ThroBak Vintage Repro PAF Humbucker Guitar Pickups - Authentic Tonal Reproductions
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ThroBak PAF reproduction pickups are crafted in Grand Rapids, Michigan with an unmatched combination of 100% USA custom made, period accurate parts, and 100% vintage accurate winding machines and processes. Made in the USA. Prices start at $679.00 per pair for PAF Repros. Free Shipping worldwide. Pickups ship within 5 business days of payment.
Med. Output P.A.F. Repro Guitar Pickups
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Low Output PAF and Pat.# Humbucker Guitar Pickups
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High Output P.A.F. Humbucker Guitar Pickups
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How to install and adjust PAF Pickups - Watch these Videos
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About Us:
Dedicated professional and amateur guitar players and large and small guitar makers count on ThroBak pickups to deliver the most authentic PAF tonal reproductions available. Fender and Gibson Custom shops list among our customers and Collings Guitars worked closely with ThroBak to make the ThroBak ESG-102B Custom P.A.F. repro the exclusive pickup choice for their I35 LC Vintage guitars. Walking though the ThroBak shop is like walking through the 50's Gibson Kalamazoo pickup winding department. Every machine once used by Gibson, now lives here at ThroBak. It is a capability unmatched by even Gibson today. You can see why we feel the best PAF reproduction on the planet in made right here at ThroBak.
ThroBak Electronics is the world leader in vintage reproduction PAF pickups. Since 2001 ThroBak Electronics has been on a mission to provide the most accurate vintage reproduction PAF pickups available anywhere. As a recognized authority on P.A.F. pickups, ThroBak owner Jon Gundry has contributed to the Vic Dapra: Burst Believers book series, The Gibson P.A.F. Humbucking book, and the website pafhumbucker.com. Through the ThroBak Guitar Lounge YouTube channel, and interviews with influencers like Rhett Shull, ThroBak content ranks among the most informative youtube videos on the subject of PAF pickups.
ThroBak Electronics is the world leader in vintage reproduction PAF pickups. Since 2001 ThroBak Electronics has been on a mission to provide the most accurate vintage reproduction PAF pickups available anywhere. As a recognized authority on P.A.F. pickups, ThroBak owner Jon Gundry has contributed to the Vic Dapra: Burst Believers book series, The Gibson P.A.F. Humbucking book, and the website pafhumbucker.com. Through the ThroBak Guitar Lounge YouTube channel, and interviews with influencers like Rhett Shull, ThroBak content ranks among the most informative youtube videos on the subject of PAF pickups.
Unveiling the Timeless Excellence of Vintage Gibson PAF Pickups
Introduction:
At ThroBak Electronics, we take immense pride in faithfully reproducing every detail of vintage Gibson PAF pickups. This comprehensive guide delves into the exceptional world of Vintage Gibson PAF pickups. As connoisseurs of fine craftsmanship and exquisite tone, we understand the significance of these legendary pickups in the realm of guitar and music. We honor that legacy with every ThroBak P.A.F. reproduction pickups we make. The details contained within inform every detail of a ThroBak P.A.F. reproduction pickup. Through this article, we aim to provide you with an in-depth exploration of vintage Gibson PAF pickups, their history, construction, unique characteristics, and why they continue to captivate guitar players and collectors alike.
The Birth of Gibson PAF Pickups
In the early 1950s, Gibson revolutionized the electric guitar industry with the introduction of the PAF (Patent Applied For) pickups. Designed by the visionary engineer Seth Lover to eliminate the 60 cycle hum of single coil pickup, these pickups embodied a remarkable innovation that significantly impacted the tonal landscape of electric guitars. The name PAF is an acronym for the phrase Patent Applied For. Vintage Gibson humbucking pickups made between in 1957 and 1960 primarily, with some PAF pickups still being installed as late as 1964, have a decal on the bottom of them with Patent Applied For phrase printed on them. All pickups with this decal are designated as vintage Gibson PAF pickups and have a combination of material and winding specifications that are unique to the PAF guitar pickup era.
Construction and Design
Gibson PAF pickups are renowned for their exceptional tone resulting from a unique combination of design and material specifications. This combined with the legendary craftsmanship and pickup winding machines used in 1950's Gibson Kalamazoo factory produce pickups that became know for their performance and unrivaled tonal quality. The construction of a PAF pickup involves several key components:
- Coil Design: The heart of a PAF pickup lies in its coil design. Constructed with a Butyrate plastic coil former, the two combined coils consist of 10,000 of turns of fine 42 AWG plain enamel copper wire as specified in the original design. However due to the variety of coil winding machines used and variation between coils wound on these machines, Vintage Gibson PAF pickup coils from the 1950's produce rich and harmonically complex tones unique to the Vintage PAF era. This variation in PAF pickup coils plays a pivotal role in capturing the harmonic nuances of the guitar's vibrations.
- Alnico Magnets: Gibson PAF pickups employ Alnico magnets, named after their main components: aluminum, nickel, and cobalt. These magnets contribute to the distinctive characteristic of PAF pickups. Alnico 2, 3, 4 and 5 magnets where all used for vintage Gibson PAF pickups. Alnico 2 magnets give a characteristic a warmth and smoothness and Alnico 4 and 5 are associated with a faster attack with an emphasis on the mids of the picked note. Alnico 3 is the least common and least favored of Alnico magnets for their lack of a full harmonic response when used in the PAF design. Vintage PAF Alnico magnets, combined with the unique coil design variations, create a magnetic field that translates the strings' vibrations into electrical signals with remarkable fidelity and tonal nuance.
- Slug and Screw Pole Pieces: Another distinguishing feature of PAF pickups is the slug and screw pole pieces. Slugs and poles screws in a vintage Gibson PAF use a Steel chemistry that in not commonly used in the modern era. This difference in Steel chemistry for slugs and pole screws are an important detail of unique tone of vintage PAF pickups. Adjustable pole screws also allow players to fine-tune the balance and output of each string, ensuring optimal string-to-string response and tonal balance across the fretboard.
The Enigmatic Tone of Gibson PAF Pickups
The allure of Gibson PAF pickups lies in their ability to produce a captivating and versatile tonal palette. The combination of their construction, coil design, mechanical and magnetic components results in a unique sonic signature that has stood the test of time. Let us explore some of the defining characteristics of the PAF tone:
- Vintage Warmth: Gibson PAF pickups are revered for their warm and smooth tonal character. They excel at producing a rich and full-bodied sound, with a balanced representation of the guitar's natural resonance.
- Articulation and Dynamics: PAF pickups offer exceptional note articulation and dynamic response. They capture the subtle nuances of a player's technique, allowing for expressive playing styles and a wide range of tonal variations.
- Versatility: From blues to rock, jazz to country, Gibson PAF pickups have been the choice of countless guitarists across various genres. Their versatility allows musicians to achieve the desired tonal expression, adapting effortlessly to different playing styles and musical contexts.
Vintage PAF Pickups: A Timeless Legacy
Decades after their initial introduction, Gibson PAF pickups continue to hold a revered status among guitar enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. The combination of their vintage charm, craftsmanship, and unmatched tonal quality ensures their everlasting relevance in the music industry. Guitarists seeking to capture the elusive "vintage magic" often turn to PAF pickups as their tonal weapon of choice.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, vintage Gibson PAF pickups remain an epitome of excellence and a cornerstone of the electric guitar's evolution. Their meticulous construction, tonal characteristics, and timeless legacy have solidified their position as legendary components in the world of electric guitar. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring musician, embracing the sonic possibilities of vintage PAF pickups can elevate your playing to new heights. Discover the remarkable world of PAF pickups unlock a realm of musical expression that transcends time.
At ThroBak Electronics, we invite you to explore our incredible range of vintage PAF pickup reproductions and experience firsthand the magic they can bring to your search for great guitar tone. Let the legendary tones of these pickups inspire and captivate you, as they have done for countless musicians throughout history. Choose the legacy, choose ThroBak P.A.F. pickups.
At ThroBak Electronics, we invite you to explore our incredible range of vintage PAF pickup reproductions and experience firsthand the magic they can bring to your search for great guitar tone. Let the legendary tones of these pickups inspire and captivate you, as they have done for countless musicians throughout history. Choose the legacy, choose ThroBak P.A.F. pickups.
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ThroBak KZ-115 pickups on The Doug and Pat Show!
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ThroBak P.A.F. Secrets: KZ/LP-115 Pickup Winder
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ThroBak P.A.F. Secrets: Start Wire
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ThroBak P.A.F. Secrets: Resistance
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ThroBak pickups declared a must try set by Guitarist Magazine.
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ThroBak Maximum Vintage PAF Pickup Repro Details
Maximum Vintage PAF Reproduction Specs.
• Patent Applied For clone Butyrate bobbins tooled and molded in the USA to vintage specs..
• Coils wound on vintage Leesona 102 and vintage Gibson, Kalamazoo made Slug 101 Patent Applied For winder assure unsurpassed vintage winding accuracy.
• P.A.F. style baseplates tooled and stamped in the USA for ThroBak.
• P.A.F. style covers stamped in USA and Nickel plated (with no Copper) at the same Kalamazoo shop that plated vintage PAF covers.
• Pole screws with vintage alloys cloned from 50's vintage P.A.F. screw with cold form die tooled for ThroBak. Made in USA.
• Slugs with vintage alloys cut with a vintage Brown and Sharpe automatic screw machine for correct vintage look. Made in USA.
• Vintage Spec. Plain Enamel 42AWG magnet wire made with vintage coating and processes. Made in USA.
• Alnico magnets custom cast in the USA with vintage formulations.
• Vintage correct braided wire. Made in USA.
• Entire ThroBak Patent Applied For humbucker assembly tooled and manufactured for ThroBak in the USA.
• Patent Applied For clone Butyrate bobbins tooled and molded in the USA to vintage specs..
• Coils wound on vintage Leesona 102 and vintage Gibson, Kalamazoo made Slug 101 Patent Applied For winder assure unsurpassed vintage winding accuracy.
• P.A.F. style baseplates tooled and stamped in the USA for ThroBak.
• P.A.F. style covers stamped in USA and Nickel plated (with no Copper) at the same Kalamazoo shop that plated vintage PAF covers.
• Pole screws with vintage alloys cloned from 50's vintage P.A.F. screw with cold form die tooled for ThroBak. Made in USA.
• Slugs with vintage alloys cut with a vintage Brown and Sharpe automatic screw machine for correct vintage look. Made in USA.
• Vintage Spec. Plain Enamel 42AWG magnet wire made with vintage coating and processes. Made in USA.
• Alnico magnets custom cast in the USA with vintage formulations.
• Vintage correct braided wire. Made in USA.
• Entire ThroBak Patent Applied For humbucker assembly tooled and manufactured for ThroBak in the USA.
ThroBak P.A.F. Pickups in The News
• September 2016 issue of Guitar and Bass Magazine review and award for the ThroBak KZ-115 PAF reproduction pickups.
• Music Radar review of ThroBak ER-Custom Pickups in a Collings Electric Guitar.
• Music Radar review of ThroBak ER-Custom Pickups in a Collings Electric Guitar.
Inside ThroBak P.A.F. Pickups
Vintage Patent Applied For clone Butyrate bobbins come standard on all MXV P.A.F. style pickups. Tooled and molded at a secret location near Kalamazoo. The MXV bobbins represent many, many hours of research and old school tool and die skills. Tooling and molding were fine tuned by hours of on site consultation in order to achieve vintage correct dimensions, materials, construction and cosmetics. Even the distinctive cosmetics flaws in original Patent Applied For bobbins, like the offset square in the circle hole, is duplicated with MXV Butyrate bobbins. Molded with Butyrate supplied by Americas longest manufacturer of CAB these bobbins have the same resonant and mechanical properties as original Patent Applied For bobbins.
Color matched from a newly uncovered vintage Zebra 50's P.A.F. assures the plastic color is as close to original vintage specifications as possible. Compare for yourself. Every aspect of production and materials Made in USA.
Color matched from a newly uncovered vintage Zebra 50's P.A.F. assures the plastic color is as close to original vintage specifications as possible. Compare for yourself. Every aspect of production and materials Made in USA.
ThroBak Maximum Vintage Series Pickups set the new standard in Vintage tone and manufacturing accuracy. The first successful humbucking pickup was the legendary 50's Gibson humbucker known among collectors as the Patent Applied For pickup or by it's acronym P.A.F.. Surpassing the specifications of the popular ThroBak Vintage Authentic LTD series pickups the MXV series takes the vintage accurate P.A.F. style reproduction to a new level with Maximum Vintage specifications. The MXV series sets a new standard in vintage Patent Applied For (P.A.F.) tone and manufacturing accuracy.
Every MXV component has been tooled, molded, stamped and cast for ThroBak to ThroBak specifications and all made the USA. Years of research come together to create MXV parts that very often are made by original vintage suppliers. The result, every part of a MXV pickups is MADE IN THE USA. Details that gave the classic vintage 50's P.A.F.'s their legendary tone are studied and duplicated in the ThroBak MXV Series. Wound on a vintage Leesona 102 coil winder and the vintage Gibson made "Slug 101" winding machine, MXV pickups offers unsurpassed vintage Patent Applied For winding accuracy. Add 42 AWG vintage spec. plain enamel wire MXV pickups embody the actual techniques and materials that made the vintage 50's P.A.F.'s great. Custom rough cast USA MADE magnets and a relentless quest for vintage correct parts mean that every ThroBak Maximum Vintage pickup lives up to its name.
Every MXV component has been tooled, molded, stamped and cast for ThroBak to ThroBak specifications and all made the USA. Years of research come together to create MXV parts that very often are made by original vintage suppliers. The result, every part of a MXV pickups is MADE IN THE USA. Details that gave the classic vintage 50's P.A.F.'s their legendary tone are studied and duplicated in the ThroBak MXV Series. Wound on a vintage Leesona 102 coil winder and the vintage Gibson made "Slug 101" winding machine, MXV pickups offers unsurpassed vintage Patent Applied For winding accuracy. Add 42 AWG vintage spec. plain enamel wire MXV pickups embody the actual techniques and materials that made the vintage 50's P.A.F.'s great. Custom rough cast USA MADE magnets and a relentless quest for vintage correct parts mean that every ThroBak Maximum Vintage pickup lives up to its name.
The Bobbins
The Coils
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The Magnets
ThroBak MXV magnets are made in the USA with vintage Alnico formulations obtained from vintage magnet analysis and vintage records still on file. ThroBak MXV magnets are custom cast in large lots in several vintage varieties. Long A5 oriented magnets, long unoriented A5, short A5, short A2 and long A2 are some of the vintage choices. By casting MXV magnets with 3 different USA magnet makers, ThroBak MXV pickups get the same tonal variety within Alnico types as vintage PAF's. All MXV magnets are sand cast. We are constantly searching for and analyzing great sounding vintage magnets so we can deliver as accurate a 50's vintage P.A.F. style magnet as possible. Made in the USA. |
Over the years many myths have grown along with the legend of vintage Patent Applied For pcikups. Perhaps the largest myth is that 50's vintage P.A.F. coils or the "best" 50's vintage P.A.F. coils were hand wound. In fact all production vintage P.A.F. coils were machine wound on a very small number of machines. The few machines that wound these coils each put their own tonal signature on the classic Patent Applied For humbucker. A tonal signature that is the result of winding patterns and coil shapes that can only be accurately reproduced by machine. These machines made a wide variety of coil shapes and as a result produced the wide variety tonal colors that we associate with vintage 50's P.A.F.'s. These shapes varied with the machine model and with small differences in operator set-up. At ThroBak we take all the tonal possibilities that these machines are capable of and combine them to produce the ThroBak Maximum Vintage line of pickups.
Above are photos of original Patent Applied For coils and coils made on the vintage ThroBak Leesona 102 and Slug 101 50's vintage P.A.F. pickup winder models. All are very tightly wound solid coils. They are just a small sample of the variety of coil shapes that can be made on these two 50's vintage Patent Applied For winder models. Click the thumbnails and look closely at the variations in winding pattern. The turn per layer count for each machine has not changed but the coil shapes and wire scatter differ radically. Contrary to machine winding critics, coils wound on these vintage machines show a complex wire scatter driven by the quirks unique to these machines. They do not show the orderly distribution of wire exhibited by modern computer controlled winders. None of these winding patterns can be accurately duplicated by hand. Some of these shapes can be approximated by hand winding but the internal wire distribution of the hand wound coil will be radically different from the correct machine wound Patent Applied For coil. Differences that effect the final tone of the assembled Patent Applied For pickup. These machine wound coil shapes are in fact the signature winding patterns and tonal signatures of the vintage machines that were put to use in winding vintage Patent Applied For humbuckers.
Above are photos of original Patent Applied For coils and coils made on the vintage ThroBak Leesona 102 and Slug 101 50's vintage P.A.F. pickup winder models. All are very tightly wound solid coils. They are just a small sample of the variety of coil shapes that can be made on these two 50's vintage Patent Applied For winder models. Click the thumbnails and look closely at the variations in winding pattern. The turn per layer count for each machine has not changed but the coil shapes and wire scatter differ radically. Contrary to machine winding critics, coils wound on these vintage machines show a complex wire scatter driven by the quirks unique to these machines. They do not show the orderly distribution of wire exhibited by modern computer controlled winders. None of these winding patterns can be accurately duplicated by hand. Some of these shapes can be approximated by hand winding but the internal wire distribution of the hand wound coil will be radically different from the correct machine wound Patent Applied For coil. Differences that effect the final tone of the assembled Patent Applied For pickup. These machine wound coil shapes are in fact the signature winding patterns and tonal signatures of the vintage machines that were put to use in winding vintage Patent Applied For humbuckers.
The Wire
All MXV Series P.A.F. style pickups are wound with Vintage Spec.42 AWG plain enamel wire. MXV series Vintage Spec. plain enamel wire is made in the USA by a small magnet wire manufacturer with a direct lineage as a supplier to Gibson Kalamazoo during the Gibson Golden Era. MXV Vintage Spec. wire is made with the same coating chemistry and processes as vintage era Patent Applied For wire. Even as with vintage plain enamel wire, MXV Vintage Spec. wire has a faint smell of magic markers due to the Benzene used in the coating process. Also MXV Vintage Spec. wire exhibits all of the varieties of tolerances, min. to nom., and build thickness that are found within vintage 42 AWG wire. Some makers find this variation in wire within the 42 AWG tolerance an annoyance. But at ThroBak we buy 100lb.-300lb. lots of Vintage Spec. wire and hand sort it with a micrometer to harness this variation as a tonal tool for MXV pickups. Variations in build and diameter that originally created sometimes random tonal results with vintage 50's P.A.F.'s are used to create repeatable vintage tonal magic with ThroBak MXV Patent Applied For pickups.
All MXV Series P.A.F. style pickups are wound with Vintage Spec.42 AWG plain enamel wire. MXV series Vintage Spec. plain enamel wire is made in the USA by a small magnet wire manufacturer with a direct lineage as a supplier to Gibson Kalamazoo during the Gibson Golden Era. MXV Vintage Spec. wire is made with the same coating chemistry and processes as vintage era Patent Applied For wire. Even as with vintage plain enamel wire, MXV Vintage Spec. wire has a faint smell of magic markers due to the Benzene used in the coating process. Also MXV Vintage Spec. wire exhibits all of the varieties of tolerances, min. to nom., and build thickness that are found within vintage 42 AWG wire. Some makers find this variation in wire within the 42 AWG tolerance an annoyance. But at ThroBak we buy 100lb.-300lb. lots of Vintage Spec. wire and hand sort it with a micrometer to harness this variation as a tonal tool for MXV pickups. Variations in build and diameter that originally created sometimes random tonal results with vintage 50's P.A.F.'s are used to create repeatable vintage tonal magic with ThroBak MXV Patent Applied For pickups.
The Alloys
All metal parts in the MXV Patent Applied For assembly are custom made for ThroBak using the correct vintage alloys. Modern destructive lab testing of vintage parts of the entire vintage 50's P.A.F. assembly assure that the MXV reproduction pole screws, slugs, keeper bar baseplate... are vintage accurate and tonally true to vintage P.A.F.'s. No expense was spared in the quest for vintage accuracy. Pole screws are cloned in the USA from vintage samples with with custom cold header forms made exclusively for ThroBak. Slugs are turned on a vintage Brown and Sharpe automatic screw machine to accurately duplicate the bullseye signature look of the vintage original. And keeper bars individually custom machined to vintage specs.. Made in the USA.
All metal parts in the MXV Patent Applied For assembly are custom made for ThroBak using the correct vintage alloys. Modern destructive lab testing of vintage parts of the entire vintage 50's P.A.F. assembly assure that the MXV reproduction pole screws, slugs, keeper bar baseplate... are vintage accurate and tonally true to vintage P.A.F.'s. No expense was spared in the quest for vintage accuracy. Pole screws are cloned in the USA from vintage samples with with custom cold header forms made exclusively for ThroBak. Slugs are turned on a vintage Brown and Sharpe automatic screw machine to accurately duplicate the bullseye signature look of the vintage original. And keeper bars individually custom machined to vintage specs.. Made in the USA.
Baseplates and Covers
Custom tooled to ThroBak MXV specifications the vintage 50's P.A.F. style reproduction baseplates and covers recreate many of the smallest details of the original 50's P.A.F. assembly. Threaded baseplate pole screw holes and flat cover tops with dimpled pole screw holes reproduce the classic look of 50's vintage P.A.F. covers. Correct nickel silver alloys are used as determined by destructive laboratory analysis of vintage P.A.F. parts.
MVX Patent Applied For covers are Nickel plated with the correct no copper process at the same family owned Kalamazoo plating shop that did Gibson Nickel plating all the way back to the 50's. Prep buffing and plating are both done in the Kalamazoo area with the same processes that were used with Gibson Golden era covers. As with original 50's P.A.F. covers no copper is used in the nickel plating process assuring as tonally transparent a cover as possible. Correct nickel plating along with ThroBak's 4 step aging process results in realistic aged look with the lightly aged ThroBak MXV covers. Made in USA.
