VHII Humbucker Set Tone Test with Dan Stevens
Compare
Bare Knuckle VHII vs DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary
Bare Knuckle VHII
bridge humbucker
93 match
high confidence
DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary
bridge humbucker
We found no spec differences between them worth calling out.
Specs side by side
differs marks specs where they part ways| Spec | Bare Knuckle VHII | DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary |
|---|---|---|
| DC resistancediffers | 8.9k | 8.6k |
| Inductancediffers | 5.67 H (measured, 1 reading) | 5.47 H (measured, 1 reading) |
| Magnet | Alnico 5 | Alnico 5 |
| Coil | Hum-cancelling | Hum-cancelling |
| Bass (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand | 5 / 10 | 4 / 10 |
| Mids (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand | 6 / 10 | 5.5 / 10 |
| Treble (tone chart)differsEach maker grades its own chart, so read these within a brand | 7 / 10 | 4 / 10 |
| Slot | bridge humbucker | bridge humbucker |
| Traits | moderate output | vintage output |
How close on each spec
100 means identical on that spec. The score weighs these, and counts anything we couldn't compare as a typical difference. How scoring works
Output
95
measured inductance
Magnet
100
both Alnico 5
Coil
100
same coil type
Brightness
77
each against its maker's average
Mids
95
each against its maker's average
Bass
97
each against its maker's average
Videos
Bare Knuckle VHII
Bare Knuckle Pickups VHII demonstration by Dan Stevens
DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary
Larry DiMarzio's 36th Anniversary PAF
Joe Duplantier for DiMarzio Fortitude Bridge and PAF 36th Anniversary Neck pickups (4K)
What players and reviewers say
On the Bare Knuckle VHII
“As Eddie Van Halen's playing evolved through the 80s, his tone became more open and articulate because his technique demanded a voice that could keep up.”
“Raising the pickup adds additional punch and midrange authority.”
On the DiMarzio PAF 36th Anniversary
“It is warm and smooth, but it retains clarity and bite.”
“The low end holds together without getting muddy, which is a big deal for me.”