This model was discontinued in 2008 and replaced by our new 2008 PAF®.

In the past there were no high-gain amps, no home recording studios, no computer monitors. Single-coil pickups were okay, and so were unpotted humbuckers. Who knew? Times have changed, but the clean, bright-yet-warm tone of the best vintage pickups still sets the standard for electric guitar sound. The Virtual PAF™ captures the finest qualities of 50s and early 60s humbuckers to create a great sound. Patented Airbucker™ and Virtual Vintage® technology permit the use of an Alnico 5 magnet to generate the same low string-pull that an Alnico 2 or 3 produces, and combine two of the most sought-after tonal characteristics: low note clarity and high note warmth. The neck model has a pure, bell-tone chime and the bridge model has a thicker, woody sound. The Virtual PAF™ is available with both standard and F-spaced pole pieces and comes in black, creme and zebra (black and creme), as well as with nickel or gold-plated covers, and comes with 4-conductor cable for all coil-access combinations.

Recommended For: All positions

Tech Talk: An obvious question is the differences between the Virtual PAF™ and models like the PAF® and Air Classic™. The Virtual Vintage® technology in the Virtual PAF™ adds a subtle, 3-dimensional presence to the overall tonality. It's particularly noticeable in the tonal balance between high and low notes: the high E string doesn't get brittle-sounding on the high frets, and the low E string doesn't "mud out" on the lowest frets. This characteristic makes the Virtual PAF™ neck model equally effective in both neck and bridge positions where sonic clarity is most important.