PAF lovers - which hot humbucker do you like and why?

Duncan Custom 5. Also, the new Seymour Duncan '59/Custom Hybrid might be worth checking out.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/new-product/introducing-the-59custom-hybrid/

 

Like the 36th Anni in most guitars but the Air Classic is my new fave. Not necessarily "hot", per se but has a push on the low end and yet is incredibly even. I find the 36th can be a bit grainy and bright.

 

Kinman PAF Astound.

 

The two hot 'buckers with a more vintage feel I like are the Smits M14 and the Wolfetone Fenris. If those seem too hot for ya, they both make great pickups in the 10k range as well.

 

Suhr SSV is super nice, but likes distortion, not the best for lower gain. It crunches very well. It's the only humbucker to sound really good in my America deluxe strat, I could never remove it to try in my other guitars so YMMV. Gibson 57 Classic + is similar with I'm sure a more LP friendly voicing.

I have an issue with most hot PAFs, they often combine the lack of punch in the bass of high output pickups and lack of high end detail and clearity of low output pickups. I've tried and still own many ... Fralin PAF, Godwood, Mule, Marshallhead, BG Darkbucker, 36th Anni, Tyler Studebaker, many more. I do like Voodoo 57/59 for low output and AT-1 for balls to the walls playing.

 

Actually the SSV is dam close to a PAF, killer for lower gain. If you want it a little less output you can use our Neck SSV, same pickup as the bridge but totally PAF style wind.. Or smoother use the DSV

 

Hmmm...never heard this question on here before!

 

The Dimarzio Norton is a really nice pickup that sounds like it might fit what you want.

 

Wolfetone.

Why? Heads and shoulders above the rest imho.

 

I love the Gibson Burstbucker Pros. They are some killer pickups. Super fat and sweet eq frequencies.

 

I'm a big fan of the SD Custom Five and the JB

 

Not to put too fine a point on it but real PAFs from back in the day were not hot.

 

when i was younger, i liked the duncan custom. recently, www.smitspickups.com can wind some really nice stuff

 

Which is probably why the OP asked for something a little hotter than the originals.

 

I've had:
Seymour Duncan Antiquities - Round sound, Very mid range focused, smooth highs, big lows, one EQ usable for all positions

Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers - Same as above but a tad brighter and a little more modern sounding.

Dimarzio 36th Anniversary - Not much in the low end department, EQ for the neck and roll back the tone on the bridge to 8 and you have a great tone that will brighten the darkest of guitars.

My #1 is the Antiquity for Rock and the 36th for Modern Worship.

 

Another vote for Duncan Custom 5 (SH-14). Good vintage tones with more gas pedal.

 

BB Pros do nothing for me. Swapped them out for Fralin Pure PAFs on my LP, prefer the latter.

Tone is uber subjective.

 

Duncan Custom 5 and/or WCR Fillmore. Both really 'beef up' a bright rig but retain enough vintage flavor to still be paired with a more traditional wind neck pickup.

 

Not sure what Modern Worship is but those pickups are pretty much all the same thing, and far from "hot".