Here are
the characteristics that make a great vintage humbucker: a soft magnetic
field, sweet tone, perfect balance between warmth and clarity, the
ability to go from clean to distorted by pick attack alone. For our PAF®
36th Anniversary Bridge we wanted to continue in the path of pioneers
such as Seth Lover (designer of the original Patent Applied For
humbucker) and create pickups that combine all of the characteristics
of great vintage humbuckers. These pickups are not merely clones. We
re-engineered the PAF® using our patented technology and Larry
DiMarzio’s own 1959 cherry sunburst Gibson® Les Paul® as the reference.
Larry’s Gibson® Les Paul® has a uniquely amazing sound and it’s not only
due to the pickups — it’s the total fusion of many elements of the
guitar itself. Although the pickups have a weak magnetic field, the
sound is well defined — almost like a single-coil. We duplicated the
weaker magnetic field in order to allow the strings to vibrate longer,
as well as focus and articulate the attack and output. We use
computer-controlled winders to consistently layer the 42-gauge
custom-coated wire, achieving the exact frequency response we want. Then
it’s dipped in our custom formula to eliminate squeal and microphonics.
The cover is made from nickel-silver and our new plating makes it more
magnetically transparent than the originals. The PAF® 36th Anniversary
Neck is smooth but not muddy. It performs equally well in the neck or
bridge, just as the best humbuckers from the 50s did. The PAF® 36th
Anniversary Bridge is hotter than the Neck.
It is not only for set neck 24¾” scale guitars, but it’s also an
excellent bridge pickup for trem-equipped bolt-ons. We’ll build the PAF®
36th Anniversary any way you want it. Choose the bobbin style — vintage
glossy or modern matte, the type of base — traditional, long-legged or
standard, short-legged, and the type of cable — vintage single-conductor
or 4-conductor. The PAF® 36th Anniversary Bridge is available
uncovered, and we also offer three types of covers — standard polished
and plated, buffed with no plating, and our vintage worn cover that
looks so authentic and broken in that you’ll swear it’s been hanging
around since 1959.
Recommended For
Bridge position, can also be used in neck position with higher output bridge models.
Tech Talk
The PAF® 36th Anniversary Bridge model has the best qualities of
the Virtual PAF® bridge and Virtual Hot PAF® pickups and then some. It’s
as loud as the Virtual Hot PAF®, but has as much low-end and midrange
definition as the Virtual PAF® Bridge Model. The highs are actually
bigger and smoother than either model. The 4-conductor version also
splits very well. Single-coil mode is bright, but not at all
sterile-sounding.
Specs
Wiring: 4 Conductor (1 Conductor optional)
Magnet: Alnico 5
Output mV: 285
DC Resistance: 8.60 Kohm
Year of Introduction: 2008
Patent: 5,399,802 & 5,908,998