PAF Style Humbucker Roundup

[helios]

Hello,
The May 2014 issue of "Guitar Player" magazine features a modern PAF style humbucker roundup. The contenders were:

Bartolini PBF series
Dimarzio 36th Anniversary
David Allen P-51
Lindy Fralin Pure PAF
GFS Professional Series KMZAII
Gibson Burstbucker 1&2
Lollar Imperial
Mojotone '59 PAF Clone
Throbak SLE 101 Plus MVX

The prices ranged from $539 a pair (Throbak), to $82 a pair (GFS Pro). Their ratings parameters were clean tone, overdriven tone, dynamic response, and vintage vibe (all a bit subjective I know). All of the pickups were installed into the same guitar in an attempt to minimize variables.
According to the Guitar Player Magazine review, the least appealing were the GFS Pro series (Incidentally, the least costly).The Bartolini's were noted for their "superb clarity". The "most vintage correct" (American parts, molds, toolings, winding machines etc) were the Throbak SLE101 HB (also the most $$$).
Two humbuckers received perfect scores in all of the above mentioned categories: The Lollar Imperial ("Excellent blend of output and clairity..") & the Lindy Fralin Pure PAF (crisp highs, firm well rounded lows).

[Woody Sound]

Hello,
All of the pickups were installed into the same guitar in an attempt to minimize variables.

Do you mean several of the same model guitar A-B'd, or switching the pickups in one single instrument? I can't help but think that ears get colored and perceptions change after a while.

[jorgemg1984]

What did say about the 36th for cleans?

[mongrel]

I put a used 36th in the neck of my Joe Pass recently and am very pleased with the cleans and don't think I will be replacing it any time soon. Of all the pickups I've had in that position in that guitar, its cleans have only been surpassed by one of Pete Biltoff's HCC-1's wound low.

[cmajor9]

+1 on the DiMarzio 36th

Curious that none of the Duncan pickups, such as the Seth Lover or '59, were included.

[Jim Soloway]

I really don't see any value in rating pickups in sets. The function of neck and bridge pickups is very different and they are generally sold separately so it seems to me that for a study to have value they should be considered separately as well.

[zigzag]

It is probably relevant to note that all pickups were rated by three different people. The guitar used was a '59 LP, and all of the same licks were played by the same person recorded through a Zoom H6 recorder using two different amps, played clean and distorted, switching between neck and bridge settings.

The Dimarzio 36s received a 4/5 rating for cleans, "Turn them down and they clean right up."

[SamBooka]

Duncan opted out.

They seemed to highlight that the 36s were "muscular" and had the highest dc resistance but cleaned up nicely when you roll the volume back. Doesn't mean much to me in a jazz context.

[iim7V7IM7]

We are fortunate in that there are many good pickups out there. In terms of humbuckers, I have been very happy with Lollar Imperial Low Winds in a number of guitars and Kent Armstrong's Handmade floaters. Among other things, Jason's humbuckers have excellent clarity in the neck position.

[Jim Soloway]

Duncan opted out.

They seemed to highlight that the 36s were "muscular" and had the highest dc resistance but cleaned up nicely when you roll the volume back. Doesn't mean much to me in a jazz context.

I've used them in countless guitars, both that we've built for others and in my own guitars. I have one in both my Heritage and my Soloway plank. It's quite comfortably my #1 pick for my own use regardless of price.

[TonyB56]

I find the whole thing pointless, at best it can only be a rough guide as they will all sound different fitted in your own guitar through your own equipment without the variables of peoples hearing frequencies.

[DRS]

Helpful if you are looking for a pickup for your rock guitar. Or trying to sell magazines. Funny they'd choose a Bartolini for the test since the criteria was from a rock context. $500+ for a set of pickups? Come on - I mean, come on . . .
I like my Seth Lover and Biltoft VV in my Les Paul. Both around $100 each. And the VV lets me experiment with magnets. I think that more than this in a traditional style PAF, you are paying for hype. DiMarzio also makes nice pickups for a fair dollar.

[jads57]

There are an amazing amount of great p/ups in general available nowadays, from $-$$$$. Some that I've owned and been pleased with are
Wolfetone Rewind Gibson Classic 57's
Lindy Fralin
Sheptone AB PAF's
Vintage Vibe PAF's ( you can swap out magnets easily in his design)
Manilus Landmark/Fat Diane combo A2 neck 7.5k and A5 8.5k bridge (my current favorites, and reasonable $)

[helios]

What did say about the 36th for cleans?

Hi,
The Dimarzio 36th Anniv. ($100 each) had the most "push" of the lot (Neck: 7.75 Kohms/Bridge 9.0 Kohms)
Ratings out of five:

Clean tone 4
Overdriven tone 5
Dynamic Response 5
Vintage vibe 4

[helios]

We are fortunate in that there are many good pickups out there. In terms of humbuckers, I have been very happy with Lollar Imperial Low Winds in a number of guitars and Kent Armstrong's Handmade floaters. Among other things, Jason's humbuckers have excellent clarity in the neck position.

I agree with the GP assessment of the Lollar Imperial as having a "excellent blend of output and calirity".
I had a Kent Armstrong built-in HB, but found it to be clean to the point of sounding a little sterile (on the Bartolini end of the spectrum).

[helios]

Do you mean several of the same model guitar A-B'd, or switching the pickups in one single instrument? I can't help but think that ears get colored and perceptions change after a while.

Hi,
They used one single instrument.

[SamBooka]

I've used them in countless guitars, both that we've built for others and in my own guitars. I have one in both my Heritage and my Soloway plank. It's quite comfortably my #1 pick for my own use regardless of price.

How would you describe them? (I understand that the article, like your/my opinion are subjective).

[SamBooka]

maybe not this forum but some of the posts. From this site I have gleaned insights into theory that would take years for me to understand on my own. I have been fed food for thought and changed opinions and perspective on several subjects. I have discovered some amazing artists that I would probably otherwise not have discovered. After a few years here I can sort of associate names to characters and thankfully most of the trolls and blowhards have long since gone.

[Jim Soloway]

How would you describe them? (I understand that the article, like your/my opinion are subjective).

quiet, even, reasonably touch sensitive, lots of high end detail without getting harsh. They respond very well to height adjustment. And regardless of the resistance rantings, they're not really as hot as has been suggested. They're definitely not as hot as Lollar Imperials.

[SamBooka]

quiet, even, reasonably touch sensitive, lots of high end detail without getting harsh. They respond very well to height adjustment. And regardless of the resistance rantings, they're not really as hot as has been suggested. They're definitely not as hot as Lollar Imperials.

Thanks Jim. Are you referring to standard Imperials or the underwound that seem to pop up on this form quite a bit?

[Jim Soloway]

Thanks Jim. Are you referring to standard Imperials or the underwound that seem to pop up on this form quite a bit?

Standard. The under wounds are very different. By removing wire, they become much brighter. I've used them on a few guitars and in the end found that they were a little too bright and thin for my taste. If I'm going in that direction, there are other pickups that I like better (including some others made by Lollar). Lollar makes a lot of pickups that I like a lot but the various versions of the Imperial are not my favorites.

[Jazz_175]

....they're not really as hot as has been suggested. They're definitely not as hot as Lollar Imperials.

When you say hot pickup do you mean "high output" or something else?

[Jazz_175]

I googled and found the answer
(Actually I knew but was not quite sure about that, sometimes I have tendency to forget meaning of words...)

"Hot means comparably more output than another pickup of the type"

[Spook410]

Or it could be a haute pickup..

[Jerzy]

PAF 36th Anniversary according to DiMarzio site:

DC Resistance: 7.31 Kohm