paf or pAT. Number : the difference 

The PAF and PAT numbers are often used to identify Gibson humbuckers from the late 1950s and early 1960s. While they share the same basic construction and represent an important part of Gibson’s early humbucker history, the two labels correspond to different stages in the development of the patent marking.

PAF stands for Patent Applied For. These pickups carry the famous “Patent Applied For” sticker and were produced before Gibson received the patent for the humbucker design.

PAT refers to the later patent-number era. Once the patent was granted, Gibson began using stickers marked with the patent number 2,737,842 instead of the “Patent Applied For” wording.

The change from PAF to PAT was therefore primarily a marking and dating distinction, rather than a completely new pickup design. Many of the construction characteristics, materials and manufacturing techniques continued across the transition.

For vintage enthusiasts, however, the distinction is significant. The PAF era is generally associated with Gibson’s earliest production humbuckers, while the later patent-number pickups document the evolution of the same fundamental design into the early 1960s.

At 59DNA, we focus on the details that actually shape the sound — magnet type, wire, bobbins, winding pattern, tension, resistance, inductance and overall construction — rather than relying solely on the sticker.

Because the original PAFs and early patent-number pickups were machine-wound by old machines and varied considerably from one pickup to another, there is no single “PAF sound.” The magic lies in the combination of small variables.