Modern P.A.F.
The Modern P.A.F. is our Pure P.A.F. on steroids. It’s great for more modern styles of music that need a little more output and power. The Modern P.A.F. features a thicker midrange with a quick and even breakup.
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True PAF Tone, Modern Output
Want to learn more about our Modern P.A.F.? Here's all the information you'll need:
Modern P.A.F. FEATURES:
The Fralin Modern P.A.F. is the second best-selling humbucker we make. We took the specifications of the 50’s Gibson® P.A.F. pickups and added more power and output. We designed the Modern P.A.F. as a stronger, thicker, and warmer version of our Pure P.A.F. This pickup is for those looking for traditional tone only a little thicker and darker. With more turns and stronger magnets, the Modern P.A.F. will break up sooner and sound warmer and beefier than our Pure P.A.F.
- Our Second-Best-Selling Humbucker – low output, vintage tone
- Thick, strong while still bright. Features an early, smooth breakup
- Modernized Gibson PAF® specifications: medium output, with modern clarity and power
- USA-made Alnico 4 Magnets for vintage tonal balance and output
- Compensated Overwound Bridge for even volume across all pickups
- Hand-wound with our “Sectioning” technique for unique, dynamic tone
- Hand-built for unrivaled quality control
- 10-Year Warranty on manufacturing defects
Our manufacturing process allows us to achieve unparalleled quality control. Modern P.A.F.’s consist of USA-Made bobbins, baseplates, magnets, and wire. We wind each pickup by hand, one at a time. Each pickup is wound using our proprietary “Sectioning” technique. This gives the pickup a sweet, clear tone.
We assemble each pickup one at a time, by hand. Making pickups this way allows us to achieve unbeatable attention to detail. After assembly, we wax-pot the pickup to preserve the pickup and prevent microphonics.
Sound
Thick, strong, yet clear. Expect loud, warm tones with darker treble strings and woolier bass strings. With distortion, this model will break up faster than our Pure P.A.F. and has a smooth and buttery grind. You’ll hear a pronounced midrange, smooth high-end and attack. AlNicCo IV magnets and Plain Enamel wire give the Modern P.A.F. a perfect balance of modern and vintage tone.
Clean tones are warm, round, and full. Single notes have a larger footprint, while bass strings sound bouncy and rich. You’ll be able to get warm jazzy tones out of this pickup with ease. Dirty tones will sound creamier and smoother than our Pure P.A.F, with a smoother attack.
Tech Specs
See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Modern P.A.F..
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Neck Ohm Reading (Stock): | 8K |
| Bridge Ohm Reading (Stock): | 9K |
| Neck Polarity: | Reversible with 3-Conductor or 4-Conductor Lead |
| Bridge Polarity: | Reversible with 3-Conductor or 4-Conductor Lead |
| Magnet: | USA-Made Alnico 4 |
| Wire: | USA-Made 42-Gauge Plain Enamel |
| Cover Material: | Nickel Silver |
| Baseplate Material: | Nickel Silver |
| Baseplate Leg Depth: | 6mm |
| Slug / Pole Piece Material: | Steel |
| Bobbin Material: | ABS Plastic |
| Recommended Pot Value: | 500K |
| Recommended Cap Value**: | 0.02mfd |
**We recommend a 0.02mfd Cap Value on most guitar and bass pickups. The exception is a Magic Cap, which Lindy prefers on the Bridge Pickup of Fender® guitars only. Learn More about Caps Here.
Sizing
Humbucker Lead Color Codes
See below for our Humbucker Lead color codes. For help with matching to other manufacturers, check out this resource here.
Gibson Braided Lead:
2-Conductor Lead:
3-Conductor Lead:
4-Conductor Lead
Modern P.A.F. Questions And Answers:
Notice:
Have a question about our Modern P.A.F.? Ask it here. Your Question will be publically visible. If you want to ask a Private Question, please contact us through our Contact Us Form.
If you have multiple questions, please call us at (804) 358-2699.
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Dual humbucker with a 5 way switch. Should I go 3 conductor set or 4 for the modern PAF set.
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Q Dual humbucker with a 5 way switch. Should I go 3 conductor set or 4 for the modern PAF set.A
Hey Chris, I would suggest going with 3-Conductor unless you absolutely need the 4-Conductor Lead. More information here: How To Choose The Right Humbucker Lead
I have a Fender Jazzmaster that I am looking to install these modern PAFs into. What exactly would the process be to having that done? To clarify, the pickups that are currently in the guitar are standard Jazzmaster sized pickups.
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Q I have a Fender Jazzmaster that I am looking to install these modern PAFs into. What exactly woul...... Read moreA
Hey Sam, you would probably need to check your rout under your pickguard to make sure you can accomodate the depth of the humbuckers. After that, you'll need a new Pickguard that will accomodate humbuckers, and the humbucker mounting. That's it!
I can't seem to select raw nickel covers for the Modern PAF pickups, are they not an option?
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Q I can't seem to select raw nickel covers for the Modern PAF pickups, are they not an option?A
Hey Matt, they are showing for us at the shop - make sure you have all options selected in the drop-downs before the covers show. Also, if your still having issues, please try clearing your browser's cache - it should show up then.
How do I or do I need to specify it is for left handed guitar?
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Q How do I or do I need to specify it is for left handed guitar?A
Hey Steve, simply use the "notes" field on the checkout screen, and we'll stagger the pole pieces for a left-handed guitar.
Hi Have the pure PAFs w stock neck and overwound bridge (8.5 I think) Finding the bridge has too much treble and wind the tone off to about 6, Would the modern PAF w say 9k give me less top end or would u say the 9.5
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Q Hi Have the pure PAFs w stock neck and overwound bridge (8.5 I think) Finding the bridge has too ...... Read moreA
Hey Tim, I'd go with the 9K for a thicker and darker tone out of the Bridge.
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The complete set of Modern P.A.F. pickups transformed what I though was a good sounding Gold Top into something with bold presence and balanced full tone. Following the instructions the installation was simple and should last last a life time of use.
I’m just an amateur but, I could tell the pickups were first class electronics!
Hello, it took a while for me to get my pickups installed into my Les Paul Modern as the original electronics have all the push/pull knobs etc. which I could care less about. So, after getting the necessary replacement parts we rebuilt it. It was the lighter body I wanted. Getting it back with your humbuckers installed and all the electronics as a standard Les Paul. Oh my GOD! This is the best sounding Les Paul I have ever owned! What vintage tone! What sweet sustain! I am your biggest fan right here, right now. Any guitarist reading this who may be on the fence about buying your pickups, I say, DUDE…just buy ’em! You can’t go wrong!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Richard Torrance
I got set of Modern PAFs few weeks ago, and I really enjoy it. A lot of musical harmonics, and does not feel “fuzzy” with high gain and note separation is great. The only problem (though really minor) was that when it came, the bridge pickup had wrong wires. Had to go through few trial and erros to find the which wire was which. Must been a hindsight at QC.
I upgraded from a stock pair of neck and bridge cheap pickups on a Dean guitar to the Fraulin modern PAF based off a recommendation from my local luthier with his knowledge of my playing style. I gravitate towards clean and crunch, up to medium gain/distortion type sounds, with corresponding amps and effects. These pickups have been nothing but amazing for my playing. I can roll back the volume and tone knobs to get a clear and warm, but not muddy, sound. Contrastingly I can roll up the volume and brighten the tone to get a bright but not thin or harsh crunch to medium distortion sound out of even cleaner amps like Fender Twins and great crunch sound profiles on Vox and Big Pig-style digital amp sims. HIghly recommend for anyone that wants a pickup that can allow for a lot of versatility and tone shaping. If you don’t have a four-knob guitar, recommend modifying yours to have 2×2 pots for even more custom shaping of tone and maximum versatility across the pickups.
I chose the modern PAF set after consultation with Lindy.
Standard wind set with Ryan nickel covers to replace a custom buckers in a custom shop Les Paul.
I loved the stock pick ups in the Les Paul Tonalli, however, they were not waxed potted and when I used game and volume together, they squealed terribly.
The modern PAF set has many of the qualities that I love about the custom buckers, minus the squeal.
Great Blues, blues rock, Classic rock to more modern tones are all in there! They clean up well with picking dynamic and volume part adjustments. Highly recommended!
These are great pickups! I’ve used these in my builds for years now, and I think they are about the best platform available. Not as compressed as alnico 2 magnet pickups, but still sweet and present in the mids, unlike many alinico 5 magnet pickups. Broad frequency response that’s voiced evenly….
What’s not to like?
Great pick ups. Able to get a creamier vintage sound at lower levels but also able to get a crunchier metal sound at higher volume and gain. Also able to get a cleaner sound with a bite.