Humbucker Pickups for Worship

[aperez4490]

I am currently looking to replace the stock pickups in my PRS Semi-Hollow. I've been reading a lot of reviews for different pickups and I think I have narrowed down my choices. It'll be either a Pearly Gates set or Alnico II Pro Slash set. The stock neck pickup in my PRS is too muddy and I want something cleaner. I have heard that the Pearly Gates may be to bright but I played on a guitar with Alnico II Pro pups and found the neck to be a little cleaner but still muddy to me and am afraid that the APH2 Slash won't be any different. Anyone have experience with any SD pups for worship that would work well in my guitar?

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

Ive used a PG in the neck of my super strat alder and maple cap. It did fine for me very thick and full sounding I just swapped out the A2 magnet and put in a Polished A3 and It sounds a little more balanced and clear not as thick but more precise. I also used a CC in the bridge which was good when i used some distortion but not so much for clean. I just turned my CC into A C5 with a UOA5 magnet and it sounds great very vintage. But Ive never used the Alnico II PUP but for worship you cant go wrong with either the Alnico II or the PG but I think the PG is a lil bit hotter but the churches and people I play for dont mind Rocking out a lil on a sunday.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

Having recently installed PG's in my 335 i can tell you that the pg neck is not too bright. Its a very sweet, deep and warm sounding pickup, its not muddy at all. I like it very much. The bridge pickup has a different vibe altogether and it has a noticeable bite in the high mids - its really excellent because it makes the pickup seem hotter than it is, but its in just the right place that you can roll it off with the tone control. They work well together as a set. Both seem to feel quite forgiving so you can really dig in and get some nuances and both are sweetly articulate. More articulate than an a2 59 set.
I cant comment on the slash set, but i have used a few other pickups in this guitar.

 

[aperez4490]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

I have been leaning a little more towards the PG set I just wasn't sure. I know this is a SD forum but has anyone had experience with the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary set? And would it work well with my guitar and what I am going for?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

My favourite combination on a semi-solid was PG neck/Rhythm, Brobucker bridge/Treble.

Humbucker for worship? Hell, yeah. A P90 would be just too ungodly.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

What does worship music mean anyway? Isn't it just lyrical content? Tones and timbres are a different thing altogether.

 

[aperez4490]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

It's hard to explain. I guess most worship guitarists don't use a lot of distortion. Just a light crunch.

- - - Updated - - -

I tried P90 and it doesn't really work for me. Never heard of a Brobucker thought so I'll look into that.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

I tried P90 and it doesn't really work for me.

P90s exist for valve overdrive. :headbang:

Is your PRS SE Semi-Hollow the latest variant with a Bigsby vibrato? How about some TV Jones Filter'Tron style pickups?

 

[aperez4490]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

No Bigsby vibrato

 

[aperez4490]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

No Bigsby vibrato

 

[blueman335]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

I have been leaning a little more towards the PG set I just wasn't sure. I know this is a SD forum but has anyone had experience with the DiMarzio 36th Anniversary set? And would it work well with my guitar and what I am going for?

For a cleaner, clearer sound, I'd avoid anything with A2 magnets and go with something with A5's, like a Duncan Jazz set or a DMz 36th Ann PAF set.

A2 magnets have a warmer tone, less treble, lots of mids, and a loose low end. Good for some genres, but doesn't sound like that's what you want. A5's have more treble and a firm low end.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

For a cleaner, clearer sound, I'd avoid anything with A2 magnets and go with something with A5's, like a Duncan Jazz set or a DMz 36th Ann PAF set.

A2 magnets have a warmer tone, less treble, lots of mids, and a loose low end. Good for some genres, but doesn't sound like that's what you want. A5's have more treble and a firm low end.

I've played a lot in church over the last 30 years. I've played more in church (Unity of Boulder, Columbine Unity, etc.) than I have in bars!

Volume is always an issue and I've always had to play quieter, with less treble and with a less overdriven tone in church than in bars. There's a mix of all kinds of people and all ages from young to very old, and not all of them want to hear aggressive sounding rock tones...or even aggressive sounding blues tones. It's just not appropriate.

I think Alnico 2 humbuckers are the ticket. Thick mids and chimey but smooth highs make it easier to get sustain and a tone that's fun to play with but which won't put an ice pick in anyone's ears.

So, the usual suspects: Seth Lovers, Antiquitys, Pearly Gates, maybe AII Pro's.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

I love alnicio 2 humbuckers. I used a slash bridge and a regular A2 pro neck for a while and found them to be a bit too smooth for my taste.. now I'm using pearly gates and love the extra bite and sparkle they offer without pushing the power tubes a whole lot.

PG>A2pro

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

I love alnico 2 humbuckers. I used a slash bridge and a regular A2 pro neck for a while and found them to be a bit too smooth for my taste.. now I'm using pearly gates and love the extra bite and sparkle they offer without pushing the power tubes a whole lot.

PG>A2pro

Interesting that some guys insist the PG's are brighter than the AII Pros, while others insist that the AII Pro's are brighter than the PG's.

I wonder how many have actually tried both sets in the same guitar played through the same amp?

I haven't.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

Interesting that some guys insist the PG's are brighter than the AII Pros, while others insist that the AII Pro's are brighter than the PG's.

I wonder how many have actually tried both sets in the same guitar played through the same amp?

I haven't.

Same guitar. Same amp. Same settings.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

Same guitar. Same amp. Same settings.

Cool!

 

[tonello]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

There's no better pickup than the Pearly Gates for Church. The name says it all.

 

[aperez4490]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

My guitar only has 1 tone and 1 volume knob that controls both the neck and bridge pup. Would that make a difference with the PG?

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

What does worship music mean anyway? Isn't it just lyrical content? Tones and timbres are a different thing altogether.

Kinda what I was thinking...

Would suggesting a Screamin' Demon be wrong since it is pretty articulate? The Pearly Gates just seems so... Obvious. LOL

 

[Rockstar216]

Re: Humbucker Pickups for Worship

Kinda what I was thinking...

Would suggesting a Screamin' Demon be wrong since it is pretty articulate? The Pearly Gates just seems so... Obvious. LOL

I love the lil Screamin demon in my super strat like you said its very articulate but moderate to low output when compared to my PGn and Custom