In the past there were no high-gain amps, no home recording studios, no computer monitors. Single-coil pickups were okay, and so were unpotted humbuckers. Who knew? Times have changed, but the clean, bright-yet-warm tone of the best vintage pickups still sets the standard for electric guitar sound. The Virtual PAF^TM captures the finest qualities of 50s and early 60s humbuckers to create a great sound. Patented Airbucker^TM and Virtual Vintage® technology permit the use of an Alnico 5 magnet to generate the same low string-pull that an Alnico 2 or 3 produces, and combine two of the most sought-after tonal characteristics: low note clarity and high note warmth. The neck model has a pure, bell-tone chime and the bridge model has a thicker, woody sound. The Virtual PAF^TM is available with both standard and F-spaced pole pieces and comes in black, creme and zebra (black and creme), as well as with nickel or gold-plated covers, and comes with 4-conductor cable for all coil-access combinations.

Recommended For:

Bridge.

Tech Talk:

An obvious question is the differences between the Virtual PAF^TM and models like the PAF® and Air Classic^TM The Virtual Vintage® technology in the Virtual PAF^TM adds a subtle, 3-dimensional presence to the overall tonality. It's particularly noticeable in the tonal balance between high and low notes: the high E string doesn't get brittle-sounding on the high frets, and the low E string doesn't 'mud out' on the lowest frets. Another advantage to the technology can be heard in split (single) coil mode. Most lower-output humbuckers have a very thin sound in this mode, but the Virtual PAF^TM has a warmer, more solid split sound. This also makes the bridge model very useful in 3-pickup S-S-H guitars, because the Virtual PAF^TM balances very well with many single-coils in both humbucking and split modes.

Specifications:

Wiring Standard four conductor
Magnet Alnico 5
Output 230mV
DC Resistance 8.32K
Year of introduction 2001
Patent # 5,908,998 & 5,399,802