My first variation of the Tribute set is the AB CUSTOM set, wound for Musician's Services Guru Andy Brauer in Los Angeles. Below is a low gain clip of these pickups played by master guitarist Brian Kahanek. This is a hotter set at 8.4-8.5K on the bridge and 8.1-8.2 on the neck, also using the alnico 5 magnets in both pickups.

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQXW1JKA-Qc

Here is another video (Courtesy of Mojave Amps) of Steve Ouimette demonstrating some Billy Gibbons and Jimmy Page tones with a 2003 Les Paul R8 and my AB custom set.

Click here if the video doesn't appear in your browser.

Sheptone specializes in humbucker pickups modeled after the 1959-1961 long-magnet  gibson P.A.F.
     

First let me say that there is no such thing as a reproduced PAF because they all sounded different.
There were many different sounds, because there were many different variables in the manufacturing process. Some even sounded really bad. What can be done is to duplicate the sound of the "average" good sounding P.A.F. by duplicating the assembly process and materials, to consistently reproduce the tone of the best-sounding original P.A.F.'s

I have owned a dozen of these original pickups and have even gone as far as taking one apart in order to faithfully duplicate the original. That was not an easy task at the time due to the value of an original, untouched P.A.F. but it was necessary so that I can bring you the highest quality pickup possible. Sheptone tribute pickups capture that vintage sound but are versatile enough to use for just about any style of music.

I have also had the opportunity to rewind several of these pickups and I found some important things in the original Gibson assembly process that contribute to the tone of these old pickups. I have duplicated these little known, seemingly trivial items, and found that they really make a difference when trying to achieve that perfect tone.

I have gone to great lengths to duplicate these pickups right down to the maple spacers and the
rough-finished alnico magnets. I have selected winding patterns and magnets that work together to produce the most accurate PAF tone possible. All of the components I use have been tested against real PAF parts to ensure identical magnetic performance. If it doesn't measure up, it doesn't get used. All magnets are gauss tested, or degaussed to levels typical of the best sounding early P.A.F.'s.

The original style#42 AWG plain purple-colored enamel wire is used just as in the original P.A.F.
Some modern reproductions use cheaper poly-insulated wire which changes the sound significantly.
Enamel wire is more expensive and more difficult to work with but the sound difference is remarkable
Coils are carefully mis-matched as the best original PAF's (although they didn't do it on purpose) to add to that vintage character, and full-bodied sound and clarity. The coils are completely wound in a hand wound pattern in order to achieve a true scattered wire orientation. Although the original PAF's were machine wound (except for the prototypes), the scattered coil pattern in the wire seems to be the final difference between modern engineered pickups, and that genuine vintage sound. The original pickups were machine wound but I have found from unwinding these pickups that the wire was far from prefectly laid in the bobbin.

I have taken the best qualities of the best-sounding P.A.F.'s and perfected my own process of winding them to reproduce the sound of the famous Les Paul Gold-Top, burst, and the Gibson ES-335, guitars that are worth $100,000-$450,000+ today.

Even though new materials are used, I have matched the tone through extensive testing with "expert ears" and frequency analysis comparisons to the best sounding PAF's that I own.

Sheptone pickups are consistent. you can buy 10 real PAF's and they will all sound slightly different. I have modeled my pickups after only the best sounding PAF's. My winding process varies little so that you can be assured of a consistent tone from any set.

All pickups are also available aged to your specified level. Click here for information on aged pickups.


I accept PAYPAL online and major credit cards by phone, internet prices include domestic shipping. International orders add shipping on order page.

Please use the drop-down menu's to specify bobbin color and wiring, for custom pickups also specify resistance and magnet choice.


**EVERY pickup is temporarily installed (without solder) in a test guitar and played to ensure proper tone and function**

Due to the high demand and limited hours in the day, please see my "news" for estimated delivery time.


WHEN IN THE LOS ANGELES AREA, stop by Andy Brauer's Showroom to try my pickups side-by-side with real Gibson PAF's!

AB Custom Set: $249.00 approx.€190.00              

AB Custom Bridge: $125.00 approx.€95.00        

AB Custom Neck: $125.00 approx.€95.00