Author Topic: Question about PAF pups and ACDC (Read 6259 times)

sskint · « **on:** August 31, 2007, 06:03:17 PM »

For that PAF pickup tone are these usually scooped in the mids? Regarding Angus tone is his pickups more mid heavy or scoop?
Thanks

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2007, 06:21:04 PM »

I wouldn't say PAFs are mid-scooped, not would I say Angus' tone is mid-scooped either.

When I go for a classic Angus tone I always crank the mids way up on my Marshalls.

Compared to something like a Crawler, PAFs do have less mids but it's more balanced.

Compared to something like a Miracle Man, the PAF has more mids.

:twisted:

sskint · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2007, 06:22:15 PM »

so is the Riff Raff more balanced like 5-6-8 B-M-T

Twinfan · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2007, 07:34:15 PM »

I'd say that was a fair guess at the EQ, maybe more 5-6-7. My Riff Raffs certainly don't sound sharp at all and no-one has ever said I don't sound like Angus.

What guitar/amp are you using? And are you trying to get an Angus tone?

AngusYoung01 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2007, 08:29:41 PM »

I've always found trying to nail the perfect Angus tone is impossible :(

Oh well, Don't really play AC/DC anymore

Twinfan · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2007, 10:08:13 PM »

True, no-one ever sounds exactly like any other guitar player. Each person's style is unque. However, you can get close.

HTH AMPS · « **Reply #6 on:** August 31, 2007, 10:30:44 PM »

Whats great about Angus' tone is that it's much cleaner than you think - all the sustain comes from playing VERY loud.

With the SG being quite thin, the body vibrates when you play - couple that with a cranked plexi and you're in for a hairy ride :lol:

:twisted:

keano · « **Reply #7 on:** August 31, 2007, 11:00:48 PM »

Yeah right now I got EMG, JB and SD Custom 5. custom 5 sounds most Angus obviously. I am thinking of trading in JB for RY or Holy Diver, and or Crawler. So I am in area but not trying to perfect it just near it. cinderella are anotehr favorite.

ericsabbath · « **Reply #8 on:** September 01, 2007, 04:12:32 PM »

riff raff clips on players forum sound almost exactly like angus
i don't think it's mid heavy (only the amp, not the pickup)
it has a cutting treble, lot of brightness and tight bass with few mids
usually PAFs are scooped and very dark

Ted · « **Reply #9 on:** September 01, 2007, 06:39:29 PM »

Quote from: Eric Hellstyle

riff raff clips on players forum sound almost exactly like angus
i don't think it's mid heavy (only the amp, not the pickup)
it has a cutting treble, lot of brightness and tight bass with few mids
usually PAFs are scooped and very dark

+ 1

I'd go riff raff for ac/dc tone, just by listening to those clips

Tellboy · « **Reply #10 on:** September 01, 2007, 06:44:12 PM »

Quote from: Eric Hellstyle

usually PAFs are scooped and very dark

??????????? I realise the definition of 'scooped' and 'dark' is subjective and means different things to different people but that would be bottom of my list if asked to describe PAFs.

Every_Mn · « **Reply #11 on:** September 02, 2007, 06:46:25 AM »

Can I point out that Ang's '68 SG he's famous for doesn't even have actual PAFs?

Twinfan · « **Reply #12 on:** September 02, 2007, 11:08:42 AM »

Correct, they're Patent Number pickups. Which is what a Riff Raff is similar to...

Tellboy · « **Reply #13 on:** September 02, 2007, 11:23:41 AM »

Quote from: Every_Mn

Can I point out that Ang's '68 SG he's famous for doesn't even have actual PAFs?

Yep - I think the timeline looked something like this:-

1956 - 1957 Original PAFs with no PAF sticker
1957 - 1960 Original PAFs with "Patent applied for sticker"
1961 - 1962 Last PAFs with short magnet.
1962 - 1965 Patent number sticker. Red/copper coloured wire used instead of purple. (I have these in my '64 SG Standard)
1965 - 1975 "T-buckers" - known as this because of the "T" on one of the bobbins.
1975 - 1980s More T buckers but with the correct patent number on the sticker. (previous PAFs stickers had used the number of a Les Paul tailpiece patent)

I believe there were instances of individual pickups being made (or fitted to Gibsons) outside of these dates, but I think they are roughly accurate.

So that would indicate Angus uses mostly T-buckers although I have seen videos of him playing early SGs (small pickguard) which would suggest 62-65 patent number pickups.

Twinfan · « **Reply #14 on:** September 02, 2007, 11:37:31 AM »

I thought T-tops came later than '65???