The 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960 sets each use a different grade of Alnico magnet to recreate how the original humbucker changed through the late ’50s.
Gibson’s Pickup Shop has split its recreation of the original Patent Applied For humbucker into four year-specific sets, each based on the pickup as Gibson made it in a single year between 1957 and 1960. The 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960 P.A.F. Reissue Sets are available now through authorised Gibson dealers, the Gibson Garage stores in Nashville, London and Miami, and Gibson.com.
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Original P.A.F.s were famously inconsistent. Through the late ’50s Gibson used different grades of Alnico magnet and varying numbers of wire turns, which is a big part of why no two vintage pairs sound quite alike, and the new sets use those same variables to give each year its own voice.
The 1957 set runs Alnico 5 magnets and is the brightest and punchiest of the four, with tight lows, a slightly scooped midrange and the fast attack to cut through a dense mix. The 1958 set moves to Alnico 4 for an even balance between bass and treble and a slightly softer attack, making it the all-rounder of the group. Alnico 3 gives the 1959 set the open, woody character most associated with ‘Burst-era Les Paul Standards, along with a looser, more touch-sensitive feel. The 1960 set uses Alnico 2 for the warmest tone of the lot, with rolled-off highs, a sweet midrange and a touch of natural compression that suits singing lead lines.
“The original P.A.F. humbuckers have inspired generations of players because they do more than reproduce sound. They respond to the player,” says Gibson pickup product manager Jared Brandon.
Gibson developed the sets using 3D scanning, reverse engineering of vintage examples and specs from its archives, building them to the same standard as its limited 1959 Collector’s Edition humbuckers. Each pickup is wound on vintage Gibson coil winders with 42 AWG plain enamel wire on butyrate bobbins, which are double white on the 1959 set and double black on the other three. They have maple spacers, steel slugs and keeper bars, two-conductor wiring and True Historic nickel covers, and the period details extend to the Patent Applied For decals and the tooling marks on the baseplate feet. All four sets have unbalanced coils and are left unpotted. Unlike the Collector’s Edition, they come without a Lifton case, individual serial numbers or mounting rings, and each set covers both the treble and rhythm positions.
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