Mojo PAF Vintage '59 Pickup Set - Real Vintage Tone, Handwound in the UK

When it comes to guitar tone, your fingers will always be the biggest factor — phrasing, touch, dynamics - but to really bring out the voice of the guitar, you need the right pickups. They are where tone begins. Pickups translate the vibration of your strings into the signal that runs through your rig. No matter what pedals or amps you use, if the pickups aren’t inspiring, the rest won’t matter. This is why so many players look to boutique pickups — because getting that tone right at the start is everything.

Here, we’re looking at the Mojo PAF Vintage '59 Pickup Set - one of the standout models from Marc at Mojo Pickups. But first, a bit about the maker.

About Mojo Pickups

Mojo Pickups is run by Marc Ransley, who started the company after years of experience as a guitar tech and builder. Like many good ideas, it began with the simple goal of making pickups that sounded better than what was available at the time - pickups that captured the real feel of vintage tone. Over the years, Marc has built up one of the most respected boutique pickup lines in the UK, and for good reason.

Marc’s approach is all about sound and feel. He’s a player himself and knows that the heart of a great guitar tone lies in the pickups. His winding is meticulous, and every choice - wire, magnets, bobbins, covers - is there to serve the tone, not marketing hype. His PAF sets aim to get as close as possible to the magic of a great original PAF.

Mojo PAF Vintage '59 - Construction

This set is built the way it should be, using proper materials and techniques that match vintage examples:

• USA-made butyrate bobbins

• USA-made Elektrisola 42 AWG plain enamel wire, correct turns per layer

• Roughcast Alnico 5 magnets, cloned to match vintage spec

• Nickel silver covers (copperless plating, correct dimpled pole holes)

• Nickel silver baseplates

• Correct alloy poles and slugs

• Maple spacer

• Braided two-strand hookup wire

This is not a mass-production set. These are handwound by Marc to nail the tone and feel of the best late 50s humbuckers.

Tone and Feel

So what do they sound like? In a word - right.

• Warm, clear, and open - the tone breathes, with top-end sparkle but never harsh

• Rich midrange - the sweet, slightly woody midrange that defines a great PAF

• Great sustain and bloom - notes hang on and develop naturally

• Dynamic and touch-sensitive - responds beautifully to picking dynamics and volume knob changes

• Vintage character - no modern hi-fi sheen here, this is old-school tone, the kind that fits perfectly in a live mix or a recording

In Short

The Mojo PAF Vintage '59 Pickup Set is for players chasing that elusive vintage humbucker tone - the kind that makes you play a little differently, a little better. Marc’s pickups are built with care and an ear for what really works. If you want a set of PAF-style pickups that won’t disappoint, these are well worth a serious look.