DiMarzio PAF PRO vs SUPER DISTORTION - Passive Bridge Guitar Pickup Comparison Tone Demo

[@PeanutButterPavement]

That PAF Pro sounds GREAT!

[@Murphy_R9]

Once again I'm reminded of why I love the PAF pro! The super distortion is a great pick up too But I prefer the lower output,definition and clarity of the PAF pro. 🤘

[@blackmagic8039]

Hi Mike as always you are doing a great job. I didn't think the Paf Pro would sound great, it sounds very balanced

[@johnnyronci]

Your pickup demos are the best on KZbin! I essentially live on your channel haha...and my other half says "there go those riffs again" even she knows your demos! Love them all man, and they have helped me very much in alot of project choices over the last year! I've been playing 30 years and my main go to pu's are the Dimarzio Super Distortion in bridge and PAF Pro in the neck, great to see a shootout between them. (My fav Dimarzios!!) I have some suggestions for other DIMARZIO pickups I'd love to see battle it out on your page. I'd love to see a Battle between a Dimarzio Evolution vs. EVO2 , anything with a D-Sonic (there is a huge lack of D-SONIC demos out there!) Also don't forget about the Dimarzio Breed and Gravity Storm, and how about Utopia vs Evolution, and the PAF Joe vs PAF Pro in a NECK pickup video, don't forget about the FRED and any of the Satch pickups. 🤸‍♀️🙏😁 ...PS- Humbucker From Hell Neck demo vs anything is much needed. You excel at this nitch man, noone I'd love to hear and see do these videos more than you!

[@epasternak4206]

Just beautiful, clean and articulate.

[@FerMetalHead1]

Wow!! I didn't expect them to sound that similar. Both are really great sounding pickups, can't go wrong with either, no matter what you play.

[@boddumblues]

SD is THE heavy metal pickup, its so rude its almost unmusical, but for the riffs its a beast. I have one guitar for that need, all my other guitars are lower gain. I couldn't play leads on a SD its too hard sounding, you can tame it a little with a controlled split but the basic character is always there. FWIW. Great video!

[@gooseabuse]

Both these pickups were designed to accommodate vintage gear problems, The SD was to get some juice out of low gain vintage amps and the PAF Pro was to help cut through the tone sucking Rack gear of the 80s. That's not to say they don't have their uses anymore though, I think the PAF Pro is one of the best pickups for DOWNTUNING.

[@CutOfTheStone]

This is why I'm here - DOWNTUNING! mainly for Kyuss songs - . would you still pick the PAF Pros in both the bridge and neck over PAF 36 Anniversarys?

[@gooseabuse]

@CutOfTheStone if it's just you I'd go for the normal PAF for a more full frequency sound. If there is a second guitarist, I'd go PAF pro, so the mid range will cut through the mix. I got turned onto this pickup from Phil from Monster Magnet. He plays these in his C tuned guitars

[@CutOfTheStone]

@@gooseabuse thanks for the recommendation. Super cool that you got advice from Phil at MM! I used to listen to their Powertrip album so much.

[@spaceshifterstereogunmachine]

The Paf Pro is my favourite Dimarzio. In neck through guitars they sound very good. At the neck too

[@XChristianNoirX]

A pickup that might be even more interesting for the neck if you already have a PAF Pro in the bridge is a PAF Joe. It's similar but a smidge less bass, a smidge more high end, and a smidge less output, so it'll probably balance well.

[@angusorvid8840]

I've owned a lot of PAF Pros and a lot of Super Ds. Still have some Super Ds. But the PAF Pro seldom gets the credit it deserves for how well it handles gain. It's also got a lot more clarity than the Super D. It's medium output and that's part of what accounts for this improvement in clarity.

[@AkiraSpectrum]

I just bought a PAF Pro set for my PRS, can't wait to try them out!

[@angusorvid8840]

@@AkiraSpectrum They're excellent. I used to use them and also the Fred. The output is about the same, very similar. The Fred was the first Satch model and it's a slightly tweaked PAF Pro. I popped my first PAF Pro into a Kramer because the JB was just too muddy. The PAF Pro solved the problem. Very warm pickup too. You'll dig it. If you play well it gets very note out loud and clear and also has great string separation for complex chords, better than a JB. It's what I'd call a pickup for grownups.

[@AkiraSpectrum]

@@angusorvid8840 awesome, can't wait!!

[@angusorvid8840]

@@AkiraSpectrum If you order one be sure of the spacing. I always get DiMarzio bridge pups in F-Spacing just to be on the safe side.

[@AkiraSpectrum]

@@angusorvid8840 Thanks. Yeah I ordered an F-space for my bridge.

[@johnmaddox1712]

out of all your vids this is probably 2 of the most similar sounding compared

[@mikestamper]

I have them together right now in one of my guitars, as they match amazingly, :)

[@ukdadgamer6033]

@@mikestamperPAF pro in the neck and Super Distortion in the bridge ?

[@YFQanthonyjam]

I was considering putting these pickups in my 8 string. PAF in the neck and SD in the bridge. Has anyone done this or have a reason not to?

[@armandoaraujo6128]

Dave Murray & Adrian Smith uses.

[@gusthfs8272]

Both are great pickups, but Super Distortion has that "plastic" DiMarzio kind of tone that sends me back to a magic era, where all started...

[@James-cm7so]

Excellent job you do brotha ! I have dimarzio paf in my parts box for like 30 years at least. I think I'm gonna swap out in part's caster

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

I like them both.

[@AkiraSpectrum]

love your channel and pickup comparison videos! Stoked to see the PAF Pro bridge on the channel now, just ordered a set for my PRS so excited to try them out. Would love to see a PAF Pro vs. Pegasus and Titan.

[@cooperd41581]

I have watched almost all of your Bridge video comparisons and I feel like I noticed something with this one. In your other videos with the Super Distortion first it sounded more punchy and thicker. In this one it sounded weaker and more thin. It didn't sound like the same pickup as in the videos where it is the first pickup. Did you record it any differently? Just a curiosity.

[@JaimeNoro]

The thing about the PAF Pro is it has a this very warm, fat midrange that never turns muddy thanks to a compressed low end and a very sparkly top end. That, and the medium output, gives it a very clear character, with a lot of weight and definition. It's has a very controlled pick attack though, not as dynamic as other more traditional PAFs, but that's also what makes it more agreeable for the player who likes to play fast solos.

[@thecappy]

My favorite partscaster has SD bridge and paf pro neck.

[@robotmeister009]

OMG the clarity in the PAF Pro almost made me think its an active pickup

[@sEaNoYeAh]

It's unbelievably articulate, but the nuance, feel and breadth of sound is beyond what actives are capable of. A lot of people on modern demos have been saying the PAF Pro sounds "HD" by comparison to most other pickups, and it's true.

[@JL-ef7bh]

Apparently Kirk Hammett said the same thing. He feels like with an active pickup, too much gain and there's too much noise.

[@Marshall_EL34]

In my les paul and hh strat i go with a super d in the bridge and a super 2 in the neck. The super d is sooooo much more dynamic then ppl realize. My guitar volume lives between 3 and 8. Lower the pup and raise the hex screws for brightness. Caressed lightly the strings radiate a 3d glow, lean into it and it grinds, bump the volume knob and really lean into it …it gets chewy AF. On a side note…my fav Sey duncan is the sh5 custom. A moderate output slightly overwound paf ish pickup but with a smaller ceramic mag ….just magic.

[@jayfnkay7941]

Good video, thanks. I wonder how both these pickups would sound in a SG made of mahogany?

[@sergeiivics188]

Please tell me if it is possible to install a boost on it DiMarzio PAF Pro ???

[@Betterifitsfree]

Correct me someone please, but didn't EVH use a Gibson PAF 57 in his original Frankenstrat, and isn't the PAF pro it's equivalent?

[@jorgemartinpellegrino6940]

More a 36th or paf master. I have a 36th set in my charvel so cal japan. So versatile. So much better than the tone zone. It's low output but so aggressive that's seems more

[@Archer82ify]

Dimarzio is the best!

[@MrRandali]

So helpful!

[@GabrielSkolderblad]

It really would be great if you could test the Dimarzio Air classic and Satchur8 thnx :)

[@Soloist1983]

PAF Pro sounds super balanced, Super Distortion sounds like it's got a lot of bass and low-mids. PAF Pro is going to be more versatile for sure

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

The Super Distortion is quite a bit hotter and has more chugging authority on the lowest strings. It's a perfect sound that's been around forever.

[@trevorbowers6236]

I have been using the paf pro for years, actually since the eighty's and its a great pickup. But, it is very sensitive to your amp/effects set-up. It's great with a mid-heavy tube screamer and good quality 'thick' sounding amps, however with cheap thin 'tinny' sounding amps, the enhanced highs will sound shrill and harsh. This also applies to the guitar your using, i never thought it would sound good in a les paul, but it works a treat!

[@ukdadgamer6033]

Have you got the paf pro in the neck ?

[@aleksistenbacka5925]

Hey could you get comparison with Super 3 and other high output pickups? There is very little quality comparison material about Super 3 in KZbin

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

I've tried a Super 3. They are really dark but pretty tight. It's like a dark, modern version of a Super Distortion. They used to put them in the Fender Heavy Metal Strats in the late 80s.

[@aleksistenbacka5925]

@@Donnie_Thornberry Yeah, I had it on one Ibanez but would really like to hear it face to face with other high output pickups. It was easy pick up to get that compressed old school death metal sound

[@hissinghed]

I like the sounds of the clean PAF, and the distortion of the SDS, what a dilemma!

[@NicolaIIILombardi]

Paf pro neck and sd at bridge

[@JustSeby]

Mostly prefer the PAF Pro for cleans and the Super Distortion for... well... distorted riffs/leads. :))

[@marievolkova3708]

PAF pro has more mussels... his high notes r sweets and full of of organic sound for leads... on anash or baswood body... I was very surprised how sounds when u use a down tuned for Eb /C # sharp... soo cool, thx . Mr. Lerry... my Ibi RG sounds awesome.. btw. not so brutal modern... but very cool on the midlle way... and if u have time, try to set up a pickup poles! u really ll be surprised how good is that one can ll do a brilliant neck sound... tone zone/ ibanezS1 singl 8n the middle/PAF pro ... hit the tone...

[@enslavedemperor97]

everywhere SD has more treblless just 5:03 PaF has more, you maybe swappped sound waves

[@yeti1002]

Both pickups are almost identical ..... Paf pro is slightly more open than the SD .

[@checkm8852]

SD has punch but not as full sounding as the paf pro

[@giorgosk2884]

Almost same tone but Super D is a bit boosted and fuller,both are great for a tamer tone Paf PRo is the choice while SD is the full boosted version you could say

[@jamesberlyoung9640]

dead heat until the thrash riff, then SD takes a slight lead - thats the sound i hear in my head. PAF Pro does sound great though

[@GabrielSkolderblad]

It would be great if you could tell what wood your guitar is made of.

[@mikestamper]

Alder body with canadian maple neck.

[@GabrielSkolderblad]

@@mikestamper Thanks! Do you have a favorite pickup in your guitar?

[@mauricioretamales4614]

Las dos suenan hermosas... las Paf para mi son mas equilibradas. Pero las dos son tremendas pastillas .

[@barryb90]

Great video. What neck pickup pairs with PAF Pro?

[@SteelBridges]

I use a Seymour Duncan Jazz at the neck of my Ibanez RG with the Paf Pro at the bridge, and it's amazing.

[@sEaNoYeAh]

Two PAF Pros are absolutely fantastic. It's a magnificent neck pickup as well.

[@_pant0m]

paf pro paul gilbert early 90s same with richie sambora

[@memeacademy2295]

SD is more confused .... Pad pro wins... More clarity and clean bite

[@jamiesmith1151]

The pat sound bright and brittle Thin

[@matteobenetti2668]

Paf pro KICK ASSES

[@fusoperso]

Paf pro

[@TheRealBarshonk]

PAF Pro is the clear winner. Just listen to the very last comparison on this video.

[@DrErickLopez]

Fizzy high gain with low end chug. SD All else PAF Pro

[@Arcturian1111]

I like the PAFs a lot. Way Punchier.

[@salvatorenapoli152]

SD!!

[@XChristianNoirX]

Easy. PAF PRO. It's clarity is virtually unsurpassed in the passive world.

[@83RED]

PAF PRO has a lack of low mids, while SD has this band no natural

[@deadlift65]

Super Distortion sounds more controlled, in my opinion

[@benwith6strings]

Super Distortion is more compressed

[@chrisCANguitar]

PAF pro wins again

[@Richtone85]

I just have basic demos of the same thing but using a Seymour Duncan 59. Blows peoples minds when they realise how PAF sounding, and not even a super hot PAF, the Super Distortion is.

[@whirekobzin]

That was also my impression when I had a Les Paul with a Super Distortion in the bridge. Sure, it was a stupidly high output pickup, but the tone itself was very old school and open.

[@metallitech]

Almost no difference then?

[@kazkylheku1221]

LOL, congratulations: you made both pickups sound almost like single coils on a Telecaster.

[@juliocesarvalt]

Paf pro