Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

[welmo]

Hi, I am considering getting an old Zack Myers SE, which comes with 3 humbuckers. The idea is to change pickups and modify the switching, so I am looking for your advice and tips regarding electronics, switching, and of course, pickups. My first idea is to add a push pull to add the middle pickup and leave the 3 way toggle as a standard lp. Regarding pickups, the middle one should brighter/janglier, so as to add flavor when selected. Pickup models I had in mind are JB, Pearly Gates, 59, Screaming Demon, and perhaps Seth Lover. Any input is appreciated, and if you have ideas or experience with 3 pickup guitars, please share.
Thanks a lot!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

I suggest that you begin by reading about this product. http://www.freewayswitch.com/products/products.html Then, hit the .PDF Downloads link on the right of the page to view the schematic diagrams.

Plenty of good ideas right there. You may have to adapt things a little for the number of volume and tone pots in the PRS ZM SE.

For what it is worth, I have a modified old American PRS EG II with three humbuckers - Artist Bass, Artist Treble and the stock HFS. Five-way lever selector, no cissy coil splits. It sounds like a beefed up Stratocaster.

 

[welmo]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Thanks for the input!!! I'll check the link

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Here is something I did:

This leaves the traditional 3 way switch as is and adds and subtracts middle PU or Middle PU alone.

2 StagMags
1 Duncan Distortion

 

[blueman335]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

You do know that a HB in the middle slot sounds nothing like it does in the bridge or neck slot, right? A lot of players make that assumption. And the weak sound of a middle HB is why so few HHH guitars are made. I'd recommend an HB-sized P-90 in the middle, like a GFS mean 90.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

You do know that a HB in the middle slot sounds nothing like it does in the bridge or neck slot, right? A lo of players make that assumption. And the weak sound of a middle HB is why so few HHH guitars are made. I'd recommend an HB-sized P-90 in the middle, like a GFS mean 90.

What do you mean by weak? My Middle StageMag has the same strength as my neck stagmag. Plenty of output. When put in parallel with one of the other two, it does have a thinner and weaker sound, but that is the same wether you have a HB or SC. Now if you are referring to TONE in the middle position, that is something else. The middle position, on my LP (which has a LP scale length) has a certain honk to it that the other positions don't have. So be ready for that. I kind of like the honk and used with OD it gives me another shade to paint with.

My opinion is: to capitalize on the Comb Filtering type of effect that a middle pickup in parallel with one of the other pups has on your tone, it is best to use single coils and a clean amp sound. This is why the Stratocaster works and the 3 pup LP doesn't work so well. The 3 humbucker look is still classic on a LP, so that is what I went for, plus I get the added Middle HB alone tone, which has that honk I like. When all pup are split, I get some great classic clean tones.

 

[welmo]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Hey, thanks for the link!!! Great sounds!!! I really like those Stag Mags!!

 

[welmo]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

After reading many posts I think I found a good combination. Screaming Demon bridge, Alnico II pro in the middle and Pearly Gates in the neck. I thonk they all will be balanced and be different enough to give different sounds

 

[welmo]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

I will be able to ay many styles with them too.

 

[Sensates]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Hi, I am considering getting an old Zack Myers SE, which comes with 3 humbuckers. The idea is to change pickups and modify the switching, so I am looking for your advice and tips regarding electronics, switching, and of course, pickups. My first idea is to add a push pull to add the middle pickup and leave the 3 way toggle as a standard lp. Regarding pickups, the middle one should brighter/janglier, so as to add flavor when selected. Pickup models I had in mind are JB, Pearly Gates, 59, Screaming Demon, and perhaps Seth Lover. Any input is appreciated, and if you have ideas or experience with 3 pickup guitars, please share.
Thanks a lot!

I have another 3 pickup guitar that was wired like what you mentioned and I like it better than using the Strat five way switch. I used the neck+bridge way more than neck/mid or mid/bridge so that worked out fine for me.

I also have Pearly Gates and a Screaming Demon (b) on one of my newer HH chambered mahogany Tele (just wired them four days ago!) and it was great! I believe your SD/A2P/PG setup will turn out fabulous.

 

[welmo]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Thanks !!! I think it will turn out great too!!

 

[audiocheck]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Welmo,

Which AP2 are you going with Bridge or Neck HB in the middle? Let us know how it turns out. After doing my 3 PUP, I would love to do another with all vintage output HBs and no splits.

 

[welmo]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

I'm going for AP2 neck. Let's see how it goes

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Please post audio clips of the finished product. A high fidelity recording would communicate far more directly than paragraph after paragraph of verbose opinion.

 

[welmo]

Re: Need advice on 3 pickup PRS

Ok, I'll see what I can post