The quest for the ultimate vintage guitar tone reaches a new peak. The Gibson Pickup Shop has proudly announced the release of the 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3—a hyper-accurate, limited-run recreation of the legendary “Patent Applied For” (PAF) pickups, revered as the “holy grail” of humbucking sound.
Gibson Pickup Shop Launches Most Accurate PAF Replica Ever Made
Limited to just 1,000 sets globally, this exclusive release is now available at authorized Gibson dealers, flagship Gibson Garage locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and London, United Kingdom, and online at Gibson.com.
A Time Capsule for Tone Purists
The 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3 is the result of years of meticulous research. The Gibson Pickup Shop leveraged 3D scanning, scientific analysis, reverse engineering of late-1950s originals, and archival Gibson specifications to craft what they call their “most precise reproductions to date.”
Jared Brandon, Pickup Product Manager, emphasized the pursuit of historical accuracy: “With the 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3, we’ve pushed the boundaries of historical accuracy and tonal integrity even further… This set is not just a tribute; it’s a time capsule for tone purists and collectors alike.”
Unprecedented Vintage Specifications
This Series 3 set is distinguished by several key historically accurate features that separate it from previous replicas:
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Magnets: Features Alnico 3 roughcast long magnets, mirroring the variation found in original PAFs.
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Aged Aesthetics: The pickups boast Double Vintage White butyrate bobbins and historically accurate nickel covers. The silver-nickel components—including covers, baseplates, screws, and springs—have been expertly aged by the world-renowned Murphy Lab team for an authentic, time-worn appearance.
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Rings & Wiring: Includes aged Cream M69 mounting rings and is wound with 42 AWG plain enamel wire. The coils are unbalanced and unpotted, delivering a sweet, woody, loud, and present tone.
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Performance: Average DC Resistance is specified at $8.2k$ (Treble) and $7.6k$ (Rhythm).
Each limited-edition set is housed in a premium Lifton presentation case and individually serialized with period-correct 1959-style numbering.
Why the PAF is the Holy Grail
Gibson’s original 1950s PAF humbuckers are among the most sought-after vintage components in existence. Their unique, rich sound—resulting from variations in magnet composition (Alnico 2, 3, or 4) and winding inconsistencies—has made them highly influential and incredibly valuable on the used market.
Collectors and players worldwide can now own a piece of this sonic history, combining the iconic sound of 1959 with the peerless aging quality of the Murphy Lab.
Pricing & Limited Availability
Limited to 1,000 sets, the Gibson Pickup Shop unveils the 1959 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3. These are the most accurate PAF replicas ever, featuring Alnico 3 magnets, Double Vintage White bobbins, and Murphy Lab aging.
Available in Nashville and London.
Series 3 comes in at the same price point as Series 1 and 2 sets, $999/£849
Available to order at Andertons, priced £849
Will you be adding this limited-edition set to your collection?
The Series 1 and Series 2 are currently both available at Sweetwater
More Information
#Gibson #59 Humbucker Collector’s Edition Series 3
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