.' And that's why Seymour has put decades of effort into designing the rest of his extensive PU line, including a great assortment of PAF's. Likewise ceramic magnet PU's are usually not the first choice of guys playing classic rock. You can't get 14K of PAF gauge wire in a HB, so Customs aren't really an overwound PAF. If Customs were "perfectly voiced for supreme blues, rock, and metal" Duncan wouldn't have spent the time, effort, and money making so many other PU's.

As was made clear on this site earlier this year, Duncan values our opinions about their PU's, both pro and con, tell them like it is. We provide invaluable research and testing for them, on far more guitars and amps than they could afford to do. We buy their products, they want to know what we like and what we don't. They become a better, more responsive company because of it. They've made PU's based on our recommendations. They do not expect or want blind praise and slavish devotion from us. Their egos don't need that. They want candid feedback from everyday players.
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Aceman said:
How much sportier than a set of say 59's are they?

Is it just 'tude, or legitimate output?
Click to expand...

Probably more 'tude than output. I haven't used a '59 in quite a while although the strat with the WLH in the bridge has a lil '59 in the neck. The WLH seems to have a little more midrange and compression than the 59, although not a ton, on the sport scale, probably more torque down low but the top speed is probably the same. If I was buying something new and wanted a PAF tone with a little more beef I would probably get the WLH over the 59.

Although, I am a big fan of the Custom and still haven't ruled out replacing the WLH with one. So, kinda depends on how hot is hot to the OP, jalapeno or habanero?
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

Hot PAF with tight bass... Motor City Pickups - Detroiter. Have them in my LPs. Tight bass, pronounced mids and clean highs. Nice output level (not vintage, not super,super hot). String articulation is second to none! Check them out....
I'm on my 5th set of MCPs. They do cost more and take about 6 weeks to get but well worth the $ and wait.

If you're looking for HOT PAF with full bass and a pushed sound, the Hot Heads are outstanding. I have them in my PRSs.


http://www.motorcitypickups.com/products/detroiter.htm.
 
Re: Hot PAF style pickup

One more idea to toss into the ring here: Pearly Gates Plus, if you can find one. They come up on Ebay once in a while. Definitely PAF-ish, just towards the juicier end of the spectrum. Likely to be closer to the Gibson Zebras than the Custom or even the C/59 would be.
 
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