DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary F-Spaced Neck Humbucker w/ Nickel Pole Pieces (Black)

The DiMarzio PAF® 36th Anniversary Neck pickup captures the legendary magic of vintage humbuckers through meticulous engineering rather than simple cloning. Drawing inspiration from Seth Lover’s original Patent Applied For design, these pickups embody the essential characteristics that define great vintage tone: a soft magnetic field, sweet harmonic content, and the perfect balance between warmth and clarity that allows seamless transitions from clean to distorted sounds through pick attack alone.

Larry DiMarzio’s own 1959 cherry sunburst Gibson® Les Paul® served as the reference point for this re-engineering project, recognising that exceptional tone comes from the complete fusion of all guitar elements working together. The pickup’s deliberately weakened magnetic field allows strings to vibrate longer while maintaining remarkable definition and articulation — achieving an almost single-coil-like clarity despite its humbucker construction.

DiMarzio’s manufacturing process combines traditional craftsmanship with modern precision, using computer-controlled winders to consistently layer 42-gauge custom-coated wire for exact frequency response. The pickup is then treated with their proprietary formula to eliminate squeal and microphonics, while the nickel-silver cover features new plating technology that provides greater magnetic transparency than original vintage units.

The PAF® 36th Anniversary Neck delivers smooth, articulate tone without muddiness, performing equally well in neck or bridge positions just as the finest humbuckers from the 1950s did. This versatility and tonal excellence makes it an ideal choice for players seeking authentic vintage humbucker character with modern reliability.