Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

[Skater]

Hello,

Newbie here, but not my first forum.

So I'm looking on the market for a slightly hotter P.A.F humbucker.

I'm open to ALL suggestions, I personally have been looking at the custom5 by Duncan. But I'm nervous about the "scooped" mids. Maybe the Duncan 59'?

Just looking for a good, overall P.A.F pickup. I play through a Marshall JCM800 lead, as well as a DSL40C and a Origin 20.

So majority of the tone I think I can get from my gear.

Guitar that I will be using for this is a basswood/quilt top. Tremolo bridge, maple neck. I imagine with a lighter wood and maple neck achieving a warm mid tone from a PAF with a bright guitar. Try to bear with me lol.

Thanks everybody!

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

I don't think of the Custom series of pickups as PAF style pickups. They are mid to high output humbuckers. "Slightly hotter PAF" brings to mind things like the Whole Lotta Humbuckers, Pearly Gates, and Slash A2 Pros. It really depends on what tones you are chasing and what music styles you play. To me, the Custom pickups are studies in extremes. They are fun to play around with doing magnet changes to see how each type effects the tone and feel, but ultimately the extreme nature of each leave me dissatisfied with them as permanent residents in my guitars.

 

[Blille]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

I agree with the above. The Hybrid sits between both worlds which is maybe why it’s awesome

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

The thing is, the hotter you go, the less PAF characteristics you get. One of my favorite things about a good PAF-alike, the Pearly Gates bweing my fave, is the complex texture to the high end you get when picking through a slightly distorted amp. You also lose the midrange detail and low end snap if you go too hot.

In my experience, the hotter-than-PAF pickups that retain thebmost of these characteristics ia the Custom Shop S Deco V and from the production line, the Screamin Demon. The Demon tends to be brighter and more peecussive than the S Deco, though.

Keep in mind that I have not played the Saturday Night Specials nor the WLH pickups, which get good reviews on here as well.

 

[Skater]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Thanks for the input guys. I chose the custom5 due to it being modified or based off the 59. But it makes sense, the hotter you go the less of a P.A.F it is, makes perfect sense. I'll check out the screamin demon for now and slashes ALNICO II pickup, I'm mainly looking for crunchy mid, vintage output, a little slightly warmer than normal, if that makes sense.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Thanks for the input guys. I chose the custom5 due to it being modified or based off the 59. But it makes sense, the hotter you go the less of a P.A.F it is, makes perfect sense. I'll check out the screamin demon for now and slashes ALNICO II pickup, I'm mainly looking for crunchy mid, vintage output, a little slightly warmer than normal, if that makes sense.

That description sounds exactly like the Whole Lotta Humbucker set. They're definitely crunchy and a little bit hotter / fuller than vintage without being over the top like the Custom series (which are cool in their own way). Compared to a 59, WLHs are hotter, fatter, and smoother, with more low mids and maybe slightly less bass. Compared to the Slash set, WLHs have tighter bass and more in-your-face upper mids and treble.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

That description sounds exactly like the Whole Lotta Humbucker set. They're definitely crunchy and a little bit hotter / fuller than vintage without being over the top like the Custom series (which are cool in their own way). Compared to a 59, WLHs are hotter, fatter, and smoother, with more low mids and maybe slightly less bass. Compared to the Slash set, WLHs have tighter bass and more in-your-face upper mids and treble.

That's what I was gonna recommend. As far as my favorite hotter than PAF types go, from least hot to hottest I'd say go WLH, then 59/Custom, then Brobucker, than a Custom. Brobucker is my favorite of the bunch, but it's a also Custom Shop.

 

[Skater]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Thanks guys!

 

[Adieu]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Maybe half a PAF? Hybrid like JB/59?

 

[jeremy]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

might be a cool pup but it wont sound much like a paf. i dont think the custom/59 sounds very paf like and this is going up another gauge on the jb coil

 

[PDC]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Hey Skater - can you let us know your thoughts on the C-5 now that you have had some time to work with it?
Thank You!

 

[SFW]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Hotter PAFish pickups that I have had good results with:

Duncan Slash model
Duncan PATB-3
Duncan Antiquity (at 8.5 resistance its a warm PAF)
BKP Mule
Suhr SSV and SSV+



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[Juanhanglo]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Dimarzio paf 36ths.

Slightly hotter with increased mids.

 

[Teleplayer]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Suhr SSV+ may work in your guitar, especially if it has Fender 25.5" scale length. It has similar clarity like SH-14, but is a touch fuller in the mids.
I'm not sure if the SSV neck is right for your guitar. I found the neck version sound a bit dark compared to the SSV+ in the bridge.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Good ones I have experience with:

59B
Whole Lotta Humbucker
Skinner Burst
Burstbucker 3
A2Pro

...loosely PAF-ish in some cases.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

59b? PGP? Demon? Hybrid?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Hotter PAFish pickups that I have had good results with:

Duncan Antiquity (at 8.5 resistance its a warm PAF)

Ant's aren't a hotter PAF with their degaussed A2's. A2's are one of the weakest magnets at full strength.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

I don't think of the Custom series of pickups as PAF style pickups. They are mid to high output humbuckers.

+1. Custom 5's in no way are like PAF's, they have almost twice the resistance of a PAF. The only Custom versions that to me sound remotely like a PAF is a Custom with an UOA5 magnet or the Custom SH-11. Weaker unoriented magnets (A2, A3, A4, and UOA5) dial down the Custom's output and give a richer tone. Custom 5's are a high output pickup.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Im gonna say I don't really feel the 'hotter' until around 10k. (Not that k = hotness). That would be the Custom/59 - but it is a step away from pure classic PAF.

 

[SFW]

Re: Looking for suggestions; Slightly hotter PAF humbucker(s)

Ant's aren't a hotter PAF with their degaussed A2's. A2's are one of the weakest magnets at full strength.

Maybe, but my Ant hits my amp harder that my 59. So... just my personal experience.


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