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Fralin Pure PAF's vs Gibson Custombuckers

michaeljames

New member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
302
Fralin Pure PAF's vs Gibson Custombuckers in R0

Thinking of taking the Custombuckers (not burstbuckers) out of a 2014 R0 and installing Lindy's Pure Paf's.
Your thoughts and/or experience with these 2 pickups?
 
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Nick-O

Active member
Joined
Aug 12, 2015
Messages
223
I have had the Fralins and they are super under rated. I swapped them out after a good amount of time simply because I got some Rolph 59's and at the time had no other guitar to use the Rolphs. The Rolphs are great, but I should have kept the Fralins for another time. Much better than so many I have had before and since.
 
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Jazzfinger

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Joined
May 23, 2018
Messages
25
Fralin always seems to get dismissed. Especially for PAF but his are nice. A cut above the Gibson in my opinion. One the better sets Ive played in the price range are the Tone Specific Blues pickups. You also can't go wrong with the Ron Ellis or Virgil Arlo pickups. I think the Arlo's are top-notch but they are a bit on the expensive side.
 

Phoenician

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Joined
Oct 12, 2020
Messages
88
Bump.

I don’t know that I’d replace Custombuckers but Fralin Pure PAFs seem like a great pickup from what I’ve heard.
 

Cranknfrank

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Joined
Feb 7, 2011
Messages
64
I have Custom Buckers in my R9 and Fralin Pure PAF's in my 335. They could not be more different. They are both great but do different things. The Pure PAF's are really clean and clear. Lindy has a video out there where he says that he wanted to design a really clear PAF-style pickup. It's exactly as advertised. The CB's in my R9 have more spank and sting. Each of my guitars has its own thing tonally - love them both. Hope that helps.
 

Vics53

Active member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
149
Earlier today I was wondering about Fralins. Was looking into the pure PAF's with the 7.5 neck and the 8.4 bridge. Or maybe the 9.0 Modern PAF bridge with the pure PAF 7.5 neck. Looking for a set where the neck pickup doesn't have that muddy, droney and boomey quality. Seems like some neck pickups are boomey to the point of making the bridge pickup wound weak in output.
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I wonder what after market pickup is the most like a Custombucker.
Why ? (vanilla , dull, weak , devoid of any seasoning or spice ) ( I forgot Weak ) (also A3 magnets really ? ) (the custombuckers are like hospital food as in bland and unsalted and no spice or zest )
 

Phoenician

Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2020
Messages
88
Why ? (vanilla , dull, weak , devoid of any seasoning or spice ) ( I forgot Weak ) (also A3 magnets really ? ) (the custombuckers are like hospital food as in bland and unsalted and no spice or zest )
I love my Custombuckers and they sound fantastic in my Les Pauls and a 335. But you can’t buy them a replacement pickups. They only come with a Custom Shop guitar.

Just curious if anyone is making a pickup that is produced which is very close to a Custombucker.
 

El Gringo

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Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I love my Custombuckers and they sound fantastic in my Les Pauls and a 335. But you can’t buy them a replacement pickups. They only come with a Custom Shop guitar.

Just curious if anyone is making a pickup that is produced which is very close to a Custombucker.
CreamTone had a set with A3 Magnets that I believe were there version of the Custombuckers , which were on there website . As I just looked for them on there site they are not there . As always tone is subjective to ones ears and tastes and I favor ThroBak MXV-SLE-101 Plus pickups with A5 magnets , wax potted as I play thru a pair of high gain Marshall 2555X's -www.throbak.com Best Wishes !
 
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