Humbucker advice for PRS

[Analog Kid]

I’m looking for some advice for my 2016 McCarty. I have actually posted about this here before but back I thought the guitar was the issue, but now I realize it was the stock 58/15 humbuckers which were a bad fit for the guitar. I had been looking for something to tame the highs and high mids, but both attempts were a failure. First the Porter Amthem Plus, which was ok but bland in the PRS and the current pickups, Bare Knuckle Abraxas, which are way too dark and too hot, with terrible split coil tones.

I have learned a couple of things since then. First, the guitar is not overly bright and putting balanced or “smooth” pickups in it will neuter the high end completely. Second, PRS coil splits are only “partial” splits so hot humbuckers will not give a good result for split tones.

So, I am looking for something a little hotter than standard PAF, lots of harmonic overtones and good clarity without brittle highs and good split tones. My playing style for this guitar will primarily be in the GnR, Black Crows vein but I do like a nice clean tone and occasionally get into high gain territory. For reference, I have BK Mules in a LP, and for Duncans I have a SNS in the bridge of a CS Strat and I really love both of those. I have also use a JB in a Strat and got great results from that, but I wouldn’t want anything with nearly that much output for this guitar.

I was leaning towards the Hades Gates since they seem to be similar to the popular 57/08s in spec but with more consistency. There aren’t a lot of demos of these out there to review. I do like the sound of PGs but afraid they would be too bright in the PRS. However, I have also considered the 78s (worried they will also be too bright), the WLH (not crazy about the pick attack in demos, maybe an A5 thing) and a SNS set (redundant with the Strat?). Anyone have any insight on these the HGs in particular or any other recommendations for a PRS aimed at the hard blues rock genre?

 

[RanchManSandy]

Tone Zone + Air Norton

 

[Masta' C]

Tone Zone + Air Norton

Uh...that recommendation is literally the opposite of what he's looking for, ha ha!

OP, look into the 59/Custom or Perpetual Burn in the bridge, Sentient or Jazz for the neck

Thank me later

 

[Analog Kid]

Tone Zone + Air Norton

Actually looking at the Ibanez AZ that has those pickups as OEM. Not what I’m after for the PRS though. Looking in a more classic/hard rock direction for this guitar.

 

[Masta' C]

Tone Zone + Air Norton is a GREAT set in the right guitar, but definitely not what you want if you're looking for something with less output than a JB and a high end that isn't overly smooth or attenuated. The combos I recommended will give you better versatility, exceptional cleans, and increased output over the 58/15's without going too far in the "hot" direction.

 

[Analog Kid]

Tone Zone + Air Norton is a GREAT set in the right guitar, but definitely not what you want if you're looking for something with less output than a JB and a high end that isn't overly smooth or attenuated. The combos I recommended will give you better versatility, exceptional cleans, and increased output over the 58/15's without going too far in the "hot" direction.

Fair enough, though I am still wanting to stay in “hot” PAF territory more than I think those sets will yield. The Jazz or Sentient would probably work ok but the bridge pickups seem a little too hot for what I’m after. TBH, I would probably go with the A2P before I went with the Jazz though. This guitar can be painfully bright with the wrong set, which the 58/15 (not the LT version) definitely was.

 

[Masta' C]

Well, I could argue that the '59 is SD's original take on a refined PAF-type and the Custom was literally designed to sound like a hotter, juicier PAF. I could then go on to mention that the '59/Custom hybrid combines the best qualities from each of those models into a pickup that's punchier than the '59, but more open and airy than a regular Custom...but you seem to already know what you want, so...

Or I could argue that the Perpetual Burn is more of a medium output pickup that was designed specifically with a "slightly hotter than vintage" wind and will deliver the oomph and clarity you're looking for without getting ice picky or thin on top...but you seem to already know what you want, so...

I will say that the A2Pro in the neck would play well with either of those models!

If you just want a "hot PAF" type, then choose your flavor...Hades Gates, High Voltage, Slash Sigs, '78 set...the list goes on, ha ha!

BTW, the reason you didn't like the Porter Anthem Plus set is likely due to the A4 mag. Combined with the extra winds, I'm not surprised it lacked some character. Stick with A2 or A5 in the hotter winds and you'll be much happier!

 

[AdrianSD]

Custom Custom with A2P in the neck might work. Recently I put an A2 magnet into 2 of my jazz neck pickups and I like them a lot.

 

[nienturi]

I’m looking for some advice for my 2016 McCarty. I have actually posted about this here before but back I thought the guitar was the issue, but now I realize it was the stock 58/15 humbuckers which were a bad fit for the guitar. I had been looking for something to tame the highs and high mids, but both attempts were a failure. First the Porter Amthem Plus, which was ok but bland in the PRS and the current pickups, Bare Knuckle Abraxas, which are way too dark and too hot, with terrible split coil tones.

I have learned a couple of things since then. First, the guitar is not overly bright and putting balanced or “smooth” pickups in it will neuter the high end completely. Second, PRS coil splits are only “partial” splits so hot humbuckers will not give a good result for split tones.

So, I am looking for something a little hotter than standard PAF, lots of harmonic overtones and good clarity without brittle highs and good split tones. My playing style for this guitar will primarily be in the GnR, Black Crows vein but I do like a nice clean tone and occasionally get into high gain territory. For reference, I have BK Mules in a LP, and for Duncans I have a SNS in the bridge of a CS Strat and I really love both of those. I have also use a JB in a Strat and got great results from that, but I wouldn’t want anything with nearly that much output for this guitar.

I was leaning towards the Hades Gates since they seem to be similar to the popular 57/08s in spec but with more consistency. There aren’t a lot of demos of these out there to review. I do like the sound of PGs but afraid they would be too bright in the PRS. However, I have also considered the 78s (worried they will also be too bright), the WLH (not crazy about the pick attack in demos, maybe an A5 thing) and a SNS set (redundant with the Strat?). Anyone have any insight on these the HGs in particular or any other recommendations for a PRS aimed at the hard blues rock genre?

I think i would go for something in the 9-10K, overwound PAF territory for the bridge like Dimarzio Virtual Hot PAF, Mojotone '59 Clone Hot, PATB-3. Or you may want something little bit hotter, then Custom, Norton or Steve Morse Bridge.
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-virtual-hot-paf-dp214-review
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/seymour-duncan-custom-sh-5-review
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-norton-review-dp160
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/seymour-duncan-parallel-axis-trembucker-3-patb-3-review
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-steve-morse-dp200-review

For the neck Mojotone '59 Clone neck, PATB-1n, Jazz, Bare Knuckle True Grit neck, especially Dimarzio Bluesbucker;

https://www.tonejourney.com/post/seymour-duncan-parallel-axis-trembucker-1n-patb1n
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/bare-knuckle-true-grit-neck-review
https://www.tonejourney.com/post/dimarzio-bluesbucker-dp163-review

 

[Analog Kid]

If you just want a "hot PAF" type, then choose your flavor...Hades Gates, High Voltage, Slash Sigs, '78 set...the list goes on, ha ha!

BTW, the reason you didn't like the Porter Anthem Plus set is likely due to the A4 mag. Combined with the extra winds, I'm not surprised it lacked some character. Stick with A2 or A5 in the hotter winds and you'll be much happier!

in my OP, I literally said I was looking for more info on 4 sets, 2 of which you mentioned in this list. That was the whole point of this post. I probably should have been more concise but sometimes context is helpful. I actually asked for people’s experiences with Hades, 78s, WLH, or SNS in a PRS. That was the point of my OP.

As far as A4, I have had great results in the past the BK Mule in a LP and the SD SNS in a Strat, which has a higher DCR than the Anthem Plus but that may not mean it’s actually hotter, not sure. However, given my results with the Abraxas, you probably have a point about A4 in hotter winds.

 

[switchman]

Hi Analog Kid. I interpret your descriptions to mean the McCarty's natural sound is hard to pin down. At one point it seemed too bright, then it seemed dull, back and forth. I get that I've had a few like that too. In those situations I go with something predictable and middle of the road rather than too tailored. Sometimes I build bodies out of weird figured woods and I do the same thing on those since how they'll sound is unknown. There's lots of good suggestions here but what you're asking for has changed a few times so you're going to end up with conflicting information.

 

[CK71]

I use a set of WLH's in a mahogany body tele style guitar. it fits your description of hotter than standard paf. I like it because both pickups are excellent from clean to under gain and does classic rock to 90's alternative well. I have never noticed any odd pick attack. the bridge is bright in my guitar without being piercing. I am very happy with this combo.