"PAF" or "Patent Applied For"

[Ironjose]

Hey guys today i was reading on the specs on the SD pups and a question pup up in my mind the PAF meaning.... i know how it sounds but the meaning... is just like the DDistortion it doesnt sound like distortion but... if anybody could help me here it would great ..
JJ :burnout:

 

[theodie]

Re: "PAF" or "Patent Applied For"

PAF does stand for "Patent applied for".

I hope I understood your question correctly.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: "PAF" or "Patent Applied For"

My understanding is that companies like Gibson wanted to release the new pickup, and also have their patent in place. However, the mountain of paperwork that the US Patent Office needs to go through would slow it down. ?? ......Also, simple items like an electromagnet may not have been easy to secure a patent on, so they'd simply have proof that it was applied for, but not necessarily granted. It did, however, keep other companies from being able to release the same product, after the patent was applied for, giving them some legal recourse. That's the way I understand it, but I may be off on a few actual facts.

 

[Ironjose]

Re: "PAF" or "Patent Applied For"

so the PAF name is just only a patent name ???
am i correct, and for the record i'm talking about the name and eventually the tone ...
JJ

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: "PAF" or "Patent Applied For"

nah, PAF just simply stands for Patent Applied For, which they stamped on their humbuckers to ward off any other companies from stealing and making money off of their idea. Its kinda like sayin "steal this, and i will hunt you down, and i will cut you!" only you're dealing with lawyers instead, which is much worse. :laugh2:

 

[Ironjose]

Re: "PAF" or "Patent Applied For"

well its just a name after all... and besides the tone is great!
so the 59 and all the vintage pups on SD company are like alikes from the Gibson PAF version ?
JJ

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: "PAF" or "Patent Applied For"

Kindof....because pickups back then werent really as much of a science as they are now, each PAF is bound to have its own tonal character. So...You could say that they're rough reproductions of the original, and a much more cost-friendly alternative seeing as how original PAF's go for upwards of 500 dollars on the vintage market.
The 59 is a great pickup, maybe not exactly the pickup for me, but its still got nice character. The seth lover model is a bit more faithful to the original PAF design, so that'll prolly get you a little closer to that sound.
As for the antiquities, i have no idea. But...lots of people seem to like em.