Any opinions on the PAF Joe?

toneboy · #1 01-07-2007, 06:01 PM

I'm thinking about getting a PAF Joe for the neck position in my PGM301. I've read all the specs on the Dimarzio site so I'm up to speed on it. I'm just wondering what experience others have had with them.

BTW, I tried searching here for info but the search terms (PAF and Joe) are too short for the search engine to allow.

**jaxadam** · #2 01-07-2007, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneboy

I'm thinking about getting a PAF Joe for the neck position in my PGM301. I've read all the specs on the Dimarzio site so I'm up to speed on it. I'm just wondering what experience others have had with them.

BTW, I tried searching here for info but the search terms (PAF and Joe) are too short for the search engine to allow.

Have one and I love it. Great sounding neck pickup.

toneboy · #3 01-07-2007, 06:28 PM

From the specs and description, it seems that will sound defined yet smooth. The slight treble bump and slight bass cut will give distorted notes good articulation. I'm use a Humbucker from Hell right which sounds good clean or distorted (very articulate with distortion) but it lacks output. I'm just not too hyped about the Air Norton neck pickup route that almost everyone else goes for. I tried one and while it's a good sounding pickup, I'm finding that brightness in the neck pickup is a good thing. I'm going to use with a Tone Zone in bridge and either a Pro Track or Chopper in the middle.

waylay00 · #4 01-07-2007, 06:46 PM

Yeah, I'm a little tired of my Air Norton. It's a little too hollow for my tastes.

toneboy · #5 01-07-2007, 06:55 PM

I'm also considering the Dimarzio Bluesbucker too. It's go a wee bit more midrange (0.5) and a wee bit less treble (0.5) than the PAF Joe. The output levels are about the same (265 mV for the Bluesbucker and 272 mV for the PAF Joe). I may have to give Dimarzio a call about this.

One a side note, I ended up creating spreadsheets listing all the Dimarzio pickups I've been considering. It's really handy to be able to see all the data (treble, mid , base and output) for each pickup next to each other. It makes it really easy to compare data.

waylay00 · #6 01-07-2007, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toneboy

I'm also considering the Dimarzio Bluesbucker too. It's go a wee bit more midrange (0.5) and a wee bit less treble (0.5) than the PAF Joe. The output levels are about the same (265 mV for the Bluesbucker and 272 mV for the PAF Joe). I may have to give Dimarzio a call about this.

One a side note, I ended up creating spreadsheets listing all the Dimarzio pickups I've been considering. It's really handy to be able to see all the data (treble, mid , base and output) for each pickup next to each other. It makes it really easy to compare data.

Care to send it

toneboy · #7 01-07-2007, 11:49 PM

I'll do better than that. Here's a link to the file on my site:

Dimarzio Pickup Data (XLS format).

It's up-to-date as of today so it includes the D Activators and the new Air Norton S.

toneboy · #8 01-08-2007, 10:09 PM

Bah, I'm just going to order it. The specs tell me it should be the one I want and it will be a good contrast to the neck pickup in my other PGM (the Humbucker From Hell).

LuredMaul · #9 01-08-2007, 11:09 PM

the Paf Joe kinna has the vintage 50`s vibe to it.....I dunno if I love it...I don't hate it

mi2tom · #10 01-08-2007, 11:26 PM

How does it compared to a paf pro?

waylay00 · #11 01-08-2007, 11:34 PM

Thanks toneboy

Thrash · #12 01-09-2007, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mi2tom

How does it compared to a paf pro?

Less bass so it not as muddy, more glass less warmth. I really like it. Nice and clear has nice PAF tone but more clarity.

mi2tom · #13 01-09-2007, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thrash

Less bass so it not as muddy, more glass less warmth. I really like it. Nice and clear has nice PAF tone but more clarity.

Thanks for the review, will try one

SpikeSocietySucks · #14 01-09-2007, 04:28 AM

I have one in the Neck of my Usa Strat, and there it's very open voiced, and clear. I like to use the middle single coil (Area 5

For practically all of my Clean rhythm and whatnot, combine it with the inside coil from the joe for a quiet lead playing, and go to the neck for a nice full blown boost when soloing.

I use the Air Norton too, and I prefer the Joe as it has a lot of the same attributes I.e. Notes up the neck don't thin out, and great jazzy tones, but it doesn't sound like a socks over the neck :P

toneboy · #15 01-09-2007, 08:10 AM

I've pretty much decided that I like bright neck pickups. I tweaked my main dirty patch on my 3TM MP-1 and I love the Humbucker from Hell again. Man, that is such a misunderstood and under rated pickup. It has such a bubbly and articulated tone.

Anyway, once I had concluded that "bright is right", I decided I wanted to get a PAF type humbucker with decent output for the neck position. The PAF Joe specs seem to indicate that it will fulfill my needs. It's a little brighter than a PAF Pro, has a little less bass and a little less output. If I want a PAF type tone, I don't think I'll get any better than this.

I also considered the tonal balance between all 3 pickups in the guitar and I wanted one guitar to be bright and the other to be warm. Here's what I came up with for both guitars: