Best PAF maker?
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mowcheeba
Tele-Holic
If you don´t mind waiting....
the Timbuckers by Tim White are supposed to be the best PAF style humbuckers available today. But, the 18-24 months wait are more than most people could chew.
the Timbuckers by Tim White are supposed to be the best PAF style humbuckers available today. But, the 18-24 months wait are more than most people could chew.
BB
Poster Extraordinaire
andrew said:
Best is what works best for you, but some mighty fine winders of PAF style pups of varying flavors are: Jason Lollar, Wolfe McCleod, Jim Wagner, Lynn Collins, Lindy Fralin, Jon Moore, Jim Rolph, Tom Holmes, Tim White, Dave Stephens, Jeff Gay....this is the tip of the ol ice burg!
Seymour Duncans Antiquity and Seth are aces and Dimarzios VV PAF and Classic PAF's are spendid sounding pups.
gls500
Tele-Holic
andrew said:
All of the above.
i echo the above post. there a lots of guys making killer PAFs. for me, the wagner goodwoods are the ticket. i like them better than fralins. don't overlook highorder (jeff gay) either. i have a HO PAF in a tele and it sounds very very good. his prices CANNOT be touched and he will wind whatever you want and is very nice to deal with.
all of the above mentioned PAFs stand head and shoulders above gibson BBs IMHO. why gibson puts BBs in a 5k historic is beyond my comprehension. would it kill them to wind some REAL pups for a 5k guitar???
i took the BBs out of my LP and placed them in the trash.
the bottom line is everyone has their fave but i say try wagners, lollars, or HOs if you are on a budget
all of the above mentioned PAFs stand head and shoulders above gibson BBs IMHO. why gibson puts BBs in a 5k historic is beyond my comprehension. would it kill them to wind some REAL pups for a 5k guitar???
i took the BBs out of my LP and placed them in the trash.
the bottom line is everyone has their fave but i say try wagners, lollars, or HOs if you are on a budget
BB
Poster Extraordinaire
andrew said:
Real PAFs were hit and miss. I am in no way an expert on the subject, but from what I understand, the classic PAF sound comes from unbalanced coils, unpotted and low 7's output. It's been nearly 20 years since I played a guitar with real PAF's. To be honest, I can't remember what the sound was like!!
As far as the most authentic PAF tone, I'd go with Lollar....although many state Tom Holmes is as close as it gets.
Duncan Seth Lovers are wound on the orignal machine Seth used when he worked at Gibson and with the same type of materials and design used back in the day.
With all that, I can't imagine having better sounding PAF style pups than the ones Jon Moore wound for me.
JTM45blues
Tele-Afflicted
Tom Holmes no doubt in my mind.
When Billy Gibbons and Greg Martin both swear by them, then that's good enough for me. Both of their best tones are CLASSIC PAF tones. I was in the front row at a Kentucky Headhunters concert, and heard Greg playing his 58 Reissue with Tom Holmes through a nice early 70's 50 watt Marshall with a Basketweave 4x12 cab. Just absolutely PHENOMENAL tone.
The only problem with Holmes, is the price. Last time I emailed it was $560 for a pair of his PAF clones.
So that being said I use my SECOND favorite PAF clone, the Seymour Duncan Antiquities. These have many of the same qualities as the Holmes, but the Holmes are just a little "fuller" sounding. They have that extra 5% in my opinion.
I've heard the Wagners, and have not been impressed, but many really like them. I also think the Fralin is way overrated, and not really close to PAF tone.
But hey, everyone's version of perfect PAF tone is a little different. Good luck hunting.
When Billy Gibbons and Greg Martin both swear by them, then that's good enough for me. Both of their best tones are CLASSIC PAF tones. I was in the front row at a Kentucky Headhunters concert, and heard Greg playing his 58 Reissue with Tom Holmes through a nice early 70's 50 watt Marshall with a Basketweave 4x12 cab. Just absolutely PHENOMENAL tone.
The only problem with Holmes, is the price. Last time I emailed it was $560 for a pair of his PAF clones.
So that being said I use my SECOND favorite PAF clone, the Seymour Duncan Antiquities. These have many of the same qualities as the Holmes, but the Holmes are just a little "fuller" sounding. They have that extra 5% in my opinion.
I've heard the Wagners, and have not been impressed, but many really like them. I also think the Fralin is way overrated, and not really close to PAF tone.
But hey, everyone's version of perfect PAF tone is a little different. Good luck hunting.
I've never heard a repro PAF that had the same character as a real one. Wolfe winds a nice one, and some guy in Canada, Mike Turk? is suppose to be winding a killer PAF type. He does Tele pickups too. I've never heard his though. I've had a BUNCH of real PAFs over the last 5 years or so, and I settled on a pair...8.3k in the bridge and an 8.2k in the neck of my 50s Les Paul.
genelovesjez
Friend of Leo's
It's funny you should ask. Recently, after getting my first ever Gibson (a 67 RI Flying V), I asked the very same question at my favourite music store, the 12th Fret. The owner there kinda rolled his eyes and laughed and told me that pickups are not that complicated, but I could spend as much as I wanted to. Talk about throwing cold water on my tone quest! 
I went with the Gibson Burstbuckers, the cheapest thing they carried.
I went with the Gibson Burstbuckers, the cheapest thing they carried.
gls500
Tele-Holic
genelovesjez said:
I have a set of Burstbucker Pros in my Robin Avalon.
The neck pickup is great - clear, big, fat, and smooth.
The bridge pickup is merely passable. It doesnt' sound bad and I can remain happy with it, but it doesn't knock my socks off.
Overall, I think it's a decent set of pickups.
bagpipe
Tele-Meister
highorder pickups are another option
I got a pair of humbuckers from Jeff at www.highorderpickups.com. He makes these by hand and you can specify # of winds, magnet type etc. His prices are also very reasonable. I got a pair which are 8.3k Br/7.8K Neck and both A2 magnets. I installed these in my Les Paul Classic and they are fantastic. I hated the ceramic pickups which are stock in this guitar and the difference is night and day. I can now play all of the early Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, early ZZ top etc which I had in my head (note that when I say "play" I actually mean "approximate the sound", not "I sound exactly like these guys" ).
I got a pair of humbuckers from Jeff at www.highorderpickups.com. He makes these by hand and you can specify # of winds, magnet type etc. His prices are also very reasonable. I got a pair which are 8.3k Br/7.8K Neck and both A2 magnets. I installed these in my Les Paul Classic and they are fantastic. I hated the ceramic pickups which are stock in this guitar and the difference is night and day. I can now play all of the early Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, early ZZ top etc which I had in my head (note that when I say "play" I actually mean "approximate the sound", not "I sound exactly like these guys"
).
I Agree
My favorite (until someone beats it) is a Tom Holmes humbucker....I hate it that his price has gone thru the roof cause I got mine back in the beginning @ Corner Music here in Nashville and I think I remember getting them for $110 each....
Bill Hullett
My favorite (until someone beats it) is a Tom Holmes humbucker....I hate it that his price has gone thru the roof cause I got mine back in the beginning @ Corner Music here in Nashville and I think I remember getting them for $110 each....
Bill Hullett
fullerplast
Tele-Afflicted
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JTM45blues said:
I agree with all your observations, JTM. I have a set of Timbuckers waiting in the wings, but I'll need another Les Paul because my Holmes are staying put.
The Holmes are great, and they do a nice PAF clone, but now that they are made overseas, I'd pass on them esp. at those prices! :?
Anyone here who has heard the repro Tele stuff compared to original 50s electronics, knows that you get about 95% of that original tone, but that last mile IS the magic with 50s pickups. Nothing sounds the same. Its all about the materials and they way they were made. You just can't duplicate that now.
Anyone here who has heard the repro Tele stuff compared to original 50s electronics, knows that you get about 95% of that original tone, but that last mile IS the magic with 50s pickups. Nothing sounds the same. Its all about the materials and they way they were made. You just can't duplicate that now.
ramblinmike
Tele-Afflicted
PAFs
its weird. i actually cannot hear any difference in MOST humbuckers. the only exception is the one on my Fernandes. assume its just a stock one but it sounds incredible. anyways, every other humbucker i've played be it an actual PAF or a $100 ibanez stock humbucker has sounded and felt the same to me. it was after playing the PAF that i realized i'm definetly a single coil guy, as every single coil has subtle differences that i notice, although some more than others.
on that note, i've heard great things about the Duncans, Voodoos, and Lollars. in my experience you can't go wrong with Duncans, regardless of the pickup.
its weird. i actually cannot hear any difference in MOST humbuckers. the only exception is the one on my Fernandes. assume its just a stock one but it sounds incredible. anyways, every other humbucker i've played be it an actual PAF or a $100 ibanez stock humbucker has sounded and felt the same to me. it was after playing the PAF that i realized i'm definetly a single coil guy, as every single coil has subtle differences that i notice, although some more than others.
on that note, i've heard great things about the Duncans, Voodoos, and Lollars. in my experience you can't go wrong with Duncans, regardless of the pickup.
bo
Poster Extraordinaire
I'm very fond of the Seth Lovers in my Les Paul. I did two sessions last week with 'em. On one song I basically mimiced Les Paul and on the other did a Chicago blues type thing. All I can say is they sounded like the real thing to my ears.
