Gibson recreates four year-specific P.A.F. pickup sets from 1957 to 1960

Gibson’s Pickup Shop has launched four year-specific P.A.F. Reissue Sets modeled on pickups from 1957, 1958, 1959 and 1960. Every set uses 42 AWG plain-enamel wire, butyrate bobbins, maple spacers, steel slugs and keeper bars, two-conductor wiring, True Historic nickel covers and period-style Patent Applied For decals. The pickups are wound on vintage Gibson machines and left unpotted, with the magnet type and coil wind changed for each year.

The 1957 version uses long rough-cast Alnico 5 magnets, with average readings of 8.1k ohms at the bridge and 7.5k at the neck, for the most aggressive and slightly scooped voice. The 1958 set moves to Alnico 4 and a balanced response; the 1959 version uses Alnico 3 for softer lows, airy highs and prominent woody mids. The 1960 set has Alnico 2 magnets, the highest quoted resistance of the group and the warmest, most compressed response.

Rather than treating “PAF tone” as a single recipe, the collection presents four repeatable production models with published construction differences. Gibson says all four sets are available globally through its website, Gibson Garage stores and authorized dealers. For players choosing replacement humbuckers, that makes the launch useful as a direct comparison of magnet grade, wind and output instead of a cosmetic reissue alone.