PURE 50’S TONE, MODERNIZED.
The Lindy Fralin Pure P.A.F. humbucker is Lindy’s favorite humbucker we make. Based on the specifications of the original 50’s Gibson® P.A.F. pickups, the Pure P.A.F. humbucker is clean, articulate, and clear. This pickup will give you a vintage, clean tone that’s more articulate than most modern humbuckers. The Pure P.A.F has a lower output, which is more dynamic and expressive than higher output pickups. Lindy’s passion for the sound of vintage 50’s humbuckers led us down the road to design and create the Pure P.A.F., our most authentic-sounding humbucker.
FEATURES:
- Built to the same specs as the 50’s: Workmanship, Parts, Sound
- Clear, Clean, Articulate
- Late, smooth breakup
- Bright wound strings, pure-sounding plain strings
- Made by hand, one at a time.
SOUND:
Clean, clear, and articulate. The Pure P.A.F. will stay clean as it won’t break up as early as modern humbuckers, and you’ll find that it’s loud, while still remaining clear. Built with AlNicCo II and 42-gauge plain enamel wire, the Pure P.A.F. pickup is a gateway to vintage tone, instantly. When playing clean, you’ll find that this pickup sings what you put into it: it’s extremely dynamic, clear, and warm. With distortion, you’ll find that the grind is nice and smooth, with a pronounced pick attack and pure-sounding plain strings and bright wound strings.
F.A.Q.’s:
- What’s the difference between this model and the Standard Humbucker? The Pure P.A.F. has less turns per coil and uses a slightly weaker magnet, giving this pickup a clearer and more articulate tone than the Standard Humbucker. In a nutshell, this pickup has a clearer midrange and snappier highs than the Standard Humbucker.
- Can you Coil Tap this model? Yep! Choose 3-Conductor Lead and use our diagrams here. You may want to use a Partial Tap Resistor as this is a medium-output humbucker.
- What Lead should I choose? If you have a Gibson style instrument with separate volume pots for each pickup, go with the Gibson Shielded Braided lead. If you have a Fender style instrument or coil tapping or phase reversing needs, go with 3-Conductor. If you want the maximum options, go with 4-Conductor.
- What Output should I choose? Our most popular set is our 7.8K neck and our 8.2K bridge. If you want a stronger and darker tone, go with a higher output. If you want a clearer and more open tone, go with a lower output.
- What Spacing should I choose? Gibson style instruments use 49.2mm on the neck and bridge. Fender style instruments use a 52mm Bridge and a 50mm neck.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION:
Wound with 42-gauge plain enamel wire, and built with AlNiCo II magnets. Built to the 50’s specs: from the Butyrate bobbins, down to the baseplates and screws. Options include a Zebra, Black, or Double White (50 & 52mm only). We can wind the Neck from 7.5K – 7.8K, and the bridge from 8K-8.4K. The most popular set is a 7.8K Neck and 8.2K Bridge.
Choosing the Spacing:
- 49.2mm: Choose this for Gibson Standard Spacing
- 50mm: Fender Neck Spacing
- 52mm: Fender Bridge Spacing
CHOOSING THE LEAD:
- Gibson® Braided Shielded: Most popular. Use this if you have no special requirements (Coil tapping, Phase Reverse or Series / Parallel).
- 3-Conductor With Shield: Use this if you have Coil Tapping or Phase Reverse needs.
- 4-Conductor With Shield: Use this if you have Coil Tapping, Phase Reverse, Series or Parallel needs.
Choosing Color and Cover options:
The Pure P.A.F. is available in either No Cover or Covered options. See below for the following:
No Cover:
- Zebra
- Black
- Double White (50-52mm Only)
Cover:
- Nickel ($10 Ea)
- Raw Nickel ($10 Ea)
- Black ($12 Ea)
- Gold ($15 Ea)
Custom Requirements:
At Fralin Pickups, we are a total and complete custom shop. Need something specific? Upon checkout, use the “Notes” field to write anything you want! Anything customized is a final sale and non-returnable.
Steve Gambrell –
I just put a set of these in a 2011 Les Paul Traditional–I replaced a set of Gibson’s ’57 Classics–My favorite pickups. But I put the Pure PAFs in–8.2K in the bridge, 7.8K in the neck–Sounds like Classic ’57s with a 4-barrel! The guitar used to scream–But the Pure PAFs allow it to sing–I like singing much more than screaming.
Are the Fralins expensive? Sorta, yeah. But how do you put a dollar sign on tone? If you can’t get your tone, you don’t play as well. I’ll spend a few more bucks, to get a little closer to the tone I hear.
Ting-Rong, Chang. (verified owner) –
Amazing pickups!!
Replaced a set of P.A.F (Neck 7.5k & Bridge 8k) in my ES-335.
The sound is really awesome…
more clear, more chime, more singing, more sensitive!!
After I heard this P.A.F’s sound…
I think…I really have to order a P.A.F(Neck 7.8k & Bridge 8.2k) for my Les Paul Standard too!!
Can’t wait!!
Ben Mueller (verified owner) –
I upgraded an old Mexican Strat I had with a Pure PAF in the bridge, and a couple of Vintage Hots in the middle and neck positions. This thing totally sings now. Nice and glassy, but still with a nice bottom end. Before the upgrade, I felt like I could only really use the bridge or bridge+mid setting on the guitar. The mid and neck pickups by themselves were too muddy. But now, every pickup position offers tone as clear as a bell. So much more versatile than it was before. Thanks guys!
Bruce (verified owner) –
excellent advise and super fast service – GREAT pickup!
thank you very much – keep up the fine work!
Bruce – guitar player for Modzilla, a Philadelphia legend for over a decade
Matt McGowan (verified owner) –
I received my Pure PAF pickups a few weeks ago and had them installed by Harry Eibert. When i picked up my Les Paul, Harry said he thought my set of pickups were some of the best he’s heard in a long time. Well…, the Les Paul in which they were installed was my backup…..Not any more! They sound fantastic. They are full, round and with just enough bite for commanding leads. I want Lindy to know how happy I am with the purchase and congratulate him on his good work.
I bought a set of hum cancelling P90s in 2010 and am very happy with them. So, I thought maybe a new set of pickups could help my old horse guitar. It certainly did, and now the old horse is in the main stable. Thanks again
Cheers,
Matt
Steve (verified owner) –
HOLY MOLEY these Pure P.A.F. pickups sound amazing! After researching the forums and shootout videos I noticed Fralin Pure P.A.F.s were consistently at the top of people’s lists. Warning-the reviews and online videos just can’t capture the tone and fullness coming from my amp right now. Clean, articulate, balanced and extremely responsive are just a few words that come to mind. Seriously, I was thinking about selling my Gibson es-347 because I was tired of fighting my amp to dial in the tone I wanted. But I really love the way it feels in my hands so I decided to swap out the pickups – so glad I did. I jacked straight into the amp and strummed an open E chord that buckled my knees…THIS was the lush tone I’d been searching for.
I’m not famous…just another gigging sideman but whether you have hundreds or thousands of dollars wrapped up in your gear please don’t overlook what Fralin Pure P.A.F. pickups will do for your tonequest.
Peace,
Chaz –
Hands down my favorite PAF style pickup. I have tried these in may different guitars from vintage Gibson’s to inexpensive imports and the Pure PAF’s have dramatically improved tone in all. Absolutely no mud here… just clear and pure vintage PAF chime. Cannot recommend them more. Bravo Lindy!
Thorsten (verified owner) –
Put a set of Pure P.A.F. (7.8/8.2) in my ’82 Les Paul Heritage Series. Already sounding good, original PUs and some other “classic” replacements never seemed quite capable of converting the guitar’s great acoustic properties into electric signal (always a bit muted like listening through a closed door). The Guitar has really opened up now, neck PU gives a swet & balanced tone, bridge PU is well defined and articulate. Feels like hearing what the guitar is really capable of for the first time, glad I bought ’em. Thanks to Lindy & the whole team an Fralin Pickups!
Ron Collier –
Lindy has installed his Pure PAF pickup sets in several of my Epiphone Les Pauls (Standard Pro, Juniors, Specials). In every case dramatic sonic improvements were heard. To my ears my Epiphones now sound better than equivalent Gibson Les Pauls, at least the ones I have played. Lindy has done other work on my guitars such as special wiring, new pots, setups, etc. His work is always done right the first time. He has performed work on over a dozen of my instruments and I have yet to encounter any problems with any of his work. In addition he is one of the nicest people I have ever met. He has freely given me very helpful advice that has greatly expanded my understanding of how guitars work and what can be done to improve their sound. I now consider him a friend.
Chuck –
Either I don’t like PAF pickups or these things just sound bad. I installed them in my Les Paul and gave them a run through my Marshall 2525 combo. First thing I noticed is that they were very dull. I then increased my treble quite significantly and they became very harsh. In any case they seemed to completely steal my basic Les Paul tone. I tried to work with them for a couple hours but they just weren’t going to work out. My 490/98 stock Gibson pickups went back in and the day was saved – they sound miles better. The True PAF pickups are on their way back to the seller for a full refund.
As a side note, I really became sceptical of Lindy when he thought it would suffice to demo the pickups with distorion by using a stomp box pedal during his True PAF youtube demo video. I was like …???
H.A. (verified owner) –
I think most of us guitar players are “Tone Chasers”.
Amps, pedals, guitars….and PICKUPS of course!
Not a cheap or easy journey sometimes.
And we all know that feeling when you finally hit it….it’s a feeling only guitar players understand.
After installing a Pure PAF in the bridge of my 335…the perfect tone alarm sounded!
What a great moment hahaha!
I would recommend these pickups to anyone! Fantastic!
Seem like cool people too…….The search is over….gonna load up my Strat with the Blues specials now…….