Wanted: Cheap set of PAF's

[Slowy]

I often think those that think the PAF is a mystical pup are the ones that were daft enough to spend $5000 on them. I bet none of them could pass a blind testing.

That's exactly what makes the Tone Quest Report's research and articles so interesting.

[Terexgeek]

You've missed the point of collectables: there will never be any more 1950's PAFs than there are now and there's demand for them.

You can build replicas, but considering no two PAF are the same, you'll only ever have a copy, like the difference between having a real <insert_desirable_car> and a kitcar.

[Jenesis]

[jeremyb]

I think there are a gajillion more impressive inventions than making a pickup hum-cancelling. Maybe it is just me.

Hell take the walkman and the hoover as two examples right there.

No one pays heaps if cash for old ones tho

[bender]

[GrantB]

I often think those that think the PAF is a mystical pup are the ones that were daft enough to spend $5000 on them. I bet none of them could pass a blind testing.

That's exactly what makes the Tone Quest Report's research and articles so interesting.

Out of interest slowfingers, did they do blind tests?

[Ears]

So now it means only those made in 1950s? OK.

? Not sure of your point here? In my relatively tongue in cheek argument, yes, that is what I am saying. Only from the 50's/early 60's. Everything else is "like" a PAF, but not one.

TBH, it doesn't matter a flying rats rectum...just an interesting argument.

If I'm making an argument at all it's that PAF refers to a design, not a pickup that was manufactured between any date.
Those in the 1950s and early 60s were the first manufactured to a Patent Applied For design. Pickups manufactured today to the same "patent applied for" design are/(were until this thread) happily regarded by me to also be PAF pickups.

You're right of course, it really doesn't matter a rat's arse, and I'm quite happy to rearrange my viewpoint.

edit: Oh, and I am in total agreement that PAF shouldn't apply to every model/spec of 'bucker.

[GrantB]

Your point is technically accurate Ears. Flip side is that the original PAF pickup design has been copied but many argue, never duplicated.

I'm going to organise a real PAF vs modern copy towards the end of the year. Same guitar (technically) and same amp/settings etc. I'll You Tube it.

[alanp]

I thought part of the mystique was that none of them sounded quite the same? This'd make it hard for a defender of a PAF-copy to claim that it sounds JUST like a PAF, since it isn't going to sound like every PAF out there.

[Jenesis]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXgPOLefGc[/youtube]

[jeremyb]

The ones from the era that say patent applied for on them are what makes them a real PAF tho Ears, I still use the term tho to describe whatever looks like one

[Ears]

The ones from the era that say patent applied for on them are what makes them a real PAF tho Ears,

fair point, out of interest for how long did Gibson put PAF labels on pups?

[ash]

Your point is technically accurate Ears. Flip side is that the original PAF pickup design has been copied but many argue, never duplicated.

The funny thing about the nature of "the design" is that it is very vague, especially with regard to the patent. Patents are always reasonably vague so as to prevent loopholes and in this case, almost none of the important characteristics that distinguish a real PAF in performance from a different flavour of pickup are specified.

Even in all these years subsequent, Seth lover has not been able to reveal exact details to the satisfaction of would-be cloners. Not even Gibson. That seems to be because he simply didn't know what he was doing in fine detail, he was just making something that works.

Slowfingers' comment regarding the simplicity of humbuckers comes in here. Humbuckers are pretty simple, and that's what the patent defines. However, I challenge any layman to list even half of the important parameters that make the difference between, say, an SD '59 and an SD Antiquity. Or a '59 and a Distortion. Or a '59 and a DiMarzio Virtual PAF.

Incidentally, DiMarzio hold the trademark for PAF, not Gibson

[GrantB]

The ones from the era that say patent applied for on them are what makes them a real PAF tho Ears,

fair point, out of interest for how long did Gibson put PAF labels on pups?

Started in '57 and went through to '60-'61 ish....but there was old stock coming out until '63. Patent was granted in '59 but obviously there was stock sitting there...or they had lots of PAF decals and no Patent Number ones.

[GrantB]

The whole PAF thing is way more than just tone...