DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151
Introduction / History
The DiMarzio PAF Pro is not just another medium output humbucker. Rolling out in 1985, it is one of the most recorded and road tested bridge and neck pickups of the late eighties shred era. When players like Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and Paul Gilbert were redefining what high gain articulation could be, this pickup was right there in the cavity.
At a time when the industry was chasing hotter winds and more compression, DiMarzio zigged while others zagged. The PAF Pro keeps output in the medium range but focuses on clarity, symmetry, and upper mid articulation. It takes the DNA of a vintage PAF concept and refines it for rack gear, modded Marshalls, and harmonically dense mixes.
It becomes a session player’s secret weapon. Rock. Fusion. Funk. Blues. Even jazz. The PAF Pro adapts rather than overwhelms. That adaptability is why it remains in production decades later. This is not a nostalgia pickup. This is a precision tool that just happens to shred.
Installation
I have lived with the DiMarzio PAF Pro in multiple configurations over the years, most notably in the bridge position of an Ibanez RG565R and an Ibanez P540III, and in both bridge and neck positions of an Ibanez RG550. These are exactly the kind of guitars the PAF Pro was born to live in.
These are not random choices. They are classic 25-1/2″ scale, basswood body, Edge locking tremolo platforms built for clarity, speed, and high gain articulation. The PAF Pro thrives in that environment.
Electronics remain traditional 500k volume and tone values with 4-con wiring for series and parallel options. In these Ibanez platforms, height adjustment is critical. Too close and the attack hardens. Dialed properly, the pickup breathes and tracks fast picking passages with impressive precision.
Evaluation
The PAF Pro is classified as medium output, but it does not feel polite or restrained. It feels balanced and intentional.
Low end is firm and punchy without getting woofy. There is enough depth to keep rhythm work full, yet it never swallows the mix. The midrange is even and vocal, with a slight upper mid presence that helps solos project without nasal congestion. Highs are articulate and edgy but never ice pick sharp.
In series mode on a clean amp, it stays composed and piano like. Chords retain note separation. Switch to gain and it rips with harmonic detail instead of compressed blur. In parallel mode, the pickup reveals a chimey, almost single coil adjacent character. Clean tones shimmer. Funk rhythms pop. Fusion lines breathe.
Where many eighties era humbuckers chase output and sacrifice clarity, this pickup does the opposite. It cuts through dense mixes without extra volume. Articulation remains intact under saturation. Fast alternate picking passages stay defined. Legato lines sing rather than smear.
In the neck position, lead work becomes effortless. No mud. No nasal honk. Just focused sustain with excellent string to string balance. This is what controlled aggression sounds like.
Specs
Series – 8.132 k
Inductance – 5.157 H
Split Screw – 4.07 k
Split Slug – 4.052 k
Parallel – 2.03 k
Output – 300 mV
Magnet – Alnico 5
Demo
Here’s a 1992 video of Paul Gilbert, playing the PAF Pro and talking about his approach to his pickup needs:
He was also known to use the PAF Pro on Mr Big’s 1989 S/T debut release
Here is Steve Vai using the PAF Pro set in his Ibanez JEM on the 1988 David Lee Roth Skyscraper album:
And Joe Satriani from his 1987 Surfing With The Alien release
Conclusion
The DiMarzio PAF Pro remains one of the smartest medium output humbuckers ever designed. It bridges vintage sensibility and modern articulation in a way that still feels relevant.
If you want compression and brute force, look elsewhere. If you want note separation, harmonic detail, and the ability to thrive in both clean and high gain contexts, this pickup earns its reputation.
There is a reason it became a go to choice for elite players across genres. It is not hype. It is engineering restraint paired with musical intent. The PAF Pro does not overpower your rig. It reveals it.
For reference, this DiMarzio PAF Pro DP151 humbucker pickup evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller. ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.
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