Lefty R9 with original PAFs

[doublea]

I haven't posted here in quite sometime and wanted to share this one. I acquired this 2013 R9 a few years back second hand. It is the best historic I've ever played or owned...of course us lefties have very limited options. Nice faded color and flame in the top with some really cool vertical grain and weighs 8.39 lbs. This is my number one so I put original PAFs in it with vintage spec Throbak pots and caps. The neck pickup is from an unfortunately damaged 57 Goldtop and is my favorite tone I’ve ever had. The bridge pickup is a 59 from a Les Paul Custom. Outputs are 7.82 and 8.33 ohms respectively. I've had various boutique pickups over the years and I'd say Timbuckers were my favorite from what I remember. That said, nothing quite compares to the dynamics of the originals...especially the clarity with the volume rolled back.

Anyways, this is as close as I'll ever get to a Burst.

 

[jb_abides]

Fantastic result, fellow lefty! Nice board on that one, too. Enjoy and thanks for posting.

 

[brandtkronholm]

Very nice!
Here's my 1995 R9 with PAFs.
I think I've had PAFs in my R9 since the 90s.

Neck: double black PAF 7.5Ω +/- from a 1962ish SG, sadly demolished. I acquired it back in the '90s and was able to harvest the pickups. I regret not keeping the SG, or simply taking all the parts, but hey, I was a kid, traveling and playing music, and guitars like this were relatively available back then! The good ol' days.

Bridge: double white PAF 8.3Ω +/- I purchased this double white years ago for another project that I never got to finish because someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Even with today's vintage prices it was a crazy good deal, but I digress. I had a double black PAF (also from the afore mentioned SG) in the bridge of my R9 for a long time, but I thought the double white might sound better - and it does. It's subtle, but I think I hear a pleasant little bump in the mids that I favor. There's a trade-off, maybe there's a little less high shimmer/sparkle in comparison to the old double black, but I really like the double white nonetheless.

Both pickups are unpotted.

I have three guitars with PAFs. The 1995 R9 here, a 1959 ES345, and a 1960 Byrdland. I find that old original PAFs compare very favorably with the Gibson Burstbucker - or Burstbucker - whatever Gibson is putting in their newest guitars these days. I've got Burst/Custombuckers in my 2022 M2M/CS EDS1275. It's not that the originals sound any better over modern PAF-style humbuckers made by Gibson and boutique winders, I find that the originals are quirky and mysterious. They don't behave as predictably as the new recreations. Then again, I really do think the new Gibson made PAF-style humbuckers are amazing pickups.

Here's a very short clip I just put up on YouTube. It might mot be ready for a bit, so try maybe back later:

I kept the original wired bridge from 1995. It works - what can I say? I also kept the original linear (500) pots. I like 'em. I do have Luxe Bumblebees and '50s wiring. These were a very good, very subtle sounding, choice.
This picture doesn't quite capture the color; it's much richer in-person. The curse of internet photos! Alas!

 

[renderit]

Brothers from the same mother! 2013 R9 my wife loved the colors so much see let me buy it, starting a huge problem for me...

I had my actual 59 Jr. and a 345 Nashville built 65.

Now I have achieved 'hoarder' status.

 

[doublea]

@jb_abides - thanks, and yeah this one has a very nice dark board on it.

@brandtkronholm - excellent, thanks for sharing. I agree the modern Gibson pickups sound good but, to my ears they do not maintain the same dynamics and clarity as a great PAF when you back off the volume a bit.

Both of mine are unpotted as well. I put the cover back on the 57 double black in the neck because I prefer the aesthetic. If it was a double white I would have left uncovered, although I am pretty sure only double blacks were in 57 Goldtops and Customs. I haven't tested it without the cover so it may even sound a little better that way. Both pickups sound amazing but, this particular neck PAF is something special. I don't own any good recording equipment but will try to get a clip or two with my phone at some point. Earlier this morning I was playing straight into a Sola Sound Tone Bender MKii -> HIWATT DR20/0.5 connected to a Port City 2x12 oversized cabinet. It's pretty much tone heaven at room tolerable volumes for me.

 

[Steve Craw]

I've had PAFs in several of my Historics and even a set in a 1977 Deluxe, (routed, of course) and I've found that yes, they're nice, but they aren't a magic bullet. I replaced my last set of PAFs with Throbaks, and find them to be as good, if not better.

 

[ParkerSlade]

Very nice!
Here's my 1995 R9 with PAFs.
I think I've had PAFs in my R9 since the 90s.

Neck: double black PAF 7.5Ω +/- from a 1962ish SG, sadly demolished. I acquired it back in the '90s and was able to harvest the pickups. I regret not keeping the SG, or simply taking all the parts, but hey, I was a kid, traveling and playing music, and guitars like this were relatively available back then! The good ol' days.

Bridge: double white PAF 8.3Ω +/- I purchased this double white years ago for another project that I never got to finish because someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Even with today's vintage prices it was a crazy good deal, but I digress. I had a double black PAF (also from the afore mentioned SG) in the bridge of my R9 for a long time, but I thought the double white might sound better - and it does. It's subtle, but I think I hear a pleasant little bump in the mids that I favor. There's a trade-off, maybe there's a little less high shimmer/sparkle in comparison to the old double black, but I really like the double white nonetheless.

Both pickups are unpotted.

I have three guitars with PAFs. The 1995 R9 here, a 1959 ES345, and a 1960 Byrdland. I find that old original PAFs compare very favorably with the Gibson Burstbucker - or Burstbucker - whatever Gibson is putting in their newest guitars these days. I've got Burst/Custombuckers in my 2022 M2M/CS EDS1275. It's not that the originals sound any better over modern PAF-style humbuckers made by Gibson and boutique winders, I find that the originals are quirky and mysterious. They don't behave as predictably as the new recreations. Then again, I really do think the new Gibson made PAF-style humbuckers are amazing pickups.

Here's a very short clip I just put up on YouTube. It might mot be ready for a bit, so try maybe back later:

View attachment 28668

I kept the original wired bridge from 1995. It works - what can I say? I also kept the original linear (500) pots. I like 'em. I do have Luxe Bumblebees and '50s wiring. These were a very good, very subtle sounding, choice.
This picture doesn't quite capture the color; it's much richer in-person. The curse of internet photos! Alas!


View attachment 28670

Wow, that’s an absolutely stunning R9—what a gem! The top looks incredible, and those original PAFs must sound amazing, especially paired with vintage-spec Throbaks. It’s awesome to hear how well it plays and how it’s become your number one. As a fellow lefty, I totally get how rare great finds like this are. Huge congrats on such a special guitar—it’s as close to a Burst as most of us will ever get! For students who need help with academic writing, turning to a service like UKWritings, which is available at https://ukwritings.com/ can be incredibly beneficial. They provide expert paper writing services. With their help, you can meet deadlines, improve your grades, and reduce the stress of managing multiple academic tasks at once.

It look beautiful!

 

[Subliminal lanimilbuS]

Still to this day trying to figure out why my old PAF's are my warmest pickups.