What about a DiMarzio PAF Pro (or SD equivalent) in the neck of a LP-type mahogany?

[JBerto]

Hi guys!

I would like to know your opinions about using a DiMarzio PAF Pro (or SD equivalent) in the neck of a second guitar a just recently bought:
LP - shape, HH mahogany guitar



The kind of music that I'm going to play with that guitar goes from "Vintage blues" to "modern hard rock", so I need a versatile, "balanced" humbucker that also handle well distortion/overdrive.

Would the PAF Pro be a good option?

Thanks!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

What are you pairing it with, and what amp?

 

[Mincer]

A 59 would be a wonderful pickup in the neck of that guitar. Especially for the sounds you want. If you go a little hotter, the Whole Lotta Humbucker is great, too.

 

[Benjy_26]

The PAF Pro would be good, as would the Pearly Gates. I'm not a huge fan of the 59 in the neck of a LP. It's a little too boomy for me.

 

[David Garner]

I have the 36th Anniversary PAF neck paired with a Super Distortion in the bridge of this one and I love it. I had a JB/59 before and that was also a great set. In this particular guitar I have a slight preference for the DiMarzios.

Both sound great for anything from Allman Brothers to modern high gain.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Air Norton is a great DiMarzio neck for a Les Paul too. Smooth lead tone; fairly vintagey attack when rolled back.
Probably has slightly richer mids than a PAF Pro. Lows are full without being tubby or loose, and it handles gain well.

As mentioned, it'd be easier to advise you if we knew what you're using at the bridge.

 

[Demanic]

Well, don't forget the Jazz. Especially if you think that the 59 might be boomy.
Of course, there's always the Saturday night special neck.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[JBerto]

Thanks guys!

Well, it seems that the PAF Pro would be OK in the neck of that kind guitars... Great! Cause I've a friend who will sell me that humbuckers at a really cheap price.

So, the question now to keep improving that guitar would be:
What Bridge SD HH pickup would "match" well with that PAF Pro in the neck in that king of guitar (mahogany LP shape)?

As I said, what I like to play goes from "Vintage blues" to "modern hard rock", so I need a "versatile mix", of humbuckers, "balanced" (not to "fat", not too "bright", to performs well with different kind of styles) but that handle well playing with distortion/overdrive.

I mean, a HH-mix that allow me to play different kind of styles (but always with, at least, a little bit of distortion or overdrive), and good for soloing and rhythm section of songs too.

In that guitar and for that kind of music styles, What "balanced" (and good for distortion and/or overdrive too) Bridge SD humbucker do you think would be a good match for that PAF Pro in the neck in that guitar?

Thanks!

 

[hamerfan]

More modern i would go with a Black Winter, more old school / on the edge of bluesy and hard i would go with a Custom SH-5

 

[BluesMan335]

The PAF Pro would be good, as would the Pearly Gates. I'm not a huge fan of the 59 in the neck of a LP. It's a little too boomy for me.

Several years ago I was curious about this, & looked at about 6 months of previous posts about '59's being bassy/boomy in the neck slot of forum member's guitars. They were all in LP's. Certainly doesn't happen all the time, but when it does...

 

[JBerto]

More modern i would go with a Black Winter, more old school / on the edge of bluesy and hard i would go with a Custom SH-5

So PAF Pro / Custom SH-5 for that guitar and music styles?

hmmm... I'm tempted... yes...

Thanks

 

[Aceman]

The PAF Pro is going to have a kind of mid bump compared to an SD 59. I think it would be a great neck pickup for a Les Paul. It would cut though, and be bright enough. Generally I think the PAF pro was designed to be more "even" voiced than a typical PAF, which to my ears has somewhat scooped mids.

As for match, depends on what you mean by "match".

The PAF pro is a little sportier (but not hot) for a 'PAF' style. Nothing that couldn't be easily addressed with pickup height adjustments. So anything could go power-output wise.

As for 'match' the tone curve, I'd think a Custom Custom, but that is pretty extreme and also not always a winner in a Les Paul style. Too much mids, to soft of bass, highs too fat in mahogany LP style.
The Custom is wayyyy to hot for what you are playing. It is just super tight chunk in bass, and scream in treble.

I'd say sound-eq wise, an A2P might be the closest thing. But not really. I still say it would be a good bridge match.
I'd consider a standard 59. That mid "scoop" when combined with the neck would give a cool balanced full sound I'd think. tight bass and good treble.
A Whole Lotta might be a nice "just a little more" compared to the 59 and not too much of anything.
A 59/Custom hybrid might be a good choice too. A little tighter/brighter, but not nearly as extreme as the Custom. Can play nice with some volume control down to 59-ish for blues or up to the Custom 'area' for hard rock.


Still don't know what amp / fx.....

 

[JBerto]

The PAF Pro is going to have a kind of mid bump compared to an SD 59. I think it would be a great neck pickup for a Les Paul. It would cut though, and be bright enough. Generally I think the PAF pro was designed to be more "even" voiced than a typical PAF, which to my ears has somewhat scooped mids.

As for match, depends on what you mean by "match".

The PAF pro is a little sportier (but not hot) for a 'PAF' style. Nothing that couldn't be easily addressed with pickup height adjustments. So anything could go power-output wise.

As for 'match' the tone curve, I'd think a Custom Custom, but that is pretty extreme and also not always a winner in a Les Paul style. Too much mids, to soft of bass, highs too fat in mahogany LP style.
The Custom is wayyyy to hot for what you are playing. It is just super tight chunk in bass, and scream in treble.

I'd say sound-eq wise, an A2P might be the closest thing. But not really. I still say it would be a good bridge match.
I'd consider a standard 59. That mid "scoop" when combined with the neck would give a cool balanced full sound I'd think. tight bass and good treble.
A Whole Lotta might be a nice "just a little more" compared to the 59 and not too much of anything.
A 59/Custom hybrid might be a good choice too. A little tighter/brighter, but not nearly as extreme as the Custom. Can play nice with some volume control down to 59-ish for blues or up to the Custom 'area' for hard rock.


Still don't know what amp / fx.....

Thanks you too!

Well, I use virtual amp (BIAS FX 2 Elite).

Maybe "match" wasn't the exact word... I mean, what I'm looking for the bridge is not exactly the same EQ or tone than the PAF Pro in the neck, but something than when playing with both pickups (central position of the pickup selector) it sounds great, "complementing the other".

In fact, I suppose it will be good if the tone of the bridge is slightly different than the neck, so I can use "3 different sounds" depending of what position in the Humbucker selector I'm using.

So, what do you think about PAF Pro / SH-5 for that?

Or do you think there is a better mix for that music styles in a mahogany LP guitar (using virtual amp)?

 

[Aceman]

The SH5 has the right tonal curve for what you want. The PAF pro will have mids that the Custom does not. That said, I think the Custom may still be a bit much. In the middle setting I think it is going to tonally overwhelm (?) the PAF Pro.

As Mentioned by at least one other, a 59/Custom hybrid might be a better choice for mix and match if you don't want to resort to extreme volume/tone manipulation. People are going to say you can turn down the Custom, but honestly, as it gets quieter, it reveals more of "This is a turned down ceramic metal pickup, not a loud PAF" character. That's why I say a 59/Custom, or maybe a Whole Lotta humbucker would be closer for that.

Since you are virtual amping, gain distortion is not an issue so go with the better tonal "compliment". I think the 59/Custom or the Whole Lotta would bother be better than the Custom. That said, I often run a Custom with a PG, or a Distortion w/ 59....but I use that for one extreme or the other. I play balls-to-the-wall rock, or I play clean/blues on neck in those guitars.

What say my learned tone fiends on this?

 

[Aceman]

Several years ago I was curious about this, & looked at about 6 months of previous posts about '59's being bassy/boomy in the neck slot of forum member's guitars. They were all in LP's. Certainly doesn't happen all the time, but when it does...

You know, I hear this enough to agree it is a real thing. But I also believe that it isn't nearly as much as the internet makes it out to be. I think there are a few very loud complainers, and a lot of parrot repeaters. But yes - it can happen. The question is really how prevalent is it.

Topic for another thread though.

 

[JBerto]

Interesting... I must say I never though on that comination: PAF Pro in the neck + 59/Custom in the bridge...

BTW, if eventually I chose the 59/Custom, and swap de volume controls for some "push/pull", I could choose which coil I want to sound (sh-1 or sh-5), isn,t it?

 

[Mincer]

Yes, you can. And the Hybrid has a great split sound, too.

 

[JBerto]

Thanks!

BTW, what about the Custom 5 (sh-14) or JB (sh-4).

For what I've been reading here (thanks guys!), Probably the 59/Custom Hybrid would be the best option, but a friend of mine is selling that pickups really cheap so I would like to ask your opinion about them for my kind of guitar and music styles.

But obviously if you think they don't "get along" with PAF Pro in the neck I'll get the 59/Custom.

Other option:
I've a 36th in another guitar that I don't use... What about 36th/Paf Pro set?
(But I understand PAF Pro is way better in the neck, so...)

(I know 59/Custom seems to be the best option anyway, just trying to save some money... If that other combinations are good, obviously)

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I actually really like the PAF Pro/PAF Pro combo.

I don't usually like the PAF Pro in the neck, but a double PAF Pro set is pretty nice. Very 80's, but more versatile than that would suggest, especially if you like a bright/biting neck pickup with lots of attack and a warm and fat, yet not muddy neck pickup.

 

[JBerto]

I actually really like the PAF Pro/PAF Pro combo.

I don't usually like the PAF Pro in the neck, but a double PAF Pro set is pretty nice. Very 80's, but more versatile than that would suggest, especially if you like a bright/biting neck pickup with lots of attack and a warm and fat, yet not muddy neck pickup.

Thanks!

Have anyone here tried the PAF 36th + PAF Pro combo in a mahogany LP???

I'm asking just because I've a 36th in another guitar and maybe I could use it.... Or that combo won't work in that guitar for the styles I play?