Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

[NumanSaintKillJoy]

Have decided against the eclair set...for now; I just can't afford it at the moment.

So...what do you all recommend - Duncan or otherwise - as stand ins for the old PRS T&B pickups? (Oh, they can't cost, like, a fortune, you know. So I guess boutiques are out.)

To clarify, I want something fairly sonically lose to the T&B pickups.

NSt.K-J

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

The T&Bs are totally unique because of their unorthodox slug coils. I don't know of any other humbuckers ever made that way. It gives them focus & immediacy and contributes a lot to the "best of both worlds" sound and feel of the early PRSs. You might be able to have a custom builder make you something similar. There are good winders who do not charge boutique prices. I'm not sure any would be familiar with the magnetodynamics involved in using both rods and bars in the same pickup but it probably could be done for a lot less than a set of originals would cost you. There are production pickups from several makers that have more of a singlecoil sound than typical humbuckers. But the T&Bs really are a breed unto themselves. Out of all the guitars I've used, my '87 PRS is one that I never ever considered trying other pickups in. Not even for a moment. Still my favorite after nearly thirty years together.

As for standard models with good definition, I like the Screamin Demon. Performs well in both neck and bridge positions, for both cleans and distortion. Has an attack character which gives it good clarity at high gain. Also, some here on the Forum have had good results tweaking it with magnet swaps. Both of mine still have the original A5s for now. Not as punchy or as chimey as the T&Bs but of the humbuckers I have the Demon was what came to mind first. And these can be found used if you watch for them.

DiMarzio's Humbucker From Hell is intended to be very singlecoily too. I believe that one's most often used in neck position. No idea how it acts with gain or at volume but I know there are those who like it so it seemed worth mentioning.

 

[NumanSaintKillJoy]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

The HFH was on my mind, too. Had one in the bridge of a strat and LOVED it. The other pickup that came immediately to mind was the Norton or Air Norton. Had a Norton in a strat and loved that, too.
I also considered a Patent Application PAF from Klein, but that's a little out of my price league at the moment.
May I just say that Paul Reed Smith is to guitar making - and I mean all aspects from pickups outward - what Nikola Tesla is to electrical engineering.

-NSt.K-J

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

Manlius Pickups has a good reputation, isn't overpriced, and makes a T-top equivalent. http://www.manliusguitar.com/

Don't know much about the Air Norton- I know it has bite but I believe it also has pretty deep lows. If you think that'd be a good match for you, there's one for sale right here on the Forum. A pretty good deal at $45.
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?314940-FS-FT-Dimarzio-Air-Norton

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

Y'know, you might consider the Alternative 8 also, that's one which hadn't occurred to me. On the thread for the Air Norton, MetalMan666 remarked that he had a few he'd consider trading- among them were a HFH and an Alt8. Also a Steve's Special, which I think is the DiMarzio Steve Morse model.

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...o-Air-Norton&p=4024483&viewfull=1#post4024483

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

Manlius Pickups has a good reputation, isn't overpriced, and makes a T-top equivalent. http://www.manliusguitar.com/

Yep. Micks a good guy.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

May I just say that Paul Reed Smith is to guitar making - and I mean all aspects from pickups outward - what Nikola Tesla is to electrical engineering.

-NSt.K-J

Nikola Tesla!
Now that is one huge compliment.


Sent from my SM-J200G using Tapatalk

 

[Mincer]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

You can always get a JB/Jazz set, and replace the A5 in the Jazz with an A4, and replace the A5 in the JB with an A2. It is sort of an Eclair set, for a whole lot less money.

 

[NumanSaintKillJoy]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

Manlius Pickups has a good reputation, isn't overpriced, and makes a T-top equivalent.

Not looking for Gibson T-tops, but PRS 'Standard T&B pickups.' But I emailed 'em. They have something called a 'Studbucker' that looks quasi-promising.

-NSt.K-J

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Anything similar to PRS "Standard" T&B Pickups?

Manlius also makes an overwound T-top called the Vinyl. Might be closer to the T&Bs in terms of output. I just bought a Vinyl over on TGP but it'll be a while before I put it through its paces.

I had considered at the Studbucker once upon a time. It did indeed seem pretty promising, but the problem with humbuckers that have magpoles in both coils (Duncan makes one too, the StagMag) is that usually the series humbucking tone falls short of true greatness. The price you pay for the highly focused magnetic field; it's a compromise, like any unusual design. My curiosity about this one lives on though- if you get a set please post a review. I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to learn more.

Again, I urge you to take another look at the Screamin Demon. It's not the firebreathing monster the name would lead you to expect. Though it was intended for the bridge, there are many besides me who can testify that it makes a killer neck pickup. And I remember a post from someone who had them in both positions and said the volume discrepancy was not bad.

Y'know, I sometimes see reissue T&B sets for sale over at the VintageRocker forum. They aren't cheap but in my experience there's really nothing else like 'em.