Possibly the best PAF ever

[Travis]

Well, I obtained a pair of Seymour Duncan SLU pickups for my USA Hamer Special FM last weekend. These pickups were designed specifically for the Hamer Artist Ultimate (pickups serial number matched to the guitar and dubbed "Ultimates") a few years back. Hamer bought up a few and the ones that did not get installed into the Artist Ultimates were named SLU (Slightly Less Ultimate). These pickups were later installed into the Studio Redwood that came out last year as a limited run. I grabbed a pair of the Ultimates and dropped them into my Artist Korina a while back and loved them. I got this pair from a guy off the Duncan board and dropped them into my Special FM last weekend. Let me just tell you this, if you're looking for a woody, smoky, vintage PAF tone that just oozes with vintage tone, these pickups are worth a look. I'm sure you can get them from the Duncan Custom shop. They are totally worth it.

[Aceman]

I so thought this was gonna be about PG's, which aren't bad either.

Cool - never heard about these. Have to check them out. Sounds tasty.

[Travis]

I had a pair of Pearly Gates installed in this guitar last year. I liked them, but I felt they weren't quite right for it. In fact, this guitar has been my "pickup swap test guitar" for the last two years. I've tried more pickups in this thing that I can think of. I yanked out the Brobucker-59/Distoriton hybrid combo for these pickups. The sound is definitely more "vintage" than the previous set. This is not a bad thing. I normally shred, or attempt to. But these pickups can do most anything. I am a firm believer that a good PAF, with the right amp, can do ANYTHING.

I highly suggest that if you have the means to order a pair from the custom shop, and you like vintage PAF tone, get some NOW!!!

[STRATDELUXER97]

And I thought this would be a plug for the antiquity pickups!

[Travis]

I have yet to try the Antiquities. I've had a few sets of Seths, and I liked them a lot. But, I ended up selling them to fund other stuff. To tell you the truth, I would love to perform a shootout between these SLU's and the A5 Anniversary Seths. I was going to grab a pair of those when MF was blowing them out at $200 a pair. But that's when I came across the Ultimates for the same price. I had to make a choice and I chose the Ultimates. I don't regret the decision, but I still wouldn't mind grabbing a pair of the A5 Anniversaries.

[STRATDELUXER97]

I have yet to try the Antiquities. I've had a few sets of Seths, and I liked them a lot. But, I ended up selling them to fund other stuff. To tell you the truth, I would love to perform a shootout between these SLU's and the A5 Anniversary Seths. I was going to grab a pair of those when MF was blowing them out at $200 a pair. But that's when I came across the Ultimates for the same price. I had to make a choice and I chose the Ultimates. I don't regret the decision, but I still wouldn't mind grabbing a pair of the A5 Anniversaries.

I use the strat antiquity single coils and love em.I've not used the Antiquity PAF series either,but I get the feeling I'd like a stronger magnet over the aged ones..The Seth might be the ticket also?

[Travis]

I'm bumping this because I think more people need to know about these pickups.

[CCC]

I'm bumping this because I think more people need to know about these pickups.

+1

I have a set in my Redwood, and I would love another set for my Artist, but the 400 $ Hamer charges for a set is to high for me. With shipping and VAT they would cost me more than 500 $.

[Jeff_H]

+1

I have a set in my Redwood, and I would love another set for my Artist, but the 400 $ Hamer charges for a set is to high for me. With shipping and VAT they would cost me more than 500 $.

Yeah, that is a bit steep. However, a custom shop pickup (which these would be) generally run about $160 +/- $10-15 bucks. That puts them at $340 here minimum, plus tax. That's getting pretty close to $400. We don't have the VAT of course.

What I'm saying I guess is that $400 is probably not all that far out of line, and you probably don't have to wait 6-8 weeks to get them.

[Jeffrec]

I use the strat antiquity single coils and love em.I've not used the Antiquity PAF series either,but I get the feeling I'd like a stronger magnet over the aged ones..The Seth might be the ticket also?

John,

i think youl'd like the Antiquity Humbucker. The magnets aren't as weak as you might think. Actually they're on par with the Seths. Great tone from both. I've got Ants in my LP and Seths in my '61 SG reissue.

Jeff