MAGNET TEST: PAF / Antiquity

[EdA]

Well thats a third pickup I havent heard, the Shaw. Someday Id like th hear that one along with the virtual and a Rolph. If theres something out there closer than an Antiquity Id like to have one at least as a backup if a PAF goes down.

 

[NBlair930]

Thanks Ed, great stuff. I still need to practice more with my Stock Antiquites, Seths & T.Holmes. Ain't no magnet going to cover up my "unharmonic" bloom

 

[Mark Kane]

Thanks Ed. That was a great write up. I've been doing a bunch of pickup swapping lately too and I guess the thing that suprises me the most is that while many sound great it is pretty easy to hear differences between all of them. Strange.

 

[Pickdropper]

The thing that suprises me is how the PAF sounded so noticeably better at such a low volume. Given that ED was recording at non-baby waking volumes, I bet the differences would be far greater when he really let em rip.

-Dave

 

[Michael Papenburg]

What is a Shaw PAF? I haven't heard of it.

 

[GGJaguar]

Excellent review, thanks!!!

I actually like my '57 Classics except for the slightly muddy bottom end and hearing the sound clip of the real PAF makes that deficiency even more apparent. The Alnico V modded Antiquity in the sound clip didn't sound bad... just not PAFish enough. Actually, for someone (like me) who prefers single coil pickups, the clarity of the modded Antiquity is quite appealing. Still, there's no denying the harmonic richness and complexity of the original PAF.

GG

 

[Ed A]

Agreed. Antiquities clean-up big-time compared to '57 classics. The interesting though is that when I tried the '57 with the alnico V in it, it had quite a bit more of that harmonic swell thing happening as well as sustain and stronger mids compared to the antiquity. The trade-off is muddy bottom and harsher top end. There must be something in between!

 

[LHakim]

This thread can be summarized in one sentence:

"close, but no cigar"

BTW, Ed, nice vibrato:smokin

 

[lpnv59]

what a beautiful thing

Thanks Ed, for saving me the trouble of going thru all that. Driving to and from Guitar Center twice, because I'm sure I would have wanted to return the P90, would of been a drag. The stock Antiquity is still a little anemic so I may order the alnico II from Seymour D to beef up the bridge pu. I heard a difference but I liked both, and the stock antiq. really works for me in my RI, one with a little more might be better. Besides I just bought a set of original paf's the hard way. 10 bucks is about all I can spare at the moment.

:lolspin :lolspin :dude

 

[EdA]

That hint sounds like you bought some PAFs that came packaged in old wood! Care to share?

 

[lpnv59]

Sure EDA ...I drained my savings and

I took a small loan out to get it, but I ended up buying the '60 from Gary's Classic Gtrs last saturday in Arlington. I took 10 grand with the hope of getting a bastardized Goldtop. I even bought two pafs from Joey, who I flew down with, at the hotel friday night. Outside the Wyndam, we ran into Chris Trider who's a guitar dealer and a friend from here in NH and he was telling me about it. "Oh its a '60 with '59 appointments, 59 style neck, faded lemonburst, on the plain side of mild flame, double white paf's and really, really lightweight". All I could do was moan "I shouldn't of come here".

Sat AM when I get to the show I start looking for Gary's booth and when I finally saw it, it was everything Chris described except I couldn't believe HOW light it was. First impression was THIS was THE lightest original burst I ever held. I played it for a few minutes thru a blkfc Princeton Rev, and it sounded great, sweet neck. I knew there was no way I was gonna let this one go but I had to have a 2nd opinion anyway. I went to Tom Wittrock and asked him to come over and check it out for me, to see what he thought of it. He picked it up and said Gary must have a trained termite to get it so light. Anyway he thought everything was cool with it so I ended up giving Gary a deposit. Joey loved it as well as some of the forum members who were there. Joey was ready to buy it if I passed. I wired him the balance and I'm going to the show in Philly to meet up with him to pick it up.

I know I payed all the money but I made such a big profit on my last burst 2 years ago. When I consider that, I got like 32K into it which is a smokin deal(hey I can rationalize with the best). My only mistake was not aggressively finding another in time before the price jump. I also wanted a no story guitar, my last one was/is a great guitar but the back had a lot of wear, both orig mounting rings were gone and 2 pots were changed, bigsby removed, non original frets, etc.
I've never lost on a vintage guitar, Ive always at least gotten my money back, but more often than not it usually is a profitable venture. Sometimes it takes a while if you pay high, but vintage guitars seldom go down in value, burst never do at least in the 26 years I since I got my first. The market on them levels off but eventually they go up, pretty much doubling in value.

These days its better than the stock market, and you can play em.

:dude

 

[Ed A]

Congrats! Sounds like you got a great one! Post some pix if you can.

 

[lpnv59]

There is one in the Arlington photo thread, I'll post more when I can.

 

[60burst]

LPNV59 showed me this guitar. It has everything I look for in a burst. I think it may be the lightest one I have ever played? It has a great look and is in exceptional condition. Guitars don't get better than this one........I give it a 10 :dude

 

[Dave Paetow]

That was a sweet guitar.

 

[Dave Paetow]

The proud papa with the new baby:

 

[toni]

Congrats Lpnv59 !
lightweight and beauty !
Good call !

I suppose she sings like an Angel ?

Very happy
Enjoy !

 

[Tone Tuner]

Ed A Virtual PAF test

Ed, e-mail me at johnkorellis@home.com I can send you a bridge position Virtual PAF to try. I have done all the magnet swappin Antiquity stuff and for much less $ the Virtual PAF is both more chimey and harmonically rich while having much more compression, usually these two are mutually exclusive. DiMarzio got new polished bobbin molds for the Virtual PAF so the end product is classier looking. Your ears will decide where it fits into the real vintage tone picture.

 

[RICH]

""I have done all the magnet swappin Antiquity stuff and for much less $ the Virtual PAF is both more chimey and harmonically rich while having much more compression, usually these two are mutually exclusive.""


You know, thats the picture I'm getting. The guitar I keep comparing the antiquity experiment to has uncovered Virtuals in it. Its very chimey, and has a crisp bass response with no mud, it sings like all hell, and just don't FEEL like a weak pickup. There is still something to the modded antiquity, but for an out of the box cream pickup for $60, the virtuals really do a good job. I could have just gotten a good pair, but they do sound pretty cool.

 

[Dewey]

Beautiful guitar Bill, I really like that color burst! it's probably a good thing that I stay away from those shows, I'd probably sell my corvette, buy one, and then hitchhike home...besides, I could rationalize the depreciation thing easily...car/guitar...HHhmmmm, let's see! I can hear my mind rattling now

...I had to go back and look at it one more time, just beautiful!

...oh and, with the cost of the car at almost 50k, less depreciation, less 3 yrs to pay...plus hittin' my 401k...never mind..:wah