DiMarzio PAF Overwinding for an '82 Sunburst

[Moxie]

Hi. I'm attempting to restore my '82 Sunburst as close as possible to its original state by getting some DiMarzio PAFs back in there. After speaking with DiMarzio today they suggested an overwind of their PAF 36th Anniversary pickups, but really didn't have any guidance on how much of an overwind would be correct for the Sunburst. The stock DC resistances for the DiMarzio PAF 36ths are 8.60 Kohm (bridge) and 7.31 Kohm (neck), but I'd appreciate any guidance on exactly how much to have them juiced. Thanks!

[The Shark]

I'd hold out for period correct pickups. Start a thread here. They really are a different animal. They have a little less bottom than I need and a little more mid than I want. They're perfect.

[Moxie]

Good idea. Thanks. Just for my own understanding, the pups in an '82 would have been the overwound DiMarzio PAFs and not the DiMarzio Slammers, right? I've always been unclear when those came in to the picture.

[zenmindbeginner]

I think it was still a "calibrated" DP103 set in '82.

[Disturber]

If the originals were creme then they were the Hamer Dimarzio DP103's. If they were black then likely Slammers. I think most Sunbursts came with the Dimarzio's though.

I posted a reply for you in the SUnburst thread as well, but here's a shorter version:

If you want a more exact version of the old DImarzio PAF:s you should try to order two original DP103 Dimarzio paf pickups, wound with slighty more mids and to around 8,5 k bridge 8,2 K neck - it can vary some up or down. That would be more correct. AND if possible un-potted, and also on a Dimarzio BRASS base plate - as the originals. Even if you go with the 36's check if you can order them with the brass base plate instead.

I think you still can put an order with them for the original DP103 paf, they are just not a catalogue item anymore.

[Andrew]

It's a myth - Hamer Dimarzios (or Dimarzio PAFs) were NOT calibrated for neck and bridgeback then just different colours. I have tested a lot of pairs now and found no pattern that even hints at this 'calibration'. They were 10-15% overwound, that is all.

Both would be in the region of 8.5kohm in 1982. The modern equivalent may well be the DP103 as these are the closest in DC resistance and design. Period correct Dimarzios from any source other than a Hamer will be slightly lower wound.

[velorush]

My only experience was with an '80 Special, but that experience goes with Andrew's post: the pickups were nearly identical in DC resistance: zebra was 8.37k, the double cream was 8.44k. What's more, the zebra was the darker sounding of the two and worked much better in the bridge.

[Disturber]

My only experience was with an '80 Special, but that experience goes with Andrew's post: the pickups were nearly identical in DC resistance: zebra was 8.37k, the double cream was 8.44k. What's more, the zebra was the darker sounding of the two and worked much better in the bridge.

That is actually about the same as in my natural 4-digit. It's not in the list above. The zebra is about as hot as the bridge. I keep it low and the screws up a bit more than usual. That gives it the treble bite I need and it works pretty well. I think I have angled it some as well, to one side.

These old pups can take some time to dial in right. But once you hit the sweet spot they are killer.

[zenmindbeginner]

DiMarzio made OEM DP103 pickups for more manufacturers than just Hamer. lolz.

A good portion of the old DP103 PAFs on the used market are of the OEM variety... LOTS of 8.5K+ pickups out there to be had.

You do have to set your net out and be a patient fisherman though... perusing through the used "DiMarzio" category on eBay twice a day and saving stuff to watch is pretty much mandatory.

They're great PAF type pickups... LOTS of highs, upper mids. Great bite and articulation.

NOT the warm and vintage type tone a lot of people expect from an old set of pickups.

They have a full midrange unlike the scooped SD'59.

They have personality and heat unlike the SD Jazz

Whoop ass all over the newer 35th anny and Air Classics

Boutique offerings are all that is really left if you wanna get something new... a Duncan Antiquity with a fully charged magnet (Disturber's brilliant idea) will get you in the ballpark and on the field... might even score

[polara]

FWIW I was restoring an '81 Special (not refinishing or modding but I bought it with no pickups) and just stuck a pair of 36th in. They're not neck- or bridge-specific to my knowledge. Despite - or because of - that the look is right and I had to do no tweaking of heights or anything. Put the soldering iron down, plugged in, and it was aces from the first note. And I'm a picky bastard about sound. They're pretty bite-y, which I dig.

[Moxie]

Thanks again for the info gents. As I posted in the Sunburst Appreciation Thread, it looks like another HFCer has a set of original cream/zebra pickups that I might be able to go with.