Gibson PAF 1959 Humbuckers, Collector’s Edition
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Introduction
Gibson PAF Humbuckers are an invention of engineer Seth Lover in 1955. Their mass production began in 1957 and, in addition to their warm and special sound, they are known by the acronym PAF (Patent Applied For), included in a sticker on the back of the pickups.
Considered the “Holy Grail” of humbucker pickup tone, the originals are some of the most valued vintage pickups on the second-hand market.
Today, Gibson has recreated this iconic pickup set using 3D scanning, reproducing the originals exactly down to the smallest detail. Vintage White butyrate dual coils, Alnico IV magnets and nickel covers make up these exceptional humbuckers. Presented in an elegant case, their production is numbered and limited to 1000 copies.
Price: €999.00
Gibson PAF, information
Brief History
A strange name for a pickup: “Gibson PAF”, though, it wasn’t intentional. Gibson and Seth Lover applied for the design patent on June 22, 1955. From that point on, Gibson Les Paul guitars were equipped with these pickups. A sticker with the phrase “Patent Applied For” was included on the bottom of the pills. The patent was finally granted on July 28, 1959, four years later, enough time to create his own legendary name: “PAF”.
The first Gibson PAFs tended to have differences between them, both in terms of output and tone. Several factors influenced these differences:
- Gibson’s winding machines did not have automatic mechanisms to cut the cable after a certain number of turns, so the number of turns of the winding varied from one pickup to another, generating different levels of output and tone.
- Alnico magnets have several grades and different magnetic properties (II, III, IV and V are the most common). At the time, Gibson randomly selected them for their pickups, although they generally used the Alnico IV magnet.
- Over time, the pickups manufactured at that time have lost properties, mainly due to the demagnetization of the Alnico magnets and the deterioration of their coils.
With their variations, over the years, Gibson PAF humbuckers have climbed positions until they reach the pinnacle of vintage pickups, becoming the “Holy Grail” of collectors.
From 1981, Gibson detected the increase in demand for vintage pickups and assisted engineer Tim Shaw to research and create redesigns of the older PAF pickups , managing to recreate and update some PAF models, and although, for economic reasons, many never saw the light of day, others were a great leap forward in the information and design of Gibson PAF pickups.
Today, the Gibson PAF pickup is considered a classic humbucker with a relatively low output and a smooth, sweet tone. Today, other pickup manufacturers (Seymour Duncan, DiMarzio, Bare Knuckle Pickups, etc…) offer copies and versions of the original design.
Specs
Position: Both (bridge or neck).
Magnets: Alnico IV.
Conductor: Type 2 wiring.
Cover: Nickel, with original specifications.
Winding: Double, white vintage butyrate.
Lower container: Without pot.
DC Resistance: 8.6k (Treble), 7.7k (Rhythm)
Copper Wire: Smooth Enameled Wire 42 AWG
Frame: Original specifications, cream color.
Numbering: On every pickup, in 1959 font style
Details: Unbalanced coils and a sweet, woody, strong and present tone.
Presentation: Leather case with certificate, original stickers and placement instructions.
Feedback
When selecting a musical instrument, specifically, an electric guitar, Gibson always has to be one of the choices. Yes or yes. For purists, fans, collectors, Gibson followers and lovers of the vintage world, these pickups can also be, yes or yes, your “Holy Grail”.
The lucky owners of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul can now acquire an authentic replacement of its original pills, for the rest of mortals, these pills… They can change our lives.
Gibson Inc., the world’s most iconic guitar brand, has shaped the sounds of generations of musicians and music lovers across genres for more than 100 years. Founded in 1894 and headquartered in Nashville, TN, Gibson has a legacy of world-class craftsmanship, legendary music partnerships, and progressive product evolution that is unrivaled among musical instrument companies.
The Gibson portfolio includes Gibson, the number one guitar brand, as well as many of the most beloved and recognizable music brands, including Epiphone, Kramer, Steinberger, MESA/Boogie, and the Gibson Pro Audio division, KRK Systems.
Gibson is dedicated to quality, innovation, and sound excellence so that music lovers for generations to come will continue to experience music shaped by Gibson. Learn more at Gibson.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
If you want to know more about Gibson, you can read our article Gibson, guitars of legend.
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Bibliography and media
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Texts: Own, based on information from Gibson, Wikipedia.
Images: Gibson.
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