WTB: Pair of Dimarzios correct for an 81 Special

[polara]

I really like the black '81 Special I got from bizzwriter. Pretty light, very lively, a very smooth, comfortable guitar. I immediately popped a pair of Ibanez Axis pickups in it and they sound nice but I honestly like the guitar more than I had anticipated so...

I want to try to semi-restore it to stock setup. The beat-to-hell finish is cool, and with no cracks or real damage and the original paint and tuners and frets... it is crying out for a set of Dimarzio PAFs, creme in the bridge, zebra in the neck, with the creme rings. I probably will just order new ones but if anyone has a set, either period correct or more recent or new... let me know!

Thanks...

Rick

[zenmindbeginner]

You are talking about a Dimarzio miracle. A period zebra neck is going to be next to impossible to find... likewise a super high output double creme PAF is gonna be a bitch to score as well. Most double creme PAF pickups are in the 7k-ish range as far as resistance goes. A period correct PAF will need to have a resistance over 8k... more in the range of 8.3 0r 8.4k.

You will want to start here though... a member (Peedenmark) has a genuine double creme PAF taken from a 81-82 Hamer for sale on eBay. He offered it here for $75 last week and nobody bit, so he listed it on eBay. It has modified feet, but they aren't too modified and will work with little nuts (3-48) soldered on.

Here's the auction.

If you can't find a period correct zebra neck, then a boutique zebra (Gregwind, Fralin, Barenuckles etc.) would be cool too.

[serial]

I bought a dozen or so double cream Dimarzio PAFs about 10-12 years back. Almost every one metered out in the high 7ks/low 8ks. I doubt they were all from old Hamers, but frankly, they sounded identical to the ones I pulled out of old Hamers from the 80-82 era.

The poles on the slug coils of the older (pre-1982) ones are slightly beveled around the edges. Leads are plastic wrapped (early 1979 and older are braided).

You can find them a lot more easily (and less pricey) than original Hamer ones. The zebras are another story.

[Armitage]

The new DiMarzio PAF DP103 Humbucker 36th Anniversary Guitar Pickup

claims to be 8.6 for a bridge and 7.31 for the neck... I haven't tried one, and don't claim it's like the old DiMarzio PAF or the specially commissioned one(s) for Hamer.

Note that their zebra seems to be reversed from the way they used to do it.

[polara]

I just ordered a pair of new Dimarzio PAFs... I think the odds of finding correct pickups at a conceivable price are pretty slim, and this will get me the right basica sound and look!