Dimarzio PAF Master/Transition experiences?

[Jeff R]

I have a custom 2H superstrat I'm whipping up as a shop project to sell and I plan to load it with new-generation Dimarzio 'buckers that are in their vintage-meets-modern realm complete with four-conductor leads for circuit witchery.

Any of you guys have any experience with:

-- The PAF Master pickups (apparently the follow-up to their 36th Anniversary PAFs) and/or ...

-- Their Transition series humbuckers? The latter were designed for Steve Lukather and were stock in his "LIII" signature model with EBMM. That guitar had a switchable onboard 12dB boost and I haven't ruled out some onboard whoop-ass on command if that's a "must" for the package, but I'd prefer to keep the circuit simple and without a 9V.

And go!

[Jeff R]

For more on the target platform and for eye candy's sake, here's the destination. Alder body w/quilt veneer (Charvel), maple/ebony neck (ESP, and I will paint the head glossy black and Danish oil the stock of the neck) and it will have an original German-made Floyd Rose.

 

[bubs_42]

I've used both. The PAF Master is a pretty moderate to lower output PAF. Clear but full but not a lot of push and the Transition is a hotter more compressed pickup. I purchased a Sambora pickup from ebay and put it in my McCarty and after playing if for a while I wanted  one with in black to go in the McCarty. My local tech loves pickups and is pretty much a pickup freak and Dimarzio lover. He tried to order me what I wanted and could not get one but he perked some ears over at Dimarzio. They transferred him to the guy that created the Sambora Pickup which is a slightly hot Paf (BUT NOT A PAF PRO). They had not made that pickup for some time and when "Luke" came in to create a new pickup for his new axe, they brought him a big box of pickups that they didn't offer anymore. So instead of trying to create from scratch they were going to start from an existing pickup. He felt the Sambora pickups was damn close but a little to bright for his signature guitar. So they wound the pickup with different wire and the standard slug/screw arrangement and that became the Transistion. I purchased the Transition and it rocked in that guitar. It also play's well with any of the Dimarzio PAF neck pups. 

It still worked great with the volume knob up or down. Great Pickup IMO. 

Dimarzio Transition in both

Dimarzio Transition Bridge with Air PAF in the neck is a great combo as well. 

Hope that helps. 

[Jeff R]

That is very good information. Leaning more and more to that Transition matched set.

[bubs_42]

53 minutes ago, Jeff R said:

That is very good information. Leaning more and more to that Transition matched set.

I think it would be a nice fit for that build.

[velorush]

On 2/21/2017 at 7:43 AM, Jeff R said:

-- Their Transition series humbuckers? The latter were designed for Steve Lukather and were stock in his "LIII" signature model with EBMM.

Wait.  He's ditched his EMGs?  Where have I been?

Beautiful guitar, BTW.  Blue Purple guitars sound better!

[Jeff R]