$189.00
Out of stock
P.A.F Astound
The P.A.F Astound v2 is a high energy version of the P.A.F Plus with an overdose of drive and dirty but defined growl for the bridge position. Awesome dynamic range and exceptional touch sensitivity adds a 3rd dimension to the sound that effortlessly cuts through the band. Better dynamic response and is very responsive to pinch harmonics and hammer-ons which makes it a must for shredders as well as rock and heavy rock -and- metal. It growls under gain on the wound strings and sings sweetly on the plain strings with an intense harmonic bloom which is as smooth as silk …. with a bitey edge that’s not razor sharp and offensive.
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Description
A.F Astound ….. bouncy cleans & dirty GROWL with 3D sound / 8.7k
Un-balanced coils for a great tone but not un-balanced hum = Zero-Hum. All unbalanced coils in humbuckers produce some hum, but not Kinman’s …. our’s have absolute Zero-Hum.
P.A.F Astound v2 with optional ESSC coil splitting
The P.A.F Astound v2 is a high energy version of the P.A.F Plus with an overdose of drive and dirty but defined growl for the bridge position. Awesome dynamic range and exceptional touch sensitivity adds a 3rd dimension to the sound that effortlessly cuts through the band. Better dynamic response and is very responsive to pinch harmonics and hammer-ons which makes it a must for shredders as well as rock and heavy rock -and- metal. It growls under gain on the wound strings and sings sweetly on the plain strings with an intense harmonic bloom which is as smooth as silk …. with a bitey edge that’s not razor sharp and offensive.
We set out to make every Kinman deliver the maximum amount of expression dynamics to our customers. Our high energy model, the P.A.F Astound v2 delivers significantly higher output and extra drive using a highly efficient Patented magnetic circuit that collects wasted magnetism and directs it to the strings and coils where it is used to generate additional output and dynamics. Thus you get louder volume and increased dynamics at the same time which is the opposite of normal high output pickups which choke themselves on excess coil capacitance that comes with over-wound coils.
Recommend solely for the bridge position paired with a P.A.F Plus v2 or 59+ LPS in the neck.
v2 Upgrade 1-Apr-2020. We recently revisited our bridge humbuckers and wondered if there was a way to make them a little bit louder and soften the razor sharp trebles. We accomplished both and the result is the v2 variant. However there is an additional benefit, the E-6th string took on a springy and more lively bouncy sound. You can actually feel the bounce under your finger tips. It will inspire your creative side by making you want to play in different ways that will surprise and delight you. Read the full story in our Blog article.
Optional ESSC upgrade 4-May-2021 Now can be ordered with optional ESSC – Enhanced Split Single Coil where the split single coil is loud and convincingly Fender-like as a single coil should be, instead of the weak facsimile of a split regular humbucker. Requires a double pole double throw switch that we can supply as a Push/Push pot or a mini-toggle switch with an up-charge. Click the options in the order channel.
Our Humbuckers cancel hum better than any other humbucker but there is another type of noise called ‘buzz which can only be minimized by shielding the wiring cavities (refer to >Technical >Perfect Guitar >Shielding for newer guitars)
Introduced Dec-2011 \ Patent number 8,791,351 and Patent applied for.
Technical Stuff
The bridge pickup in the PAF Suite. Weapon of choice for Tone connoisseurs.
Direct replacement for conventional humbuckers such as Gibson, Duncan etc. Some guitars (a few Ibanez, some Fender Strat and one or two others) have pickups with excessively rounded corners. If a pickguard is fitted (for example Fender Strat Deluxe) a small modification to the pickguard opening to accommodate a Kinman humbucker is well worth the effort since Kinman’s sound so much better. The cavity in the body is suitable as it is.
Split single coil is the Secondary coil, the one without adjustable screw poles or the one that’s closest to the opposite pickup.
Hook-up cable
- Not recommended for splitting so has a 2 conductor hook-up cable. 380mm / 15″ long.
- 4 conductor cabling for Series, Parallel and Split upon request at adfditional cost.
- Best split single coil performance comes from the 2n1 model.
Connection means available
- Bare wires for soldering.
- Kinman connectors for plugging into any Kinman Goodbye-Soldering Harness.- including the 2 pickup KHP-90 for Gibson style guitars.
- Gibson 2 wire and 5 wire Quick Connect plug for Gibson harness.
Pot & Capacitor values
- Best with 500k Ohm for Volume & Tone. Many Gibson’s have 300k which makes a darker, less dynamic sound.
- Normal tone cap value of 0.022µF in 63 ~ 100 volt Polyester. Smaller value lessen the severity of Treble cut, higher values increase it.
Output Polarity:
- in-phase with Gibson and Copy humbuckers
- in-phase with all other Kinman pickups
- opposite phase to Fender Strat
Pole spreads
- 50mm for all applications except the bridge position of a Strat with vintage 6 point bridge and saddle spread of 56.4mm as well as bridge position in other guitars with a bridge saddle spread less than 54mm.
- 53mm for bridge position in Strats with a genuine vintage 6 point bridge, saddle spread of 56.4mm.
Mounting options
- conventional 2 screws mounting,
- also available with 3 screw mounting (you specify the distance between the two top screws)
Covers and colors
- Open and Closed top Natural Nickel-Silver, Kin-Chrome and Gold plated covers. Our exclusive Kin-Chrome covers have Zero impact on sonic performance (a world first)
- Open top Natural Nickel-Silver, Kin-Chrome or Gold covers
- Various colored top plates are available for open top covers (Black, Cream, White, Blue & Green).
- Kinman humbuckers are engineered differently without molded plastic bobbins. Removing covers will not reveal bobbins and we advise against it.
Youtube
Reviews
Stephen Hird
2011-09-25
Hi Chris/Joe I received my new PAF+ pickups and had them installed in a Gibson ES-137 to replace the original way too hot 490 and 498. The difference is night and day – your pickups are everything claimed and a pretty but average sounding guitar now has the voice it always should have. As much as I bought the pickups to improve cleans just on the edge of break-up, which has happened in spades, what amazes me is the way it handles high-gain now; complex yet clear notes with a fantastic harmonic signature. It’s now one of my favourite guitars. Thanks for delivering on your products and Joe’s guidance in selecting my pickups.
mark overfield
2011-09-26
Hi, I thought you might like my impression of the PAF+ so far. It’s medium output and matches very well with my 62 singles. The wound strings have the perfect balance of bite and warmth and the same can be said of the plain strings. Sustain is very impressive. In split mode is gives a beautiful ” quack ” when mixed with the mid 62 and I’d like to suggest offering a set comprised of a PAF+ and 2 x 62 singles in your product range as an incredibly versatile all round set. I’ve now used mine in the studio and on stage. My Anderson guitar has a mini toggle to split the PAF and a push pull on the tone knob to add it with the neck single and I can get a hot Strat as well as a really convincing Tele tone by pulling the toggle, INCREDIBLE !!!! I’m a real fan of this set.
Dom Polito
Canada | 2011-09-28
Hi Chris just wanted to let you know I received the PAF+ humbuckers. What I’ve used in the past are Lollar, Seth Lover, Gibson T-top, Dimarzio, Tokai Stock Pickups, and Seymour Duncan but there is definitely something in the PAF+ that has caught my ear. My gosh you sure have the science down, and then the ear to boot.
Ravi
2011-09-29
Hi Chris and the gang. Thanks heaps for the pickups. Brilliant! I thought my last set of low output pickups sounded great, and these sound even better and are lower output! All the detail is in the sound, the pick attack, the position of the pots, the amp settings, even the effects cut through better! The thing really growls with the gain up and tracks without being mushy. Super dynamic and ultra clear. It has the clarity of a single coil, but in a humbucker. I love it. I had Ray install the pickups in Brisbane and he split them too, and the single coil sounds are so sweet! My experience has always sucked when I did this previously. Top job Chris. These are a very special. I have regularly swapped out the pickups in my guitars, and these are the best I’ve ever come across. This is a superb thing you have created here. Thanks again
Mark
England | 2011-11-06
Hi Joe, my PAF+ humbucker sounds awesome and has just the right amount of cut to get thru a complex mix and the sustain is really impressive. I’m definitely going to develop a love affair with this pickup in the same way I’m in love with your 62 singles !!
Tim Keech
0000-00-00
I have the Impersonator 54 and PAF Astound HSS setup fitted in my favourite Parker Nitefly. Wow!! The sound really nails what I was looking for – some authentic bell-like strat tones from the singles along with some player-sensitive creamy bite from the humbucker. The volume balance is just awesome. The guitar sounds like it really should now – incredibly versatile and all round fantastic. If anybody else should seek advice on doing a Parker Nitefly, you can confidently recommend the setup I’ve just installed. Thanks for all your help and for a brilliant Aussie product. All the best, Tim Keech
Waylon McPherson
2017-04-11
PAF+ and PAF Astound, amazing pickups. Waylon McPherson (Mcpherson stompboxes)
Christof
Germany | 2017-10-02
Dear Mr. Kinman, I want to thank you for these heavenly sounding pickups. They are so good. I got both a PAF Plus and an Astound and installed them into my Ibanez S251BBS. I really love the pickups because they sound so incredibly good. thanks for these great pickups! Sincerely, Christof (Germany)
Paul Sellick
AUSTRALIA | 01-Jan-1970
Hi Joe and Chris, the new Fat Custom neck humbucker has the perfect recipe. There is plenty of meat on the bone and the G, B and E strings are sweet and clear but not too bright, and they can be brightened up to the limits of what I sometimes need. It was very easy to make just a couple of tweaks to find the sweet spot.
This us definitely the right pickup on this guitar. My Schecter is thinner than a Les Paul and the ratio of the maple to mahogany in the body is greater making it a bit brighter, and the Fat Custom has supplied the desired plumpness across the strings. I think it might suit chambered Les Pauls which I have often found to be brighter than the traditional heavyweights. The Fat Custom pairs well with the PAF Astound in the bridge on the Schecter and can cover from smooth jazz to heavy rock and all points in between. I am very happy with the outcome. This guitar is complete now and I can’t see any need to change.
Thank you Joe and Chris. You guys work hard with spirit and dedication and integrity. This does not go by unnoticed. You are talented and motivated men and you understand the importance of perspiration and inspiration. Most importantly you conduct yourselves with grace and affability. It seems to be a forgotten accolade in the modern world but real men are gentlemen. All the best to you two gentlemen, regards Paul
Troy Klink
UNITED STATES | 19-Jul-2021
Ssssshh. She’s sleeping now after surgery and a good work out today. Install yesterday went extremely well and saved some initial fine tuning until today. This combo is AWESOME. Hits all the hallmarks of the original Gibby pups but the balance, clarity, clean, punch and crunch take it to the next level with these fabulous P.A.F Astound and P.A.F Fat Custom. Thrilled with entire process as usual and thanks for making my keeper even more of a keeper !!
Troy
