Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

B

blind1

New member
Hey guys,

First off, I am not "new" around here because my account here is thirteen years old, but I have not posted here since 2005... ahhh how time flies and things have changed. I went out a long hiatus for college and my first few years of full time work. I went out to a nightclub a couple months ago and heard an awesome cover band that inspired me to pick up my guitars from their dusty cases and get back into it again - for the record, I studied music education and get to introduce middle schoolers to music through band and chorus - so I didn't stop doing music.. just focused elsewhere.

Anyways, I am on a tone journey and am looking for some advice. I'm looking for versatility out of my guitars. I play a lot of rock music, new and older. I eventually want to broaden my horizons and get into jazz/fusion. I like an open, warm, full sound rich with harmonics, tight bass end.

The Guitars (all played through Marshall DSL40, sometimes direct input into Ableton):

Guitar 1) I have a 2013 PRS SE Custom 24 that I just recently bought. I love the guitar. It rocks. The pickups sound pretty good TBH, but I feel like they have some qualities I'm not crazy about: bridge pickup (PRS HFS?) has some weird mid range spike that I dislike and I wish it had just a bit more output. Neck pickup - dig the warmth, but to me it just isn't open and rich enough. When I coil-tap (not sure how it is setup.. series vs parallel, I suppose I'll get a look when I open it one day), the sounds are very thin in bridge and neck positions and unusable, only the middle position is worth a flip.

For this guitar, I am considering getting a Custom 5 for the bridge, and a Pearly Gates for the neck - both with nickel covers to match the current aesthetics of this guitar. Are these a good choice for this PRS and my style? Other considerations I had: Alnico 2 Pros, or Custom 5 with Jazz Neck.


Guitar 2) Ibanez SZ320 (older model.. it is an all mahogany guitar with stained finish, arched mahogany top, generic Ibanez factory PUs) - it is one of the best playing guitar I've ever used for its price range. Amazing unplugged tone, and when plugged in, it doesn't sound terrible.. but it sounds Ibanezy... which to me sounds compressed, muddy, and lacking any sort of brilliance in treble. Very woofy pickups and not a lot of sustain.

For the Ibanez, I am considering putting in a JB that I already own (although it is in a project Squier Strat... more on that later). Although, I am one of those people that really does not like the JB. I am only considering it because it saves me a little bit of money in the short term. So the possibility here is JB / '59 or Blues. However, I am not set on this and really am not sure how this guitar will respond to this setup. I'm worried it will be too bright with no depth. What do you guys think for the Ibanez?


Finally, I have a project guitar, a Squier Affinity Strat (my first electric guitar) that I will eventually upgrade the components in. I am open to suggestions here on a setup that would compliment the setup of my other two guitars and give me a bit more versatility in my arsenal. Not nearly as much of a priority as my other guitars, but just thought I'd ask.

I also have a set of EMG 81/85 now laying around.. I went through a phase in life where I actually like active pickups (damn you Metallica!!!). I look back on it and wonder what I was thinking! :)

TL;DR

Help with pickups for rock music with:
PRS SE Custom 24
Ibanez SZ320
Squier Affinity Strat


Thanks guys.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Hey, welcome back!

In the Custom 24 I can say that for what you are looking for a custom 5 or custom custom would work in the bridge. However for warmth you could go with an A2P. The Custom Custom and A2P are what I have in my PRS. I think they pull of rock well and it’s warm. I wouldn’t count the PG out either, but in my experience I would say that for warmth the A2P is definitely got it, also it’s good for more mild sounds.

For the Ibanez. I got no personal experience, but I can say EMGs sound about the same in everything in my opinion.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

I'll second the C5 or CC in the PRS, but I'd pair it with a PGn. In the Ibby, I'd sell the 81, get a 60A, and pair it with the 85 in the bridge.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

On my Custom 24, I went Custom/PGn, with separate push/pull pots for series/parallel.

Party in the front, business in the back.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Just FYI, the SZ320 has fairly substantial maple top, even on the opaque colors (ask me how I know... :) ):

IbanezNekkidFront.jpgIbanezNekkidNeckJoint.jpg

Larry
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Oh cool, another Tampa area forum member!
I dig the idea of a Custom 5/Pearly Gates. Even a '59 would be good in the neck as well. For the Ibanez, if you don't like a JB, it isn't going to change your mind. Perhaps a Custom & a Jazz there. They are open, and not woofy at all. For the Affinity, you will have to decide if you still want it to sound like a Strat. Pickup upgrades might cost more than the guitar, though.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Thanks for the replies guys. This is what I've done so far:

I replaced the Ibanez SZ320MH pickups with the JB/Jazz combo. It sounds pretty awesome in this guitar!!!! Huge.. like MASSIVE improvement over the original pickups. I actually love the JB sound in this guitar. I recorded a before and after demonstration and will post a video of it soon enough. For my PRS, I'm going with the Custom 5 / Alnico 2 Pro combo. Calsip's suggestion made me look more into that neck pickup and I really dig it.

Larry, I am pretty sure my guitar is all mahogany with an arch mahogany top. It also had generic Ibanez pickups as opposed to Duncan/Ibanez pickups like the later models. I attached some pics of it.. I'm like 98% sure this is all mahogany. The JB really brings out some great characteristics of this otherwise very naturally dark guitar and the Jazz sounds like velvet.. pure butter...

sorry the forum turned my photos some weird direction.. not sure how to fix that...
IMG_1196.jpg
IMG_1197.jpgIMG_1198.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Benjy_26 said:
I'll second the C5 or CC in the PRS, but I'd pair it with a PGn. In the Ibby, I'd sell the 81, get a 60A, and pair it with the 85 in the bridge.
Click to expand...

Benjy,
Do you mean you'd put the 85 in the bridge and 60A in the neck? I've never liked the 85 in the bridge. I'm not sure I want to keep the EMGs anyway, I really have a preference for the openness of good passive pickups.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

That sure does look like mahogany, I agree. Maybe there were variations?

Regardless, glad you found a sound you like!

Larry
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

I've got two SZ320s. Didn't really like the JB there, too middy and one dimensional, it lacked some air and high-end sparkle. Had a Screamin' Demon there as well, great but way too trebly and twangy, a bit too niche and specialty I guess. I wanna try it again, might be interesting.

Now I've got a Super Distortion which is clearer and tighter than the JB while still being manageable, and an Invader set in the other which is just balls to the ****ing wall man. The SZ loves thick sounding ceramic pickups. Twangy pickups sound almost too bright in it IMO. Best of luck man.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Diego said:
I've got two SZ320s. Didn't really like the JB there, too middy and one dimensional, it lacked some air and high-end sparkle. Had a Screamin' Demon there as well, great but way too trebly and twangy, a bit too niche and specialty I guess. I wanna try it again, might be interesting.

Now I've got a Super Distortion which is clearer and tighter than the JB while still being manageable, and an Invader set in the other which is just balls to the ****ing wall man. The SZ loves thick sounding ceramic pickups. Twangy pickups sound almost too bright in it IMO. Best of luck man.
Click to expand...

If your SZ320s have maple tops (which most of them do), I can totally see your reasoning for disliking the JB sound in those guitars. Like I said, my particular SZ320MH is 100% mahogany all the way, so the JB works well in this very dark guitar. I've had a JB in a PRS copy that has a quilted maple top.. the wood and pickup did not work well for my taste. If somehow a SD Custom bridge fell into my lap, I might try it out, but the JB is pretty convincing in this guitar.

I always read how other people have similar love/hate experiences with the JB... even myself. Really just has to be matched up with the right instrument.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

blind1 said:
Benjy,
Do you mean you'd put the 85 in the bridge and 60A in the neck? I've never liked the 85 in the bridge. I'm not sure I want to keep the EMGs anyway, I really have a preference for the openness of good passive pickups.
Click to expand...
Yup.85 in the bridge a d a 60A in the neck. Not my preffered combo in the world, but out of thr EMG's I've tried, that's been the HH combo I've liked the most.When it comes to EMG's, I'd rather have a trio of SA's or a 85/SA/SA combo, tbh.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

I have three SE Singlecuts and two old CU22’s.

The pickups I’ve found that I like best are Seth Lovers and Antiquitys.

I removed the covers from the Seth’s to give them a little more balls and drive. I prefer them without covers if I’m going to play rock or blues/rock.

And I put Alnico 2 Polished magnets like the Seth’s use in one of my sets of Antiquitys for a bit more note separation and clarity.

But they all sound fine stock as well
 
Last edited:
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

blind1 said:
If your SZ320s have maple tops (which most of them do), I can totally see your reasoning for disliking the JB sound in those guitars. Like I said, my particular SZ320MH is 100% mahogany all the way, so the JB works well in this very dark guitar. I've had a JB in a PRS copy that has a quilted maple top.. the wood and pickup did not work well for my taste. If somehow a SD Custom bridge fell into my lap, I might try it out, but the JB is pretty convincing in this guitar.

I always read how other people have similar love/hate experiences with the JB... even myself. Really just has to be matched up with the right instrument.
Click to expand...

Yup. Mine has the maple cap and the JB is just very bland, compressed and honky in this guitar. It wants to do wanky 80s guitar hero leads and nothing else.
The exact same JB through one of my Strats sounds excellent, more cutting and balanced.

Mine is definitely a bright guitar, strangely. Very jangly and funky with the Duncan/Ibanez neck humbucker, which I really like.
No way I'm getting rid of that pickup!
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

I’m going JB/Jazz for the playing Tool and some assorted general metal in Drop D.
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Welcome back to the real world! I'm very glad you've got some big improvements happening with your tones. I've always been a tone junkie and have a terrible time trying to play if I'm not happy with what I'm hearing. But if you can get tones that inspire you to play, then look out!
 
Re: Help with selecting pickups for PRS SE Custom 24 and Ibanez SZ320...

Hey guys just posting an update on my progress of upgrading my guitars....

PRS Custom 24 - Seymour Duncan Custom 5 (b) / Alnico 2 Pro (n) both with nickel covers
These two pickups compliment each other very well in this mahogany body, maple top, rosewood fretboard guitar. The C5 has a very round, balanced clean sound with slightly scooped mids, medium-tight bass response, and bell-like trebles. When overdriven, the C5 has a beefy, aggressive tone perfect for a modern rock sound - but when rolled back with the volume and tone pots, this pickup has some PAF qualities to it. It is very warm and dynamic at all picking levels, and a good balance of articulation (not muddy by any means, and not ice picky either).

The Alnico 2 Pro neck pickup has a very similar sound to the C5 - like I said, they compliment each other very well. It is almost like I dropped a C5 in both positions, that is how similar they are. The A2 Pro gives you smooth jazzy leads similar to a Jazz (in terms of the fullness and silkiness), yet maintains clarity like a '59. Again, this pickup is very warm, responds to picking dynamics, and has a good balance of articulation.

My final swapping project will be done today (although I won't have much time to play it.. going to see Brit Floyd!!!!!) which is taking EMG 81/85 out of a PRS-copy CU22 and replacing them with Seymour Duncan Pegasus and Sentient.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top