Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

[aleclee]

Today I decided that I'd like to replace the HFS & Vintage Bass in my PRS CE24 (shown below). Though I'm quite happy with the '78s in my Driskill, I'm not necessarily looking for Duncans. :saeek:

My #1 consideration is clarity. I want a neck pickup that'll chime away on my clean channel and a bridge pickup that maintains string separation even under heavy gain. Assuming I don't just call MJ and order something from the Custom Shop what would you suggest? Some things that have crossed my mind are WCR and Voodoo Pickups.

Oh, by the way, 4 conductors are a must-have so Seths and their kin are out of the question.

Thanks!

 

[mrid]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

I would go with the Jazz neck and the Custom bridge (which is similar to the HFS) or the C-5 if you want something a little different. I've heard a couple of PRS players rave about the C-5 in the bridge.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

I'd do C-5/Pearly Gates. Do the Voodoo 59's have a coil tap wire?

My PRS McCarty sounds real good with the zebra C-5/59.
Since the Vintage Bass sounds great on PRS Customs, I'd just ditch the HFS, and replace it with a McCarty Treble or Dragon II.

 

[Mr 9finger]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

I like the C5/AII pro combo! but if you want to unload that HFS in the near future, send me a PM

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

I made the same replacement in a '90 Custom 24 with a TB-12 Custom Custom in the bridge and an SH-PG1n Pearly Gates in the neck. And I'm very happy with the results.

You'll see a photo of that guitar on the cover of the next Seymour Duncan catalog.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

and a bridge pickup that maintains string separation even under heavy gain

This is why I use the Full Shred ... the string to string definition is great with this pickup. It has that seperation which normally comes with Single coils (esp. telecaster bridge) but maintains a humbucker sound. The pickup retains a great level of clarity under high gain.

The caveat emptor is that it's not for everyone. Clean you can really tell that it has a really compressed sound with a bit of dirt showing through. Also the bass is somewhat hidden with this pickup. If you're using a closed back cab it's there for sure. I've also seen people who don't adjust their EQ when trying this pickup for the first time ... which kills alot of first impressions.


I don't know if it has everything you're looking for, but it does have the string to string seperation you were talking about though.

I wonder what a C5 would sound like with one side of slotted screws and one side of allenheads similar to the Screamin Demon ... I know Jer has a C5 with all allen heads but I wonder

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

I made the same replacement in a '90 Custom 24 with a TB-12 Custom Custom in the bridge and an SH-PG1n Pearly Gates in the neck. And I'm very happy with the results.

You'll see a photo of that guitar on the cover of the next Seymour Duncan catalog.

Good call. Maybe even consider a set of Pearlys.

Those are alnico 2 pickups though...alnico 5 59's would have more bass and deeper and tighter bass response.

The thing with the 24 fret guitars is the neck pickup is not in the usual place....it's about an inch closer to the bridge and that thins out the tone a little.

And anytime you have a real long neck because the guitar has double cutaways the bass response and lower mids suffer a little bit and the guitar will not sound like a single cutaway Les Paul. Not talking about the scale length but the actual length of the neck. The longer it is, the more flexable it is...and that's usually not a plus in terms of sustain and bass/lower midrange.

Lew

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

You'll see a photo of that guitar on the cover of the next Seymour Duncan catalog.

Actually, you can see a bit of the guitar in the background of this picture (behind Jessica, Scott, Kellie and Troy):

Note that with a PRS vibrato, using a Trembucker causes the strings to line up exactly with the pole pieces in the bridge position.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

I think PRS guitars are just about the prettiest electric guitars ever. A beautiful design and shape. Probably the most influencial electric guitar design since the '51 Tele, '54 Strat, '58 ES-335 and '59 Les Paul. Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

And anytime you have a real long neck because the guitar has double cutaways the bass response and lower mids suffer a little bit and the guitar will not sound like a single cutaway Les Paul. Not talking about the scale length but the actual length of the neck. The longer it is, the more flexable it is...and that's usually not a plus in terms of sustain and bass/lower midrange.

Lew

Just to reinforce this point, there's terriffic interviews with Paul Reed Smith in the new Guitar Player Magazine "IKON SERIES" mag they just put out that is dedicated to PRS guitars. I picked it up last night on the way home from work and the whole issue is about PRS guitars. Paul says exactly the same thing about the long neck on PRS double cut guitars being flexable and changing the tone compared to the neck on a single cutaway guitar. He also comments on the lawsuit Gibson filed against him and won claiming the PRS Single Cut infringed on Gibson's Les Paul design. I think Gibson's claim had zero merit, BTW...as does Paul.

Lew

 

[Stringer]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

A few weeks ago, I went with C-5/'59 in a Custom 24. I think you'd be happy with the C-5 in the bridge -- massive upgrade over the HFS in every respect, and a whole lot more clarity. I'm enjoying the '59, but I don't know that it "chimes away."

Is that an alder-backed CE? If so, you might want to give a McCarty a look in the bridge -- it'll be a simple swap and you'll have all the switching. I actually don't like the McCarty PUPS in a McCarty or a Custom, but they sound quite good in the alder CE's.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

Looks like Evan confirmed my idea of the PG neck. C-5/PG !!!!!!!!
It's even Robert S's favorite combo for his #1 Les Paul. I'm thinking of yanking one of my 59N's out and putting in a PG in any guitar where the 59 is boomy.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

Is that an alder-backed CE? If so, you might want to give a McCarty a look in the bridge -- it'll be a simple swap and you'll have all the switching. I actually don't like the McCarty PUPS in a McCarty or a Custom, but they sound quite good in the alder CE's.

Yeah, it has an alder back. Unfortunately, McCarty pups don't play nice with the rotary switch.

 

[Stringer]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

Looks like Evan confirmed my idea of the PG neck. C-5/PG !!!!!!!!
It's even Robert S's favorite combo for his #1 Les Paul. I'm thinking of yanking one of my 59N's out and putting in a PG in any guitar where the 59 is boomy.

Let me know how you like it... it was my second option and gave it serious consideration. I really like the 59, though.

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Help me replace my PRS HFS/VB

C5b/59n!!! Had that in my Prs & it sounded wonderful. The middiness of a PRS meshes very well with the C5 & the 59 keeps the neck alive & chimey without getting muddy on the bass. These pups combined & split were an absolute joy to listen to in my rig. Good luck.

Peace,

Darrin