My CURRENT list of top PAF's

[Aceman]

So, I am NOT a PAF guy. But I do like an all around pickup. I recently was asked about this and I'm revising my list.

Used to be:
1. Pearly Gates
2. DiMarzio PAF
3. Duncan 59


After much reflection....it is NOW:

1. Pearly Gates
2. DiMarzio PAF
3. Gibson 57/57Plus classics
4. Duncan PAF

Those 57 Classics that came in Irish (Green Les Paul Classic) really made an impression. I love my PG set (PG/PG Custom Shop 9k). But I could have been fine with the stock pups in there.

Don't get me wrong - No regrets! If they were Black instead of Zebra, though, I'd throw them in my The Paul in a heartbeat. And I still like 59's. Just a great all around pickup. And like I said, I'm not a PAF guy, so take all of that for what it is worth.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: your new #4 - does Duncan have a new PAF model or did you meant the good old 59s?
I'm aware of the Seths, Ants, etc. of course, but not any brand new ones...

I like the 57 Classics too; my '03 Johnny A is one of the few Gibsons I own that haven't had the pickups replaced.

 

[Aceman]

Re: your new #4 - does Duncan have a new PAF model or did you meant the good old 59s?
I'm aware of the Seths, Ants, etc. of course, but not any brand new ones...

Regular old always was. The Gibsons are new in at #3 and bumped the Duncans.

 

[Mincer]

Mine are
Alnico II Pro
Seth Lovers
Antiquities
(no particular order)

 

[justFred]

Seth Lovers
Duncan 59
Pearly Gates

 

[zionstrat]

I know that nobody knows the first one
Rail hammer hypervintage
PG
Seth

 

[ErikH]

Can’t go wrong with any of those.

My Goldtop Les Paul came stock with ‘57 Classics but the first owner pulled them for Suhr’s. The neck was OK but the bridge was too hot for what I wanted so out they came for a set of 59’s. They were actually my 3rd choice behind ‘57 Classics (covered) and Pearly Gates (covered) but got them for a great deal and jumped.

 

[beaubrummels]

Brobucker
Custombuckers
​Seths
Pearly Gates
Skinnerburst
59s

DiMarzios don't make the list for me because their PAFs just sounded like a cloudy/murky version of Duncans.

 

[Ascension]

Two of the best are Kiesels but are not even listed on the company's pickup builder on the website what a shame.
My 5 in no particular order.
1 Greg Howe Bridge
2 Frank Gamble neck
3 Seths
4 Antiquities
5 Saturday Night Specials

 

[nienturi]

So, I am NOT a PAF guy. But I do like an all around pickup. I recently was asked about this and I'm revising my list.

Used to be:
1. Pearly Gates
2. DiMarzio PAF
3. Duncan 59


After much reflection....it is NOW:

1. Pearly Gates
2. DiMarzio PAF
3. Gibson 57/57Plus classics
4. Duncan PAF

Those 57 Classics that came in Irish (Green Les Paul Classic) really made an impression. I love my PG set (PG/PG Custom Shop 9k). But I could have been fine with the stock pups in there.

Don't get me wrong - No regrets! If they were Black instead of Zebra, though, I'd throw them in my The Paul in a heartbeat. And I still like 59's. Just a great all around pickup. And like I said, I'm not a PAF guy, so take all of that for what it is worth.

Hey Aceman, two questions: Have you ever tried Mojotone '59 Clone set? They are pretty aesome, too. And two, you say Dimarzio PAF; is it 36th paf or original dp103?

Let me think my list;

Mojotone '59 Clone neck and '59 Clone Hot
S.Duncan 59 with alnico 4 magnet,
S.Duncan Pearly Gates,
Dimarzio Air Classic,
S.Duncan Seth Lover and Antiquities,
Gibson Burstnucker 1,
Dimarzio Virtual Hot Paf,

 

[freefrog]

"PAF" is still a DiMarzio trademark AFAIK so I've kept the bad habit to write "P.A.F." instead.

Real vintage Gibson pickups for me.

In the Duncan line, current Seth's and SH1's from the late 70's / early 80's (those with butyrate bobbins, threaded baseplates, dark blueish rough cast magnets).

Out of the Duncan range, a few boutique pickups, especially those made with NOS materials in my LP number one.

 

[Mincer]

To me, a great PAF pickup has to be extremely touch sensitive, so no compression at all. It should sound and respond well to any level of gain up to modern metal, clean up well with the volume knob only, and should sound balanced through non-master volume amps.

 

[Artie]

I'd love to see (hear) a review of the the Benedetto A6 and PAF. How they compare to what's been mentioned.

 

[Chistopher]

Controversial opinion, I don't care for PAFs all that much, especially in the bridge. That being said, Gibson 57 Classics are great, Burstbuckers are supposed to be similar but I've never had good results with them. Double screw 59n in the bridge is cool too, and the PGn is an excellent match for an A2 59/C

 

[uOpt]

In no particular order:
- Antiquities
- Lollar Imperials
- APH1
- '78 model (if that counts)

 

[Mincer]

I'd love to see (hear) a review of the the Benedetto A6 and PAF. How they compare to what's been mentioned.

Never had a chance to try them, but would love to.

 

[Artie]

Worthy of note: My "Duncan Designed" 59 set, in my Sycamore bodied Daisy Rock, are perfect. Best "guitar" sound ever, from clean to dirt.

 

[superpete]

generally i go for hotter pickups, but my favotrite paf flavored humbuckers would be:

wolfetone marshallhead
whole lotta humbucker
seth lover

 

[GuitarStv]

Controversial opinion, I don't care for PAFs all that much, especially in the bridge. That being said, Gibson 57 Classics are great, Burstbuckers are supposed to be similar but I've never had good results with them. Double screw 59n in the bridge is cool too, and the PGn is an excellent match for an A2 59/C

I love a PAF in the neck pretty much always (if there has to be a humbucker in there) . . . bridge only sometimes.

 

[Chistopher]

PAFs are definitely a pretty good bet in the neck as far as humbuckers go, I just don't like humbuckers in the neck as much as I used to.