1964 Virgil Arlo Humbucker Pickup Set. Clapton "Woman" Year.

White Label Sets Worth It? 

$2500 is used market price for Vintage Virgil Arlo White Label PAF sets and they are nearly impossible to find. 

They’re not just rare.
They’re effectively gone.

What you’re getting here isn’t an interpretation or a “tribute” build.

These Black Label PAF pickups by ToneSpec are built using the same methods, materials, and approach that defined the originals.

Same feel. Same response. Without paying $2500 to get there.

What is 1964 “Woman Tone” PAF?

The 1964 PAF tone most often associated with Eric Clapton during his Cream era is one of the most recognizable humbucker tones ever recorded. It delivers a thick, singing sustain with a rich midrange focus that turns every note into something vocal and expressive.

It has the depth and warmth players expect from a great PAF, but with a more pronounced midrange and a smoother, more controlled top end. Roll back the tone on the neck pickup, and the sound transforms into that unmistakable violin-like sustain…full, fluid, and endlessly musical.

It is no surprise that players chasing tones from albums like Disraeli Gears and Wheels of Fire gravitate toward this type of response. That combination of warmth, bloom, and harmonic richness is what defines “Woman Tone” at its highest level.

This is not about brightness or attack. It is about sustain and voice. The way a note swells, holds, and sings without losing clarity or control.

Top Trade-In Sets

We consistently see the same pickups being traded for this set. Send us an e-mail if you have one of these sets & we'll set you up for a trade.

-Seymour Duncan 
-Gibson
-Lollar 
-Fralin 
-Bare Knuckle  

These are all respected pickups with strong followings. For many players, they are part of the journey.

With experience, many players start looking for more authority, more control when pushed, and a PAF tone that stays warm and defined as gain increases.

1964 “Woman Tone” in Your Guitar.

You’ll feel it right away...

-Notes swell into smooth, singing sustain with rich harmonic bloom
-The midrange feels thick, vocal, and highly expressive under your hands
-The top end stays rounded and controlled, never harsh even as you dig in

Original mid-60s PAF pickups with this level of warmth and sustain are rare and difficult to find, especially in a set calibrated to work perfectly together. The Virgil Arlo 1964 “Woman Tone” PAF set delivers that same iconic response, with consistency and reliability players depend on.

Pro Testimonials

-“These don’t just sound like vintage pickups, they feel like vintage pickups" -  Hadden Sayers, Blues Recording Artist

-“The best pickups I’ve ever owned.” - Brett Garsed, Legendary Guitarist

-“Virgil Arlo pickups changed the way I play guitar. I’ll never go back.” - Pat Buchanan, Nashville Session Legend

-“The Black Label's sound exactly like the originals, I don't know how you did it. They sound incredible.” - Michael Gallaher, Guitarist for Joe Cocker

1964 “Woman Tone” PAF Specifications

DC Resistance - Vintage Range

True vintage output humbucker range. Each pickup delivers thick, singing sustain with a strong midrange focus, smooth highs, and warm low end, capturing the bloom and compression associated with classic mid-60s PAF tone.

Magnet Type - Proprietary Alnico
Proprietary Alnico magnets crafted to deliver the balance, feel, and dynamic response found in the best vintage pickups, combining clarity, warmth, and natural compression. The Alnico magnets were engineered to have the dynamic range and sustain of A5s and the warmth and smoothness associated with A2s. The result is a pickup that feels, sounds, and responds like a refined vintage set.

Matched Set Calibration
Each set is calibrated so the neck and bridge work together as a system. Output, magnet strength, and coil balance are adjusted to ensure consistent response, balanced output, and smooth transition between positions.

About the Builder

Virgil Arlo designs are built by ToneSpec, using the same methods, materials, and standards that defined the originals. For more on the process, watch the video below.