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.
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:
2-Conductor Lead:
3-Conductor Lead:
4-Conductor Lead
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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Do you guys offer the quick connect for installation on Epiphones? Mine just plug into the guitar for what seems to be easy switching.
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Q Do you guys offer the quick connect for installation on Epiphones? Mine just plug into the guitar...... Read moreThere are no answers for this question yet.
I am looking to replace my 57 classics in my 2015 Gibson traditional, which has 57 classics, I like the classics but had an issue with the bridge pickup having a bad coil. My question is that would these be brighter than a 57 classic? I find those pickups to be a little dark for me.
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Q I am looking to replace my 57 classics in my 2015 Gibson traditional, which has 57 classics, I li...... Read moreA
Hey Todd, the Pure P.A.F.'s are a touch brighter. They also feature an overwound bridge which balances better than the 57 Classics.
What do you see most purchased for a replacement pickup set for a Gibson or Epiphone SG? And your recommendation for the same for a classic sound both clean and overdriven. Lastly would this be the same to get the sound similar of Derek Trucks' SG? Thank you for your knowledge. Your web site is extremely informative.
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Q What do you see most purchased for a replacement pickup set for a Gibson or Epiphone SG? And your...... Read moreA
Hey Cory, thanks for your question - we recommend our Stock Output if you're looking for a balanced tone - it will be clean, pretty, and open-sounding, but will break up nicely as well.
Hey there, I'm going to get a pair of Pure PAFs for my 2002 PRS McCarty Hollowbody I. Are there any specs you would recommend? I'm unsure about the correct string spacing and if it would need a long lead length. Thank you for your time.
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Q Hey there, I'm going to get a pair of Pure PAFs for my 2002 PRS McCarty Hollowbody I. Are there a...... Read moreA
Hey Mike, thanks for your question. Regarding string spacing, PRS splits the difference between Gibson and Fender spacing. I'd recommend a 50mm Bridge and 49.2mm Neck. You can add these to cart separately. You will be fine with our normal length lead.
I've got a new Epiphone SG Standard. What do you recommend as far as output goes for a set of PAF's? What benefit would I get with a hotter 7.8k 8.4k wiring? Also, understanding that not potting the pups would void the warranty. How does that affect the harmonic quality having them lightly potted compared to not potted? Lastly, I would assume that I would need to order the braided shield for correct wiring. Would that be the case? Thank you!
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Q I've got a new Epiphone SG Standard. What do you recommend as far as output goes for a set of PAF...... Read moreA
Hey Cory, thanks for your question. Compared to the Stock Output, the 7.8K / 8.4K features a bit more output and a thicker tone that's a bit warmer and "beefier". Lightly potted vs no potting is really hard to tell the difference, in my opinion. You'll get a tiny bit more microphonics and touch sensitivity without potting, but the difference is incredibly subtle. If wiring like a Gibson, you'll need the Gibson Braided Shield wiring.
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.