A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

[murat]

Hi, I'm using SH-5 Custom/SSL-7 Quarter Pounder on my handmade HS tele (Mahogany-Walnut top Body, Mahogany/Ebony Neck 10-52 Strings) and I like the way it sounds. I like the clarity, tightness without being too modern and its paf-flavoured big sound. And it's coil split mode is absolutely fantastic! I play mostly drop tuned modern metal, sometimes blues (srv, bonamassa). It does everything so well for me.

My question is, I have a weak point for semi-hollows and I'm considering buying a PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow. (Actually I like using different stuff and trying new things, sound-wise my current guitar is really good but my G.A.S is so bad) The problem is I am able to own just one guitar. So, I'll sell the current one if I buy a PRS.

I'm hesitating about using drop tuning in PRS. Because it's 25" and semi-hollow. Will SH-5 Custom be flubby and muddy in this guitar? I know emg's or fishman stuff or blackouts, emty etc will work but I hate batteries, digital sound amd I'm using coil split very often, also I need to play blues sometimes so actives won't work for me.

Can SH-5 Custom keep up the qualities that I like, in a semi-hollow guitar? If not, which pickup should I buy (full shred comes to my mind first)?

 

[AlexR]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

Well, a semi-hollow tends to be softer in the highs and lows than a solid body.....so from that perspective you would not expect it to be doing the higher gain stuff as well full stop, let alone including pickup choices into the equation.
But there are degrees of 'semihollow'......a 335 is an extreme case, by the time you get to something like a Thinline Tele for example, you are more solid than semi tonally.

In your case I would save over time to get the PRS as a second guitar.

 

[murat]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

PRS is in between thinline and 335 I guess. I'm generally a everything axe guy, and I spec'd this guitar for it. But as you said maybe I should save up for 2 axes, one is paf-loaded semi-prs and the other one is for metal. Am I too dreamy about
my expectations from semi-hollow

 

[Mincer]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

A Custom is never flubby or muddy in any guitar. It just doesn't have that quality at all. As far as a good pickup to use in a semi hollow...it depends. I tend to think more of a vintage output pickup, like a Seth Lover set. It allows more touch-sensitivity to come through, and really accentuates the qualities of a semi hollow. But that is ony for certain styles. If you are playing heavier rock, or anything that requires a consistent level of dynamics, a Custom would be fine, too.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

I have never played that PRS guitar but I have owned several hollow and semi-hollow guitars over the years, always playing punk, hard rock, or something in between and I can tell you there is no one semi-hollow sound. They vary just as much as solidbody guitars. So I say start with the guitar, see how it sounds with your amp, and go from there.
The Custom would sound great in some of the ones I owned. I ran a JB in one and the combo worked great. I then put that pickup into the one I have now and it was too nasal and thin. After six different pickups in this one I have finally settled on a 9k paf with an A8 magnet. I'm pretty sure this pickup would have been pure mud in the previous guitar, and I'm pretty sure the L500XL that was too harsh in this one would have sounded fantastic in the previous one.
You just don't know until you play the guitar with your hands into your amp.

 

[Juanhanglo]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

I really like my set of paf 36ths.

great for everything up to hard rock.

 

[Adieu]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

Wasn't there some unspoken taboo that only ever allowed you to install Prails in semi-hollow pickup swaps??

 

[murat]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

I'm gonna try different sets and choose after that. I found donlis pickups which seems great for the price. Every review says it's just like usa pickups, quality materials, nice craftsmanship, good voicing etc. So I'll give them a shot. Alnico V PAF set seems interesting, with nickel baseplate and cover 8,4k/7,2k reminds me sh-2 jazz set. Maybe I'll install the custom or another high output pickup to compare which works better for me. Seems like I have plenty of work to do.

 

[murat]

Re: A Very Versatile Pickup Question For Semi-Hollow Guitar

For those who are curious this 2 sets caught my eye:

Free Shipping Hot Nickel silver baseplate Alnico humbucker guitar pickup Zebra ivory color with surround
http://s.aliexpress.com/Anqm2YR3?fromSns=Copy to Clipboard

Free Shipping Quality Nickel silver Alnico 5 lp guitar pickup PAF style with Nickel cover baseplate wax potted
http://s.aliexpress.com/ErMnYjYn?fromSns=Copy to Clipboard

First one looks like hot-roddet jb/jazz set and second one is like sh-2 jazz set I guess. Double cream option is interesting too ��