Amber Spirit of '59 PAF Style Humbuckers - Germany 2012

Here is a set of Spirit of ’59 humbucker pickups, designed to capture the essence of the late-1950s PAF humbucker era. Developed through extensive analysis and reverse engineering of original vintage units, these pickups aim to deliver a highly authentic interpretation of one of the most sought-after guitar tones in history.

The Spirit of ’59 set is engineered for fast response and a pronounced, articulate attack, giving notes a clear and immediate feel under the fingers. This dynamic behaviour is a key part of its design philosophy, with an emphasis on preserving transient detail and natural harmonic content.

Construction plays a major role in the tonal outcome, with hand scatter-wound coils that are left unpotted in wax. This results in increased openness and air, allowing the pickup to remain highly transparent and responsive. The absence of heavy potting preserves upper harmonic complexity and avoids the compression often associated with more heavily treated pickups.

A key feature of this design is the use of an AlNiCo IV magnet, carefully chosen for its historical relevance to original late-50s humbuckers. This magnet type contributes to a more defined and “acoustic-like” tonal quality, enhancing note separation while also reinforcing low-end fullness and overall body.

The neck pickup in particular is voiced to deliver a powerful yet clear response, combining articulation with warmth and depth, making it suitable for both clean and driven applications where note definition is essential.

Specifications: 

Year: 2012
Country: Germany
Model: Spirit of 59 Humbucker Set
Type: Electric guitar humbucker pickups
Design: Inspired by late-1950s vintage humbuckers, developed through analysis and restoration of original units
Construction: Hand-wound (scatter wound) coils, unpotted (no wax potting) for maximum openness and dynamics
Magnet: Authentic AlNiCo IV magnet for enhanced definition, increased low-end fullness, and more acoustic-like response
Tone: Extremely transparent, dynamic, and fast response with “smacky” attack; powerful and clearly defined neck pickup with strong note articulation and clarity
Performance: Designed to recreate the feel and response of late-’50s humbuckers with enhanced openness and harmonic detail
Condition: Near-new condition
Accessories: Comes with original box