PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

[Aceman]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

So it's not going to have that PAF sound if it's in a Les Paul eh? I guess it's designed for other guitars/types to make them sounds like Les Pauls?

Interesting....I always thought Satch was trying to cop some LP without an LP. That makes sense.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

I tried it in the bridge of my les paul.
I found it a little weak, and a little too bright, but otherwise not bad.
It was awesome in the neck, though. Thick, and smooth, with just a touch of the single coil snap. The "59 is even better, IMO.

 

[blueman335]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

I tried it in the bridge of my les paul.
I found it a little weak, and a little too bright, but otherwise not bad.

Did you try it in the bridge with 250K's?

 

[bigheadood]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

I just used the stock 300K long shaft pots.
At the time, my local shop did not stock ANY long shaft pots.

Oh, well. The JB I have in there now sounds perfect.

 

[ErikH]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

The PAF Pro came about with the need to work well with the rack processors and heavy effects used at the time (mid 80's). Here is a snippet from the DiMarzio description; "A pickup was needed that combined a lot of presence and “cut” with an open-sounding PAF® vibe. " The describes it to a 'T'.

I've used it in the neck and bridge of Strats and in the neck of Les Pauls. It's a great neck pickup when paired with a Super Distortion in the bridge. It's great in Strats in either position. The aw vowel sound that it has really helps it cut through the mix.

I don't know if I would use it in the bridge of a Les Paul. I'd rather toss a Super Distortion there or a Gibson '57 Classic Plus or a Pearly Gates.

 

[Huntermb]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

I've got a PAF Pro in the neck of a LP paired with a SuperD in the bridge and they both make a fantastic combo. I've had them in there for a couple of years but I'm moving them into a strat to make room for a set of JS Moore's custom jobs. The PAF Pro is a great neck pickup in a LP.

 

[SFW]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

Had one in my Classic for a week. It sounded good, but not for me. The top end was crips, the string to string definition was very good. Over all, it was a nice tone, with a slight edge to the top end. It just wasn't ranchy enough to fit what I like in a pickup.

 

[Marshall_Abuser]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

Well, the PAF-Pro is a great pickup period!
In the neck or in the bridge, this pickup can do almost anything with enough style and class.
I just wish it was hotter as I like hot pickups!

The PAF Pro is a great neck pickup in a LP.

 

[fretburner]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

^ can you compare it to PAF pickups like the APH1, PGn and 59n? bass/mids/treble? I have those at the moment...well, actually a lil 59.

 

[oilpit]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

^ can you compare it to PAF pickups like the APH1, PGn and 59n? bass/mids/treble? I have those at the moment...well, actually a lil 59.

Completely different....in a Les Paul anyway

I would say the biggest thing is midrange, the PAF Pro has a very prominent midrange (not so much a lot of it, as louder) with quite a bit of top end cut, and a moderately tight low end.

The 59 is completely scooped, I can't stand that thing
The APH would be the closest, it is the most vocal of the Duncans, and the fattest. Actually sounds like a more open PAF Pro, with less output.
And the PG has a lot more high end sizzle, and sounds quite a bit more vintage.

 

[fretburner]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

^ oh, I love mids. Is it as honky as a 59n?

The APH1 is my fave pickup. If it sounds closer to that than the 59n or PGn, then I guess the PAF Pro really is, and awesome neck pickup - in a Les Paul.

 

[bigheadood]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

^ oh, I love mids. Is it as honky as a 59n?

I don't find either to be honky....The '59 is clearer, more open.

The aph1n does sound kind of similar, but the PafPro has much more output, and a bit more grit (high mids), so it's not as smooth, but close.

 

[WyrmCracker]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

The PAF Pro is one of the only reason to own a basswood guitar. The PAF pro sounds great in basswood, really great in the bridge, but in mahogony it just doesnt sit right, IMO. I really wished it did. Alot of the "bubble gum" raunchiness I heard in basswood guitar disappears and is replaced by a sharp, somewhat glassy top end in mahogony.

 

[fretburner]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

I don't find either to be honky....The '59 is clearer, more open.

The aph1n does sound kind of similar, but the PafPro has much more output, and a bit more grit (high mids), so it's not as smooth, but close.

Seems like it's closer to the PGn then - the high mids...

 

[fretburner]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

The PAF Pro is one of the only reason to own a basswood guitar. The PAF pro sounds great in basswood, really great in the bridge, but in mahogony it just doesnt sit right, IMO. I really wished it did. Alot of the "bubble gum" raunchiness I heard in basswood guitar disappears and is replaced by a sharp, somewhat glassy top end in mahogony.

"Bubble gum" raunchiness?

 

[bigheadood]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

Seems like it's closer to the PGn then - the high mids...

Couldn't say...I've never tried the PGn.

 

[SoundAt11]

Re: PAF Pro in a Les Paul?

Check out the YouTube clips of Harem's Scarem's Firefest concert, that's a Les Paul with a PAF Pro through a Dual Rec: awesome!