Seth Lover designed it in the 1950s for Gibson, “patent applied for” or PAF pickups revolutionized the world of guitar audio as they commercialized the humbucker style of pickup. The PAF pickups by Seth Lover enabled guitarists to produce and extremely iconic sound, unlike no other. Today, the vintage PAF pickups which were extremely popular in between the 1950s and 1960s are not only expensive, but they are also some of the most difficult pickups to find, but that has not stopped companies from trying to recreate the iconic humbucker even as they try to create a unique sound. The kind of PAF pickup you choose as a musician will affect the type of sound you are trying to achieve. If the quality of your pickup is terrible, so will be the sound you produce when you play. There are many PAF pickups available in the market today, each cable of creating different sounds. Below are some of the best PAF pickups available in the market today.
Lindy Fralin Pure PAF Humbucker Set
Intro
The sound produced by these PAF pickups by Lindy Fralin could easily pass for the sound produced by an original Gibson PAF. It is one of the best PAFs that guitarist can opt for as it is capable of producing a sound that is not only articulate but also powerful. The construction of this PAF pickup is such that the magnets are weakened by hand, which makes the upper range sounds less forceful and calms out the tonal quality. It is the perfect pickup for guitarists who are into jazz and light rock sounds.
Pros
- It is one of the few PAF pickups that produce a sound that is closest to the original PAF pickups of the 1950s
Cons
- It is somewhat expensive.
- They do not work well with guitars that require a coil-tap
Gibson ’57 Classic Plus Humbucker Pickup
Intro
Given that Gibson were the inventors of the PAF pickups, it comes as no surprise that they have been able to introduce new PAF pickups to the market. The Gibson ’57 Classic Plus pickup is guaranteed to blow your mind as it produces a sound that is captivating, clear, rich and oh so mesmerizing. The sound produced can be attributed to the pickup’s Special Alnico magnet that is surrounded by enamel coated vintage style wire that works in conjunction with other bells and whistle son the pickups to produce the quality sound that artists get to hear and enjoy.
Pros
- Even when it is overdriving or distorting, the pickup still performs just as well as it normally would.
- Equipped with maple spacers and nickel-plated covers the quality of these pickups is excellent.
- Has one of the best sound quality, and it could easily be misconstrued with that of the original PAFs
Cons
- Guitarist only get a single pickup for the sets.
- The price tag may be off-putting for beginners.
DiMarzio DP223 PAF Bridge Humbucker 36th Anniversary Electric Guitar Pickup
Intro
The DiMarzio DP223 PAF is a budget-friendly pickup that does a great job of duplicating the sound produced by the original PAF pickup without compromising the sound quality. Producing warm and inviting sounds that are slightly mid-heavy, the pickup takes you back in time when the first pickups were created. Because they include the precise patented technology used in the original pickups, they stand out from the rest of the pickups available in the market. When it comes to choosing a pickup, a musician regardless of their skill level cannot go wrong with the DiMarzio DP223 PAF pickup.
Pros
- The DiMarzio DP223 PAF pickup is compatible with several guitar models.
- It is affordable and within range for most guitarists
- Given that the DiMarzio DP223 PAF is an anniversary pickup, it contains original, patented PAF technology
- Guitarists can use this PAF pickup regardless of whether they are playing clean or distorted sounds.
- The sound produced by the pickup is incredibly clear, warm, and rich.
Cons
- Some musicians and guitarist may find the sound produced by this PAF to be far punchier than the iconic 50s PAF
Seymour Duncan Antiquity Humbucker Pickup
Intro
It is impossible to create the best PAF pick up list without including one from Seymour Duncan as it is common knowledge that they are one of the best audio specialists in the industry. The Seymour Duncan Antiquity PAF is designed to be used for the neck and bridge positions on the guitar, and it has the ability to take you back in time to the 50s when the PAF pickups were first introduced. One of the few pickups that are not wax-potted, the Antiquity pickup produces a sound that is akin to the original PAFs. The notable difference between the Antiquity PAF and the originals is that the Antiquity PAF is more balanced and wound a little hotter than usual.
Pros
- You can enjoy the original iconic PAF aesthetic thanks to the nickel plates used to style the Seymour Duncan Antiquity pickup
- It can effortlessly replicate the original PAF pickup sound as it hot-wound.
- The installation of the pickup is extremely easy and straightforward as the guitar is equipped with a front- tapering mount ring, that has screws and holes to fit it perfectly onto the guitar.
- The pickup is extremely responsive and produces a beautiful organic and rich sound.
Cons
- Musicians and guitarists must purchase the pickups for the neck and bridge positions individually.
Conclusion
As previously mentioned, PAF pickups pioneered the way music was created, ultimately defining the direction of sound for most musicians, bands, and different genres of music. Even though coming across an original PAF pickup is almost impossible, the market is saturated with multiple PAF pickups options for musicians to choose from. Our list consists of a few of what we consider to be the best in the market and ideal for guitarists whose sound works with PAF pickups. Depending on the sound that you are trying to achieve/ duplicate, any of the PAFs we’ve mentioned above will come in handy.