super high end PAFish pickups

[JeffB]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

I don't have a ton of experience with the boutique manufacturers, but no doubt from what I hear (actually heard, not "hearsay") the Bare Knuckles stuff is EXTREMELY GOOD...I'm quite certain that is the way I'd go if $ were not an issue...they have a certain quality I cannot pinpoint, that makes me go "whoah".

That said, once I got the BurstBucker Pro's adjusted correctly they have a very good PAF sound *IF* you like the uneven wind sound. I prefer the even winds, and this is just one factor that determines what people want in that holy grail PAF tone. To me the BB pro gets ya that Jimmy Page sound which bites a bit more, has more mids, and a bit less bass or less "round" sound, whereas the even winds are more like Angus Young's tone: Fat, less mids, and the highs are a bit rounded off.

59's I have quite a bit of experience with too and while they lack warmth compared to some others, they sound what I imagine an A5 PAF would new back in the late 50's. Seth's RAWK. Very nice tones!...another classic PAF variation. PG are similar to the BB pros (or vice-versa) in that "biting" PAF way. The antquities I've heard (and only one set) were way too sweet, not crunchy at all and a bit weak *for my tastes*.

For the money I'd say the Seths, 59's and the BB's (again, set up *properly*, they tend to sound like @$$ outta the box) are hard to beat. Pends on what PAF sound ya like, and whether ya prefer an A5 or A2 magnet. I've got a set of 57 classics (plus for the bridge, standard for the neck) coming and I'm anxious to see how they stack up in my bird...they are even winds.

 

[dani]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

i am gonna be an a$$ and add more options to the mix.

jason lollar's imperial humbucker.
harmonic design vintage plus humbucker.

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

a friend of mine is looking for a serious tone monster. What is a good "boutique" brand for a 'pafish' humbucker.

VOODOO 59's
HOLMES 455
ROLPHS

but all in all the duncan stuff(seths,anitiquity) is as good :cool3:

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

tom holmes, J.M. Rolph, wagner

These are good choices, but my money's still on Antiquities. They do the job better than most.

 

[WICKED LESTER]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

my money's still on Antiquities. They do the job better than most.

really these are dead on P.A.F's :fing2:

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

Any suggestions on people's favorite A5 PAF clones?

The PG+ in my Lester's bridge slot is treating me very, very well at this point. IF only they came in zebra.... :banghead:

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

Any suggestions on people's favorite A5 PAF clones?
Out of all of those PAF's listed above, I've tried
Holmes
Fralin
Voodoo 59
Seth
Antiquity
I actually settled on C-5/59 Nickel or C-5/Seth nickelcovered, but I should rediscover some of those good PAF tones again. I just like the C-5 because it has vintage qualities with tighter lows and a bit more output.

I kind of like the warmer, woodier, more midrangey tones that Seymour seems to like...so I like the Antiquitys and Seth Lovers alot. They have a very familar tone and feel to them that reminds me of the best of the 50's pafs I've owned. The Antiquity seems to have a little more hollow, textured quality to the mids...but I like them both alot.

But I also like the "balls with clarity" of the Lindy Fralin humbuckers and I appreciate the way they are very ballsy but retain a high degree of string separation and don't get muddy as easily as some humbuckers do.

The Tom Holmes HB's I own are right between the Fralins and Duncans and seem to be a little brighter than the Duncans but not as bright and articulate as the Fralins. There's a lot of lively harmonic complexity with the Tom Holmes HB's, (sizzley in a way...like the tone often attributed to the Duncan Pearly Gates) but the mids are not as thick and warm as the Duncan Antiquity or Seth Lover.

The other set I like a lot is the Harmonic Design HB's. They have a very sophisticated jazz/blues/rock tone...reminds me of Larry Carlton's tone with Steely Dan.

 

[gripweed]

Re: super high end PAFish pickups

I kind of like the warmer, woodier, more midrangey tones that Seymour seems to like...so I like the Antiquitys and Seth Lovers alot. They have a very familar tone and feel to them that reminds me of the best of the 50's pafs I've owned.

But I also like the "balls with clarity" of the Lindy Fralin humbuckers and I appreciate the way they are very ballsy but retain a high degree of string separation and don't get muddy as easily as some humbuckers do.

The Tom Holmes HB's I own are right between the Fralins and Duncans and seem to be a little brighter than the Duncans but not as bright and articulate as the Fralins. There's a lot of very liovely harmonic complexity with the Tom Holmes HB's, but the mids are not as thick and warm as the Duncan Antiquity or Seth Lover.

The other set I like a lot is the Harmonic Design HB's. They have a very sophisticated jazz/blues/rock tone...reminds me of Larry Carlton's tone with Steely Dan.

I can vouch for the Fralins, the Seths and the '59. I have a sort of love/hate thing going on with the '59. The Seths are really all that as are the Fralins. In all fairness, I haven't tried the Fralin bridge *yet*.