Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

All "PAFs" sound different. The '59 that SD makes is based of a PAF that was liked and felt represented "ideal '59 tone". I've played PAFs that have as low as 5.5k output in the neck (it sounded almost like a strat), and ones that were at 11k. They all have their own tonalities, peaks and valleys, etc., and that's why "the PAF" tone will never be consistent. One man's "tone" is another man's "trash" (no sexism implied, just using a saying rote).

Jason

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

are these potted tho ? Joe's favoured non potted pickups until now which is why i've avoided them.

Not potted.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

Here's a short video snippet of Joe talking about the tonal relationship between his '59 Burst and the test guitar he used to voice the pickup.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

I have not had the pleasure of playing any real 59 PAF's (not that I have the chops or ear for it to matter...)

But I do know they are all (or many...) different by wind and mag. Obviously the Rev Billy G had a very particulalr set. Definitely NOT a "59" So I totally get that recreating the 'ones' in your guitar/ear is a thing.

As for the price - I can't imagine how much time/effort Seymour puts into these. So the price makes sense just from an ROI on Seymour's time.

And as always, if THAT is the tone you dig, THAT is the pup you need.

I'm sticking with Pearly Gates, but that's me. If I want to hate on price, I'd hate on $150 Gibson pups that sound at best no better than SD's etc. and didn't get 1% of the love that Seymour put into these things!

 

[clcwarlock]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

I dont think $350 for a pair of Custom pickups is that much (I wouldnt pay it myself mind), but wouldnt a pickup from an old 1959 Les Paul sound like a....59?

My thoughts exactly. I'm starting to get a little confused about how you use an alnico 3 for PAF. Did gibson ever use Alnico 3 on 59 pickups? My guess is that its really just to sound like his existing pickups more than an exact replica.:scratchch

 

[jeremy]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

id love to check these things out!

gibsons late paf's were mostly alnico V like the 59, the early paf's were all over the place. they say that alnico II, III, IV, and V were used. basically they used what they could get cheapest and quickest. they werent going to stop production cause they couldnt get a certain thing.

 

[clcwarlock]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

id love to check these things out!

gibsons late paf's were mostly alnico V like the 59, the early paf's were all over the place. they say that alnico II, III, IV, and V were used. basically they used what they could get cheapest and quickest. they werent going to stop production cause they couldnt get a certain thing.

I glad you told me, this is great to know. I thought they had a standard for the magnets back then. I would love to try these things out. Concerning the money for the pickups you have to consider 2 things. First, I am sure Joe is going to get paid. 2nd, I am sure that R&D time that took to match the pickups tonewise wasnt cheap either. Either way, if had the dough I would buy them.

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

Hear the pickups in Joe's test guitar (played through an SD Convertible 2000):

 

[claytonc]

Re: Introducing the Joe Bonamassa Signature Pickup Set

In order of most commonly used paf magnets:
alnico 2, alnico 5 both UO and oriented, alnico 3, and then possibly alnico 4 (this is debate able)