Re: Bridge pup to pair with a Dimarzio 36th - PRS SE content
what's up guys?
i've been toying with ideas for a bridge pup for a while now for my PRS SE Akesson. it's an awesome guitar, and the stock pickups are surprisingly ok. i have a 36 anniversary PAF that i'm not using at the moment, though, and i think it'll be a great neck pup on this guitar. i want to get some nickel covers for whatever i slap in there, too, beacuse they look fantastic on the dark brown quilt.
i'm looking for a bridge bucker. i've been toying with a 36th anny bridge model, as well as a 59/Custom hybrid, sh5 Custom, sh6 Distortion, etc.
i'm not sure if the higher output will work with with the 36th or not....anyone with an SE 245 or Akesson have any input?
cheers.
You have several bridge choices with a mahogany PRS and a PAF36th neck. I don't like mixing pickup brands for 3 reasons. First, Dimarzios and Duncans sound very different. Second, it doesn't have a uniform look. Third, it reduces the value of the guitar if you ever sell it more than matched brands. For this reason, I'll recommend you some Dimarzios which I've personally experimented with.
DP160 Norton - Excellent pickup all-around. It's good for pretty much any kind of music except the kind that requires weak vintage pickups or very high output ceramic or active pickups. It has a nice bottom end mix of bass and low mids, excellent midrange concentration, and 80's style highs that are a bit bright but not piercing or harsh. It has the tonal character and power that couples well with the PAF36th neck. It has been my favorite Dimarzio for a long time.
DP224 AT-1 - This is an interesting pickup because it's k ind of a cross between a Breed and a Mo'Joe. It's relatively bright but warm. It has the kind of harmonic midrange that you would expect from a Diamarzio humbucker. I think the EQ is a bit interesting on this one because it has a full low end and low mids, then somewhere near or in the upper mids there's a cut, and then a peak back up in the highs which roll off before it can get harsh. I find it to be a very good Les Paul pickup as it seems to love Mahogany. Like the Norton , this is not one of their air pickups either (or at least that I can tell from the patent numbers).
DP151 PAF Pro - This is one of my favorite all-time pickups for bridge or neck. It has a unique sound. I think it's one of THE best pickups for soloing for several reasons. First, it has tons of great character - especially in the midrange. It has a relatively tight low end which is great for a variety of rock chording. The amount of low end of a JB is probably comparable to the PAF Pro so it's not lacking any low end, but it doesn't accentuate it either. It's a relatively bright pickup, but settles very well in mahogany and basswood and most alder guitars. It has kind of a woodiness about it, but it's different from old woody sounding vintage PAFs, almost as if there is a hint of processing (not that it sounds processed) because it carries this crunchy kind of "waw" sound. It's great for crystaline clean tones but perhaps it's a bit hi-fi compared to bright vintage PAFs. It's one of the most expressive pickups you can get which makes it awesome for soloing.
DP165 Breed NECK - The Breed neck also makes a great bridge pickup. It's similar to the output of a PAF Pro so it matches well with the PAF36th too. In bridge position, it's kind of a slightly dialed back Breed bridge. It works well in mahogany. Don't get stuck on the idea that it's a neck pickup because you would be missing out on a great bridge sound in your PRS. I'm inclined to recommend this route simply because it's a great fit and because it's a bit different from the usual choices. It's all about making your own sound man.
DP227 Liquifire NECK - Yes, again another neck pickup for bridge position. I wish Dimarzio wouldn't specifically distinguish the Breed and Liquifire neck pickups because they make really good bridge pickups. I tried the Liquifire in the bridge of one of my alder strats which has a tendency to sound a bit deeper in the lower mids than my other strats, so I think it would be a great fit for mahogany. It's not as bright as the Breed, but it's also a bit tighter. The Breed neck can be a bit loose or at least feel like that. It's a little more balanced than the Breed neck but it still has great harmonics and that PAF Pro kind of crunch. In my strat bridge it had what sounded to me like a real nice violin tone. It's kind of medium-hot for a neck pickup, but more along the lines of a PAF Pro when it's in the bridge position. However, it matches the output of the PAF36th well. It would be hard decision to make to have to choose between this and a Breed neck because they both make awesome bridge pickups. Like I said, don't get stuck on the idea that they're designated as neck pickups. They are VERY good bridge pickups so you would be missing out on some great tone if you overlooked them.
Overall, I'm inclined the recommend one of the two neck models I suggested because I think they will fit with the combination of your PRS and PAF36th neck.
