Looking for a good PAF type of Bucker

Don't discount the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary, Air Classic, and PAF Masters. They sound really nice. I like almost all of the lower output Dimarzio pickups. I can't remember if I had the 36th or the Air Classic, but it was pretty nice.

Dimarzio also makes my least favorite pickup of all time: the Tone Zone!

 

I've got a Manlius Landmark neck PAF clone. Mick at Manlius very kindly listened to clips I sent him of a 60s SG as my ideal neck humbucker tone. He offered to custom wind or recommend one of his and I went for his standard Landmark. For US$95, the service and quality can't be beat, he had it made and shipped off to Australia within a few days. He has a range of buckers ranging from various vintage configurations to the modern stuff.

 

I got hooked on the SD 59 playing Hamer guitars. I like the SD 59 neck. I like the SD 59 bridge too but I wish it had a little more umph. The SD JB is to much for my taste. The Thornbucker neck is close to the SD 59. Again I whish the Thornbucker bridge had more umph. The Thornbucker bridge has a A4 magnet which I might change out with a A5.

 

I run a Duncan Antiquity Neck humbucker paired with a Duncan Donahue in the bridge. I play mostly clean and love the tone and clarity. I have put Seth Lovers into a friends es335 clone and those are sweet as well.

 

I've been using the Wilde L90 2h in the neck of my Squier CVC for a couple of years now. It has enough treble to hang with the Keystone in the bridge. I once owned an original PAF in a tele Custom and although it was in the bridge, it had unique characteristics. PAFs benefit from a range of inaccuracies in manufacturing that bestow various tonalities. L90s do not have these variables and do not display the same failings. You can certainly get typical PAF tones but you have to work at it. Turning down the tone control will work if you isolate the response you want electronically. EQing can help. With a L90 you are shaping through reduction, subtracting frequencies. Other pickups are EQed in manufacture and some frequencies are absent. I think it is easier to start with a full palette.

 

I use an Air Classic bridge in my Les Paul, and an Air Classic neck in my Flying V. Both absolutely outstanding pickups.

The Tone Zone is also a totally fantastic pickup, if you're not after classic vintage tones. That's just not what it was designed for.

 

DiMarzio PAF Pro. Put'em in a few guitars over the past 20 years. Great PAF tone, cleans are bell-like and chimey, split it sounds more like a single-coil than most humbuckers. Also matches well with single coils in other positions.