AN Vs. PAF Pro

Screaming Solo · #1 03-10-2006, 04:23 PM

i was pretty set on getting an AN until i listened to a few PAF Pro clips and now i'm not really sure

i have an RG1570, it's a basswood guitar, and it will be going in the neck position

I'm looking mainly for that smooth kind of virtuoso style sound tone out of my neck pickup, something along the lines of Vai or Petrucci styled neck pickup lead tones

i mostly use my neck pickup for cleans so i need an idea on how the cleans are on both pickups

kennydoe · #2 03-10-2006, 04:26 PM

AN has a significant amount more bass in basswood than the PAF. Love the AN in my mahogany guitar...love the PAF in my basswood guitar. Didn't like the AN in basswood and i play a lot of clean too.

~K

frankfalbo · #3 03-10-2006, 04:47 PM

If you mostly use the neck for cleans I'd say get the PAF Pro. It's more suited for cleans IMO. But if you want the JP fluid overdriven solo tone, the AN is probably a little better. It's a question of what you want to give up in order to get the most use/versatility out of the pickup. They are quite different sounding. I find the AN a bit tubby, but I prefer single coils/vintage humbuckers in the neck anyway. So I like it really clean and clear. Lots of guys here swear by the AN and will probably contradict what I'm saying about the clean tones.

Ant1981 · #4 03-10-2006, 05:21 PM

I was bowled over at how much clearer and dynamic and sweet the air norton is in the neck, better than the paf pro, check out joe satirianis new paf pro replacement, the paf joe, remind you of the air norton anyone?

rgr · #5 03-10-2006, 05:42 PM

Not really, the PAF Joe is much clearer than the AN, I agree with Frank, the PAF Pro and Joe have more chime which I personally like in my cleans. The AN is warmer and more midrangey which is great for distorted soloing and has a "jazzier" clean sound.

All are great pickups, depends on the sound you are looking for.

RSVampire · #6 03-10-2006, 06:44 PM

I love both of these pickups. But I like having a nice round neck pickup. If you have 22 frets I'd get a Paf Pro because it'll brighten up the neck just a tad (22 frets is prety round and warm) and if you have a 24 fret I'd get an Air Norton because it really warms it up a bit more and still sounds articulate. Just my opinion. I've had both these pickups in a basswood body and I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

Chud · #7 03-10-2006, 07:10 PM

Yeah the Air Norton is alot bassier and better suited for Jazz IMO.

I have one and it sounds great clean and distorted. Sounds great coil tapped aswell.

Screaming Solo · #8 03-10-2006, 08:14 PM

what is mostly important to me is a good distorted lead tone then followed by a good clean an overdriven fluid tone is exactly what i'm looking for

i guess when i replace the middle single coil i could get one for good cleans and mostly use that if the neck pickup isn't good enough

i really don't know what to get, but at least its like comparing a porsche to a ferrari...either way i know i'm getting a nice pickup, i just gotta decide which will work better

Angelo Guitars · #9 03-10-2006, 09:16 PM

For what you describe as your needs I'd go with Air Norton.

Screaming Solo · #10 03-10-2006, 09:57 PM

i also like a little of a "boosted mids" type sound for my lead sound as well

rty13ibz98 · #11 03-10-2006, 10:32 PM

the paf joe and the fred sound like what you would like. they are both between paf pro and air norton tone wise. the air norton is a bassier pickup. i like it...not in basswood, tho. fred for me. the paf joe is cool, just not my style. the paf pro is damn versatile, tho. it is the building block pickup. basically middle of the road as far as eq goes, great place to start. has good tone, too. i use one in a sc420. i love it. sounds way more vintage than any of my air nortons. but this is all in mahogany.

rich

lyconxero · #12 03-11-2006, 01:10 AM

I would replace the middle single coil with a Dimarzio Blue Velvet and the neck pickup with either a PAF Pro or an Air Norton. For the kind of lead tones you're talking about, I would go with the Air Norton and if you want a cleaner tone then just split it with the single coil.

waylay00 · #13 03-12-2006, 01:31 AM

Yeah, I'm in this situation, but I'm worried the AN will be too bassy in my RG550 (which is basswood). My bridge pickup is an X2N. Which would be better suited for it?

Screaming Solo · #14 03-12-2006, 01:39 AM

i use the TZ in the bridge of my RG

Shredcows · #15 03-12-2006, 05:06 AM

waylay, in your situation, another X2N in the neck would kill. I mean, TOTALLY KILL!!!!

If not I would think, the PAF Pro would suit the X2N better. X2N ain't thick and middy, like the PAF Pro, so the tones should be more similiar. But if you want a close match, a Super 2 in the neck would bring you to metal and back again.