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**tone4days** · 03-22-2005, 05:45 PM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

welcome to the forum ... nice axe you got there ...

hmmm ... i'm gonna have to scratch my head a bit on this ...

at first blush, that seems like an aweful lot to ask out of one guitar ...

part of me wants to say 4-wire 59n / C5b ... i have that in my HSH guitar, but some of the extra versatility really comes from the 's' in the middle ...

i like my AIIP / JB combo too ... i have it wired with a prs style 5-way ... again, i love it, but it isnt quite THAT versatile ...

you might want to try www.birdsandmoons.com forum for PRS folks too ...

good luck
t4d

**Gearjoneser** · 03-22-2005, 06:15 PM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

First of all, you'll be glad you went to Duncans, from the HFS and Vintage Bass that's in your guitar now. If you had a rotary switch, I'd tell you to look at the PRS/Duncan post in the Vault, regarding wiring. Since you have a 3 way McCarty style, you can just drop them in, using the red/white soldered together, to simulate the white coil tap wire that the PRS pickups have. On my McCarty, I never use the coil tap on the bridge, so I cut it. Now, I can jump between the split neck and full bridge, without having to touch the pullup tone. Just an idea for you.

The C-5/59 sounds good in mine, but a tad bit beefier than you may want, and maybe me too.
I'd be inclined to use a 59B/Jazz, if I were to change what I use now. Make sure they're 4 conductor.

**Gearjoneser** · 03-22-2005, 06:20 PM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

Also, consider a zebra or nickelcovered set! They look cooler on PRS, in my opinion.

For the strat....Twangbanger bridge and Antiquity Surfer neck and middle get my vote.

**B8704** · 03-23-2005, 08:23 AM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

THANX so much for such quick and informative responses. Very Much appreciated indeed.

Take Care!
B8704

**Jeff_H** · 03-23-2005, 10:59 AM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

When I think of something smooth...I think of A2 magnet pickups. I'd lean towards a Custom Custom bridge and an APH II neck. The neck is super smooth and sweet, well balanced and handles gain really well. Aswome clean tones, jazz tones...everything.

The CC is also smooth, and doesn't make me think of a pickup that's hot when I play it...even though it is 14k or so. IMO it can do classic rock, blues ect very well. It doesn't do metal very well, the bottom is not that thight on it, but it doesn't seem that's a concern for you. Also, since it is a 14k pickup, when you split it, you have a single coil right around 7k for a classic strat bridge pup tone.

For the Strat, Twangbanger, APS APS or Twangbanger Antiquity I, Antiquity I.

Just my $.02

**mrfjones** · 03-23-2005, 03:11 PM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

i am right there with you jeff h. i think you need some pickups with alnico 2's seths for a more vintage paf tone, APH for really smooth and a CC for some grind. I think i would use the seths personally, but they are a vintage voiced pickup

**Luke Duke** · 03-23-2005, 03:33 PM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

Hey man welcome to the forum!

I figured I'd give you some reading material before I make my recommendation

Antiquity---A pup that is hand made by Seymour or MJ that has been artificially aged. The magnet has been degaussed and the cover has been distresses along with the screws so as to appear vintage. Everything is done to make these pups as close to an original that you would buy from a collector that was out of a guitar that was played everyday and gigged with. They have complex mids and are smooth. They are available in A2 or A5 magnet varieties. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The 59---The 59 is the quintessential A5 PAF (patent applied for) pup. Imagine getting in a time machine and going back to 1959 and swiping a brand new A5 pup from the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo and bringing it forward to today. They have found most homes in many neck slots. It has symetrical coils and lots of quack. It has thumping bass, a scooped mid, and cutting highs. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Seth Lover---This pup is as true to the original as can be. This pup is unpotted and comes standard with a gold, or nickel pup cover. It has an A2 magnet and has good quack and fair mids. For this pup imagine going back in time to 1955 and grabbing one of the very first PAF's before they debuted in the LP's. This pup is warm and creamy, but can also get bright with the tone knob on 10. Vintage 2 Conductor Wire

The Alnico 2 Pro---The warmest of the Duncan PAF line. It has symetrical coils and is a modern take on the A2 PAFs. It has round bass and smooth treble, it also has lots of mids to make the guitar really sing. It will warm up the coldest or shrillest of guitars. The most well known Alnico 2 Pro user is Slash of Velvet Revolver and GNR. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

Pearly Gates---The PG is the hottest of the Duncan PAF line. It has asymetrical (mismatched) coils and an A2 magnet. The mismatched coils give this particular pup its rude personality. It has a frequency push in the Presence/Cut knob frequency band. This is the "Sizzle" PG owner talk about. It has the most mids of the Ducan PAF line and is also the hottest. Its patron is Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top. Standard 4 conductor Wire

The Jazz---The jazz is the pup that bridges the gap between Vintage and Modern pups. Its output is at or around the vintage level. Don't let the name fool you this pup is very versatile and smooth. It has an A5 magnet and is very widely used in the neck slot. It is articulate regardless of the tuning as well. This pup negociates cleans or overdrive very well. Standard 4 Conductor Wire

The Custom Series---The Custom Series is all on pup configuration but with different magnets. The coils are symmetrical and the pups come with Standard 4 Conductor wire

Custom---The Custom is a PAF kicked up a few notches. This pup gets its aggressive edge from its Ceramic magnet. This pup has lots of grind with good treble and midrange. It also has ample bass for palm mute playing.

Custom Custom---The Custom Custom is a midrange heavy pup that lends itself to leads and warming bright guitars. This pup gets its huge midrange from the Alnico 2 magnet. I has smooth bass and treble. Essentially it is an overwound A2 PAF.

Custom 5---The Custom 5 is a pup with an EQ very identical to The 59. It has thumping bass, scooped mids, and cutting treble. Like the 59 it is a bright pup that will liven up dark guitar, but the bass can be overwhelming in a bassy guitar, or the the treble overwhelming in a trebly guitar.

**Luke Duke** · 03-23-2005, 03:42 PM

Re: Advise on New Pickups for PRS PLEASE!!

JB---The JB is in a class of its own. There is really no other pup like it. It has fair bass and lots of treble. This particular pup has a large upper mids spike that allow it to cut through the mix like no other. It can be heard on countless recording especially throughout the 80's. Lots of people like to pair it with a Jazz or 59 in the neck. In bright guitars it is usually soldered to a 250k pot just like the original Seymour made 30 years ago.

For me smooth and singing equals Alnico 2.

For warm vintage output I'd go with a pair of Alnico 2 Pros (A2Ps). For a hotter bridge I'd go CC. If you want more quack than those offer look at the seths.

I read somewhere that some of the older PRS' had a different body woods, but since you didn't mention it I'm going to assume yours is mahogany.

For the Strat you'll get lots of opinions as well. Dec. 30 I put some APS' in my strat {APS-1 (n) APS-1 rwrp (M) APS-2 (B)} I haven't looked back. I had never been a strat fan until I installed those pups with along with quality components. Lots of guys LOVE the SSL-1. They are the most true to vintage new pups. The bridge slot is an object of preference here. Would you like it hotter? or to just raise it higher? Some guys use SSL-1's or APS-1's n&m and a hot or custom b.

Hope that helps man!

Luke

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