Pure P.A.F.
The Ultimate PAF Replacement
$160 – $320
Experience what a humbucker should really sound like and get inspired by the Pure P.A.F’s beautiful tone. Lindy’s favorite humbucker, the Pure P.A.F. is a 50’s P.A.F. clone, using real Butyrate Bobbins and all USA-Made parts. Featuring a clean, clear tone with incredible versatility and dynamics and expertly crafted using 100% USA-Made materials, we guarantee the Pure P.A.F. will inspire you for years to come.
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The Ultimate In Vintage PAF Tone
Want to learn more about our Pure P.A.F.? Here's all the information you'll need:
Features:
Are you ready to cut through in the mix? The Lindy Fralin-designed Pure P.A.F. is our best-selling humbucker. Based on the specifications of the original 50’s Gibson® P.A.F. pickups, this model features a clean, articulate tone that’s incredibly versatile.
The Pure P.A.F. is a lower output humbucker, which is more dynamic and expressive than higher output pickups. It’s more articulate and cleaner than our Modern P.A.F., but beefier than our P-92. 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., and it’s easy to see why – this pickup sounds incredible.
Features:
- Our Best-Selling Humbucker – low output, vintage tone
- Original Gibson PAF® specifications: low output, with modern clarity
- Clean and clear, smooth grind and a sharp attack
- USA-made Alnico 2 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
Sound
How does it sound? Clean and articulate!
The Pure P.A.F. stays clean and features a late break-up and a smooth grind. This pickup is perfect if you’re trying to restore life to your guitar. Don’t let the term “vintage” fool you – you’ll find that it’s loud and versatile enough to play with modern-voiced pickups; it just features more clarity than modern humbuckers.
Built with USA-Made AlNicCo II and 42-gauge Plain Enamel wire, the Pure P.A.F. pickup is a gateway to instant vintage tone. When playing without distortion, you’ll find that this pickup sings what you put into it: it’s dynamic and warm. Highs are accentuated with a medium attack. With distortion, you’ll find that the grind is nice and smooth.
Our manufacturing process allows us to achieve unparalleled quality control. When Lindy designed this pickup, he wanted it to be as close to the originals as possible. Pure P.A.F.’s consist of USA-Made Butyrate bobbins, baseplates, magnets, and wire. We wind each pickup by hand, one at a time, using our proprietary “Sectioning” technique. Doing this gives the pickup a sweet, clear tone, reminiscent of the early Gibson Humbuckers.
Finally, we assemble each pickup one at a time, by hand, which allows us to achieve unbeatable attention to detail. After assembly, we wax-pot the pickup to prevent microphonics and preserve the pickup for years to come.
Sound Samples for Pure P.A.F.:
Compare Outputs
We have 2 outputs of our Pure P.A.F.. Compare them below.
About these Sound Clips:
All sound samples are played from Neck Position First and Bridge Position Last.
Tonal Graph For Pure P.A.F.:
The tonal graph below for our Pure P.A.F. features Lows, Midrange, Highs, and general Output.
Attack: Soft & Round
Videos for Pure P.A.F.:
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:
Gibson-Style instruments
Phase Reversible
Coil Splitting
3-Conductor Lead:
Phase Reversible
Coil Splitting
4-Conductor Lead:
Phase Reversible
Series Parallel Wiring
Coil Splitting
Tech Specs:
See below for the estimated DCR and Polarity Information for our Pure P.A.F..
| SPECIFICATION | VALUE |
|---|---|
| Neck Ohm Reading (Stock): | 7.5K 1 |
| Bridge Ohm Reading (Stock): | 8K 1 |
| Neck Polarity: | Reversible with 3-Conductor or 4-Conductor Lead |
| Bridge Polarity: | Reversible with 3-Conductor or 4-Conductor Lead |
| Magnet: | USA-Made Alnico 2 |
| Wire: | USA-Made 42-Gauge Plain Enamel |
| Bobbin Material: | USA-Made Butyrate |
| Baseplate Material: | Nickel Silver |
| Cover Material: | Nickel Silver |
| Slug / Pole Piece Material: | Steel |
| Recommended Pot Value: | 500K* |
| Baseplate Leg Depth: | 6mm |
| Recommended Cap Value: | 0.02mfd 2 |
More Information:
1 Ohm Readings can vary due to a multitude of factors, including ambient temperature, multimeter calibration, different wire batches, and other factors. Due to this, ohm readings are approximate. Learn more about Ohm Readings here.
2 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.
* You can experiment with pot values for a different tone. This pickup will sound dark and warm on 250K pots
Covered Humbucker
Uncovered Humbucker
Pure P.A.F. FAQ's
General FAQs
Here are quick answers to common questions we get:
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What Ohm Readings does your Pure P.A.F. have?
Navigate to our Tech Specs Tab for complete Ohm Readings and more useful information.
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Will this pickup fit my instrument?
Check our "Sizing" tab for the size of the pickup. No Sizing tab? Check under the product image gallery for dimensions.
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Is your Lead Time of 3-4 Weeks accurate?
It really depends on the shop capacity at the moment, and the size of your order. Feel free to give us a call for an accurate lead time. We always try to underpromise and overdeliver.
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What pickup height do you recommend setting your Pure P.A.F.s to?
Our recommended Pickup Height is 1/8" (3.175mm) on the Bass Side and 1/16"( 1.5875mm) on the Treble Side. Measure by holding the corresponding side down at its highest fret and measure from the bottom of the string to the top of the pole piece.
Get It Prewired
Get our Pure P.A.F. prewired into a Prewired Pickguard!:
Customer Reviews
228 Genuine Reviews for Pure P.A.F.
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I installed these p’ups in a 2008 Epi Les Paul Std as I thought the ones in there were too woofy on the bottom end. Plus the wiring was a rat’s nest. I rewired it ’60 style. As true to form, Lindy’s p’ups kill. Oh my, do they ever sounf great! I recently bought a Wampler Tumnus Dlx to go in front of the 5E3 Deluxe I built. This set up kills it!
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Put a Lindy Fralin Pure PAF in the bridge position of my Les Paul Standard. It’s warmer and clearer than the Suhr Thornbucker that was in previously. Gives the guitar a more authentic vintage Les Paul sound. Very happy with this choice.
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I play a Benedetto Bambino custom model guitar and I wanted to try some different pickups just for curiosity. I always really liked the stock pickup but I just wanted to try something new. I was told that the Pure PAF pickup would not be as hot in output, which in my opinion I looked forward to hearing. After installing, my first reaction was how amazingly even they sounded in all guitar registers. There was something really controlled about them. Yes the pickups were definitely not as loud but after playing a couple of shows, this has not been any kind of detriment. In fact for me I prefer it as I like a very clean sound and these things deliver. What prompted me to try was after having some LF Split Blades installed in one of my strats many years ago and I simply loved them. So yes, thrilled to say the least. Lovely tone character. Thanks for a class pickup.
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Exactly what I was looking for! Got the stock wind Pure PAFs to replace the burstbuckers in my 2021 Gibson 335 DOT. I wanted pickups with a lot of clarity for playing clean or low gain. These humbuckers sound amazing!
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Another one, … out of the park !
It’s hard to relate the change in my ‘74 LP Custom I’m words, or words that are appropriate to post to one’s site meant to express it’s phenomenal list of virtues and perhaps one’s personal perceived flaws … and let’s face it … those folks are probably Cajun -
PURE PAF, Bridge, 8.2k with Alnico III magnet and raw nickel cover. Simply put, the tone and sound are clean and clear but not shrill or overly bright with clarity almost rivaling a single coil strat pickup. The clarity and note separation are what really set it apart from the prior humbuckers I had tried in the bridge (PRS Custom 22 sunburst series, originally came with 57/08 humbuckers). The customer service from Fralin is second to none. I called and spoke with one of Fralin’s assistants about what I was looking for, especially the issue of achieving proper volume balance with a very low output neck pickup (Dimarzio Eric Johnson Model), this sparked the recommendation to try an Alnico III magnet instead of the stock Alnico II, but go with the 8.2k output to keep it full and round sounding (I found all prior bridge humbuckers too bright). The recommendations seem spot on. The pickup is of course of great quality. For the price, these are hard to beat. It is a pleasure doing business with Fralin and I will happily do business with Fralin again (I also have had a set of his Real 54 strat pickups, which also were excellent). The Pure PAF is definitely worth a try if you are looking for a PAF style humbucker that is not too bright in the bridge position, yet full and very clear (the clarity and note separation are outstanding). Curious now about the neck pickup option. Thanks Fralin!
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I installed the Pure P.A.F’s in a 335. These pickups are as clear as a mountain lake. Chords ring out beautifully through them. There is no detectable mud in the neck pickup. I can’t find a bad tone in my guitar anymore. What a delight!
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Great company and outstanding customer service! I installed the Pure PAF pickups in my PRS S2 standard satin. The quality of the workmanship of the pickups was top notch. Easy to wire in on my guitar. I loved the sound in the neck pickup! The middle was fine, but I did not care for the sound of the bridge pickup at all. I thought it was too bright and nasally sounding. I played with the pickup height but could not get it to sound like I wanted. I’m sure it was just me and maybe I just don’t care for that bridge PAF sound or it just didn’t work in my particular guitar. I installed the PRS pickups and am saving the Fralin pickups for perhaps another guitar in the future. As I said, great company to deal with and all the other reviews reflect their dedication and quality. I would definitely buy from Fralin again.
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Absolutely love my new Pure PAFs in my Heritage 535. Completely change my relationship with my guitar and is giving me all the clarity, volume and tone I dreamed it could have!
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I just wanted to thank Lindy and staff for your superior products. I just recently purchased your Pure PAFs for my (rewired) 2008 LP Std, and also have your Steel Pole 42s in a 2007 AS Tele, your P-92s in an Epi Dot, and your Jazz pickups in a MIM J-Bass. They have all made each guitar sound the best it can (better than I imagined it could), and I am so grateful for your expertise. Thanks so much.
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I wasn’t using my telecaster much for quite a while, with a few different setups taking the front seat. So I decided it would be cool to beef it up with a humbucker project, replacing the single coil in the bridge position with new electronics and wiring to get into the mods world.
I’d been looking at Lindy Fralin’s Pure PAF for a while and was dead-set on it because I love the vintage tones.
The pickup was made and delivered earlier than expected which was great, the mod on my tele were straighforward and made me feel super accomplished… And then I plugged it in flipped to the bridge position and haven’t put the tele down since. This pickup sings, it’s so harmonically rich and articulate, and has all the uumph – and then some – that I was needing in my arsenal. Pushes every amp I’ve played it on to the sweetest spot I could’ve imagined (Fender Princeton, Vibro Champ, Mesa Express 1:50, Ben & Howell Filmosound 179 converted).
All around one of the best moves I’ve ever made guitar-wise and can’t wait to get the next set for my J bass and anything else the budget will allow.
Thanks to the Lindy Fralin team, the description on the Pure PAF is bang on, inspiration for years to reach for my Fralin every time!
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This is simply the best PAF on the market. I have one or a combo of them in four Tele’s and one Les Paul. Being a luthier/guitar repairman for thirty plus years I have had the pleasure of installing and playing hundreds of different humbucking pickups. All but one my personal guitars have Lindy’s pickups and this is the humbucker which is in most of them. It pairs nicely with his Split Pole Tele bridge pickup which is my favorite combo. So good I have three Teles with this combo. Yup, simply the best.
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Just as advertised: Articulate, balanced, rounded, and pretty. They rock! Put into a rewired (to remove the printed circuit board) 2008 Gibson Les Paul Standard to replace stock Burstbucker Pros. Now, my favorite humbucker.
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Purchased the Pure PAF pickups and they sound amazing…Installed on a Gibson LP 50s standard and the difference is amazing. Great full tone being played clean or overdriven.
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I got a set for my Les Paul Custom. The original 57’s sounded good but these just blew them away. Best set I’ve ever heard! Mind blown! I’ve got a set of High Output on the way for my SG Standard! Outstanding!
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Unbelievably clear and punchy! Fantastic note definition and, they sound great through several different kinds of amps! Very pleased With the product and the service. I would buy these again in the future if I’m looking for pickup replacements, no hesitation!
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There are good pickups, and there are Fralin’s. Modifying my custom-built Gibson SG with this new set of PAFs was like upgrading from a basic Mustang to a Shelby model. Yeah, one can say both are “Mustangs,” but… well, not really!
They are worth every penny if you enjoy that classic tone. Swap them as soon as you can.
Superb product and customer service. I love their wiring diagrams and instructional videos. Please keep adding content!
Thank you.
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Already have Fralins in my other guitars, Vintage Hots in the Strat and Blues Specials in the Tele, so when I decide to change the pickups on the Ibanez AS200, I talked with Jon. His advice was Pure Paf stock wind. Just perfect. As always, great communication, fast delivery and outstanding tone. Thank you!
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Received a custom made Pure PAF set for my 61 SG Reissue. Had to get covers made by RS Guitar Works as the raw nickel ones offered here are just that, raw nickel without aging. BUT, the guys at Fralin had the covers shipped to them and they installed them on my pickups and they look perfect. Sound? You sometimes get fooled when you are used to your own pickups thinking that they are good enough. I found this with the Gibson Custom Buckers these are replacing. But since I have a couple of SGs with the Custom Buckers, the Fralin’s could be easily compared. Bottom line…Custom Buckers are thin and do not have the kind of fullness and roundedness as the Pure PAF’s. These are very musical pickups. They punch and drive an amp if you want them to, but pull off on the tone or the volume and the clean right up and are very responsive in this way. I think I might be ordering another set for another SG to replace the Custom Buckers. The Fralin are just amazing and very real sounding PAFs.
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Received and installed my Pure PAF humbuckers today. Probably best to compare the sound heard to a fine wine being described by a connoisseur of the elixir of the gods. So… well done, as usual. I hope Lindy realizes he’s hit many nails on the head, many bullseyes, and the jackpot with these pickups. With all of his pickups. Thanks again. I’ll be taking the guitar on another tour tomorrow and expect the guys to go ga ga again. Most excellent, and massive thanks for a job better than well done.
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