The PAF Pickup: The Sound Behind the Music

🎸The PAF pickup is one of the key elements that shaped the sound of music produced from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.

🔊The PAF pickup's design was aimed at creating a noiseless pickup, unlike its single-coil predecessors, to eliminate the 60-cycle hum.

🎶The PAF pickup's unique tonal characteristics and dynamic range have had a significant impact on the blues, rock, and other music genres.

🔎Original PAF pickups were not consistent in their output, leading to variations in sound and characteristics among different guitars.

🎛️The original PAF pickups used alnico magnets, contributing to their distinctive sound. Modern reproductions aim to capture the original PAF tone.

What does PAF stand for?

—PAF stands for Patent Applied For, referring to the pickup's patented technology that Gibson filed for in the 1950s.

How does the PAF pickup differ from other pickups?

—The PAF pickup differs from its single-coil predecessors by being designed as a noiseless pickup, eliminating the 60-cycle hum that often affected other pickups.

What are the tonal characteristics of the PAF pickup?

—The PAF pickup is known for its clarity, dynamic range, and touch sensitivity, allowing players to achieve a wide range of tones based on their playing style.

Are original PAF pickups consistent in their output?

—Original PAF pickups were machine-wound, leading to variations in their output and sound characteristics. Each pickup can have its own unique character.

How do modern PAF reproductions capture the original tone?

—Modern PAF reproductions aim to recreate the original PAF tone by using similar materials and manufacturing techniques, including alnico magnets and accurate winding patterns.

01:13The PAF pickup is one of the key elements that shaped the sound of music produced from the late 1940s to the early 1960s.

01:23The PAF pickup's design aimed to create a noiseless pickup, eliminating the 60-cycle hum that affected single-coil pickups.

03:23Original PAF pickups were not consistent in their output, leading to variations in sound and characteristics among different guitars.

05:27The PAF pickup is known for its clarity, dynamic range, and touch sensitivity, allowing players to achieve a wide range of tones based on their playing style.

06:49Modern PAF reproductions aim to recreate the original PAF tone by using similar materials and manufacturing techniques, including alnico magnets and accurate winding patterns.