Actual Vintage Real 1959 Gibson PAF Pickups for sale in Ebay auction 12/20/24

[Mdarnell]

I think there are plenty of guys that make almost exact sounding 1959 PAF pickups but if you need the real deal, here is an Ebay Auction with REAL 1959 PAF's in it.

1959 Gibson PAF Sticker Humbucker set, pots, knobs. From Virgil Arlo collection | eBay

The pots were made by centralab and have a 1959 date code. The bridge reads 7.6k w/49.2mm spacing has about a 6" lead. The neck reads 7.3K w/ 9" lead wire & 46mm spacing.

www.ebay.com

 

[S. Weiger]

Very interesting, they look real to me. And the gold is very much gone, so they are ok ( ? ) for a LP ( EDIT: Narrow spaced! ).
I'll bet they are double black, otherwise the seller prolly would have mentioned zebra / double white..
Solder look undisturbed, but need better pics to be sure imo.
Thx for posting.

 

[Cody]

Are those Byrdland spaced?

 

[jimmi]

Narrow spacing. But currently at a bargain at less than $2,00.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

I have a '59 Byrdland bought as a husk w/OG case that I've slowly restored and the only thing missing is OG pickups. Hell, there's very few repros (no boutique stuff IIRC) out there that even have the short spaced pickup so it's been sporting regular repro buckers. These will be bid out of my orbit likely for someone to put in their...ahem, Les Paul.. but a boy can dream! I missed out on a pre-t set a few years ago I still wish I had better timing on. With so many parter-outers on the aftermarket it's nice to put one back to period correct.

 

[S. Weiger]

Are those Byrdland spaced?

Good thinking. I don't think I'd put them in my LP, if I was in the market for PAF's. Although they'll work as they should (I guess?) it would look kinda silly.

 

[jimmi]

I think there are plenty of guys that make almost exact sounding 1959 PAF pickups but if you need the real deal, here is an Ebay Auction with REAL 1959 PAF's in it.

1959 Gibson PAF Sticker Humbucker set, pots, knobs. From Virgil Arlo collection | eBay

The pots were made by centralab and have a 1959 date code. The bridge reads 7.6k w/49.2mm spacing has about a 6" lead. The neck reads 7.3K w/ 9" lead wire & 46mm spacing.

www.ebay.com

Not sure I agree that many have nailed it. A handful are in the ball park of a PAF but not many of a great one. One thing is fir certain, it isn’t Gibson ATM.

 

[charliechitlins]

$200 shipping.
When I see stuff like that, I just think the seller as a d-bag and I can't trust him.
To say nothing of the fact that someone has gutted a guitar of its proper parts.

 

[garywright]

this is a high dollar auction . overnight shipping plus insurance on the closing amount will be very high.

 

[S. Weiger]

$200 shipping.
When I see stuff like that, I just think the seller as a d-bag and I can't trust him.
To say nothing of the fact that someone has gutted a guitar of its proper parts.

I know it might be a far stretch, but it could be an instrument that was beyond repairing / restoring options anyway.
But yes, it's very sad, if the guitar was otherwise in playable condition.

 

[Mdarnell]

$200 shipping.
When I see stuff like that, I just think the seller as a d-bag and I can't trust him.
To say nothing of the fact that someone has gutted a guitar of its proper parts.

The guy is a pickup maker. Not sure he is the one that "gutted" a guitar to get the pickups. It's an auction, so I think to ensure a decent final price he jacked the shipping up to $200 thereby guaranteeing him at least 200 bucks for the pickups.
How much are 1959 PAF's like that worth I wonder???

 

[S. Weiger]

The guy is a pickup maker. Not sure he is the one that "gutted" a guitar to get the pickups. It's an auction, so I think to ensure a decent final price he jacked the shipping up to $200 thereby guaranteeing him at least 200 bucks for the pickups.
How much are 1959 PAF's like that worth I wonder???

I recon if double black, nickel plated, unopened, normal spacing, with a good reading (7.6 Kohms & above) >> expect to pay $8K or more for a pair of long magnet PAFs.
These ES-350 pickups... gold plated, narrow spacing... If one needs them badly for a similar Gibson which was born with these specs, maybe the same? Or more, considering the "case candy" (harness / pots/ bonnet knobs) to boot..
But there aren't many good examples sold publicly to compare prices with AFAIK, so take my guesstimate with a grain of salt.

 

[charliechitlins]

I have installed a narrow spaced pickup in a regular-spaced guitar.
Centered, it did NOT balance well.
I had to move it all around to find the sweet spot.
I would say that if one put those pickups in a Lester, there would be a risk of really bad string balance.

 

[deytookerjaabs]

I have installed a narrow spaced pickup in a regular-spaced guitar.
Centered, it did NOT balance well.
I had to move it all around to find the sweet spot.
I would say that if one put those pickups in a Lester, there would be a risk of really bad string balance.

On the flip side, regular spaced with short string spacing seems to work okay, but it looks way off. If I'm putting PAF's in a Les Paul with the big bucks I would rather get a regular non t-top pat pickup than a short spaced PAF...it's literally a pickup designed for a different guitar but happens to have the right sticker.

 

[S. Weiger]

Ebay dude selling these pickups in the middle of christmas chaos is not responsive.
I wrote if he only takes us bidders, because in his "questions profile" he states international shipping...

 

[jimmi]

Ebay dude selling these pickups in the middle of christmas chaos is not responsive.
I wrote if he only takes us bidders, because in his "questions profile" he states international shipping...

I am not buying this kind of item over EBay. Maybe 20 yrs ago with a lot of homework but not now.

 

[S. Weiger]

I am not buying this kind of item over EBay. Maybe 20 yrs ago with a lot of homework but not now.

Ebay & paypal protects me with "eBay Money Back Guarantee" ..!
But still, not very good manners 4 days w / o responding

 

[MBSC]

I'm in

 

[jimmi]

Ebay & paypal protects me with "eBay Money Back Guarantee" ..!
But still, not very good manners 4 days w / o responding

Not sure if this is sarcasm. I have had issues enforcing their return policy from purchases in my own country. From out of the country? Forget it.

 

[S. Weiger]

Not sure if this is sarcasm. I have had issues enforcing their return policy from purchases in my own country. From out of the country? Forget it.

Not sarcasm. I have never had a bad ebay buy (knock on wood) , so I can't really say I have an opinion re. that. If they offer the guarantee and are too crooky to live up to that, I'll go directly to plan B: Chargeback the scumbags. That's also why I don't fund my paypal account in advance.