Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $99

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$99

$200+

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High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 2 merchants for "PAF Master Neck". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

Experience the perfect fusion of vintage charm and modern precision with the PAF Master Neck pickup by DiMarzio. Designed for musicians who crave the iconic, clear, and punchy tone of classic PAFs, this humbucker doesn't just replicate—it elevates. Thanks to its unbalanced coil sound, it delivers a rich, sustaining tone with unparalleled articulation, all while maintaining excellent hum cancellation. This means you can focus on crafting your sound without the noise.

The PAF Master Neck pickup features meticulously tuned coils and a carefully selected Alnico 5 magnet, ensuring that your guitar sings with both warmth and clarity. Whether you're playing blues, rock, or jazz, this pickup is engineered to bring out the best in your instrument, making every note you play feel alive and vibrant.

Join our musician community to explore this piece of musical artistry, discuss installation tips, or share your tone experiences. With the PAF Master, vintage meets modern in a way that's not just heard, but felt.

Key Features:

  • Humbucking pickup with optimized vintage sound
  • Unbalanced coil sound for rich tone and sustain
  • Wiring: 4 Conductor
  • Magnet: Alnico 5
  • Output mV: 193
  • DC Resistance: 7.37 Kohm

Product specs

Type Humbucker
Position Neck
Active/Passive Passive
Magnet Material Alnico V
Number of Conductors 4 wire plus ground
DC Resistance 7.37K
Connectivity Soldered
Number of Strings 6
Covering Covered
Format PAF

FAQs

What type of tone can I expect from the DiMarzio PAF Master Neck Humbucker Pickup?

The DiMarzio PAF Master Neck Humbucker Pickup offers a warm, vintage tone reminiscent of classic PAF humbuckers, with a smooth midrange and a clear top end, making it ideal for blues and classic rock.

Is the DiMarzio PAF Master Neck suitable for all types of electric guitars?

This pickup is designed for 6-string electric guitars and fits most standard humbucker routing, making it widely compatible with various guitar models.

How does the DiMarzio PAF Master Neck compare to other PAF-style pickups?

The DiMarzio PAF Master Neck is known for its balanced output and vintage warmth, offering a nuanced tone that stands out for its clarity and dynamic response compared to other PAF-style pickups.

Does the DiMarzio PAF Master Neck require any special installation?

The pickup requires standard soldering for installation with its 4-conductor wiring, allowing for versatile wiring options, including coil-splitting if desired.

What kind of magnet is used in the DiMarzio PAF Master Neck Humbucker Pickup?

The pickup uses an Alnico V magnet, which contributes to its vintage, warm sound with enhanced sustain and clarity.

LarryDiMarzio

LarryDiMarzio

Paul Gilbert demos DiMarzio PAF Master Pickups

Video thumbnail for Paul Gilbert demos DiMarzio PAF Master Pickups by LarryDiMarzio

Paul Gilbert demos DiMarzio PAF Master Pickups

LarryDiMarzio

LarryDiMarzio

Video thumbnail for Epic PAF-Off: DiMarzio PAF Master vs 36th Anniversary PAF Set by Six-String Samurai

Epic PAF-Off: DiMarzio PAF Master vs 36th Anniversary PAF Set

Six-String Samurai

Six-String Samurai

Video thumbnail for DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge and Neck Pickups by Guitar World

DiMarzio PAF Master Bridge and Neck Pickups

Guitar World

Guitar World

Video thumbnail for Dimarzio Paf Master Neck vs 59 PAF Neck by Kuitaristi

Dimarzio Paf Master Neck vs 59 PAF Neck

Kuitaristi

Kuitaristi

Video thumbnail for DiMarzio PAF Master Set - Tone Demo by Kunal Singh Music

DiMarzio PAF Master Set - Tone Demo

Kunal Singh Music

Kunal Singh Music

Video thumbnail for Dimarzio PAF Master Neck by Jared Buckley Music

Dimarzio PAF Master Neck

Jared Buckley Music

Jared Buckley Music

Video thumbnail for Review Captador DiMarzio PAF Master Neck DP260 by Piguitars Oficial

Review Captador DiMarzio PAF Master Neck DP260

Piguitars Oficial

Piguitars Oficial

Reviews

PROS

  • Opens up top end, eliminating muddy tones in the neck position

  • Bold and present even tone with stable low end

  • Versatile sound, offering both vintage and modern tonal qualities

  • Dynamic response to playing techniques like slides and pull-offs

  • Unique tonal shift when reversed, adding harmonics and strat-like quality

  • Excellent for blues, southern rock, and classic rock tones

  • Exceptional clarity in clean settings across lows, mids, and highs

  • Effective coil splitting for authentic single-coil tones

  • Balanced output that pairs well with high-output bridge pickups

  • Captures vintage tones reminiscent of classic artists and styles

CONS

  • Lacks bass, may require EQ adjustments to compensate

  • Not suitable for those seeking smooth and creamy neck pickups

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about PAF Master Neck.

Comparisons

  • The PAF Master has lower output and is more dynamic than the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary, making it suitable for alder or ash bodies with maple necks.

    Source
  • The DiMarzio PAF Master is compared with the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF for the neck position, offering cleaner tones than high-output options.

    Source
  • The DiMarzio Humbucker From Hell is noted for its clarity and high-end emphasis, reducing muddiness in the neck position of a Les Paul.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • PAF Masters are recommended for guitars with swamp ash bodies and maple necks, particularly favored for their dynamic range in such setups.

    Source
  • A combination of Super Distortion in the bridge and a PAF style pickup in the neck provides more tonal variety for recording purposes.

    Source
  • A PAF pickup in the neck is suggested for a warmer sound contrast in a Les Paul setup, enhancing tonal blending with a high-output bridge pickup.

    Source

User experience

  • Paul Gilbert's use of the PAF Master highlights its dynamics, suggesting it excels in versatile playing styles.

    Source

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Artist usage

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See how Paul Gilbert uses PAF Master Neck

Paul Gilbert

Guitarist

Mr. Big

...
Verified via YouTube

In this 1992 Interview with DiMarzio, at 2:11 Gilbert states:

"These pickups in here now, these are both PAF Pros, which have a nice kinda a little bit of a Michael Schenker kinda [imitating cocked wah] to it, best way I can describe it, and it sounds something like this..."

[Playing]

"...And the low end is still real chunky you know, if you like the fast picking stuff it comes out pretty clear..."

[Playing]

"...And it still as a lot of agression and the Gary Moore kinda sounds to it..."

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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