This reviewer is not afilliated with DRG - I found it on the web. But I have a set of these pups, and I agree with much of this review. Dinosaur David B.
By Monster Matt Mason.
Introduction:
Tony
Iommi PAF is Gibson's First Signature Pickup. Tony Iommi, who pioneered
heavy metal guitar with Black Sabbath, blazes a new trail in pickup
design with the Tony Iommi Signature humbucker--the first signature
pickup in the 60-year history of Gibson electric guitars. The Iommi
Signature pickup is based on the pickups that Tony had custom-wound for
him by John Birch in England.
At the 1996 Musik Messe (the
international trade show) in Frankfurt, Germany, Tony approached Gibson
to see if we could duplicate the powerful, punchy sound of his custom
pickups. Gibson's R&D head J.T. Riboloff successfully duplicated
the complex combination of tones that makes Tony's guitar so instantly
recognisable. Tony says he actually likes the sound of these pickups
better than his originals, and he's had several new custom-made Gibson
SG's loaded with them. The Tony Iommi signature is easily recognisable
by its closed chrome cover, which adds a clean, distinctive look. On
the underside, it carries Gibson's famous "Patent Applied For" decal,
indicating Gibson's intention of protecting its unique construction.
The Review:
This
is the best pickup I've ever heard!!!!! And I have owned them all. Ear
bleeding highs, super warm mids, and very nice low end. NOTHING
compares with this monster.
It is double potted with both hot
wax and epoxy, so you'll never get feedback unless you ask for it! I am
using this in both the neck and bridge positions!. This pickup is just
soooooooo versatile, it's not TOO MUCH of any thing. I guess it also
depends on technique (Yeah fingers have a bit to do with it ;-) Ed.)
I
also have the Jimmy Page 4 push\pull pot set-up. So, this Gibson sounds
like anything I want it to! SYMPTOM OF THE UNIVERSE sounds excellent,
the Iommi pickup also does quite well with the old METALLICA sound. Its
everywhere you want to be! The honeymoon is NOT over with these
pickups, in fact I like them BETTER than I did when I first bought
them!!! I have the Jimmy Page wiring in my axe, 4 push/pulls and with
these Gibson
Tony Iommi Pickups I can get just about any tonal
range I am looking for. The Iommi's are NASTY yet soothing, excellent
string presence and flat out at 10 they wail, around 4 very warm and
clean. Everything I could ask for in a pickup...and more.
I've
previously used the DiMarzio PAF Pro, that was too thin and tin like
sounding...These Iommi's are "THE BOMB". (is that a slang word in
Aus.???) In the US it means the greatest, it's tits, the shit, KILLER.
(I think the Aussie equivalent is Grouse, or Sick, Ed.)
The
only drawback may be the price. Look around, as I did, and you'll half
the price.I give them a 10+++++++ rating, when only the best will
do!!Sorry if I sound like an ad for the pickup, but it is awesome.
By Matt Mason