Tone Specific is known for making the Best PAF Clone. Top Pros say the Tone Specific PAF Pickups are the considered the Best PAF Replica & the most vintage sounding humbuckers available. Pure PAF Pickup tone is why Top Pros swear by Tone Specific Pickups.

PAF Pickup Shootout

Check out the best PAF Humbuckers in this PAF Pickup Shootout.

 

Best Humbuckers

Tone Specific makes a variety of Humbuckers Pickups based on the vintage PAF pickups. PAF Pickups were all a little different and Tone Specific has identified certain characteristics of the various vintage PAFs. Tone Specific has applied these vintage characteristics to design that nail certain tones.

  • 1957 Jazzy P.A.F.
  • 1958 Twangy P.A.F.
  • 1959 Blues P.A.F.
  • 1961 Punchy P.A.F
  • Bloombucker P.A.F.
  • Virtuoso P.A.F

Best Humbuckers for Blues

 

Best Humbuckers for Rockabilly & Country Music

Best Humbuckers for Jazz

Best Humbucker Pickups for Rock

Best Humbuckers for Alternative Rock

Any of the Tone Specific PAF's would work for Alternative Rock. The Best Humbuckers for Alternative Rock would either be the 1961 Punchy P.A.F. Humbuckers or the 1959 Blues P.A.F. Humbuckers. 

Best Humbuckers for Hard Rock

Hard Rock guitarists are finding that pickups with Ceramic magnets or that or wound too hot really don't deliver the goods for Hard Rock Tone. The quick attack and clear output of the 1961 Punchy P.A.F. Humbuckers makes them the best Humbuckers for Hard Rock.

Best Guitar Pickups for Metal

Metal guitarists are finding that Active Pickups or pickups with Ceramic magnets really don't deliver the goods for Metal Tone. The quick attack and clear output of the 1961 Punchy P.A.F. Humbuckers makes them the best Humbuckers for Metal.

Best PAFs

  • 1959 Blues P.A.F. 

  • 1957 Jazzy P.A.F.

  • 1961 Punchy P.A.F.

  • 1958 Twangy P.A.F

  • Virtuoso P.A.F.

  • Bloombucker P.A.F.

Humbucker Pickups Comparison

1959 PAF Pickups

These early PAF's were all over the place in terms of specs and materials used. We came across a set of 1959 PAF's that had the prototypical warmth, sponginess, bloom and dynamics that makes these old PAFs great for Blues Music.

This is the set we've based our Blues P.A.F. Pickups on. Customers tell use they sound exactly like a set from the 50's with the warmth and bloom of Alnico II magnets with the Clarity of Alnico V's.

  • Pickups are Calibrated for each position.
  • Pickups are designed to work great with Pedals/Modelers as well as Tube & SS gear.  

Click here to learn about the 1959 Blues Humbucker P.A.F. Set.

1961 PAF Pickups

By 1961 the materials started to get more consistent & Alnico 5 magnets were being used in most of the the pickups we've encountered from this era. These pickups have great attack and great upper end harmonic content.

We chose the best 1961 PAF we ever heard in an SG to base our Punch Set on. This set proved you can use use vintage type materials and construction to get a Great Punchy Tone that works good for Rock, Funk, Classic Rock, Ska, Hard Rock or even Metal. Why use active pickups or sets with hot roded magnets when you can have the purest & most in-your-face tone just like some of our more heavy-playing heros. 

  • Pickups are Calibrated for each position.
  • Pickups are designed to work great with Pedals/Modelers as well as Tube & SS gear.  

Click Here to Learn More about the 1961 Punchy PAFs.

1957 PAF Pickups

These early PAF's were all over the place in terms of specs and materials used. We came across a set of 1957 PAF's that had a bridge pickups the prototypical warmth, sponginess, bloom and dynamics that makes these old PAFs great. The neck was super clear and warm and really stayed together well when rolling off the tone.

This is the set we've based our Jazz 1957 P.A.F. Pickups on. Customers tell us they are the best Humbuckers for Jazz

  • Pickups are Calibrated for each position.
  • Pickups are designed to work great with Pedals/Modelers as well as Tube & SS gear.  

Click here to learn about the 1957 Jazzy Humbucker P.A.F. Set.

1958 Filtertron Pickups

The Filtertrons are a unique pickup that are well suited for Rockabilly and Country music. These pickups started showing up in Gretcsh Guitars around 1958 they have great clarity and sund great clean or with a little dirt.

We used this set as inspiration for our 1958 Twangy Tele Set. Lots of people are looking for that Filtertron to in a PAF housing and we built this pickup to be be the finest pickups for Rockabilly and Country Music. Players tell that we achieved the goal but we've also heard from other players that they love these pickups for Blues and other styles. 

  • Pickups are Calibrated for each position.
  • Pickups are designed to work great with Pedals/Modelers as well as Tube & SS gear.  

Click here to learn about the 1958 Twang Humbucker P.A.F. Set.

Best PAF for 335

  • 1959 Blues P.A.F. Humbuckers
  • 1957 Jazzy P.A.F. Humbuckers
  • 1961 Punchy P.A.F. Humbuckers
  • 1958 Twangy P.A.F. Humbuckers

Best Les Paul Pickups for Classic Rock

  • 1959 Blues P.A.F. Humbuckers
  • 1961 Punchy P.A.F. Humbuckers