I'm torn

[RockGuitarDude1]

I've been agonizing over what to do with the pup's on my PRS CE24 for a while now. I was considering going back to stock until I heard an old recording of mine where the VB & HFS sounded a bit sterile, and just not the tone I'm going for (I think).

Right now I'm using a Jazz Neck and Custom Custom bridge through an Orange Rocker 30.

I've really bouncing back and forth between keeping the jazz neck and grabbing a duncan custom (or swapping magnets, is there a way I could just get a magnet?) or going with a set of lower output humbuckers like 59's (in both neck and bridge).

I find myself coil tapping for all of my clean sounds and half the time for my distorted tones. It really isn't the tone so much as that dynamics of single coils that I'm tapping for.

Now here's what I've been thinking about:

Would going with lower output humbuckers give me that dynamic feel and allow versatility? I mean, could I just push the front of the amp harder or crank up the gain to compensate while still getting all the vintage tones or does that just not end up working out in practice? Should I go with 59's or go to a Duncan custom bridge and call it a day?

 

[jimijames]

Re: I'm torn

One, you can get magnets for your pickups at any of the dealers on the forum (lewguitars, wymore guitars, and martin six string customs, I think) I don't know of anybody who sells ceramic, but I've heard that PRS guitars sound good with A5 pickups, so putting A5 in the custom might be a better option. I don't know of anything more dynamic than a single coil, so you're just going to have to learn to use your volume knob if you want that kind of dynamic range with humbuckers. Another option is to get a set of humbucker sized singles (the phat cats that seymour duncan makes are good), and you can also get a mounting ring that will let you mount a single coil in a humbucker sized route. Also, many people like a jazz bridge in the neck position, but I can't really comment one way or the other, you'll have to wait for someone who has experience with it to chime in. If I were you, I'd go with the phat cats - great sound with single coil-esque dynamic range. I don't think you'll be dissapointed.

 

[RockGuitarDude1]

Re: I'm torn

Maybe phat cats are the answer? Would they be able to keep up volume-wise if I wanted to say put a Phat Cat in the neck and a humbucker in the bridge?

 

[Push to Shuv]

Re: I'm torn

Maybe phat cats are the answer? Would they be able to keep up volume-wise if I wanted to say put a Phat Cat in the neck and a humbucker in the bridge?

I had phat cats in a Schecter c-1+ (not too far off from a prs as far as wood type and shape) and they were fantastic. I felt they were lacking something but thats just because I am used to higher output pickups. It has a dynamic raw sound that you might find perfect for your needs. It would be able to keep up volume wise with a humbucker in the bridge.

I will personally recommend giving the CC a magnet swap for an A5. Its cheap and definately worth a shot.