Wanted: Cheap set of PAF's

[hamo]

I'm interested in this argument....anyone else got a view? Maybe PAF refers to tone now more than anything? When someone says "I want a PAF"...what they mean is they want a bright sounding humbucker of medium output, not the muddy type or high output.

Probably this, although most of the time advertising material is good enought to talk about pups having a "PAF tone, rather than referring to them as PAFs.

[slash-ed]

I'm interested in this argument....anyone else got a view? Maybe PAF refers to tone now more than anything? When someone says "I want a PAF"...what they mean is they want a bright sounding humbucker of medium output, not the muddy type or high output.

Probably this, although most of the time advertising material is good enought to talk about pups having a "PAF tone, rather than referring to them as PAFs.

For me, PAF = super old, super expensive humbucker that I'll probably never actually hear in the flesh, or be able to afford.

[Miza]

I'm interested in this argument....anyone else got a view? Maybe PAF refers to tone now more than anything? When someone says "I want a PAF"...what they mean is they want a bright sounding humbucker of medium output, not the muddy type or high output.

Probably this, although most of the time advertising material is good enought to talk about pups having a "PAF tone, rather than referring to them as PAFs.

Yeah to me, PAF refers to a type of 'sounding' humbucker. Eg 50/60's sounding, low output.

Look at the Seymore Duncan website for example. They use 'PAF' as like a yardstick for rating their pickups. "This one is a hotter style PAF, this one is a Super Hot PAF, etc..."

[jeremyb]

Meh PAF to me is those chrome covered bucker thangs, think I'm not in the minority either

[hamo]

I'm interested in this argument....anyone else got a view? Maybe PAF refers to tone now more than anything? When someone says "I want a PAF"...what they mean is they want a bright sounding humbucker of medium output, not the muddy type or high output.

Probably this, although most of the time advertising material is good enought to talk about pups having a "PAF tone, rather than referring to them as PAFs.

For me, PAF = super old, super expensive humbucker that I'll probably never actually hear in the flesh, or be able to afford.

I think that's fairly common, to the point where when I hear PAF I automatically think the person is talking about PAF-style rather than actual PAFs.

[ash]

And hence why I would like the distinction made between Joe Blow humbuckers from actual, real, PAF's. There is a generation of young gat players that believe a PAF means, humbucker.

I'm interested in this argument....anyone else got a view? Maybe PAF refers to tone now more than anything? When someone says "I want a PAF"...what they mean is they want a bright sounding humbucker of medium output, not the muddy type or high output.

As far as I'm concerned, unless qualified by "original" or "Gibson" or a year like "1959", PAF is now a generic term describing a low-ish output humbucker aimed somewhere in the tonal spectrum of the Gibson originals.

Any humbucker hotter than a Pearly Gates can't be reasonably described as a PAF. Even EVH style humbuckers are only half-PAF at best.

[GrantB]

I'd love to post a thread on the LPF with the title "Wanted: Cheap set of PAF's".

jeremyb, I think you're right. This is a Walkman vs. Sony Walkman type identity crisis for the real "PAF". Anything that slightly resembled the real Walkman was a Walkman. And another case, Glad Wrap had to defend their own brand when generic others said "we're all "Glad Wrap" because that's what the populace call our goods"...they had to take out ads etc to say, "they are "cling film" or "food wrap" - WE are "Glad Wrap"". Given that Gibson puts "Patent Applied For" decals on every Classic 57 that leaves their p/up manufacturer, they don't place much value on maintaining the original "brand" and ensuring it exists ONLY on the real PAF. And why would they - there is no future asset or value to be realised by doing so. They don't sell second hand pickups. PAF only refers to an items status with the Patent Office, rather than any tangible item.

Ash - agree.

I have significant respect for Gibson R&D of the past...huge even, don't get me started. The real PAF was a masterpiece. It dealt with an issue (hum) whilst creating, possibly as a side benefit, a unique sound. Old and original PAF's should retain that distinction. Calling any medium output humbucker from any manufacturer a "PAF" is not ideal in my mind. I can't blame anyone for doing so however...now, better go Hoover my lounge with a Philips vacuum cleaner.

[Ears]

Always meant 'patent applied for' to me.
I've always thought the tag referred to the original design and therefore specs.
Correct if wrong - Seth Lover invented the HB Gibson had them in production while the patent was being processed, Gibson tried to protect the technology by using the sticker in the interim.
Later many models of HB's -tweaked, hot-rodded , etc not original specs therefore not PAF design unless stated.

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

[sizzlingbadger]

I'm interested in this argument....anyone else got a view? Maybe PAF refers to tone now more than anything? When someone says "I want a PAF"...what they mean is they want a bright sounding humbucker of medium output, not the muddy type or high output.

PAF - "like" pups...
Walkman - "like" cassette player...
Hoover "like" vacuum cleaner...

the list is endless, I knew what I wanted and so did benderissimo, thats all that matters.

[GrantB]

It's alright man. Not having a shot at ya, merely discussing an observed fact.

[RuBear]

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.

[GrantB]

The context around the R&D statement with Gibson was around the electric guitar world.

Otherwise yeah, when compared to everything the hum cancelling pickup probably rates pretty low...somewhere behind toilet paper....

[GrantB]

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.

[Slowy]

Most of my limited knowledge of PAF's came from the TQR magazine's 'Spanish Castle' and 'Horse Latitudes' articles. If the subject interests you, these are a must read.

TQR attests that the PAF mystique is valid and real, and has been used by countless pup manufacturers to promote their own products. TQR also claims that they have never found a modern pickup which fully replicates the PAF character. Given the fundamental simplicity of a guitar pickup, that's the bit I find most extraordinary.

So PAF has entered the guitar vernacular as a (mostly unattainable) reference for vintage humbucker tone. I guess Unique and his colleagues are going to have to make do with a nod and a knowing look when they encounter the term.

[sizzlingbadger]

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.