Stephens Design NOS Belden Wire PAF Pickup Clone Demo

[@kaphillum]

Dear Matt! Thank you so much for recording all your videos, they're amazing! ☆_☆ Sorry for the question, but you're simply the best: I'm about to go to the studio and record another album with my band but wanted to improve my beloved Gibby R9 ES-335's sound; I play mostly clean(ish) with reverb. I tried Wizz & OX4's, but Wizz lacked "magic", musical clarity and also felt scooped in the upper mids while the OX4's had more organic "magic" & P90-like quality but felt like covered with play-doh in the upper frequencies. Recently I played an original 1959 ES-335 through a 1965 blackpanel Pro Reverb and can't forget the angelic tight and strong sound of those original PAF's and also always dream about Peter Green's organic sound, particularly on "Need Your Love So Bad - USA Version". ES-335's can have slightly brittle bridge PU's that could use a tad thicker filling in the mids and woofy neck PU's that need to be tighter and less soft. Which of the PAF clones you tried would you recommend (NOS parts welcome too) to achieve those illustrious goals and has: tight and strong upper mids, open trebles, rather tight low-mids/bass, being very clear/open, with that tubby/fluty "greeny-magic"? (Can't tell if ReWinds, Stephen's Design, Mojo UK, Doyle Coil, Monty's, and/or others?) I would be so so grateful if you could recommend something, thank you so much! :))

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

I’d probably opt for a slightly higher wind then- perhaps the Rewind PAF-1’s? The Stephens and Mojo UK’s would also get you there.

[@kaphillum]

​@@mattthrun-nowicki8641oh thank you so much for your reply and recommendations! Will get one of those 3 then! All the best greetings! :)

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

@@kaphillum Hope it helps!

[@orbitaljellyfish808]

Sounds great👏👏

[@Kvtheblue]

Hi Matt, great playing as always! Does this Set kill your Mojo UK?

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

They’re tied as my favorites. If I were advising someone looking for a set, I’d tell them Mojo’s, given their reasonable price and accessibility. And they’re really neck and neck (bridge?) with the Stephens’s.

[@johnmirabile3535]

@@mattthrun-nowicki8641 I agree... I think the mojo old wire are sweeter... But, Daves just rock...Mojos 50s wire are low wind.. Dave overwinds his bridge pup which gives this grainy paf texture thing.. Mojos do the Peter green/b.b. thing well. Daves do everything well, but Especially the beAno/Clapton thing, all the way up to the Jimmy page thing fantastic... So for sweetness Mojos, for sheer power? Daves are unbeatable! Am i right Matt?

[@nextlp]

Maan, thanks for doing these videos. Seems like you covered most of the "interesting" (to me) PAF replicas... Myself, I have Peter Florance Voodoos (very much like a 57, low output) and I have Andi's (Crazyparts) Area 59 NOS Wire PAFs.. Would love to try the Stephens someday.. I'm also intruiged to try Throbacks... but something always keeps me from buying them.. mostly that they're a bit mainstream I guess...which sounds stupid I know.. I just like small business stuff better, although I have a lot of respect for what John did with his company... Cheers

[@johnpaniccia3802]

Sounds like none of your pickups make you happy....

[@123rwt123]

@nextlp how would you compare the Peter florance to the crazyparts?

[@nealhartsell3880]

Love your play and tone. I see the neck pup is sunk with pole pieces raised. Can't quite tell. Are the staggered or radius-ed? I'm guessing radius-ed?

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

The neck is a little above the plane of the pickup ring, with the pole pieces pretty flat. The bridge is close to the strings and radiused with the D-G-B pole pieces raised. Thanks for the kind words!

[@SDPickups]

Over the years I found out that Gibson set their PAF pole screws in a radius arc. In fact this is how you get the best warmth out of bridge PAF for MY work. But in neck position, I found that all the poles screws down flat make the slug coil, which is the brightest coil, dominate the sound, so you get the best clarity. You can raise the neck poles, which some may like, but the pole screw coil by itself isn't as edgy and clear as the slugs are. So radius arc in bridge PAF and poles down flat in neck is how I ship out the pickups. Also they set the screw slots to 45 degrees, which I also do. Pickup height is the other thing and takes awhile to dial in correctly, to personal taste. Lower neck height is a little more clear. In bridge, too high and the tone can be a little too loud and less clarity. so its all about finding the sweet spot for your own preferences. Higher bridge adjustment also makes a bit more warmth too.

[@aleksik4028]

@Thomas Swan = v v v or ∧ ∧ ∧

[@Chikalita2]

Do you have a favorite in the pickups you've tried??

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

These and the Mojo UK’s, probably

[@MilesToneAmps]

@@mattthrun-nowicki8641 That bridge....geesh! THAT's the tone!

[@mattthrun-nowicki8641]

@@MilesToneAmps It does really sound convincing

[@jamesoconnor5154]

Yo matt can I get a reply? Been trying to get a answer back so i can get your opinion

[@johnmirabile3535]

Hey buddy, have a set of these Beldons i need to sell.. There amazing but...Need to flip them...There 2 months old.. Got all the paperwork.. Let me know? There listed in reverb.. Ill even cut you in for a few bucks if you know anyone? John

[@MilesToneAmps]

Still have these? Interested!

[@stompdancer62]

Still available?