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
229 Genuine Reviews for Pure P.A.F.
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Incredible Pickups! I bought the Pure P.A.F.s for my new Warmoth Mooncaster build and have been blown away with how nice they sound. They are easily the best-sounding pickups I’ve ever played by a long-shot. I got the low-output versions so they start out as clean as possible, and they really sound great clean at lower volumes, but they still crunch HARD when you turn up the volume or use distortion pedals. Very versatile pickups, I can imagine playing most anything on these would sound excellent. Also the nickel finish was so bright and polished I could use it as a mirror!
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I have used your pickups for several years and will continue to use them when building new guitars or as replacements for other guitars I own. Always a pleasure working with you.
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Just the very best. Full stop. I used to replace everything with Duncan Antiquities, and don’t get me wrong, those pickups are great. But I tried the Fralin Pure PAFs just out of boredom more than anything else, and man!, am I glad that I did.
I’ve put them in everything from my Paulie and my Sheraton to my Eastman jazzbox. They’re just the best. Clarity, with an almost horn-like midrange. The bridge pickup growls just enough, without losing the complexity and articulation.
I honestly think that they’re the best PAF-style pickup on the market.
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Replaced a stock set of BurstBuckers in a 2015 LP Standard, and the difference is night and day. The stock Gibson pickups were adequate,even great at some things,but the Pure PAF’s are on a whole different level. Just a very sweet tone,no harshness even with the gain pegged on my Hot Rod Deville,very articulate,clean and clear sounding at all times. Like the difference between Mad Dog 2020 and Moët Chandon.;,
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One of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Put these in my Old Gibson les Paul Studio, I guitar I’ve had for over 25 years. The tech that installed them for me tested my stock pickups at 7.9 in the bridge and a ridiculous 13.4 in the bridge!!! It made sense why I’ve never really used the bridge position for all this time. With the pure PAFs now installed( standard 7.8, and 8.2) I’m finally discovering why the bridge of a les Paul is so highly rated. My guitar is completely transformed. The tech has worked with countless les Paul’s and rated mine up there with the best he”s played. The pickups are balanced now. The tone is phenomenal. Rich, full but articulate. The tone and volume controls are far more responsive and have opened up so many tones to the guitar. My new fender custom strat is stunning but I’m finding myself playing my old trusted les Paul much more. It just sounds so great . I’ve taken the pickup covers off now because the vintage zebra PAFs make it look much cooler too. Living in the U.K I was sent an import duty tax invoice shortly after receiving them which added another £71 ti the cost which I wasn’t aware would happen but I’m so pleased with them, I couldn’t care less. Incredible product. Many thanks ?
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PAF humbucker put it in a tele neck got rid of the switch and other pickup. I love it. Does exactly what I need. Sounds great. Thanks a lot Fralin
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Amazing Pickups for…any genre
I bought this bridge pickup for a telecaster and it is Amazing. I play 90’s Rock, punk, Grunge and classic Rock in a Orange AD 30 and A Vox AC 15 HW with a KTR and a King Of Tone Pedal and I can do all of it with this setup!!!
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Pure P.A.Fs on a PRS Ce-22
I bought a 2004 PRS new. It is a ce-22 American made. It has absolute excellent construction it is set up and plays like a dream. The thing i did not like about it was the 5 way rotary switch. And the stock Dragon2 Pickups. So i kept playing it and one day decided to look for new pickups for it. After much research and testing i settled on Fralin Pure PAFs. I had experience with Fralin Vintage Hots on a strat build i completed and am blown away by the sounds of that guitar. So i ordered a pair of Pure PAFs and istalled them. Wow! The change has brought the guitar that is outstanding in construction and playability to a new level! I love the tone of these with this guitar! No splits or 5way switch just a simple 3 way toggle 1vol and 1tone. I added a good Paper in oil .022uf cap and this guitar sounds uber fantastic! The pickups are wound 7.5 neck and 8.2 bridge. Has great clarity in clean tones and distortion. Has authority for leads and great all-around tones. I am well pleased with these pickups! Thanks, Fralin team! -Scott Hesterly
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Pure P.A.F.s are Pure joy
My pure P.A.Fs were installed in my D’Angeklico hollow body. I was searching for a classic sound, deep tones, and a cleaner response. These pickups blew me away and more. Thrilled to have them! Willie Aames
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Amazing sound, well made, and prompt delivery!
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everything you hope for and more
Every time you call Lindy, He’s never to busy to talk to you. I have a 1973 Les Paul custom and it just never sounded the way I wanted. I had a troublesome PRS, decided to case it and revisit my Les Paul. I called Lindy and they recommended the pure PAF’s. I installed them and, WOW!! What a difference. even the other band members comment on how good the guitar sounds. My only regret is I didn’t do it 20 years ago. Thanks Lindy!!
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Pure magic
Just finish my lp build by installing a set of fralin pure pafs. I plugged her in to my Marshall and it was pure magic!!! These pickups have awesome tone and response. I definitely would recommend these pickups to anyone looking for that classic paf tone.
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The second set of these pickups
I can’t say enough about these great-sounding pickups. They go from sweet and clear to crunchy and everything in between. I liked these so much in an LP that I put them in a 335. Highly recommended!!
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Fralin makes the best pickups period
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I love these pickups so much I bought two sets, one for a LP, the other for a 335. They are beautifully clear when needed but have a definite raunchy side to them as well.
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As usual, just outstanding. I already have these installed in my R9 Les Paul, now I’ve added them to a Charvel San Dimas pro mod.
The best Humbucker anywhere. The magical note bloom, the beautiful highs, mid and lows, all perfectly balanced. Playing clean or rocking hot these are the true definition of perfection in humbucking guitar tone. Look no further. As always, my heartfelt thanks to Lindy and his team. I will continue to install Fralin’s on all my guitars. -
Placed a 7.5k and 8k in 335 great vintage tone through a 57 Champ. Placed an 8k and 8.4k in 58 reissue Les Paul. Great vintage tone through an Allen Brown Sugar amp. Great definition and clarity!
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Dynamic! I play music where I mostly leave the volume alone and use my touch to affect the volume. These are the best pickups I have for that!
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Sound fantastic
I bought these to change up the burstbucker pros that came on an LP Standard. These pure PAFs are great, nice clean sound, and great on classic rock distortion. The neck pickup sounds great for lead, and if you love rhythm playing the bridge pickup will be your best friend. They’re very sensitive to volume and tone controls so they give you a ton of versatility without the need for effects or amp tweaks.
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Hey Shaul,
No problem there, you are safe to remove the tone pot if you do not use it. You’ll get a bit clearer tone from removing it, but it will cause no issues! Thanks!
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