John Henry Guitars' Library
Providing Everything You Want to Know!
Before the Humbucker: Gibson’s Early Experiments and the Rise of the P-90
From oversized cobalt-magnet single coils to compact post-war designs, this chapter uncovers Gibson’s early quest for volume, clarity, and tonal identity. It follows the evolution from the Charlie Christian pickup through the P-13 and into the revolutionary P-90, examining how materials, magnet choices, and engineering refinements defined the character of Gibson’s pre-humbucker era.
Inventing the Future: Inside the Creation of the PAF and Gibson’s Humbucker Revolution
From Walt Fuller’s early electric innovations to Seth Lover’s hum-canceling breakthrough, this chapter reveals the human story and technical evolution behind the legendary PAF. It covers the first prototypes, the famous Goldtop test guitar, the transition from PAF to Patent No. and T-Top eras, and the enduring legacy that continues to define electric guitar tone.
The Hidden Architecture of Tone: Decoding the Vintage PAF Humbucker
Focusing on what most players never see, this chapter explores the “micro-architecture” of the PAF: injection-molded butyrate bobbins, authentic M-69 rings, aging plastics, German silver covers, rough-cast Alnico, Plain Enamel wire, historic winding machines, screws, slugs, keeper bars, and baseplates. It shows how manufacturing methods and material aging shaped the response, microphonics, and harmonic richness that define true vintage PAF pickups.
Inside the Control Cavity: How Gibson Electronics Shaped Vintage Tone
Going beyond pickups, this chapter opens up the control cavity of vintage Gibsons to examine ‘50s wiring, pot values and tapers, legendary tone caps like Grey Tigers and Sprague Bumble Bees, Switchcraft 3-way toggles and jacks, Catalin tips, braided shield wire, grounding schemes, Varitone circuits and stereo outputs. It shows how every component and layout choice subtly influenced clarity, response, noise floor and the unmistakable character of classic Gibson guitars.