Looking for a bit more growl in my PRS CU24

deanproxy

New member
I currently have a Pearly Gates and Custom Custom in my PRS Custom 24. I like them both, but I noticed quite a bit of difference between playing this and my Les Paul. While I'd like some differences, the main thing that I enjoy from my Les Paul is the growl. It sounds like it has a lot more bottom end than the PRS. The PRS sounds sort of sterile to me... not sure if that makes sense or not. However, I love the output of the SH-11. There is a drastic difference in volume between the BB Pro and the SH-11, and the SH-11 wins in that department hands down...

Is there a good SD pickup that could give the PRS a bit more bottom end and "growl" in the bridge position but maintain or at least compete with the output of the SH-11
 
Re: Looking for a bit more growl in my PRS CU24

Swap the SH-11's Alnico 2 magnet for an Alnico 8. You'll get more output, tighter low end, and a nice low-mid growl.
 
Re: Looking for a bit more growl in my PRS CU24

That's possible, but I'm actually still within the return period on the SH-11, so it may make sense to just get a new pickup all together and not void the warranty...
 
Re: Looking for a bit more growl in my PRS CU24

The sh-16 might work for you. I went from the sh-11 to the hybrid and its definatly.got more growl.
 
Re: Looking for a bit more growl in my PRS CU24

That's possible, but I'm actually still within the return period on the SH-11, so it may make sense to just get a new pickup all together and not void the warranty...

in that case, return it and ask for one with an alnico 8 magnet as a shop floor custom in exchange.
 
Re: Looking for a bit more growl in my PRS CU24

I agree that a different pickup might help but the real reasons your guitars sound so different is that the Les Paul has a thicker body, shorter scale, shorter and possibly stiffer neck due to the single cutaway, a mahogany neck, the neck pickup is further from the bridge with the polepieces situated where the 24th fret is on your PRS and has a stop tailpiece and Tuneomatic bridge instead of a vibrato with springs. I never found a pickup set that would make my 24 fret PRS sound more like a Les Paul and I don't think it can be done. I sold both guitars eventually anyway.

I did have a Custom Custom in my PRS for a while. To smooth and buttery for me and not enough treble with that 14.4K wind.

Don't have an answer for you since I like vintage output, alnico 2, paf style pickups like the Seth Lovers, Pearly Gates, Antiquity, etc.

You'd probably like a pickup with more bottom. Alnico 5 has more bottom but I didn't care for the Custom 5 in that PRS either. The Custom 5 was to bright for me and the Custom Custom (same pickup with an alnico 2 magnet) wasn't bright enough.

You might just have to let that PRS be a PRS...they have their own resonance and sound it's not the sound of a Les Paul.
 
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