Just installed the PATB-3 Blues Saraceno

[Animal]

Popped it in the bridge position of my alder bodied, floyd equipped MIJ Jackson PS-4. This may be the pickup I've been looking for all along. Full and thick sounding with just the right amount of highs and clarity. Everything much warmer and nicely balanced.

I've seen people concerned that it won't have enough balls to do metal. With the right amp, it will do most heavy styles. You can certainly shred with this thing. It won't excel at say at technical death metal though or thrash. The smoothness of the highs doesn't won't give your sound the quickest attack or searing highs that are so prevalent in metal. The lows are tight and big enough to work some grinding palm mutes into the equation.

As a hard rock pickup this thing is awesome. Fat and juicy without mudding up. The cleans are quite nice also.

I had a PATB-2 Distortion in the bridge position before and I must say I was a bit worried I wouldn't have much use for this pickup. Going from the huge output of the ceramic PATB-2 to the much more conservative alnico V PATB-3 could have taken a lot of adjusting. Well, the Blues pretty much filled all the voids of the Distortion model. The only thing I can find lacking with the Blues Saraceno compared to the Distortion is less tightness and cut. But it really doesn't matter too much to me since the tone is so much more pleasant.

I'm guessing the PATB-1 Original would probably be the best of both worlds however I'm going to stick with this for a while. It's really made the bridge position sound much more fat and less brittle.

[Kosh Naranek]

+1! The Blues Trembucker has deluxe, custom shop tone! Lots of harmonics (pinch harmonics with the Blues Trembucker are amazing!), but not harsh or too edgy. Lots of crunch, yet sounds nice clean. Highs are sparkly, but not ice-picky when you play clean.
It might have a little too much bass in some guitars, but in a guitar that's not too bassy, it's great.

[jeremy]

im re-puping my hamer daytona with a patb-3. love that pup!! fat and tasty

[Kosh Naranek]

It should sound great in a Daytona with alder or ash body. I have one in an alder body Hamer Diablo and it's perfect.

It's great in alder guitars. The only guitars I've found it doesnt always work best in are mahogany, especially with Gibson scale length.

[theodie]

It dosent get much better than a PATB-3. I have it in my Jackson SL-4.

+1 on the "deluxe, custom shop tone"!

[daemon barbeque]

Haahaha!PATBs rule!I can't still get why they are so underrated?!?

[jeremy]

lots of people dont like the look. they probably pay too much for shoes too

[_Guitarzan_]

I love the PATB-3. That is one badass mofo pickup! I have one in my '89 Ibanez USA Custom RG! Much Love here!

[dr.barlo]

Am gonna be getting one very soon. I wish they came in zebra (and double cremes). Bummer!

B

[jeremy]

yeah me too but i doubt that most people would go for one. they should do it just for you and me doc

[Kosh Naranek]

I've got a guitar that a zebra or creme one would look cool in. But since I already got a black one for that guitar, I guess I'm not in the market anymore.

My Jackson PC-2 now has a PATB-3 in a creme mounting ring at the bridge.

[daemon barbeque]

Yeah if we don't buy enough PATBs ,there will be "never" other color options!
BTW ,i like the looks of PATB!Looks more "hi-fi" ,or more "pro" somehow ,and has more balls!
Whatever ,no other PU design (even actives ,wich i like) has the sustain and dynamic abilities of PATBs...
And Doc!You will love the sustain!

[Kosh Naranek]

They look great. Especially in a guitar where all the pickups are Parallel Axis.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Man what a sweet Hamer!

[jeremy]

i was thinking the same thing