• From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Topic: PAF Clones

I found this guy who is hand making some really nice PAF clone style humbuckers. He's been making these for players and collectors. These PAFs are cloned from specs of an actual 59 PAF. He's spent hours producing very close to the same tone. Very not recognizing close, scary close. They're even cosmetically scary close. He'll do any black and creme, double creme, black whatever. Since tone is subjective and he wants 100% customer satisfaction, he'll guarantees each humbucker for any reason including tone!

I'm not one to push anyones stuff but I can personally attest that these pups are absolutely amazing! AND they're inexpensive compared to other aftermarket pups. Right now he only charges $175 USD per set! Depending on his work load theres only about a week, maybe two lead time from the time you place your order until he ships.

If your interested send me a message and I'll give you the guys name and email address. You won't be disappointed!!

Stay Safe Y'all
Spider

  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: PAF Clones

Cool!  I sent you a message, Spider.

  • From: Lancashire
  • Registered: 2008-02-26
  • Posts: 700

Re: PAF Clones

does he have a webby spider??

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: PAF Clones

No website. He works at home. Low overhead equates to lower prices. I'm sure you'll be extremely satisfied with a set of these PAF's.

5 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2008-12-05 09:26:28)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: PAF Clones

I feel there's lots of people like this out there. I know one from Detroit.

Their attitude MUST be their sense of purpose: if they cannot make a guitar pickup that's BETTER than a Seymour Duncan, then they are wasting their time making pickups.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: PAF Clones

I think that Joes' Historic Les Paul with the paf's from the '63 ES-335 has the most expressive tone I've ever heard. That guitar seems perfect to me.  I like Duncans, too, the antiquity's and the alnico II's.  The JB/Jazz combo is nice for a solid mahoghany with maple top guitar.  I have those in my Dean Hardtail.  I am thinking about getting something different for my new Dean Soltero.  I like the vintage sound the most.  With a nice warm amp tone, seasoned lightly with pedals.  I have alot of really nice pedals.  If I could get my Soltero to sound like Joes' R9 I'd be pretty content.:lol:  I'm gonna drop Spiders' guy a note.

7 Reply by NPB_EST.1979 (edited by NPB_EST.1979 2008-12-09 11:05:17)

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: PAF Clones

the SD pearly gates/jazz combo has been done to death.

you know its funny people would go to that pickup combo for a 'new sound' but when everybody does it, you're not any ahead that what you were. People like a story to go with their guitars. That's why I think a lot of hand winding pickup people are getting popular, so people can say how they know a guy or found the next biggest secret and now they have it!

I love hearing those stories. I just need to weigh value before I commit to an overly expensive boutique pickup IMHO

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2008-03-28
  • Posts: 263

Re: PAF Clones

There are a lot of great pickup 'winders' out there but some folks really get overzealous when it comes to finding 'PAF' tones.  The resistance in PAF's varied greatly in the beginning so you could have one that sounded great and another that sounds like crap. 

  Take my grandfathers 59 LP's (REAL one's).   He actually had two of the exact same thing.  One sounded like crap and the other sounded like angels had touched it.   Thankfully we still have the good one. smile 

  Lollar makes a damn fine sounding 'PAF' style pup as do the guys from BareKnuckle.   Duncan Antiquities are also real fine sounding pups for a 'production' line.   On the flip side, I know guys who use the GFS pups that sound beautiful and they didn't spend a ton of $$ on it.

In any event, what makes it sound good is the player and the rig.  Spending $400 for a set of pups does not make any sense if you play through an amp that cannot accurately articulate the signal.

Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: PAF Clones

Beerdog80 wrote:

On the flip side, I know guys who use the GFS pups that sound beautiful and they didn't spend a ton of $$ on it.

I've always had luck with GFS pickups. Always do your research thouhg.

You can also do research on
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi … tar+Pickup
Pretty much has a review on every pickup I can think of. Plus the reviewers say "sounds great, even through my home stereo" so you know the review isn't worth much, vs. "I've been playing for 30 years and no longer have to tour with my vintage rig."

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

10 Reply by Spider (edited by Spider 2008-12-21 22:38:41)

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: PAF Clones

My friend has a feebay auction for a set that will be made to order. Custom built to your specs. Shipping included in the price.

http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-made-custom … dZViewItem


Guaranteed for any reason including tone. If you don't like them he'll refund your money , no question. You can't go wrong.

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,855

Re: PAF Clones

Website is now up!

www.brandonwoundpickups.com

Made to order. Guaranteed! If you don't like them, return them and your money will be refunded. It's that simple.

Check out Jareds videos for sound samples.

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: PAF Clones

I wonder how close Gibson's current Burstbuckers are to the real-deal PAF's.  There was a video on youtube of this guy demoing a R9 with Burstbuckers vs. a real 1959 Les Paul and I was hard pressed to hear a difference.  I think the actual guitar probably has more to do with the overall tonality instead the pickups which just amplifies that basic foundation.  You would think that the company that pioneered the humbucking pickup would be able to 100% reproduce those "magic" late '50s PAFs due to our vast improvement in technology/quality control.  What the deuce Gibson, offer a 100% accurate PAF clone- not an "improvement" or "PAF-style" pickup!

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2008-03-28
  • Posts: 263

Re: PAF Clones

stratpaulguy86 wrote:

I wonder how close Gibson's current Burstbuckers are to the real-deal PAF's.  There was a video on youtube of this guy demoing a R9 with Burstbuckers vs. a real 1959 Les Paul and I was hard pressed to hear a difference.  I think the actual guitar probably has more to do with the overall tonality instead the pickups which just amplifies that basic foundation.  You would think that the company that pioneered the humbucking pickup would be able to 100% reproduce those "magic" late '50s PAFs due to our vast improvement in technology/quality control.  What the deuce Gibson, offer a 100% accurate PAF clone- not an "improvement" or "PAF-style" pickup!

Your forgetting that origional PAF's were not even consistent and the tone is debatable.  One set might sound great and the other might not.  The Burstbucker is a PAF LIKE pup..not an exact copy. Meaning they took the qualities that was most liked about the PAF's and went out and made the Burstbucker. 

    $175 for a set of balanced pups from Spiders friend sounds like a pretty good deal.  The fact you can send them back no questions asked is also pretty cool.  Shows he stands behind his product.  I'm in no way taking anything away from other winders out there so best bet would be to try out as many different pups as you can to make your own judgment.

  I will say that my recent pup quest ended up with me settling on the BB 1 and 2 combo in my SG Standard.  I put my Bareknuckle Mule pups in another LP and tried out SD's (the antiquities are awesome), Lollar, WB, and a couple others.  While all of these are amazing pickups, I settled on the BB's because I got them used for $75 and flipped the magnet on the neck.

Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn
  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: PAF Clones

Beerdog, do you have a budget for all your pickup experimentation? Did you go through all these pickups over a longer period of time? Don't get me wrong, I'd say I make a decent living, but for some reason I'm not entirely willing to spend $200 a pop to swap out pickups ever couple weeks or months until I find something that is impossibly the holy grail of tone. I'd like to, but I think I'm pretty apprehensive for reasons unknown.

The best I ask for is that it sounds 'good' or at least better than the ones that were in there.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Oklahoma
  • Registered: 2008-03-28
  • Posts: 263

Re: PAF Clones

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Beerdog, do you have a budget for all your pickup experimentation? Did you go through all these pickups over a longer period of time? Don't get me wrong, I'd say I make a decent living, but for some reason I'm not entirely willing to spend $200 a pop to swap out pickups ever couple weeks or months until I find something that is impossibly the holy grail of tone. I'd like to, but I think I'm pretty apprehensive for reasons unknown.

The best I ask for is that it sounds 'good' or at least better than the ones that were in there.


  No, when I'm looking at new pups, I usually watch a few different forums/ebay/craigslist and buy a few over time.  Then I'll get to trying them out in various configurations until I'm set.   The ones I don't end up using I just resell for what I paid for them.  Saves some money. smile

Don't play leapfrog with a unicorn
  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: PAF Clones

Beerdog80 wrote:
stratpaulguy86 wrote:

I wonder how close Gibson's current Burstbuckers are to the real-deal PAF's.  There was a video on youtube of this guy demoing a R9 with Burstbuckers vs. a real 1959 Les Paul and I was hard pressed to hear a difference.  I think the actual guitar probably has more to do with the overall tonality instead the pickups which just amplifies that basic foundation.  You would think that the company that pioneered the humbucking pickup would be able to 100% reproduce those "magic" late '50s PAFs due to our vast improvement in technology/quality control.  What the deuce Gibson, offer a 100% accurate PAF clone- not an "improvement" or "PAF-style" pickup!

Your forgetting that origional PAF's were not even consistent and the tone is debatable.  One set might sound great and the other might not.  The Burstbucker is a PAF LIKE pup..not an exact copy. Meaning they took the qualities that was most liked about the PAF's and went out and made the Burstbucker. 

    $175 for a set of balanced pups from Spiders friend sounds like a pretty good deal.  The fact you can send them back no questions asked is also pretty cool.  Shows he stands behind his product.  I'm in no way taking anything away from other winders out there so best bet would be to try out as many different pups as you can to make your own judgment.

  I will say that my recent pup quest ended up with me settling on the BB 1 and 2 combo in my SG Standard.  I put my Bareknuckle Mule pups in another LP and tried out SD's (the antiquities are awesome), Lollar, WB, and a couple others.  While all of these are amazing pickups, I settled on the BB's because I got them used for $75 and flipped the magnet on the neck.

I completely agree with you on the fact that many guitars, pickups, hardware were completly inconsistent back in the "golden age".  I remember reading a quote from Leo Fender actually saying that the newer guitars being built were in many ways as good or superior to the old ones.  Not to say that there wasn't a certain "mojo" in some of those magic examples of the perfect PAF or strat PU, but today's technology has pretty much worked out the kinks.  Which makes me wonder why some of the guys at Gibson who own great examples of old PAF equipped LPs, SGs, 335s etc can't make a faithful clone.  BTW I love my BB 1&2/ BB Pro sets in my LP and SG.  Maybe Gibson thinks that the current PU are better?!?

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • Registered: 2007-09-30
  • Posts: 556

Re: PAF Clones

stratpaulguy86 wrote:
Beerdog80 wrote:
stratpaulguy86 wrote:

I wonder how close Gibson's current Burstbuckers are to the real-deal PAF's.  There was a video on youtube of this guy demoing a R9 with Burstbuckers vs. a real 1959 Les Paul and I was hard pressed to hear a difference.  I think the actual guitar probably has more to do with the overall tonality instead the pickups which just amplifies that basic foundation.  You would think that the company that pioneered the humbucking pickup would be able to 100% reproduce those "magic" late '50s PAFs due to our vast improvement in technology/quality control.  What the deuce Gibson, offer a 100% accurate PAF clone- not an "improvement" or "PAF-style" pickup!

Your forgetting that origional PAF's were not even consistent and the tone is debatable.  One set might sound great and the other might not.  The Burstbucker is a PAF LIKE pup..not an exact copy. Meaning they took the qualities that was most liked about the PAF's and went out and made the Burstbucker. 

    $175 for a set of balanced pups from Spiders friend sounds like a pretty good deal.  The fact you can send them back no questions asked is also pretty cool.  Shows he stands behind his product.  I'm in no way taking anything away from other winders out there so best bet would be to try out as many different pups as you can to make your own judgment.

  I will say that my recent pup quest ended up with me settling on the BB 1 and 2 combo in my SG Standard.  I put my Bareknuckle Mule pups in another LP and tried out SD's (the antiquities are awesome), Lollar, WB, and a couple others.  While all of these are amazing pickups, I settled on the BB's because I got them used for $75 and flipped the magnet on the neck.

I completely agree with you on the fact that many guitars, pickups, hardware were completly inconsistent back in the "golden age".  I remember reading a quote from Leo Fender actually saying that the newer guitars being built were in many ways as good or superior to the old ones.  Not to say that there wasn't a certain "mojo" in some of those magic examples of the perfect PAF or strat PU, but today's technology has pretty much worked out the kinks.  Which makes me wonder why some of the guys at Gibson who own great examples of old PAF equipped LPs, SGs, 335s etc can't make a faithful clone.  BTW I love my BB 1&2/ BB Pro sets in my LP and SG.  Maybe Gibson thinks that the current PU are better?!?

I agree - there is nothing wrong with Gibson stock BB's.

  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: PAF Clones

The stock Gibson BB 1 and 2 have been kind of intriguing for me.  I have the LP Traditional with the '57 classic and 57 classic plus.  they sound amazing but even gibson's reissue of the 57 goldtop have the bb1 and 2 in them.  so because of that, i have been thinking about getting a 57 reissue..but sweetwater has a limited edition '57 that i can order (it will take 4 months) with the '59 neck...kind of like joe's lp....which is still an option cuz it is about the same price range....

ok rambling on there a bit...lost focus.....

so do i get another lp with the bb's to go with my lp with '57's and my lp with SD '59's? or is the bb 1 and 2 and the sd '59's close relatives?


what do you guys think?

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1