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How to Identify a Real PAF: Vintage Gibson Humbucker Pickup Guide
How to Identify a Real PAF: Vintage Gibson Humbucker Pickup Guide
Last Updated: June 2026
Gibson’s PAF humbucker, the “Patent Applied For” pickup designed by Seth Lover and fitted to production guitars from 1957, is the most valuable and most copied pickup in the world. A genuine pair can be worth more than many complete guitars, which is exactly why the market is full of fakes, reproductions, and honest misidentifications. This guide walks through the sticker, the timeline, and the physical tells that separate a real PAF from a patent-number pickup or a modern clone.
What PAF Actually Means
PAF is short for “Patent Applied For,” the wording on the small decal stuck to the underside of the pickup’s baseplate. Gibson filed the patent in the mid-1950s, began shipping the humbucker on Les Pauls and other models in 1957, and kept using the “Patent Applied For” sticker until around 1962, even after the patent had been granted. The sticker then changed to a “Patent No.” decal, the so-called patent-number pickup, which is closely related but generally less valuable.
The PAF Timeline at a Glance
Period | Marking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
1955-1956 | Prototype / pre-production | Seth Lover’s design; not found on standard production guitars |
1957-1962 | “Patent Applied For” sticker | The classic PAF era and the most sought-after pickups |
1962-1965 | Transition to “Patent No.” decal | Patent-number pickups; very similar construction, lower premium |
Mid-1960s on | “Patent No.” then T-Top | Later humbuckers; collectible but a different tier |
Read the Sticker, but Don’t Trust It Alone
The “Patent Applied For” decal is the headline clue, and also the easiest thing to fake. Originals are a thin gold or silver decal with specific lettering, applied by hand and often slightly crooked or partly worn. Reproductions can look perfect. Because the sticker alone proves nothing, treat it as the start of the inspection, not the end. Everything underneath has to agree with it.
Physical Tells of a Genuine PAF
Bobbins: original PAFs used butyrate plastic bobbins, usually black, with occasional zebra (one black, one cream) or double-cream pairs that command a premium. The plastic should show real age, not a modern sheen.
Baseplate and metal: a nickel-silver baseplate with the correct stamping and long mounting legs, and period solder rather than bright modern joints.
Windings: PAFs were wound without an exact turns count, so DC resistance varies widely, roughly 7.5k to 9k ohms. A pickup reading a perfectly round figure is a red flag for a modern, regulated winder.
Magnet: an alnico bar magnet of the correct dimensions; specialists check the magnet length and chamfer as part of authentication.
Lead wire and shielding: the right braided lead wire, pole screws, and slugs for the era, all consistent with each other.
PAF Versus Patent-Number Pickups
From about 1962 Gibson swapped the “Patent Applied For” decal for a “Patent No.” sticker carrying the patent number. Internally the early patent-number pickups are nearly identical to late PAFs and sound the part, but the market pays a clear premium for the actual “Patent Applied For” label. Knowing which one you have is often the difference between a strong pickup and an extraordinary one.
Common Fakes and Honest Mistakes
Reproduction stickers applied to later or modern pickups, the single most common deception.
Rewound originals: a genuine PAF that has been rewound is no longer all-original and is worth far less. Look for disturbed windings and fresh tape.
Mismatched pairs sold as a set; confirm both pickups are period-correct, not one real and one repro.
Open-coil “PAFs” with modern bobbins and suspiciously consistent specs.
Why It Pays to Get This Right
Because a real pair of PAFs can carry a large share of a vintage Les Paul’s value, authentication is not a formality. If you are buying, a wrong call can cost five figures. If you are selling, proving your pickups are genuine, with sticker, bobbins, windings, and lead wire all consistent, is one of the highest-leverage things you can do for the price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all PAFs worth the same?
No. Double-cream and zebra bobbins, lower-output examples, and verified all-original pairs command the highest prices. Black-bobbin singles are still valuable but sit lower in the range.
Does a Patent Applied For sticker guarantee a real PAF?
No. The sticker is reproduced easily. A real PAF has period-correct bobbins, baseplate, windings, and lead wire that all agree with the sticker.
Should I open up my pickups to check?
Only with care, and ideally with a specialist, because removing a pickup or its cover can damage originality and value. Photograph everything and avoid disturbing the windings or solder.
Confirm the Year, Then Find Out What It’s Worth
A genuine PAF usually rides in a guitar whose serial number tells the rest of the story. Confirm the year with our Gibson Serial Number Lookup tool, and if you are ready to sell a vintage Gibson, Edgewater Guitars pays 30 to 40 percent more than a typical shop offer.
