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Virtual PAF's...

T

toni

LPF Tone Chaser
Joined
Jul 26, 2001
Messages
1,103
My original post was:
=====
I just put in a set of double black new "Virtual PAF's" in my Historic 58...
yes...i know...Dimarzzio :dead: I had so many bad experiences with these "dry" pickups in the past...
but these new pickups are just GREAT. :wow
The tone is different but as good as "my" moded Antiquities with Alnico V magnets...!!!
Very warm and bright at the same time.
We have some fierce competition...
The best new "stock" pickups i have tried !
and not expensive !
=====

But what did i smoke yesterday ? :dead:
I really tought these pickups were as good as moded Antiquities...
I was totally wrong, I TRUELY APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
Gaston came at my home today and we A/B'd Virtual PAF's and moded Antiquities (Alnico V).
Forget what i said yesterday. These are two very different pickups.
The Virtuals do not have the "old 50's" LP tone compared to moded Antiquities...
Gaston must still be laughing at me :pisd
Virtual Paf's are very good pickups but moded Antiquities have that old full and woody tone...

Toni
:duh :duh
 
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Tonesnob

Tonesnob

New member
Joined
Jul 18, 2001
Messages
1,205
Hey Toni...

I've been thinking of trying those...

If you wouldn't mind, can you email me and let me how much you paid for them? I want to know what your version of "not expensive" is.


gbayless@hunter.com
 
LHakim

LHakim

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
2,113
Toni, those virtual pafs you just got are supposed to also have alnico V magnets in them. Are you to seeing and hearing a common theme for good sounding pickups?;)
 
E

Ed Rafalko

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
6,287
TOni, where you been? RICH has been screaming the praises of that pickup for months now!
AND they're readily available in double Cream!
 
D

Des Howl

Les Paul Forum Member, Classic Club
Joined
Jul 20, 2001
Messages
800
Okay, I've been sittin' the fence for months deciding what to buy. I think I'd rather get something I dont' have to MOD when brand new.

It might solve the Nickel Cover dilemma. (>>> Would there be nickel covers to fit DiMarzio pickups if I wanted 'em? Had to ask.)
 
T

toni

LPF Tone Chaser
Joined
Jul 26, 2001
Messages
1,103
Marshallhead,
keep us informed as soon as you get yours.


Tonesnob,
i paid 110$ each canadian , but i heard you can buy them for aroung 80$ u.s. each, a real deal.

yep Ed,
Rich was right when he told us these pickups do whatever you want them to do.
very musical and stronger than moded Antiquities so i have to lower them a bit to get "my" tone.
my 58 Historic with stock Classic 57's was very bassy and muddy (way too much bass compression), but now it has a tight bass but it still retains a very warm overall sound. My 59 Historic has moded Antiquities (alnico V), so now my two guitars sound different but both wonderfull.


yep LHakim,
you were right from the beginning when you said that Alnico V's have a better tone. (...at leat for my taste...)
as you said, a big part of the "secret" is there, i think.
Tomorrow, Gaston will be at my home, so you'll have a more "valid" opinion.

Des,
my old Classic 57's covers do not fit these pickups.
 
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Ian Anderson

Ian Anderson

New member
Joined
Aug 5, 2001
Messages
1,331
Would there be nickel covers to fit DiMarzio pickups if I wanted 'em? Had to ask.)
Click to expand...

Des, fear not - the DiMarzio website states that you get get them with chrome or gold covers :)spin

I'm going to try some of these after I've finished playing round with some 'hot' humbuckers for my LPCP. A 'Norton' is going in there - hope it's good or I'll be :pisd

:tfiend
 
nicholas

nicholas

Prince of Darkburst
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
1,648
I've been trying to get a pair for weeks now. No one out here carries them but Guitar Center :dead:

I am going to have RICH get me some I think.
 
M

MutantHands

New member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
8
Possible source...

Nicholas,
Have you tried any web shops? The Virtual PAF's list at $64.95 at this site:

www.musictoyz.com

I've used them a couple of times without a problem (for Rio Grande's :dead: ). It may pay to call them Monday and find out if they have them in stock.

Charles
 
daze

daze

New member
Joined
Jul 17, 2001
Messages
2,241
Must be some good shit ya got there toni:smokin:lolspin

DAZE
 
GastonG

GastonG

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 25, 2001
Messages
1,402
QUACK! QUACK! QUACK!...

Went to Toni's this afternoon to hear "virtual"...
They do sound kind of "quacky" to me, not in the ballpark of our modded Antiquitys. The Virtual Dimarzio don't have the rich and warm tone found on the "SD-Ant./P-90 Alnico V", but sound better than the stock classic 57 on my 2001 R-8.

I couldn't stop teasing Toni; quack! quack! quack!

Gaston
 
T

toni

LPF Tone Chaser
Joined
Jul 26, 2001
Messages
1,103
Thanks Guys for your psychological support...hee hee :davepaf

...in fact i am a real "PAF" myself, i mean a real "Pickup Addicted Fool" :nut
...and i was born in 1959, so i am a genuine 59 PAF. :wtf

Gaston :*#$% ,,,are you still laughing... :lol2
After our A/B test, i tought about punishing myself, :bonk myself, or :claw myself
and my forum's friends would have :lurk to me. hee hee

...but i took back the best medication to heal myself : two Antiquities moded with Gibson's alnico V's + a full hour of non stop playing :dude


BTW "Virtuals" pickups are really good,... but the "old breathy wood" tone belongs to "moded" Antiquitys.

Toni
 
roadrunner

roadrunner

Active member
Joined
Aug 25, 2001
Messages
6,835
Modded Antiquities :wail

Ok, I did the deal... dropped the alnico V magnets from an extra Gibson P90 (from my R4) into a set of Antiquities, put 'em in one of my R9s yesterday afternoon and played a show last night.
My tone is now HAPPENING! :dude This is the best pickup, next to a good set of PAF's I've ever heard... actually it beats a lot of PAF's I've heard.
Thanks to Toni and everyone else who has contributed to finding this solution.
 
T

toni

LPF Tone Chaser
Joined
Jul 26, 2001
Messages
1,103
Roadrunner,

thanks Big Al and LHakim,
THEY are the guys who made that great "Moded Antiquitys" discovery.
I just followed their recommendation.
...and YES, it absolutely beats a lot of old PAF's, just unbelievable.
Welcome to the club !
moded Antiquitys (with GIBSON's alnico V) have "the old burst tone" for sure !

Dimarzio's "Virtual PAF's" are good pickups, i put a set on my 2nd Historic and i like them too, they are very different, better than Classic 57's to my ears, but they do not have that "exact old 50's tone", they sound more "compressed" but are very good, but not in the same ballpark as moded Antiquitys.

enjoy :wail:

Toni
 
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LHakim

LHakim

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
2,113
Big Al should really get the credit for the modded antiquity idea. I only suggested the alnico V magnets which is what I have in my Travis Bean pickups. I just like whatever it is they impart to that guitar's overall tone, which to my ears sounds like the way your describing your guitars w/ the modded pickups:)
 
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