Apologies in advance for the lengthy post. I’ve come here several times for advice and registered primarily because of this problem I’m having.
I recently acquired a 2016 McCarty with a beautiful 10-top. Reviews for the 58/15 pickups were overwhelmingly positive so it seemed like a sure thing. They are brighter than I would like them to be and seem to have a lack of mids. I don’t mind them for chord work, but single notes on the treble strings between the 5th and 12th frets have this harsh, brittle tonality that is very unpleasant and this is an issue because I am primarily a lead player. I have had this same issue in the past with Suhr Thornbuckers and SSV bridge (SSV neck was great) and moved on from the guitars those were loaded in. Maybe I just don’t like PAFs? I do like clarity and articulation, but these have all had a very harsh attack to me that was not musical to me at all. I did have a set of BK Mules in an LP that were quite nice, they were bright but in a nice-sounding way.
Anyways, I would like to keep this PRS rooted firmly in the classic rock to hard rock category so I’m not looking for a JB or anything like that. I already have JB in an HSS Strat that I love. But I do want pickups that have more mids, more harmonics, and a sweet, singing lead tone that also coil-split well. I would like to use this guitar for Zeppelin, Stones, Eagles, Black Crows, GnR, and 90s Alt/grunge material. I’ve been looking at HV, SNS and WLH sets and also a CC(a little hot) or the C/59 in the bridge with an A2P or possibly a Jazz in the neck. I have also thought about Mules again (Abraxas too, though those seem hotter than what I want) and just live with the lack of punch in the lows because the mids and highs are so sweet on those. Any thoughts on whether any of these set would help or wind up just as bad as the stock or not? Anyone used these or something else to tame a bright 2HB guitar?
On paper, the SNS seem like a really good solution since I like the A4 Mules and the SNS are a little hotter than those. My only complaint about the Mules was that they were sometimes a little underpowered for what I wanted. I just worry that the SNS would be just as harsh and bright as the 58/15s in this guitar. Which makes me think the C/59 hybrid might be the way to go. I’ve owned the Black Dogs in another guitar and they were not what I expected. Didn’t sound bad but not really what I was looking for or expecting. It’s not super midrangey like many PRS can be. Happy to take any suggestions not listed as well. It’s too pretty a guitar not to have a tone that matches. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.
I recently acquired a 2016 McCarty with a beautiful 10-top. Reviews for the 58/15 pickups were overwhelmingly positive so it seemed like a sure thing. They are brighter than I would like them to be and seem to have a lack of mids. I don’t mind them for chord work, but single notes on the treble strings between the 5th and 12th frets have this harsh, brittle tonality that is very unpleasant and this is an issue because I am primarily a lead player. I have had this same issue in the past with Suhr Thornbuckers and SSV bridge (SSV neck was great) and moved on from the guitars those were loaded in. Maybe I just don’t like PAFs? I do like clarity and articulation, but these have all had a very harsh attack to me that was not musical to me at all. I did have a set of BK Mules in an LP that were quite nice, they were bright but in a nice-sounding way.
Anyways, I would like to keep this PRS rooted firmly in the classic rock to hard rock category so I’m not looking for a JB or anything like that. I already have JB in an HSS Strat that I love. But I do want pickups that have more mids, more harmonics, and a sweet, singing lead tone that also coil-split well. I would like to use this guitar for Zeppelin, Stones, Eagles, Black Crows, GnR, and 90s Alt/grunge material. I’ve been looking at HV, SNS and WLH sets and also a CC(a little hot) or the C/59 in the bridge with an A2P or possibly a Jazz in the neck. I have also thought about Mules again (Abraxas too, though those seem hotter than what I want) and just live with the lack of punch in the lows because the mids and highs are so sweet on those. Any thoughts on whether any of these set would help or wind up just as bad as the stock or not? Anyone used these or something else to tame a bright 2HB guitar?
On paper, the SNS seem like a really good solution since I like the A4 Mules and the SNS are a little hotter than those. My only complaint about the Mules was that they were sometimes a little underpowered for what I wanted. I just worry that the SNS would be just as harsh and bright as the 58/15s in this guitar. Which makes me think the C/59 hybrid might be the way to go. I’ve owned the Black Dogs in another guitar and they were not what I expected. Didn’t sound bad but not really what I was looking for or expecting. It’s not super midrangey like many PRS can be. Happy to take any suggestions not listed as well. It’s too pretty a guitar not to have a tone that matches. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.
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