What Is The 'P.A.F.' Sound?

The P.A.F. (patent applied for) pickup is one of the most iconic pieces of guitar gear in history, but what is the PAF sound? Used by players like Jimmy Page, Peter Green, Billy Gibbons, Joe Bonnamassa and countless others, this unique pickup sound left its imprint on some of the most famous guitar recordings in history.

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[blaisevaughan]

I’m absolutely loving these “what is the sound?” videos.

[Texasbluesalley]

Me: PAFs aren't really my thing.
Rhett: (makes this video).
Me: I have always said that I loved PAF pickups.

[fluffytoaster]

Me: "I'm an adult who's interested in relatively unknown history."
Rhett: "Ray *Butts* "
Me: *seth rogen laugh*

[themikepadua]

I want to commend Rhett not only on his playing, but his writing and storytelling. Major talent developing here on several fronts.

[Winter]

Too bad Lover and Butt didn't work together. The name would be the 'Butt-Lover pickup'.

Works ons many levels.

[stevenroznowski]

I own an actual PAF equipped 1959 ES-335. I’ve read a lot of Gibson history, and this video is true to everything I’ve heard and read, but is also very concise and fascinating. Great job!!

[tedjohnson]

This kind of thing is a guitar nerd’s dream. I’ve been playing about 6 months and feel like a sponge learning all these details about why a guitar sounds like it does. So cool.

[notanotherguitarchannel]

Back in those days when electric guitars were relatively new, design was largely based on ease of production or marketing, and subtle differences in tone were accidental, yet they nonetheless set a standard for the ideal sound. This is not the same story for violins, pianos, or almost any other instrument that was developed over a longer period of time.

[mwagliardo]

Pleasure to hear John, the man behind ThroBak and the tremendous historical knowledge he shares. The original Gibson winding machines are definitely guitar history! Great episode Rhett

[dustinbeasley]

Love the cover of "Brown Sugar" by ZZ Top. That first ZZ Top record was so great, and completely overshadowed by their later records.

[barbmelle]

From Leo: Good report, and the interviews made it top notch. Everyone forgets that a radio engineer in South Bend, Indiana, developed and patented the "hum cancelling transducer for steel stringed instruments" in 1936. As a radio man, he never manufactured or sold any pickups to guitar makers, so he is completely forgotten. Certainly the Butts design, and later the Gibson style are very usable and easy to adapt to guitars. If you have ever seen an original Charlie Christian pickup, they were terribly complex and difficult to install in a guitar. We are very lucky in this day to have so many viable pickup choices. Even the copycats from china and Korea offer some amazingly good pickups.

[zeusallmighty]

After years of saving, I finally got my dream Les Paul form Chicago Music Exchange. Got the 58' VOS, and it's got these babies in it. The chime like ring and full rainbow of sound, is like nothing I've ever played. Absolutely stunning

[misterknightowlandco]

I find it funny how back then they just wanted to make stuff that worked as efficiently as possible. It was all about saving production costs and what they could get their hands on. Didn't think twice about it. That approach is part of how we got all these great unique tones back in the day. These days people flip if a company tries something new or just throws shit together and forums go nuts with complaints about QC. Just imagine what companies could come up with if we werent so obsessed with specs. Just a thought.

[madhudason]

Hey @Rhett Shull, you should have your own Discovery channel show on all things guitar. Your voice, presentation style and research into subject matter is world class.

[KeolaDonaghy]

Lordy, that opening cut was beautiful, great tone. I can't name a single player who I know uses PAFs that I'd highlight. I have Lindy Fralin's Pure PAFs in a LP double-cutaway that I built last year, and they are amazing. I can't accurately describe them, but itʻs like there is some magical audio pixie dust that floats just above everything else. I've not heard it in anything else. I've never had the privilege of playing an instrument with real PAFs so can't comment on the differences.

As always Rhett, an outstanding video, great analysis and playing!

[absea]

Great video. I had read that when the humbuckers first came out, musicians had split opinions - they liked that the hum was removed, but complained they didn't sound like the P-90, that the sounds was darker, and not as punchy. As we all know, music changed as the 60's wore on, and the humbucker fit the rock sound perfectly. For me, the PAF sound is Jimmy Page (Song Remains the Same live concert), and early Billy Gibbons.

[RCSmiths]

It's really interesting that we have assigned so much value to tone in this day and age, tone is such a motivator to playing guitar in my opinion. Also another sick intro man!

[josephrasbold]

Hi Rhett! i just wanted to add, that Rickenbacker actually had a humbucking pickup a couple years before Gibson and Gretsch with their "Horseshoe" design on their Combo series of guitars! (Check out the Combo 800 guitar)

[chzzyg]

I got a pair of Seth Lover's last year for one of my Les Paul's, and suddenly they're my number one favorite pickups. I'm thinking about putting them in my AF75, and another Les Paul. They sound great. Very balanced and open sounding. Great for classic rock and blues.

[joshphillips]

I LOVE the homage paid to ZZ Top in the intro, "Gotta have some of that brown sugar." Nice rendition. Thanks for the insight on the PAF sound. ZZ Top first album is the best.