Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

C

cragginshred

New member
My Stealth beast does not like high out put pups -likely due to it being such a high gain monster. Even though I don't run the gain above 10 o'clock, sometimes noon. The guitar that sounds the best is a Charvel dinky with Fishman fluence classics in it. They are very PAF voiced, clear and articulate -think Satchel from Steel Panther tone!. I have another guitar with high output pick ups and it pushes the amp to the point of all the harmonic complexity is lost with no articulation. With the lower out put pick ups all the sweet mids come out with perfect clarity.

So, with that amp in mind what lower out put pick ups would you all recommend?
 
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Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

I don’t own the 5150, but I have played through it in a band with a friend who owned it.

I’m not a shred guru, but my first thought for PAF-ish might be Pearly Gates or ‘78 Model, though they could be bright in your guitars. May have to adjust settings. The 78 is like a Pearly with the bass rolled off a bit; keeps the tone from flubbing out when using scooped bass-thick amp tones and it’s bright and articulate for individual finger work. Has a nice edge to it for muted chord work. The Pearly could work also as it has some chunk on the bass side of you keep your amp bright and present already.

If you keep your amp bright, you also could consider slightly warmer or softer top-end pickups like the Whole Lotta Humbucker.

59/Custom Hybrid is a great all around pickup. Sounded consistent and was very versatile in every guitar and amp combo I tried.

There’s about a dozen other humbuckers in the lower-mid output zone that I haven’t tried yet that might work also - e.g. Blues Saraceno, Screamin Demon maybe?
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

The Whole lotta humbucker is a great suggestion! I think I had that in a guitar years ago and loved it. The 78 gets mixed reviews and I like mids but not too much treble.
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

When I had my 5150 III 50 watt, the pickups that sounded best were EVH Wolfgang Humbuckers. Very PAF like, medium output , clear and able to shred when needed
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

EVH pups aren't remotely PAFlike though

It's more like an AlNiCo2 Full Shred, allegedly
 
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Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

I just got a Schecter Solo (LP type) with Saturday Night Specials in it and they sound great.
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

Pearly Gates neck, Screamin Demon in the bridge. Let the amp do the work.
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

I had a 5153 50 watt a few years and I found that lower/medium output pickups do indeed work best for those amps. I had good results the '78 , WLH , Demon which have all been suggested. I also used a Bare Knuckle VHll which was probably my favorite .
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

51501984 said:
I had a 5153 50 watt a few years and I found that lower/medium output pickups do indeed work best for those amps. I had good results the '78 , WLH , Demon which have all been suggested. I also used a Bare Knuckle VHll which was probably my favorite .
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Dude how would you describe the Bareknuckle VHII?? I didn't know that existed but it peaks my interest!
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

Guitarmusic said:
Dude how would you describe the Bareknuckle VHII?? I didn't know that existed but it peaks my interest!
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It’s about 9k and to my ears it’s an open sounding hot PAF with a bit more clarity and sparkle than say the 78. But with that said I came to like the WLH a lot and if I went back to a hot PAF I would probably go with the WLH due the lower cost
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

Guitarmusic said:
Dude how would you describe the Bareknuckle VHII?? I didn't know that existed but it peaks my interest!
Click to expand...

This was a few years ago . Strat with Bareknuckle VHII in the bridge , 5153 50 watt on the red channel . Just some basic 80s hard rock stuff

 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

51501984 said:
This was a few years ago . Strat with Bareknuckle VHII in the bridge , 5153 50 watt on the red channel . Just some basic 80s hard rock stuff

Click to expand...

hell yeah dude! reminds of "Light up the Sky" by VH. Your view on the Whole Lotta Humbucker sounds cool too, I've heard a lot of good things about it.
 
Re: Need PAF type for my Stealth 100w 5150 El34 rig!

just slap a pearly gates set on your guitar and crank the volume
 
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