PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Rex_Rocker

Rex_Rocker

Well-known member
So I just got my Ibanez RGA121 back from the tech. I put a PAF Pro in the bridge position for now. Not digging it. It's way too bright for the guitar.

My favorite-sounding guitar has a '59 in the bridge. It's got a whole lot more mahogany in it than the RGA, though, so naturally, it is beefier-sounding.

So I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary pickups and how they compare with '59's. Also, what other beefy-sounding, Alnico 5 PAF's can I look at that aren't hotter than '59's?

Thanks. :)

*EDIT* Oh, and it also needs to be available in F-spacing because I'm OCD like that! :p
 
Last edited:
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Rex_Rocker said:
So I just got my Ibanez RGA121 back from the tech. I put a PAF Pro in the bridge position for now. Not digging it. It's way too bright for the guitar.

My favorite-sounding guitar has a '59 in the bridge. It's got a whole lot more mahogany in it than the RGA, though, so naturally, it is beefier-sounding.

So I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary pickups and how they compare with '59's. Also, what other beefy-sounding, Alnico 5 PAF's can I look at that aren't hotter than '59's?

Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

For the bridge, I like the 36th Anni Bridge more than the regular 36th Anni. The regular 36th is not quite as heavy and beefy and thick as the Duncan 59 Model. The 36th Anni Bridge is a lot like the Virtual Hot PAF.

I'd encourage you to wait about another 4-5 weeks when DiMarzio is going to release their PAF 59 model. More vintage PAF accurate than the regular 36th Anni. Alnico 5 and little or no potting (can't remember which).

But if you're looking at a 36th Anni and a current production Duncan 59 Model, I'd start with the DiMarzio for the guitar you're talking about. I think you should also consider a Seth.
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

darthphineas said:
For the bridge, I like the 36th Anni Bridge more than the regular 36th Anni. The regular 36th is not quite as heavy and beefy and thick as the Duncan 59 Model. The 36th Anni Bridge is a lot like the Virtual Hot PAF.

I'd encourage you to wait about another 4-5 weeks when DiMarzio is going to release their PAF 59 model. More vintage PAF accurate than the regular 36th Anni. Alnico 5 and little or no potting (can't remember which).

But if you're looking at a 36th Anni and a current production Duncan 59 Model, I'd start with the DiMarzio for the guitar you're talking about. I think you should also consider a Seth.
Click to expand...
Thanks!

Ah! Didn't know they were coming up with another PAF! Thanks for the heads up!

Not sure about the Seths. I don't have that much experience with Alnico 2 other than the Slash in the bridge position of another one of my guitars, and I don't like the soft attack TBH, and it seems to have less of a chunky low-end like the '59 has. Is the Seth different in that regard?

Oh, and also... I play with high-gain. Not sure if the no-potting thing is a good idea.
 
Last edited:
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

I also play with high gain. I've had some Seths in different guitars and never been an issue for me. I also don't care for a soft attack, and also not an issue for me with the Seths.

I dig that there are A2 pickups that are prone to make people think otherwise. My experience with the Angus set and the Super V and the S-Deco and the Seth have helped me get past that concern.

Based on your original suggestions, if you can find an older Duncan 59 Model that might have something like a J sticker or when they still came with roughcast mags, I think it would be better suited for what you describe you're looking for from your guitar. But out of the box new, I'd think a DiMarzio 36th Anni will get you there.
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Alright! Thanks for the suggestions, dude. Gonna check out some clips of the Seths as well.
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Rex_Rocker said:
Alright! Thanks for the suggestions, dude. Gonna check out some clips of the Seths as well.
Click to expand...

Talking to an artist this week. Never been on Duncan roster. Seymour handed him some Seths at a show when they first came out. Dude has access to lots of options from different brands. He's told me many times that those Seths that Seymour gave him are some of the best pickups he's ever played.

It was hearing that which got me to try out some Seths for myself.
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

I thought the PAF Master set was supposed to be more accurate/improved than the 36th set.

Darth have you tried those out too?
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Beefy, A5, PAF, trembucker... PATB-3
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Hank- said:
I thought the PAF Master set was supposed to be more accurate/improved than the 36th set.

Darth have you tried those out too?
Click to expand...

I did. I mention the PAF Master bridge in my A4 PAF Comparison on y site. Honestly, they were pulled and sent back within a few days. A little dry and a little flat and way too throaty for what I was wanting/expecting. A lot of guys like them, and that's cool. Just not for me.
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

darthphineas said:
Talking to an artist this week. Never been on Duncan roster. Seymour handed him some Seths at a show when they first came out. Dude has access to lots of options from different brands. He's told me many times that those Seths that Seymour gave him are some of the best pickups he's ever played.

It was hearing that which got me to try out some Seths for myself.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I remember reading a forum member here tried the Seths with Alnico 5 too. Now I'm interested.

elelpe said:
Beefy, A5, PAF, trembucker... PATB-3
Click to expand...
Have you tried one yourself? How does it compare to the '59?
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

My favorite 59 set is a new set that I put Roughcast A5 magnets in. To me, it makes my PRS CU22 sound like the guitar in this video:

With the stock polished alnico 5 magnets that new 59 set sounded great but the treble had a little sharper edge and the midrange was more "scooped". Switching to Roughcast alnico 5 filled in some mids and took some of the edge off of the treble.

That's my favorite set...that modified new 59 set.

I have other 59 sets from the 1980's and one from the 1990's.

The three sets from the 1980's all have 7.5K neck pickups but two 59b's measure 8.5K and 8.6K and one only 7.9K.

The set from the 90's measures 7.5K and 8.1K.

The new set measures 7.5K and 8.16K and is my favorite. Ballsy but transparent.

Oh: about 59 magnets...

I installed roughcast A5 magnets in all of my sets that are being used.

The 1980's magnets were polished but not highly polished. Sort of between rough and polished. Definitely rougher than the polished magnets in my new 59's that I removed and replaced with roughcast A5 but not as rough as the magnets I replaced them with.
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

^Ah, it was you who put RCA5's on Seths, wasn't it? Do you like the '59's better than the Seths w/A5?
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Rex_Rocker said:
^Ah, it was you who put RCA5's on Seths, wasn't it? Do you like the '59's better than the Seths w/A5?
Click to expand...

Yep.

I have another set of Seths with the original polished A2 magnets too.

Do I like my 2016 59's modded with RCA5 better than my new Seth Lovers modded with RCA5?

They are so similar it's hard to say.

With a polished A2 the Seth sounds quite different than the 59 with a polished A5.

But with RCA5 in both they sound very similar.

I should mention that I use my Seths with RCA5 without covers because they turned out to be Zebras.

So I'm comparing uncovered Seths and uncovered 59's in two very similar guitars too.

IMG_0857.JPG
 
Re: PAF 36th Annis, '59's, or what pickups for my Ibanez RGA121?

Has anyone tried the PATB-3 and can compare it to the '59? It seems like an interesting option as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top