|
Dimarzio PAF Pro
|
The DiMarzio PAF Pro was created when chops-intensive playing was reaching high popularity, and high-gain amps and rack systems were the norm. A pickup was needed that combined a lot of presence and "cut" with an open-sounding PAF vibe.
|
Searched Dimarzio PAF Pro in Reviews
A true classic 
| Comments |
Since its release in 1986, the DiMarzio PAF Pro has become a standard pickup in many people's guitars. It's since been superseded by an army of similarly voiced pickups, but it still has its place in the pickup world.
It is a medium power pickup according to the DiMarzio website, and utilises an Alnico 5 magnet. DiMarzio state that it sits well as a bridge or a neck pickup. Steve Vai's older JEM models utilised this combo, as has a couple of Paul Gilbert's PGM models.
I installed the PAF pro in the bridge position of my Ibanez RG550 20th Ann reissue. I felt it was a good classic addition to a classic guitar. DiMarzio talk about the sound of this pickup, stating that Low notes have a "snap and chunk", and that it has a subtle "aw" vowel sound, coming from it's strong mid range presence. I definitely found this to be the case.
Whilst these properties make for a great sounding guitar pickup that can cut through the mix, there are some issues I had. Maybe it's just because I've been playing guitars equipped with EMG pickups over the last few years, but the PAF Pro just didn't drive my amp hard enough.
When playing through my Blackstar HT-5 using a guitar with EMGs I get a great chunky tone on my dirty channel, with the gain rolled to 3 o'clock. Not insanely buzz-saw chunky, but musically chunky, great for Metallica, Iron Maiden, Opeth, etc type tones depending on how the amp is EQ'd. The sort of tones that sold me on the HT-5.
When using the same amp settings the PAF Pro just doesn't hit the amp hard enough. There's a bit of dirt and chunk, but not nearly at the same level as my EMG equipped guitars. I can see by this why more people nowadays may use the PAF Pro in the neck position of the guitar, but go with a more powerful pickup in the bridge position.
It's a pity though, because I otherwise loved the tone of the PAF Pro. It really makes the guitar sing with lead playing, and gives rhythm playing the cutting power in a full band situation. Splitting the PAF Pro with the single coil resulted in a great chimy, Strat-like tone as well which was glorious for clean playing and blues lead. I typically use the split with the neck humbucker for these sorts of styles, but I could easily swap to the other setting.
Overall, if you are playing music that doesn't require real high-gain tones, the PAF Pro is a perfect addition to your sound. It really sings in a way that cuts through the mix, and sounds great. If you are playing with higher gain tones then an overdrive or clean boost pedal, or an insanely high gain amp might make you happy with the PAF Pro. I decided to mod the pickup with a ceramic magnet, and managed to get myself a bit more power and drive. I've ordered a stronger ceramic magnet to try and push it more, but as it stands I'm quite happy with the PAF Pro in my RG550 for particular sounds.
|
| Liked about it |
The vocal, vowel like sound.
* Lovely chimy Strat-like sounds when split with a middle single coil pickup.
* Ability to cut through the mix
|
| Didn't like |
Not enough power compared to modern bridge pickup designs.
|
|
| Overall satisfaction: |
|
3.0 |
Was this review helpful to you?
Report this review
|
A modern classic that is worth another look
| Comments |
It is a bit hard reviewing this pickup. To be honest there are so many variations of it that you almost feel that music and guitar playing have moved on and it isn't really relevant anymore. It is one of the least recommended pickups that I see mentioned on Jemsite. Never given a bad review, but not worthy of special mention. You know, I think that we all might be missing something here.
Like the Super Distortion, the Paf Pro is one of the older aftermarket pickups and like the Super Distortion has probably featured in more of the music that made us pickup the guitar in the first place than we realise. Maybe that is the problem, maybe familiarity does breed contempt.
The overall sound is pretty clear, with a noticeable vowel sound. It is very rewrding particularly when you start phrasing your bends to bring that our. There is a fair amount of snap to it, particularly when you play hard, and it is absolutely fantastic at ringing chords or something heavier (think the riff to Crazy Train). It copes equally well in the neck or bridge, but possibly lacks some of the bottom end you need to get a really soulful sound.
Coil tapped they give a nice single coil sound, but again without that real shimmering clarity you get from a true single.
I have these in a couple of different guitars. A basswood Jem and an Alder custom strat. I think in Basswood they sound slightly too thin although they don't ever really get shrill which is a real bonus. In Alder they really spring to life and you get this wonderful aggressive growl in the bridge position. It really makes me wish that my guitar would go up to 11!
|
| Liked about it |
Good dynamics
Lovely Vowel sound
Really usable in a lot of ways
|
| Didn't like |
Not the most soulful of sounds
Possibly superseded by an army of derivatives
|
|
| Overall satisfaction: |
|
3.0 |
Was this review helpful to you?
Report this review
|
internal use: spec68 spec356 spec573
|
