DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary Bridge Humbucker Pickup – Black, Cream, Nickel Cover

DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary Bridge Humbucker Pickup – Black, Cream, Nickel Cover

Experience the warmth, clarity, and expressive dynamics of a classic vintage humbucker with the DiMarzio DP223 PAF 36th Anniversary Bridge Pickup. Inspired by the legendary late-1950s PAF pickups, this vintage-output humbucker combines traditional tonal character with modern DiMarzio technology for outstanding musical versatility.

Introduced in 2008, the PAF 36th Anniversary Bridge was developed using Larry DiMarzio’s own 1959 cherry sunburst Gibson Les Paul as a tonal reference. Rather than simply reproducing a vintage pickup, DiMarzio carefully refined its construction to capture the distinctive warmth, note definition, and natural responsiveness associated with exceptional original PAF humbuckers.

One of the pickup’s defining features is its weaker magnetic field, designed to reduce magnetic string pull and allow the strings to vibrate more freely. This contributes to natural sustain, clear note separation, and a highly expressive response to different picking techniques.

Equipped with Alnico 5 magnets, the DP223 delivers warm bass frequencies, articulate midrange, and smooth, musical highs. Its manufacturer-rated 285mV output provides a balanced vintage-inspired response that transitions naturally between clean passages and overdriven performances.

The PAF 36th Anniversary Bridge is particularly responsive to picking dynamics. Gentle playing produces an open, articulate sound, while stronger picking delivers greater attack and harmonic intensity. This makes it an excellent choice for blues, classic rock, jazz-rock, fusion, and expressive lead guitar playing.

DiMarzio uses computer-controlled winding with custom-coated 42-gauge wire to achieve a consistent frequency response. The pickup also undergoes a specialised treatment to minimise unwanted microphonic feedback while preserving its natural tonal character.

Compared with the matching PAF 36th Anniversary Neck, the Bridge model delivers slightly stronger output and additional midrange presence. It produces full-bodied rhythm tones, expressive lead sounds, and an articulate response without the excessive compression associated with many high-output humbuckers.

Designed primarily for the bridge position, the DP223 can also be installed in the neck position alongside a higher-output bridge pickup. Its versatile design suits compatible six-string electric guitars, including traditional set-neck instruments and tremolo-equipped bolt-on guitars.

The standard four-conductor wiring supports additional switching configurations such as coil splitting and parallel humbucking when installed with suitable guitar electronics. Its passive design requires no battery.

Available in Black (DP223BK), Cream (DP223CR), and Nickel Cover F-Spaced (DP223FN), the DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary Bridge offers vintage-inspired warmth, articulate response, and versatile performance for players seeking a refined humbucker sound.

Specifications