Why no talk about PATB-3?

[dr.barlo]

It is hell of a pickup... Sounds like a hot wound PAF kinda pickup, a bit more punchy and cutting if needed but not shrill at all. Thick in fact with some presence.

The pickups I am comparing my 9.40K PATB-3 with are a Brobucker, Wolfe's Marshallhead, a WLH bridge, an A5 8.70K AntHB bridge, and a 8.75K PG+. These are great pickups, and PATB-3 standing tall... In fact, I think its split and parallel are better than the others'... at least those I could do (e.g. my Brobucker and PG+).

So I am a bit puzzled why people don't mention this one... Is it because it is a bit ugly and weird looking?

B

 

[jeremy]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

mine isnt that hot, its right around 9k. it is a great pup though. predictably i put an a2 in mine

 

[Despair]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

Not nearly as many try them as would like them, is my strong feeling. Convincing people to challenge their preferences is tough going, though. Looks and expectations define a lot of choices where people would be happier if they chose function rather than form.

I suggest Parallel Axis pickups anywhere I think might be a particularly strong match for them. I wish that there were more stock Parallel Axis options so I could suggest them for more uses.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

Well, they make a lot of pickups. Many aren't associated with an artist, and don't come stock on a guitar. So they don't get talked about a lot. However, if you do manage to try one, we'd appreciate a review.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

mine isnt that hot, its right around 9k. it is a great pup though. predictably i put an a2 in mine

A5 for me... I even am having intentions to change the a2's in my Seths (in my Heritage ES335) to a4's...

Tastes after all!

B :beerchug:

 

[AlexR]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

VERY fat. Almost overly so if its not going in a floyd equipped superstrat or the like.

 

[Toejam]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

I had a PATB-2 Distortion and thought it sounded massively crushing in my old Jackson RR1T! I really want to try a PATB-3 one day in some kind of Strat.

 

['59]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

What are the exact advantages of the PATB polepieces? Can anybody compare/contrast the standard Distortion with the Axis version? How does the new polepiece design affect sustain, attack, and tone?

 

[chadd]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

I wasn't all that impressed with it in my Banshee. Decent pickup but they aren't very common and a lot of people haven't heard or used them.

 

[51501984]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

Not a lot of talk about it these days but it was a pretty happening pickup on the forums 10-15 years ago

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

Not a lot of talk about it these days but it was a pretty happening pickup on the forums 10-15 years ago

Yeah... What changed?

B

 

[Toejam]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

What are the exact advantages of the PATB polepieces? Can anybody compare/contrast the standard Distortion with the Axis version? How does the new polepiece design affect sustain, attack, and tone?

The poles surround the strings to give better alignment for Floyds. Though, a lot of newer tune-o-matic bridges also have F-spacing and line up with the PA poles.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

^ Also the less focussed magnetic field seems to stay defined under lots of gain.

 

[Despair]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

The poles surround the strings to give better alignment for Floyds. Though, a lot of newer tune-o-matic bridges also have F-spacing and line up with the PA poles.

Not just better alignment, but they are advertised to reduce string pull compared to conventional polepieces, since the poles & magnetic field surround from sides. Certainly I've never managed to get stratitis with a Parallel Axis pickup. Also, increased sustain (partly due to hotter wind, but partly due to more diffuse magnetic field) and brighter at higher turn counts (without being harsh).

They're also said to be less sensitive to string alignment than conventional polepieces.

I think what changed is lack of new mainstream pickups. They're old, but don't have many high profile pro guitarists associated with them. Which is a shame, given how effective they are for fixing thin-, dead-, or bland-sounding guitars. And just how dynamic and FUN they are to play. But not expanding the line makes people think that the design was a failure. 3 bridge humbucker options, 1 neck, and 1 single coil-sized. Though at least there's the custom shop, for people who want X or Y in a Parallel Axis design...

Frustrating, as the failure is mostly in reactionary guitarists not being able to get over something not looking exactly like a 60 year old design.

More visibility on youtube would probably help...

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

I have a 1n/3b set in my all maple Carvin DC127T. It doesn't sound like a LP, but it does fatten things up quite nicely and gives the guitar a gibson-ey flavor.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

As I recall, there was a huge print ad campaign like 15 years ago. Print ads are not as influential as they once were, and marketing has changed so much since then.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

Perfect pickup in a Floydcaster IMO. Full & sweet, and great under gain. I had a 59 and an old T-top in mine for many years and with the PATB-1n and PATB-3 the guitar became noticeably beefier, without any congested overcompressed/overwound tonality. Bought the STK for middle position too but I haven't put it in yet.

 

[Chad]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

Them being $100+ doesn't help either. Interestingly, for an under-the-radar pickup, they seem to hold value pretty well on the used market too. Not too often do they go under $65/$70.

 

[51501984]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

Yeah... What changed?

B

Possibly the hot PAF rage died off . Around 2006 I wanna say it was prohibited to even bring up a hot PAF topic. If I remember correctly the Brobucker was created because of the demand for a hot PAF from Duncan . I haven’t used the PATB3 in years but it was a great pickup , I preferred it over the Brobucker

 

[SJ318]

Re: Why no talk about PATB-3?

dr. barlo -
I bet it's all cosmetic,
I bet if there was a nice looking, presentable nickel cover that let the pickup "magnetically breath" (as in sounding like it has no cover, a more open style cover like Philadelphia Luthiers has) it would sell much better. I have looked at this pickup for years but vanity pushed me away. Thank you for bringing this up!!
Steven Buffington