PAFs on a budget for those of us in the UK?

Concretebadger · Post by **Concretebadger** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:33 pm

I'm upgrading the pickups of the Epi Sheraton that I got through a trade with NickD earlier this month. It's a lovely guitar but it could do with a couple of tweaks, the main one being new pickups.

I'm not after anything too 'hot' and high output - an old-school double coil sound that brings out the semi-hollowness of the guitar would be fine. I have to stick to UK-based makers really due to import charges, so which ones would the rest of you recommend? I know Bare Knuckle are very good, but they're a bit out of my price range for now. There's also the Creamery and Cat's Whisker but since those two are less well known there aren't many reviews floating around. EDIT: I fitted some Toneriders to my old Strat and was impressed at how they could sound so good for the price. Does the same apply to their humbuckers?

I'm not intending to do any coil splitting, so it's a plain ol' PAF I'm after here. Suggestions?

mkt3000 · Post by **mkt3000** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:51 pm

I know you're UK based, but GFS's prices, after exchange rate, shipping, and duty, should be still quite good.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:16 pm

Just sit and wait and see if a set of Seymour Duncans come up for sale on musicradar. I bought a set of 59s for Â£40 or something silly. They sound awesome and I'd definitely recommend them. I'd probably steer clear of the Kent Armstrong PAFs that WDmusic sell, I have a set in my Eastman and I'm not a huge fan. They sound ok but nothing special. I'd say they're better than stock epiphone pickups but not on par with Seymour Duncan, Dimarzio etc... (reflected in price mind).

GFS do ship to the UK and if you're patient could be a good bet. The alnico ii pafs they sell are apparently very good.

Noisy Cat · Post by **Noisy Cat** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 6:45 pm

Check out the IronGear Pickups site.

timhulio · Post by **timhulio** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 8:42 pm

Are those IronGear pups just rebranded GFS types?

I know their website is SHIT, but I really think you should check out Catswhisker pickups. They are at least handmade.
http://www.catswhiskerpickups.co.uk/

Noisy Cat · Post by **Noisy Cat** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:18 pm

timhulio wrote:Are those IronGear pups just rebranded GFS types?

I'm not sure, but I don't think so.

I've got a pair of their humbucker-sized P90s in my Jagmaster and they're great - especially for the price.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 12:25 am

Also take a look at Entwistle pickups, they are cheap and yet really good. Have got a couple of their Nemesis HBs.
http://www.entwistlepickups.com/

Addam · Post by **Addam** » Sun Apr 28, 2013 2:53 pm

Have you thought about Axes R Us?

Â£22 each or Â£40 a pair isnt a terrible price.
I haven't tried them yet, but I might do in the future.