I like the Tim Shaw PUPs, had a 1980 Les Paul with them. Sold it a few years ago, the biggest mistake I ever made, second to marrying my first wife.

the blair witch project meets PAF testing

I have to say they both sound really good. And what a great amp. So cool.

Very informational. Thank you for taking the time to do all this and report it in video format. I have guitars with shaws and numerous PAF copies. Can't afford real PAFs in one of my guitars, as they're now running $2,500 - $3,000 each on eBay!

The Tim Shaw really sounded good...killer pickups

both pups sound good i preferred the shaw it sounded fuller to me thanks for this cool video!!!

I agree that the amp definitely plays a major role in the sound of the electric guitar as well, tube vs solid state; speaker size /enclosed or open back, voice coil diameter. Lots of variables here. Howeve,r I notice that no two players sound exactly the same. There are variables there also: finger mass or size, finger pressure, strum speed or force, using fingers vs. picks and thickness of picks. As for the guitar you have: body and wood type, hardware metal type, cast vs. solid steel, plastic vs bone nut, string gauge: (flatwound vs. roundwound), pickup type humbucking vs. single coil. vs. p-90, magnets: alnico 2.3.4.5.8 vs ceramic, pickup height.

Nice video , thanks for sharing. I have often wondered why the older pickups often sound better. I suspect that overtime the magnets begin to loose their intensity. Most guitarists place their guitar on or near the amplifier or a 4 x 12 cabinet. Overtime, placing the guitar close to the speaker, may have a degaussing effect on the Alnico 5 magnets in the pickups. The magnetic field around a 12 inch Celestion ceramic speaker ( Alnico speakers seem to be less) can be detected with a compass as far as two feet away. So it may have a mellowing effect on the pickup.

I know this is an older video but, from everything I've read and seen, that Tim Shaw pickup is a T-Top. I have a pickup with the same date code stamp (Aug 30 1979) and it's a T-Top. Tim Shaw pickups had a different stamp. My Dirty Fingers from 1980 have the "Tim Shaw era" stamp style: 427 980 (427 - model, 9 - Sept, 80 - 1980). My Dirty Fingers from 1984 has the same style (4031084). Reference: search Google for "tim shaw pickups 137", it's the first hit - I can't post a direct link here.

I like the Tim Shaws better. I have a perfect set in my 1983 Les Paul Custom and 3 spare ones so far.

Tim Shaw did as great job in making his Pickups...Very close to the real deal of the PAFs

To my ears...the shaw was a bit more articulate...but I have to say I like the overall sound of the PAF better...it's warmer and more balanced to me.

You can only get that harmonic sparkle at the bottom of the notes on a paf...or stephen design, throbak, electric city, etc etc type of PAF pickup replica. ... there's no sparkle. ..the spank n honk is there. ...but it lacks sparkle on those full chords

Great video, thanks. My two cents is, the Shaw sounded a LOT sweeter, more musical and had richer harmonics. I am listening on a high end monitor system, not a phone. The PAF sounded flat and lifeless, in comparison. Thin. I have heard an R9 Les Paul with original PAF's in it, and they were also flat and lifeless compared to others with stock pickups. . Funny, I know, but some PAF's were great, some were not (that's what I read, I am not an expert on them), and this video proves this notion, IMO. Heck, Bernie Marsden even said that he once had a beautiful 1960 Standard, and he sold it because it just didn't sound all that great compared to others. I am not against vintage gear, quite the opposite. I have a basement full of vintage Marshall's. I sold a lot of mint amps and cabs, and kept the best, because they too have good ones and mediocre ones. Thanks for the comparison, very well done.

paf 8.35 would be great for the bridge ..the shaws sounding fuller as every one else says,i read that the shaws were stamped 330 and 299 for neck and not year stamped..more likely a p490 great PU also.. both were great thanks for the upload

Really, I liked the warmth of the Shaws as I heard them.

"I've had this broom 50 years. It's had five new handles and twenty new heads." If it's been rewound, it's just a humbucjer, now.

Shaw's sound is really awesome.

Shaw pups sound good Doyle Coils sound amazing , Like the best Real PAF Pups.

As far as I know it is not weight relieved. It is quite heavy, Those Shaw pickups came stock in the Heritage 80 Les Pauls and sound amazing! However, I might add very microphonic so they feedback like crazy with heavy distortion. I was surprised how close they were to my real PAF. Thanks.

The Shaw's are highly praised by many that own or have used them . the old original PAF's had this bell like chime to the overtones that more modern made ones do not get? I do not know what their secret was but only the originals have this chime i am talking about. The clarity and note separation is unsurpassed on those old ones as well. Wizz, Doyle Coils,OTGP and a few others have got really close though.Doyle coils tru clone and Wizz premium PAF are the closest i have found without having to get the originals which by the way in todays market are a extreme gamble due to forgery being so good in our present day. The fakes as so good now there is no way you can tell them apart VISUALLY so Buyer beware!

The neck and bridge pickups have different spacing. Bridge is 2 5/64th" and the neck is 1 15/16th" centers for the screws.

Maybe the shaw pickup sounded better to me? A little fuller...?

Like day and night. Really a remarkable difference.

The PAF's were a shallower sounding pickup to begin with so the sound of them in this video was authentic. The Shaw's are more musical and full. If you have to have a sound from the "Golden Era" you want the PAF's. If you want to sound full across the spectrum you'll want the Shaw's.

the shaw pickups really is very very close to the real deal:) thanks

The PAF has a very vintage sort of punch to it. The Shaw sounds very close as well, but it has a different attack.

Yes, I think the Shaw's are amazing. I tried to keep the pickup height and pole height the same in my demonstration. I have played the Shaw's out live for several years and they get the bes "Duane" tone I can find. I didnt have a chance to play the PAF's more than once. Again, just a little more"hair" on the top of the note with the PAF. You wouldnt know unles you did a side-by-side. In a blind test I dont think you could pick one out from the other. Thanks!

Shaws had a six digit number, dated pickup is a T-top, I have an 83, 335 with Shaws. Once you rewind a PAF it kinda blows the whole thing. Not that it ruines the pickup, it makes it work as opposed to not work. The whole PAF thing is overblown anyway. They were all so different that there is NO PAF tone. All pickups are a coil with magnets, NO MAGIC. If you like it it's good. Vintage gear is cool but has become a way to charge ridiculous amounts of money based on myths.

How can you call it a true PAF if it was rewound? Isn't there a belief that the person winding the pickup or the method that a pickup is wound is what makes the difference? I actually like the sound of the Shaw pickup. The PAF sounds compressed to me, or it may be the digital recording effect.

Barney Kessel and other jazz Gibsons used narrow pole space PAF. Tim Shaw has the same spacing as a PAF from a Les Paul or SG or ES- 335

Lmfao the dog is like, wait, boss, no, wait, no, wait let me, wait, let me get the F OUT OF HERE

Yeah, maybe a little more honk on the PAF's. Not much though. I had a chance to play the Kessel Live last weekend with the PAF's and I have to tell you they are screamers. The shaws are now back in the Heritage 80 Les Paul and are great too. Since the guitars are so different there is no more comparison. However, when I flipped to the bridge pickup on the Kessel for a solo, I think I saw god.. or Duane. (same thing)

The PAF has a Bell like tone ..beautiful !!!

I can hear that the PAF's magnets are a little weaker giving the guitar a smoother and clearer tone.

Interesting video. A couple observations. It’s not the pick up is that much thicker but the bell covering is. In addition I think it’s important to take into consideration that Gibson pole pieces are spread differently from string the string when compared from Bridge to neck pick ups or that is to say travel to rhythm and pick ups. Thanks for the great video. David Hopkins

I like Tim Shaw’s, but yours doesn’t compress as the half PAF does. The spacing of the pole pieces were only made narrower on PAF’s that went Into some hollow bodies in the neck position .

I think the screw spacing is different for the bridge pickup to the neck pickup. Try comparing the screw spacing with the bridge pickup.

Man that amp looks like it went to hell and back, even played by the devil i may say. Would like to own a piece of history like that some day

They are both sounding well on this guitar.

The pickups are physically both the same size. The pickup cover on the Shaw was deeper.

Looking to buy another set of Shaw Humbuckers .

great video. thanks for sharing. definitely can hear the difference. the PAF has more air and is more articulate. just sweeter sounding.

I have Shaw PAF pickups and the ones in this video are not Shaws, they are Gibson's 490 or T-top from that era. The Shaws are great, and sound very similar to the real PAF in this video

Man the Shaw buckers sound great but that PAF is an eargasm!

paf sounds more single coil sound, i don't know why, but the vintage pickups sound like this... great

when you showed the spacing on the string the p/u was 180 degrees out. 2:50

*PAF's* 3:36 ----- *Shaw* 7:00

thicker body? you know that the silver part is a casing for the pickup..

Optimally resistance measurements should be done with clip on probes to prevent due to your hands (body)

The PAF has more depth in my opinion.

Wow a big difference I like the PAF. Much better I've always heard shaw pick ups was the best sounding pickups in the les paul. Glad I got to hear for myself..thanks for posting

The Shaw era pickup PAF is exactly made the same way except they are polyurethane covered wire instead of enamel coated wire - they are slightly darker in tone not quite as bright but that's it - other wise they are really very accurate to the originals -

Honestly outside of the late 50's(autthentic not new made copies) These are the only pickups from Gibson I like..

Hi, do you have stock pots in that Les Paul? 300k volume and 100k tone? Thanks...

For me, I compare bridge pickups to see how they interact with my favorite amp to create distortion.

those shaws sound amazing, I was leaning towards 7.4 on N and B with my tom holmes order now I think I was right, there is something with the tone on lower output matched pickups I like, maybe a honk maybe not but there is definitely a difference. Do you think the tom holmes will sound like the shaws in the first sound demo? they really sound exactly what I want out of a PAf and Ive heard alot of them. This is a great demo, thanks

Your tweed look like mine.... :) Same year. subbed

This is just more proof that the Tim Shaws were the best PAF recreation that Gibson ever made. Their other attempts have all been way too hot. The Shaws have sparklier highs, and with the amp at the current settings, I actually liked them better. Sadly, the bridge pickup in my '81 LP Custom has gone completely microphonic :(

I like the PAF better too. It seems to have more top end which I like. It's sweet too. More chime or something. The other pickup sounded great too but slightly darker and more rounded or something....more buttery? PAF was super clear and chimey....maybe more narrow?

The difference in pole spacing on those looks like it comes down to the fact that one has larger screw heads.

I have five sets, and your right. These are not Tim Shaws. The shaws have the numbers you talked about. Also they have 6 holes accross the bottom. I have one set that has PAF stickers on the pickup rings. I found that every set sounds the same. Very consistent. They all meter out to 7.4 also.

Don't think that's a Shaw pickup. Never saw a Shaw with that ink stamp. Lot's of info out there. Look it up.

Gibson made "Narrow Spaced" PAF's back in those days for archtops.

Putz...the spacing is different because it is a BRIDGE pickup. The string spacing at the bridge is wider, thus the pole spacing is wider.

people usually prefer brighter and louder sound to darker sound. it is natural. However, real paf is has nice compression. there are so many paf replicas which only focus on 'clarity' thus, the pickups are sometimes too trebly. Anyway, I think paf sounds much better. well balanced with a touch of compression. With higher gain, the paf will sing, but Shaw will be kinda squeaky and tire your ear.

Its not original if its re-wound. If I put a new engine in my 356 its not a 356 anymore.

Really nice sounds i like the real pafs it has a bit more punch to it and thicker tone with nice clarity,the shawpickups are a bit low in and the notes dont really shine like the real pafs

While the shaw is fuller. .. it lacks articulation in both the high n definitely lows... which is surprising considering its a very low Output pickup it has more body in its sound than the PAF...but the PAF definitely sounds BETTER. ... it has less bottom but it's brighter (in a good way) articulate, good string definition & clarity in both the highs and lows n sounds more airy.... it's a more balanced pickup. ..those late 62 short alnico 5 magnet pickups sound really good

Is the deeper cover made that way for the thicker ceramic magnets, say from a dirty fingers type ? I wonder. I couldn'see them paying for extra metal on thousands of guitars without good reason to...

Use the macro mode on your camera next time and it should help clear up the blurriness on close ups

Hard to tell through a KZfaq video, but the PAF’s seemed a tad but fuller and had a slight difference in the attack. Not better some would say, just.. different.

I was lead to believe there was no designation or difference between Authentic neck and bridge PAF humbuckers???

thanks so much for taking the time to do this

A comparison with camera sound?

The PAF sounds like my Mojotone Claps 59s.

i love this video PROOF PAFS DONT MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A REAL BURST thanks for this!!

the spacing is very significant. looking for answers?

Man, couldn't hear any difference on thin strings, maybe some on low strings. But if paf is rewound, it probably should sound as any new reissue of an original paf.

Real PAFs can have DIFFERENT tones, so. . .

SHAW SOUNDS AS A REAL GIBSON SOUND------------PAFS SOUND AS A JAPANESE GIBSON COPY

Very interesting video. What I don't see on a lot of pickup comparisons is the setup. If you vary the height and / or the angle of the pickup, the sound sometimes can be changed a lot. I have a hotter neck pickup (seymour duncan 59 neck and rockfield SMV bridge) and I spent a long time balancing the two

The comparison is appreciated however, an unmolested original PAF would have been a better pickup for comparison. Not to discredit Lindy but the rewound is a huge variable. Also, when you check the readings on a pickup, do not touch the metal or the connections. Shaws are great pickups. A little controlled harmonic feedback can compliment dynamics when you play.

your pickups are 2 days older than me. We should celebrate.

If you want the best PAF Clone You need Doyle Coils , They are by far the truest match to the real PAF . Once you hear them in your guitar you will be amazed . I tried all Humbuckers and Hands Down The Doyle Coils are Supreme.

Look were your pots are,at the end of yoursilver wire braid on the black felt end, if there is a dob of yellow an black paint they are shaw pickups

What I want to know is, did Gibson ever get the patent? :D

The Heritage Les Pauls were not weight relieved. Gibson did not start weight relief until 1982 or 1983.

these are not tim shaw pu´s. not all of the 80 to 84 gibson humis are shaws. only the particular ones with the codes 489/490, 137/138, 498/499 for neck/bridge and maybe 392/393 are real shaws. the ones with dates like these ones are for sure not shaws and in this video the dont sound like shaws too.

I've got 3 matching sets of 1960 PAF's from Les Pauls over here, I can't stand them, they are for sale.

The PAF sounds a whole lot better....that is if you want to be a cork sniffer, but otherwise I really can't hear any difference at all.

No question, that paf is incredible...shaw 3:44 PAF 7:06 Warmth can be dialed in, that clarity can't be dialed in it's either there or it's not.

Very intressting! I also have a pair of Shaws. Sound great.. But use a Holmes set...

I hear more articulation n clarity in the paf than the tim Shaw but the Shaw is full yet spanky either pickup sounds Damn good

I hate to be a nitpicker, but they're not "Shaw PAFs." They're Shaw pickups. PAFs are PAFs. That's it. You know it stands for Patent Applied For. Way too many people throw around PAF as if it's just a feature or quality. Shaws are AMAZING pickups. The closest to PAFs I think you can get in a production guitar, aside from maybe 62-65 Patent Number pickups.

A 8.35k for a neck is a bit higher than the PAFs 7.84k is average and the bridge 8k-8.4 a bit high too @8.4k but average according to Gibson's spec for '58-'60 Les Pauls PAFs, also I've heard it and read also that the not all pickups lined up including P-90s..which led to experimenting and custom works to the stars,..switching pickups,covers off and the revolution of all years and types of coils were better, guessing that some registered higher or less,it was believed the two all black coils were the best some thought the zebras and some mixed them up to their own inceptions,.. but an intelligent pick for the true clear ringing tone(s) PAF sound is a lower DCR and the overwounds moreover again influencing the removal of the covers by the rebels of the early distortion, and blues players of the day(chrononcled by the Larry Dimarzio's own '59 LP, and on his aftermarket the PAF & the Distortion with ceramic magnets and even S.Duncan for the Tele neck pickups albeit associating the Fender open no covers for uncolored true sound), especially on the higher wattage amps Vox,Marshalls and those earlier badassed Twin Tweeds, get the Ritchie Fleigler books which covers amps and their evolution likewise Aspen Pittman of Groove Tubes and his takes on why tubes amd amps were effected by different guitars and pickups, in fact Pete Townsend played an SG with the odd spaced PAFs, it's a historical fact and anamoly!

I like the P.A.F. better too.

Comprehensive knowledge.

Is your LP weight relieved in any way? I came with Shaw pups? Man that is sweet tone!

any tips on a wiring diagram for a les Paul Jr ?