Pure P.A.F.
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:
Pure P.A.F. 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.
Tonal Graph for Pure P.A.F.:
The tone graph below for our Pure P.A.F. features Lows, Midrange, Highs, and general Output.
Attack: Soft & Round
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 |
| Bridge Ohm Reading (Stock): | 8K |
| 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 |
**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
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:
Select This Lead If...
- You are wiring a set of pickups to a Gibson® Style Instrument, like a Les Paul or 335.
Avoid This Lead If...
- You need Coil Splitting
- You are purchasing a Single Pickup
- You need to Reverse the Phase
3-Conductor Lead:
Select This Lead If...
- You need Coil Splitting
- You are purchasing a Single Pickup (You can reverse the phase)
- You are wiring pickup(s) to a Blade Switch, like a Fender-Style instrument.
4-Conductor Lead
Select This Lead If...
- You need Series / Parallel Wiring
Avoid This Lead If...
- You have limited space in the wiring cavity (wire can be bulky).
Pure P.A.F. Questions And Answers:
Notice:
Have a question about our Pure 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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I just installed a set of Pure PAFs (7.5 neck/8.2 Bridge) and love them so much I am looking for an excuse to buy another set for another Guitar! Can you please tell me the "real world" *audible* difference between the 7.5 neck and the 7.8?
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Q I just installed a set of Pure PAFs (7.5 neck/8.2 Bridge) and love them so much I am looking for ...... Read moreA
Hey John, it's really subtle, but the 7.8K features a little more thickness and warmth over the 7.5. Again, it's subtle!
Does the Sunbucker Blues pair well with a Pure P.A.F. in the bridge for an ES-335?
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Q Does the Sunbucker Blues pair well with a Pure P.A.F. in the bridge for an ES-335?A
Hey Scott, yes it does! The Sunbucker Blues will feature a touch more clarity out of the wound strings, which really sounds perfect in a Neck position.
Have an Epiphone 335 traditional pro. I am a single note picker blues player that loves to solo. I would like a set of your PAF’s and a wiring harness with pots to make my guitar sound excellent. I can solder.
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Q Have an Epiphone 335 traditional pro. I am a single note picker blues player that loves to solo. ...... Read moreA Hey Marty, the Pure P.A.F sounds perfect for what you're after. That said, we don't make any Wiring Harnesses at the moment. We recommend Jackson Electronic Luthier for your harness needs.
Hello, I’m planning on purchasing a pair of pure paf (stock output) for my SG which I plan to coil tap. Should I get the 3 or 4 wire lead? Also, how long is your current lead time?
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Q Hello, I’m planning on purchasing a pair of pure paf (stock output) for my SG which I plan to coi...... Read moreA Hey Roland, I recommend 3-Conductor as it's easier to work with than 4-Conductor. Our current lead time is around 4 weeks at the moment - we're quite backed up.
The screws in the PAF are set at factory spec or is there an adjustment? Thanks! Absolutely love your products!! So do my people I do work for!!
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Q The screws in the PAF are set at factory spec or is there an adjustment? Thanks! Absolutely love ...... Read moreA Hey John, we preset the screw stagger, but it is totally adjustable. Take a look at a how-to guide here: How To Optimize Your Pickup’s String Balance
Note:
Asking a question here will be public to all users of this siteHey!
Did you already ask a question on our Contact Us Form? Don't ask it again here. Please be patient while we get back to you.-
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CUSTOMER REVIEWS
199 Genuine Reviews for Pure P.A.F.
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These Fralin Pure PAFS are by far the best pickups I’ve ever played. They have an unmatched clarity and dynamics to any other humbucker I’ve tried. They are bright without being brittle and when you dig in on the neck they are warm but never muddy even with a lot of gain. I’ve never heard my amp sound as full and dynamic as these pickups sound through it. If you’re looking for “THE” PAF sound, you cannot go wrong with Fralins.
Great tone and clarity
I haven’t actually replaced the pickups yet. Have to hard wire the guitar. Life sometimes gets in the way. But I have the pure PAFs I love them and that was the reason I ordered these. I also have some bass P/u’s and Tele Sets. I don’t get to do builds or mods as much as i like but your pickups are the ones i use. They are the music to my ears.
Once again, I’m completely blown away from the tone on my new Lindy Fralin pickup. This time I purchased a Pure PAF for an archtop guitar. It sounds amazing, and exactly what I was hoping for. I’ve purchased a few different Fralin pickups and they are all fantastic. Thanks again for the great pickups!!!
We have just installed Pure PAF on our new Alchemy model – and once again Fralin Pickups have proved their class. The dynamic range, sustain, beautiful, pure timbre … The set is perfectly balanced. This is our number one choice!
OK: In my last review I was happy about the swift delivery and great customer service. Now I have installed and played these awsome pickups. They have the perfect tone that I have seeking. I owned a 59 Gibson Reissue that came close to the sound Dwayne Allman had…but these pickups are the exact tone I have been looking for. I built a $200 Kit Guitar as an experiment. It’s not the brand of guitar that makes the biggest difference, it’s the pickups for certain!
Michael Near
Lindy took almost an hour discussing different variations of tone that he seeks to provide in his pickups. He listened to what I want in a guitar and made suggestions on what it might take to get there. I finally settled on the PAF’s with low output neck and medium output bridge. I’ll be wiring them with Emerson oil & paper capacitors in the same manner as a 59 Les Paul. I’ll report back after I’ve played them a while.
I had a great experience with Linday, his wife and the rest of the crew. I called a few times talking about the order and had questions on the control plate options I was also ordering. I received great advice and was definitely in good hands.
I have the Pure PAF neck in a Telecaster matched with the High Output Tele bridge and 500k pots. To me, the Pure PAF really shines playing with just a touch of breakup. You can get such great tones out of this and it’s very responsive.
Both are amazing pickups and with the great customer service, you guys have a customer for life.
After consulting on the phone with Lindy, I ordered this for the bridge position of a 2010 Gibson RD-Standard. With the tone rolled off a bit, through an Xotic RC Booster into a clean Roland JC-40, it’s one of the best slightly overdriven electric guitar sounds I’ve ever heard! Tight and sustaining, with just the right amount of rudeness. I had heard that the original ’50s PAF’s were actually pretty bright and articulate, and now I see what they were talking about. But it’s still smooth and full. Love it.
Absolutely wonderful! Warm, clear and authentic!