1970s DiMarzio PAFs - Anything special or better options?

[buduranus2]

I have a one-off '70s guitar with two "bevel-slug" PAF's. I've never actually heard them because the guitar has a homebrew Frankenstein onboard preamp with loose wires going to who knows where. I'm about to upgrade the pickups in another guitar and, before I spend money on whatever's out there, I wanted to see if I was sitting on a sonic gold mine, or whether there are better options available. BTW I had Seymour Seths in a guitar I just sold. They were pretty nice all the way around, I just don't want to spend $260 plus installation if I can help it. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated.

[Jimmy blue note]

I've always had a preference for Duncans, Lovers and Antiquities, and after comparison, I'd always bit the bullet and gone with Duncans if I was planning on keeping the guitar. I can recover from the expense, and I want to live with the sound that I chose as the best.
But LOTS of great options these days. Lollar and Bare Knuckles champions will weigh in I'm sure. At that level, they're all really nice but not as affordable as you'd like I'm afraid.

[buduranus2]

I've always had a preference for Duncans, Lovers and Antiquities, and after comparison, I'd always bit the bullet and gone with Duncans if I was planning on keeping the guitar. I can recover from the expense, and I want to live with the sound that I chose as the best.
But LOTS of great options these days. Lollar and Bare Knuckles champions will weigh in I'm sure. At that level, they're all really nice but not as affordable as you'd like I'm afraid.

Well, as you say, lots of options but "affordable" is the operative word here. Otherwise I'd just get Seymour Seths and be done with it.

[ThatRhythmMan]

They are so many options and they can give far differing results. It can make a big difference so it would be very helpful to know something about the guitar the pickup will be going into and what kind of a result you would like.


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[icr]

I got this Ibanez 2355 (ES-175 style) back in the early 1990s. It looked like the first picture with two Dimarzio PAF pickups. Many years later, when I decided to restore the guitar to its original state, I kept the Dimarzios. I just put covers on them. I found they do work well in a Jazz guitar.

[buduranus2]

I got this Ibanez 2355 (ES-175 style) back in the early 1990s. It looked like the first picture with two Dimarzio PAF pickups. Many years later, when I decided to restore the guitar to its original state, I kept the Dimarzios. I just put covers on them. I found they do work well in a Jazz guitar.

Thanks very much. This is exactly what I was looking for. I want to "jazzify" the guitar in question. Looking for a detailed, compact sound with some depth and warmth. Given your direct experience, do you think the DiMarzios can do this?

[Cavalier]

It will work fine. I used these pickups in a couple guitars way back when and they did a very nice job. Back then Larry was still in charge. A range of tones adjusted by how close the pickup is to the strings.

[buduranus2]

It will work fine. I used these pickups in a couple guitars way back when and they did a very nice job. Back then Larry was still in charge. A range of tones adjusted by how close the pickup is to the strings.

Thanks again. For jazz I tend to set the pickups low and adjust the bridge pickup volume down to help the neck pickup sound a little more "dry."