Sunbear Pickups 59 PAF Set Aged Nickel

Where do you start with the PAF? Well, there’s our low-wind 57 set of course but what about if you want some more classic burst bark and punch? Well, these are our answer. Maintaining our typical goal of clarity, sweetness and musicality we add a rough-cast Alnico IV magnet to the bridge pickup for some extra high end grit, alongside a very even low-mid 8k output to round things out. Our favourite AIII bar remains at the neck but the output increases a little compared to the 57 set with a small coil offset for some clear low end richness and a creamy midrange character. The 59 is a truly versatile set that works well in a lot of different guitar styles but sounds absolutely classic in its vintage home.

· BRIDGE AIV +/- 8.3K: A wonderfully balanced mix of power and dynamics characterise this take on a middle-output PAF-style humbucker. It has the clear, faintly strident punch to take on heavy handed rock riffs but a softer touch will coax out all manner of subtle textures.

· NECK AIII +/- 7.3K: Neck pickups like this are just so satisfying; throaty and vocal but with the magnet and wind keeping any muddiness at bay. Solo tones are emotive with lyrical phrases coming across naturally thanks to this pickups fairly even frequency response.