eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
I think I might like it in a normally A5-loaded PG Plus.
Magnet swap in PRS pickup?
- Thread starter alex1fly
- Start date
I think I might like it in a normally A5-loaded PG Plus.
In my experience dabbling with magnets I always put the stock back in the end. Good for the knowledge though.
I recently have installed a pair of Sheptones Tributes 4 in my SE and it made it closer to a vintage LP sound, the way I like it.
I would say try the magnet swap, and since you have spare pups try them in too, although I have not any luck putting Duncans and Dimarzios in my PRSes. I also always remove the treble bleed.
I recently have installed a pair of Sheptones Tributes 4 in my SE and it made it closer to a vintage LP sound, the way I like it.
I would say try the magnet swap, and since you have spare pups try them in too, although I have not any luck putting Duncans and Dimarzios in my PRSes. I also always remove the treble bleed.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Not to be that guy, but the SE was introduced in 2001.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Not to mention, the majority of SE pickups were widely regarded to be pretty lackluster until more recently. Early ones certainly weren't representative of "PRS" pickups in general.
Zheddar
New member
I'm just glad to be Clint #3... Claiming #3!! Does anyone know the resistance of the pickup, it could give an idea as to the wire gauge used. I mean resistance doesn't always let one know, but with the winds that over seas companies do, it's usually fairly telling. Then maybe magnet suggestions can be honed in more. Otherwise, A2, A5, and ceramic are pretty classic with most winds. Especially when a wind has not been tailored to a specific magnet. Magnets are amazingly fun though, and make tone chasing quite the adventure!
Masta' C
Well-known member
The 85//15 "S" bridge pickup measures between 7.9K and 8.6K in the samples I've gotten my hands on.
That said, comparing it to your typical low-DCR "PAF" type pickup is a mistake! They have more output than their resistance spec would suggest. I suspect PRS is using a proprietary wire gauge on their newer pickups.
Also, ANOTHER Clint?!?! :headbang:
That said, comparing it to your typical low-DCR "PAF" type pickup is a mistake! They have more output than their resistance spec would suggest. I suspect PRS is using a proprietary wire gauge on their newer pickups.
Also, ANOTHER Clint?!?! :headbang:
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
All the PRS "00/00" series pickups use special wire from one particular vintage machine that's been upgraded to computer control.
PRS has exclusive rights to all the wire produced by this machine.
Supposedly its wire has unicorn dust magic.
I don't know about that, but - whether it's the wire or not - my 57/08s and 59/09s have a very 3-D quality to their sound.
I really, really like them, some of my very favorite PAF types.
The 85/15s are also said to be "inspired by" the original 1985 T&B humbuckers.
The secret ingredient there is that they had alnico rods in one bobbin instead of regular slugs.
This gave a faster, punchier attack and a bit more output than their DCR would suggest.
The T&Bs in my '87 are amazing. Loved them so much that I replaced the Dragon 1s in my '97 CE with the '1985" reissue set.
Not positive the new 85/15s are made that way. Even less sure about the S-series pickups.
And I kinda doubt the import SE pickups would be made that way.
But it's something I wonder about.
As has been said before, PRS doesn't reveal much about their pickups except for marketing purposes.
OP, after you've removed the bar mag from yours, could you please check whether the slug bobbin is still magnetic?
I'd be very curious to learn whether it has rod mags.
PRS has exclusive rights to all the wire produced by this machine.
Supposedly its wire has unicorn dust magic.
I don't know about that, but - whether it's the wire or not - my 57/08s and 59/09s have a very 3-D quality to their sound.
I really, really like them, some of my very favorite PAF types.
The 85/15s are also said to be "inspired by" the original 1985 T&B humbuckers.
The secret ingredient there is that they had alnico rods in one bobbin instead of regular slugs.
This gave a faster, punchier attack and a bit more output than their DCR would suggest.
The T&Bs in my '87 are amazing. Loved them so much that I replaced the Dragon 1s in my '97 CE with the '1985" reissue set.
Not positive the new 85/15s are made that way. Even less sure about the S-series pickups.
And I kinda doubt the import SE pickups would be made that way.
But it's something I wonder about.
As has been said before, PRS doesn't reveal much about their pickups except for marketing purposes.
OP, after you've removed the bar mag from yours, could you please check whether the slug bobbin is still magnetic?
I'd be very curious to learn whether it has rod mags.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
alex1fly
Well-known member
Sure! It'll be a bit, I usually don't do these things until a string change.
Masta' C
Well-known member
The 85/15's have regular steel slugs, not rod magnets (both import and USA versions)
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Thanks. I guess they're inspired more by the sound of the '85 pickups, not their unusual design.
I'd half wondered if they might be based on the 58/15, just with the addition of rod mags.
Not related at all, I guess, other than being issued in the same year.
Would love to get my hands on a 58/15 set, but they're rare and pricey.
I have to say, though, PRS really impressed me with the 58/08 and 59/09.
Masta' C
Well-known member
The 85/15 and 58/15 pickups are suspected by many to be the same wind. DCR specs are certainly shared between them.
Personally, I think the difference in sound between them most likely comes down to the types of Alnico used and the presence/lack of covers.
Compare an uncovered "Custom 5" to a "Custom Custom" with a cover added and you can get the idea...same wind, but the Custom Custom is lower output, voiced slightly differently, and further mellowed out by the addition of the cover.
Personally, I think the difference in sound between them most likely comes down to the types of Alnico used and the presence/lack of covers.
Compare an uncovered "Custom 5" to a "Custom Custom" with a cover added and you can get the idea...same wind, but the Custom Custom is lower output, voiced slightly differently, and further mellowed out by the addition of the cover.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
That makes sense. It may be as simple as as A5 vs A2.
The 58/15 set is said to have rich voicelike mids.
alex1fly
Well-known member
Following up - pulled these pickups out and they are G&B. Clearly labeled as 85/15T and 85/15B for treble/bass or bridge/neck. Put a Norton in the bridge... wow, quite a difference from the stock pickup. The 85/15 was more like fat PAF in regular mode and sparkly Tele in split mode, very recognizable. The Norton is a more lively, richer sound. The split mode is very sproingy, definitely different. I look forward to spending some good time with it.
alex1fly
Well-known member
Thought I'd check this while I had the pickups out, can confirm that the slug bobbin is not magnetic with the bar magnet pulled out.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Kind figured that about the SE pickups. Good to know for sure, though, thanks.
Still curious about the US 85/15s. Been wondering ever since they came out.
The old T&Bs remain some of my favorite humbuckers ever.
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
First off, I’m glad you’re digging the Norton. It’s a killer somewhat sleeper that I think a lot of people would love if they tried it. If you get an itch to try a different neck pickup, the Air Classic pairs with it very well, and sounds great for everything… kind of like the Norton
Next, try a ceramic mag in that Norton sometime. It retains all the things you like about it, but can get a little more aggressive.
alex1fly
Well-known member
First off, I’m glad you’re digging the Norton. It’s a killer somewhat sleeper that I think a lot of people would love if they tried it. If you get an itch to try a different neck pickup, the Air Classic pairs with it very well, and sounds great for everything… kind of like the Norton
Next, try a ceramic mag in that Norton sometime. It retains all the things you like about it, but can get a little more aggressive.
The Norton is really quite interesting. It has all these upper harmonics going on and the frequency spread almost seems to saturate when I play harder. I realize that "saturate" is a loaded term in the world of guitar tone, but I mean it literally here - like the upper frequency harmonics get richer. I'm used to a pup getting dirtier as I boost it, but this one actually seems to evolve. As a result there are probably tons of shades of tone in there based on your attack and your gain levels.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Slugs are steel on the US models, also.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
That's the 85/15, not the 58/15, right? I guess when they said the 85/15 was inspired by the old T&B pickups they were talking in terms of the target tone, rather than the unusual magpole design.
I dearly love the T&Bs in my '87 and the "1985" reissue set I have in a '90s CE. Never tire of singing their praises.
Not at all vintagey, definitely modern sounding pickups. Yet they aren't wound hot enough to sound at all congested.
Nothing like the HFS or the Dragons.
Bright and open, but very immediate & punchy. Lots of spank & chime. Fantastically well-defined, clean or with gain.
I guess the 85/15s share those characteristics.
Plus perhaps a little extra-3D quality from the unicorn-dust wire they use for all the 00/00 series humbuckers.
I'd love to dismiss the wire thing as marketing hype: fake mystique, manufactured to appeal to magical thinking.
But the 57/08s have that special quality in spades and the 59/09s have a touch of it too.
I have to accept that maybe, just maybe, there is some kind of mojo in that wire.
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