Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

[papersoul]

Hi all!

I am using a CC/59 set in a PRS SE Standard solid mahogany guitar. The CC is great but it seems the 59 needs the mids or thickness of the CC to match up well. Is there a better matching neck pickup? Maybe Alnico II Pro neck model or PG neck?

Thanks!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Bingo. You just hit the jackpot. :laugh2: Those two are perfect options. Flip a coin. The Jazz neck is nice too if you like an A5 pickup in the neck slot.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Thanks, maybe I'll see if I can get someone to trade me a 59 for an Alnico II Pro neck model. I also have PRS Dragon IIs sitting hear if these do not work.

 

[Mike D]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

The A2P neck works really well with the hotter CC Bridge. I'm a big fan of this combination - and of the A2P in particular.

 

[open]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

I've put a Jazz in mine and am satisfied with the result.

 

[ponch]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

The jazz is pretty sweet, i use it, its my solution to the 59.

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

I was thinking A2P or Jazz. If that's what you're thinking (and everyone else, it seems) that's probably a good choice.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

I like the way a Pearly Gates matches up with the Custom Custom in a Les Paul of mine.

 

[sstanfield]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

I like the way a Pearly Gates matches up with the Custom Custom in a Les Paul of mine.

+1

The Custom Custom and Pearly Gates are a nice match in my Thinline Tele, too. (Lew's recommendation)

 

[Aceman]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

There is one, and only one, perfect choice for the CC bridge. Read this, learn it, know it: PG Neck, CC Bridge!

Yes, A2P has a fatness about it, and a Jazz is clear and bright. ow that we have that out of the way - PG Neck!!!!!

There are a jillion posts and I think you'll find that is the consensus. As for the PRS factor, we're talking about Mahogany Pauls here, so it should be close enough.

By mixing the pups in a neck plus mid fashion, all sorts of sounds are available. Unfortuneatley, you won't have two vols or twones to do this. Too bad. The blends really are incredible with just a tweek of vol or tone to bring out certain charateristics of the other pup when they are combined.

PG or not PG? That is NOT the question. Whether or not to keep the PRS is the real issue!

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Anyone need a 59 neck? I could trade.

Also, does anyone know where to buy pickup tape? The CC originally had a cover and now that the cover is off....there is no tape! I used electrical tape but good pickup tape would be best.

 

[marshallartist]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

I've got an Ibanez AX320 (SG-ish) with the CC in the bridge and an A2P in the neck and I love this combo. There are two downsides I have noticed:

1. The neck tends to be a little muddy if you distort heavily or play at "the kids are sleeping in the next room" volume (compared to the '59).
2. The is a noticeable disparity between the output level of these pickups.

But the neck pickup sounds so good it's easy to overlook these shortcomings. I haven't tried the Jazz or the PG, but I can't imagine that either would be a bad choice.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Thanks guys! Maybe I'll keep the CC/59 in place for a while to really see what they can do as is! These were recommended as is so we'll see. Lots of guys I know swear by the 59 neck pickup in most situations and to be paired with most all Duncan bridge pickups so I won't give up yet.

A big test for me is to see how this guitar now sounds next to my bandmate's guitar which is identical with PRS Dragon II pickups. We both have these guitars as back up guitars. If the CC doesn't work it will be back to the Dragon IIs or Rio Grande BBQ/Texas set.

 

[Dills]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Hey papersoul how does the CC sound in your SE standard?, I too have a PRS all mahogany and i want to tone down the grainy hi end of the custom in the bridge position, does it sound too muddy, also what about the cleans? and do leads sound thin or thick (vocal) on the upper frets. I fully recommend the APH2 in the neck, its fat but has awesome clarity and very sweet almost stratlike in the hi end.

Thanks Dills

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Dills, it sound great! I have a CE-22 that I am even thinking of using another CC. The CE has a Dragon which sounds good so I may have to keep it stock. I wonder how this CC would compare to the PRSDragon IIs. I'll know soon when I try it next to my friend's guiter with DIIs.

I'll give you a better report once I have more time with it, cool!?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Bingo. You just hit the jackpot. :laugh2: Those two are perfect options. Flip a coin. The Jazz neck is nice too if you like an A5 pickup in the neck slot.

The jazz neck will have alot more bass...bigger sunding in the bass. And the upper harmonics are way there with the Jazz...like little springs twinkling away up in the stratosphere. I love the Jazz neck...just wish it had a little less bass.

I like the PGn alot! It has a very round tone that reminds me of the resonance and transparency of a huge bottle or big glass jug.

The single coil tone from the PGn is among the best...very very usable for rythym and chords and also for Stratty soloing on the neck pickup.

Lew

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

So Lew if you HAD to choose
which is more versatile, the PG or the Jazz?

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

So Lew if you HAD to choose
which is more versatile, the PG or the Jazz?

I'd take the Jazz over any other alnico 5 neck humbucking pickup...

But I'd take the PGn over the Jazz.

Which doesn't mean I don't like the 59n or Jazz N...I do! I especially like them as a neck pickup on a Jazz archtop that will not be cranked up to distortion levels.

The Jazz and 59 are based on Gibson humbuckers from the mid 60's like Wes Montgomery used in his L5...and if you look closely at photos of Wes playing his Gibson L5 you'll see that he took that neck pickup and turned it around so the adjustable polepieces face the bridge...not the neck.

That mod usually results in a tone with less bass....so even Wes apparently thought the pickups that the 59 and Jazz are based on had to much bass.

Lew

 

[papersoul]

Re: Good match for the CC bridge pickup?

Well, if it doesn't work I can always go with my original choice of the PRS Dragon IIs. I like PRS pickups because they tend to sound more modern than others and I have found they record nicely.