PAF Pro vs FRED vs JB???

[bikeman]

Can anyone give me some opinions on the above pups for the bridge of an RG? I've already got a JB in the bridge of one of my RGs and fancy something different in another I have. I've been looking at the PAF Pro and FRED and can't decide which to try.

I'm leaning towards the PAF Pro as I think the FRED might be too similar to the JB?

I'm after a classic 80's rock tone - Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Iron Maiden, KISS - that sort of thing.

Cheers for any advice!

[mi2tom]

I've tried 3 of em, seriously I really like the JB, just don't know why... Yes, I like the paf pro and fred as well, Just can't make up my mind, I wish I have em all, Damn... If you're after the 80's tone, I'd recommend tone zone

[bikeman]

I know the Tone Zone gets good reviews, but I'd like to go for a pickup that was available in the era, hence the FRED and PAF Pro choices. I'll be going with a PAF Pro in the neck.

Does the FRED sound close to the JB? Is the PAF Pro a more "different" option?

[RG550BW]

Just don't get Tone Zone! Though on www.harmony-central.com user reviews I read a LOT of bad reviews about TZ,here they seem to be a community ;P I tried TZ in my guitar few days ago,I wanted to see what the fuzz is about. I pulled out my Air Zone(low output version of TZ) and put a TZ in and I found out a review on HC was right..TZ sounds like AZ with a cheap overdrive pedal on all the time That said TZ will NOT give you that very defined clear distorsion like Van Halen(my fave),Bon Jovi.. People seem to like that "power" but you just get a built in cheap overdrive crap in the pickup..and after you ruin the signal with it you can't distort it in a nice way any more..and clearer stuff sound just BAD. Paf PRO on the other hand has less output and MUCH clearer signal,tried it and it's great for stuff you mentioned..and when you need "power" get a Metal Zone pedal or something for Gods sake and don't ruin the signal from the starting point! :-)

[Scali]

Won't it depend on the amp though?
Some amps handle hot pickups better than others.
And some amps clean up very nicely, while others get muddy and undefined when you roll back the volume.
What amp did you use anyway?

[Jeff - CRO]

Don't know 'bout you,but on my rig TZ sounds clear and articulate enough and I don't have "mudding" problem when playing faster runs.I think that's more of a playing issue,than technical one.I really would not agree with saying that tonezone is like air zone + cheap overdrive pedal.That's understatement.
I nail EVH brown sound with those things with ease.I have british amp and few boutique plexi pedals that do the work very nice.
Once I get opportunity to record myself(buy decent mic.) I will do it.
For god sake,you have equalizers and wide variety of tonal control on your rig,on your amp,at least.
Use those buttons.Lacking treble?Add more treble.Too much bass and midds - roll bass and mids a bit.
Nothing will work perfect AS IT IS.Everything needs additional tweaking and personal customization.
Personally,I dislike PAF Pro in the bridge,sounds anemic and really doesn't have balls and character.
In neck position is another story,and I really like it there much much better.
I have them all and have tested them in all possible positions in my guitars.
PAF Pro,evolution,tonezone,air norton,norton,breed,evolution II...

Wanting a warmer tone - get tonezone or breed.
Wanting more articulate and clearer sound - get steve's special.
Wanting something in between - regular Norton would be my bet as I find it to be very very versatile.

[RG550BW]

OK. I tried TZ on Ibanez RG550 on Yamaha DG80 amp(very clear amp) and on Marshall VS100. If you play on pickups like Breed(bridge model),or Evolution or some muddy stock pickups..TZ may sound defined or clean in comparison..but if you put out Air Zone(PAF Pro..etc.) out of guitar and put in TZ you will hear it clearly..more output in TZ makes more noise..it's like a law of psyhics. TZ sounds pretty much the same as AZ but with more output and noise. To some people thats "powerful" to some it's noisy. As for brown sound..I tried playing Panama from Van Halen on TZ..its "ok" until I struck a 4 or 5 note chords in that song..on those chords notes mix together forming a mud as oposed to defined sound like Air Zone. I tried EQ and stuff..and found out that it sounds least dirty on same settings that AZ sound least dirty(what a suprise :P,it's just Air version of same pu) but it still sounds much dirtier and less defined than AZ. Lower output->less noise,less power. Higher output->more noise,more power. Just the way it is.
Compare Blue Velvet-> PAF Pro-> Tone Zone-> Evolution-> X2N. Get my point? Some pickups get by in some way..different EQ(Steve's Special),better built(Dimarzio comparing to some crap stuff),some with better amp or guitar,but the law still stays-> out of 2 pu with same characteristics other than output-> one with bigger output is more dirty(AZ clearer than TZ,AN than Norton,regular PAF than hotter Pafs) and more powerfull. So everyone has to make a choice whats more important to him. I just think it's better to use good overdrive(pedal or amp) to push a medium output pu over the edge to get power when needed..and to have more clarity and definition whatever you play. If you just play System Of a Down..forget it..get TZ..or better X2N!

[Mike239]

I currently have PAF Pros set up in my Jackson i don't mind the tone, to me they have a pretty clear sound with a fair bit of treble and not that much bass. I haven't really heard too many different pickups but i like the PAF Pros.

[JimmyJ]

Hi


I have all all three of those in different guitars,

I use the paf pro for all round rock sounds and its great, when i want the lead to stand out a little more i go the fred, the fred has more mid gain and really makes your lead stand out.

The JB has a slight mid cut and its great for that, its also a bass heavy and punch pickup for heavy heavy bridge sounds, i love the JB in my heavy guitar strung B to B, i play fear factory on it and its great, its a real high gain pickup.


here are my vid reviews from way back

Fred & PAF
http://video.google.com.au/url?docid...8P2xtVTOBCGNGA

ToneZone & PAF
http://video.google.com.au/url?docid...O58mNj9X8AGGug



seymour duncan
http://video.google.com.au/videoplay...74148781950181

[Scali]

Thanks for the clips... The ToneZone and PAF Pro sound great, I'll get those for my RG570CT.
I didn't like the Fred to be honest, too 'sharp', too piercing. I prefer something a tad smoother.

[Dee]

I had a TZ in my RG3120. I think i's over rated, definitely. I'd rather go with a slightly lower output pickup and let the amp do the work. PAF Pro in the neck position sounded great, though, and I'd take a PAF Pro in the bridge over a TZ any day. Classic old JEM sound. Can't really go wrong with that. BUT... there is life beyond Dimarzio, so I would also check out some other brands too.

[ashbass]

I just recently went around with TZ, Breed set, Fred (tried in neck and bridge), Evolution set, Evo2 bridge, and Paf Pro (tried in neck and bridge).

Fred in the neck was cool and almost the keeper there. Fred in the bridge was good until hit with the MetalZone pedal. It was too nasally. TZ, Breeds, Evo2, and Paf Pro all sounded blah in their own way. Boring with no personality of their own. No umpf. No unique character.

The Evolution set is the winner. The bridge is way trebly at high volume, but killer with the MetalZone on. Otherwise, I just dial the tone control back to 7 or 8 and it's classic rock tones with a nice voice of its own and even response across the frequencies with no polepiece adjustment necessary. The two guitars I have with this set in them are the only ones that I actually use the Tone control with. There is a lot of room there to get different voices from the pickups. They're choice.

[LuredMaul]

I've had every pickup mentioned on this thread asfar as the three mentioned in the thread title I like the JB the least the PAF Pro is perfect for a modeler or all around good tone and the Fred is nice too.

I don't think the Fred is JB like ... the JB has a midlow bump and lots of highs where the Fred has a PAF Pro tone with more midrange presence.

Norton is also a good choice for a bridge pickup it's close to a Fred and ToneZone.

I'd go FRED or Norton for the Bridge and PAFPro for the neck.

[Jeff - CRO]

Originally Posted by RG550BW

OK. I tried TZ on Ibanez RG550 on Yamaha DG80 amp(very clear amp) and on Marshall VS100. If you play on pickups like Breed(bridge model),or Evolution or some muddy stock pickups..TZ may sound defined or clean in comparison..but if you put out Air Zone(PAF Pro..etc.) out of guitar and put in TZ you will hear it clearly..more output in TZ makes more noise..it's like a law of psyhics. TZ sounds pretty much the same as AZ but with more output and noise. To some people thats "powerful" to some it's noisy. As for brown sound..I tried playing Panama from Van Halen on TZ..its "ok" until I struck a 4 or 5 note chords in that song..on those chords notes mix together forming a mud as oposed to defined sound like Air Zone. I tried EQ and stuff..and found out that it sounds least dirty on same settings that AZ sound least dirty(what a suprise :P,it's just Air version of same pu) but it still sounds much dirtier and less defined than AZ. Lower output->less noise,less power. Higher output->more noise,more power. Just the way it is.
Compare Blue Velvet-> PAF Pro-> Tone Zone-> Evolution-> X2N. Get my point? Some pickups get by in some way..different EQ(Steve's Special),better built(Dimarzio comparing to some crap stuff),some with better amp or guitar,but the law still stays-> out of 2 pu with same characteristics other than output-> one with bigger output is more dirty(AZ clearer than TZ,AN than Norton,regular PAF than hotter Pafs) and more powerfull. So everyone has to make a choice whats more important to him. I just think it's better to use good overdrive(pedal or amp) to push a medium output pu over the edge to get power when needed..and to have more clarity and definition whatever you play. If you just play System Of a Down..forget it..get TZ..or better X2N!

I can see your point,but that's mainly dependable on rest of your amp and effects.If you have low gain amp,it's not really a good thing to chase the hi-gain sound with low output pickups.
As well is that it doesn't really make sense to drive triple rectifier with some hi-output mumbo jumbo stuff.
Darker rig - get a brighter pickup.
Brighter rig - get a warmer/darker one.
For instance,I have pretty bright amps and gain control,my darker sounding pickups complement my overall tone to be quite versatile and neutral.
That's why there is so many pickup types and pickup brands.
So that anyone can find what it's most convinient to them.
That's why some pickups work out for some people,and some don't.
It's a normal thing...

[bikeman]

Cheers Jimmy - great clips! I'm not keen on the TZ, but I did like the FRED. Very nice. Just need to hear a bridge PAF Pro now!