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PAF vs Mini PAF opinions please!

Capt Brad

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
129
Early Gibson mini humbuckers have PAF stickers. They were made with mostly the same material.
But they never made it into a Gibson to the best of what info I can find? Mini's yes but any PAF mini's?
Epiphone had them as well as Silvertone. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

Here is a photo of what I hope still be considered PAF mini's

62519921_2385878794982688_7004076084694089728_n.jpg

64219028_2385878741649360_3534887659476353024_n.jpg
 

Maxmc

Active member
Joined
Mar 15, 2015
Messages
652
Offset pole screws! Never seen a mini humbucker like that before PAF or otherwise.
 

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
My '64 FB sporting a set...bridge one on this was hot, which was unusual. Loved the sound but eventually went full size (and never regretted it!). Spoiler - it had already been routed before I go it.

I believe these pickups are really just mini PAFs. Same fundamental design, just smaller. I do rate them. Mine were Pat No though - never seen a PAF sticker on one that I can recall.

B4msBTY.jpg
 

Capt Brad

Member
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
129
My '64 FB sporting a set...bridge one on this was hot, which was unusual. Loved the sound but eventually went full size (and never regretted it!). Spoiler - it had already been routed before I go it.

I believe these pickups are really just mini PAFs. Same fundamental design, just smaller. I do rate them. Mine were Pat No though - never seen a PAF sticker on one that I can recall.

B4msBTY.jpg

Sweet guitar! If I ever find a deal on a FB that's how I would do it!
 

zombiwoof

Active member
Joined
Feb 22, 2003
Messages
3,565
Early Gibson mini humbuckers have PAF stickers. They were made with mostly the same material.
But they never made it into a Gibson to the best of what info I can find? Mini's yes but any PAF mini's?
Epiphone had them as well as Silvertone. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

Here is a photo of what I hope still be considered PAF mini's

62519921_2385878794982688_7004076084694089728_n.jpg

64219028_2385878741649360_3534887659476353024_n.jpg

Those are called P-11's. They were designed as I recall by Seth Lover, Gibson didn't want to use them but they were picked up by Harmony to be used in that one guitar (I forget the designation ((Silvertone 1446?)) but they refer to it as the "Chris Isaak" guitar). That company designed the distinctive pickup rings themselves that were used on that guitar. There are some clones that are sold on Reverb. There was a great interview/article about Lover that discussed all the pickups he designed, I have never heard of those being called "PAF" minis, however. I see one on Ebay right now, it has a "patent number" sticker on the back.
Al
 

brandtkronholm

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2006
Messages
2,737
Note also that Gibson put the PAF sticker on things other than pickups. I've seen a stomp box (channel switch?) from Gibson with the PAF sticker on it.
In other words, the PAF sticker is usually just a sticker. It doesn't always impart extra value or indicate desirability.
(But PAF minis are cool nonetheless!) :yah

Here's a link to a picture of mini-humbuckers with the PAF decal: http://guitarhq.com/paf13.jpg

Site link: http://guitarhq.com/paf.html
 

TM1

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 27, 2003
Messages
8,349
Note also that Gibson put the PAF sticker on things other than pickups. I've seen a stomp box (channel switch?) from Gibson with the PAF sticker on it.
In other words, the PAF sticker is usually just a sticker. It doesn't always impart extra value or indicate desirability.
(But PAF minis are cool nonetheless!) :yah

Here's a link to a picture of mini-humbuckers with the PAF decal: http://guitarhq.com/paf13.jpg

Site link: http://guitarhq.com/paf.html
I saw one on an early Fuzztone!
 

DB Blair

New member
Joined
Jun 20, 2021
Messages
3
I have a 60’s Silvertone 1446 ‘Chris Issak’ with Gibson Mini Humbuckers that have the poles offset 3 & 3 It sounds a lot like a ‘64 Epi I had with regular Mini Humbuckers.… smooth and sweet!
 

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
I sold my set of 3x3 Mini's to a guy that was working with veterans in the USA to make his 1446 "whole" again. I looked after him...good cause n all.
 
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