What is a PAF pickup?
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PFDarkside
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Re: What is a PAF pickup?
A true PAF is gibson's original humbucking pickup from the late 50's. PAF stands for "Patent Applied For" which is what the sticker said on the bottom of the pickup. I know one of the first guitars they came in were the Burst Les Paul Standards from '58, although something tells me they were introduced in '57. In the Custom?
Most full size Humbuckers now are the shape and size of the original Gibson PAFs. Single coils only have one coil (duh) as opposed to two, and they come in sizes from a strat/tele up to the P90 that was in GIbson solid bodies prior to the PAF. Think the Les Paul "Goldtop" or Les Paul Junior.
A true PAF is gibson's original humbucking pickup from the late 50's. PAF stands for "Patent Applied For" which is what the sticker said on the bottom of the pickup. I know one of the first guitars they came in were the Burst Les Paul Standards from '58, although something tells me they were introduced in '57. In the Custom?
Most full size Humbuckers now are the shape and size of the original Gibson PAFs. Single coils only have one coil (duh) as opposed to two, and they come in sizes from a strat/tele up to the P90 that was in GIbson solid bodies prior to the PAF. Think the Les Paul "Goldtop" or Les Paul Junior.
Pierre
Stratologist
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
A humbucker consists in 2 coils using a common magnet. The coils are wired so that their phase cancel out the hum that you normally get with single coil. They also have more output and a smoother, warmer tone than single coils.
PAF stands for Patent Applied For. It was what Gibson stamped on the back of the first ever humbuckers, invented by Mr Seth Lover. The pickups you find on Les Pauls usually are PAFs. SDs PAFs are the Pearly Gates, the Seth Lover and the '59. I guess the Screaming Deamon could be seen as an overwould PAF but I'm not too sure if the sound follows. PAFs have a very warm tone and go hand to hand with LPs.
The P90 is the bastard son of a humbucker and a single coil. It has a huge sound, but still with hum. Just a huge single coil.
I hope that helped a bit?
A humbucker consists in 2 coils using a common magnet. The coils are wired so that their phase cancel out the hum that you normally get with single coil. They also have more output and a smoother, warmer tone than single coils.
PAF stands for Patent Applied For. It was what Gibson stamped on the back of the first ever humbuckers, invented by Mr Seth Lover. The pickups you find on Les Pauls usually are PAFs. SDs PAFs are the Pearly Gates, the Seth Lover and the '59. I guess the Screaming Deamon could be seen as an overwould PAF but I'm not too sure if the sound follows. PAFs have a very warm tone and go hand to hand with LPs.
The P90 is the bastard son of a humbucker and a single coil. It has a huge sound, but still with hum. Just a huge single coil.
I hope that helped a bit?
Kamanda~SD
New member
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
I beleive the APH would be. But I don't think the JB is.
If you go here: http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/products/humbuckers.shtml
I beleive all under "vintage" are "PAF's" and thats it.
I beleive the APH would be. But I don't think the JB is.
If you go here: http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/products/humbuckers.shtml
I beleive all under "vintage" are "PAF's" and thats it.
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
If you really wish to get into it...
DiMarzio has a trademark or whatever on the use of the term "PAF" so the correct way to refer to an early Gibson humbucker is a "Patent Applied For" humbucker.
If you really wish to get into it...
DiMarzio has a trademark or whatever on the use of the term "PAF" so the correct way to refer to an early Gibson humbucker is a "Patent Applied For" humbucker.
Bludave
New member
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
IMHO PAF's are the best all arond HB PUP that I have had the experience playing. I work closely with a Luthier here in NY who specializes in restoring vintage guitars and I have played many PAF equipped guitars. I have also had the oppurtunity to compare them against just about everything else out there. What makes them unique is good and bad. Back in the 50's most PUPS were wound by hand, some would have more windings than others and this caused them to be inconsistant. This is not always bad, but I have heard some PAAF's that were not very good. Some PAF's were amazing..... probably the best sounding bridge PUP I have ever played or heard is a PAF in a 1960 335 Stereo that is owned by a friend of mine. PAF's will run $1500.00 to over $2000. depending on the configuration. The PUPS that I feel sound the closest to the real PAFS are the Duncan Alnico2 Pros. Some may say the Antiquities, some may say the Seths, and I have even heard people who feel that Holmes are very close, but IMO the Alnico2 nails the PAF pretty well. I have also played PAF's in a variety of guitars and Amps. Super 400, 335, 61 SG LP, and a few other archtops. I have played them thru Blackface Fenders and 60's Marshalls as well as other Amps. They sound very good in all situations.
IMHO PAF's are the best all arond HB PUP that I have had the experience playing. I work closely with a Luthier here in NY who specializes in restoring vintage guitars and I have played many PAF equipped guitars. I have also had the oppurtunity to compare them against just about everything else out there. What makes them unique is good and bad. Back in the 50's most PUPS were wound by hand, some would have more windings than others and this caused them to be inconsistant. This is not always bad, but I have heard some PAAF's that were not very good. Some PAF's were amazing..... probably the best sounding bridge PUP I have ever played or heard is a PAF in a 1960 335 Stereo that is owned by a friend of mine. PAF's will run $1500.00 to over $2000. depending on the configuration. The PUPS that I feel sound the closest to the real PAFS are the Duncan Alnico2 Pros. Some may say the Antiquities, some may say the Seths, and I have even heard people who feel that Holmes are very close, but IMO the Alnico2 nails the PAF pretty well. I have also played PAF's in a variety of guitars and Amps. Super 400, 335, 61 SG LP, and a few other archtops. I have played them thru Blackface Fenders and 60's Marshalls as well as other Amps. They sound very good in all situations.
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
PAF = patent applied for - a nickname given to seth lovers design while Gibson was waiting 4 years for the patent to be granted. Humbucker is 2 single coils together with the electrical signal running in oppisite directions to do just what the name implies - Cancel or buck the Hum P-90 is and over wound gibson single coil pickup.
PAF = patent applied for - a nickname given to seth lovers design while Gibson was waiting 4 years for the patent to be granted. Humbucker is 2 single coils together with the electrical signal running in oppisite directions to do just what the name implies - Cancel or buck the Hum P-90 is and over wound gibson single coil pickup.
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
The specific original PAF was Seth Lover's humbucker design. 2 single coils cancel out each others hum and one with 6 adjustable pole pieces the other not and both were enclosed in a 2 and 3/4 by 1 and1/2 inch metal housing. It took over 4 years for the patent to be approved and by then the pickup design was dubbed with the nickname PAF as a sticker was placed under the pickup which read "Patent appled For" while they waited for the patent to be approved. This pick which appears on most Les Pauls is Specifically the original PAF.
The specific original PAF was Seth Lover's humbucker design. 2 single coils cancel out each others hum and one with 6 adjustable pole pieces the other not and both were enclosed in a 2 and 3/4 by 1 and1/2 inch metal housing. It took over 4 years for the patent to be approved and by then the pickup design was dubbed with the nickname PAF as a sticker was placed under the pickup which read "Patent appled For" while they waited for the patent to be approved. This pick which appears on most Les Pauls is Specifically the original PAF.
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
Ya know what PAF is spelled backwards, don't ya?
Ya know what PAF is spelled backwards, don't ya?
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
Soundwise, not chronologically. P-90's came out years before PAF's. And actually, P-90's were out several years before Leo put them in his solidbodies in 1950, so P-90's are first of the three you mentioned. Leo shrunk them down to save money, and Gibson added a coil to reduce noise, and increased the cost.
Soundwise, not chronologically. P-90's came out years before PAF's. And actually, P-90's were out several years before Leo put them in his solidbodies in 1950, so P-90's are first of the three you mentioned. Leo shrunk them down to save money, and Gibson added a coil to reduce noise, and increased the cost.
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
Blah blah blah
Cutting to the chase... A PAF IS AN 8k TWO-WIRE (hot & ground) PICKUP WITH ALNICO MAG AND DUAL COILS WIRED FOR HUM CANCELLING.
A "real/original" PAF comes from late 50's Gibsons only, because that is where the original humbucker was from. Popular or famously close in tone pickups may be known as "Someone's PAFs" (insert brand or winder name). Also. DiMarzio holds a trademark to officially call their own replica the "DiMarzio PAF", while the others are either from prior eras, actually carry similar Patent Applied For stickers (cant trademark that, lol), or are simply popularly known as PAFs on account of being made to that spec.
Blah blah blah
Cutting to the chase... A PAF IS AN 8k TWO-WIRE (hot & ground) PICKUP WITH ALNICO MAG AND DUAL COILS WIRED FOR HUM CANCELLING.
A "real/original" PAF comes from late 50's Gibsons only, because that is where the original humbucker was from. Popular or famously close in tone pickups may be known as "Someone's PAFs" (insert brand or winder name). Also. DiMarzio holds a trademark to officially call their own replica the "DiMarzio PAF", while the others are either from prior eras, actually carry similar Patent Applied For stickers (cant trademark that, lol), or are simply popularly known as PAFs on account of being made to that spec.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
Not quite. The resistance on PAF's was pretty wide over the original years, and the range included much higher and lower than 8K.
Not quite. The resistance on PAF's was pretty wide over the original years, and the range included much higher and lower than 8K.
DeanSweden
New member
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
correct me if I'm wrong but weren't the original patent for
a tailpiece or something like that?
correct me if I'm wrong but weren't the original patent for
a tailpiece or something like that?
Evan Skopp
SDUGF Founder
Re: What is a PAF pickup?
DiMarzio's trademark is for "PAF" without periods. If one refers to the pickup as "P.A.F." that is not infringing on DiMarzio's trademark.
DiMarzio's trademark is for "PAF" without periods. If one refers to the pickup as "P.A.F." that is not infringing on DiMarzio's trademark.
Rand-O-Monium
New member
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