Need bridge pickup advice...

[Toejam]

So I got this 1997 PRS CE-24 a few years ago that came with a set of Pearly Gates. I'll probably remove the five-way rotary switch as it's wired a little weird and I'm not sure exactly what's going on anyway (position 1 is full bridge humbucker which is primarily what I use 99 percent of the time, 2 is split somehow - maybe out of phase, 3 seems like both humbuckers, 4 is full neck humbucker, 5 is neck split somehow, sounds brighter and out of phase), and I guess I'd rather have a three-way toggle put in.

Anyway, I'm looking for a hotter pickup in the bridge. Laying around, I've got a chrome-covered DiMarzio Tone Zone, a chrome-covered JB from a 1995 Hamer Special, and a Parallel Axis PATB-2 Distortion. Which one would balance best with the Pearly Gates neck? I usually prefer slightly darker/warmer sounding pickups in the bridge, mostly play old-school thrash metal like Megadeth, Overkill, Anthrax, etc., plus some harder rock similar to Motorhead, classic hard rock plus some other bluesy-type rock at times.

Pic for attention...

 

[Cynical]

If you want dark, that would be the Tone Zone, although it might be somewhat *too* dark in a PRS.

 

[Toejam]

If you want dark, that would be the Tone Zone, although it might be somewhat *too* dark in a PRS.

Hmm. Maybe, since the PRS has mahogany body, but maybe the maple neck and top might help it from being too dark. I did have a Tone Zone in an old poplar Jackson and an alder BC Rich Gunslinger, both with maple necks, and they weren't too dark.

 

[Cynical]

Judging from "poplar Jackson", I'm guessing that was a bolt-on (because they used poplar in the MIJ pro series)? If so, that's *a lot* brighter than any PRS is ever going to be -- my KE-3 is the brightest guitar I've ever played and specifically requires really dark pickups (to put it into perspective, a BK War Pig in my KE-3 gets me about to where a Black Winter gets my PRS SE 277).

 

[Top-L]

Hmm. Maybe, since the PRS has mahogany body, but maybe the maple neck and top might help it from being too dark. I did have a Tone Zone in an old poplar Jackson and an alder BC Rich Gunslinger, both with maple necks, and they weren't too dark.

Wire it with a 500K volume, and either delete the tone control or get a no load tone pot. It will be brighter with tone pot disconnected. The TZ is a good pickup.

 

[Toejam]

Judging from "poplar Jackson", I'm guessing that was a bolt-on (because they used poplar in the MIJ pro series)? If so, that's *a lot* brighter than any PRS is ever going to be -- my KE-3 is the brightest guitar I've ever played and specifically requires really dark pickups (to put it into perspective, a BK War Pig in my KE-3 gets me about to where a Black Winter gets my PRS SE 277).

Yes, bolt-on. A Dinky HX with tune-o-matic bridge.

 

[Chistopher]

Tone Zone is definitely not too crazy a leap from Pearly Gates

 

[jeremy]

i think the tz is a healthy jump from the pg. the tz is a good pup for sure, but its quite different than the upper mid peaky vintage output pgb

 

[NotDemanic]

A PATB-2? And you wonder what to use?

 

[Mincer]

It doesn't sound like any of those pickups are on the darker side.

 

[amdkj]

A Tone Zone is definitely on the dark side—it's like a 500T with the tone control unable to go above 5—but it's also far bassier than the PG. It's an okay match in output but tonally I think it's a few steps too far for the examples OP named. It's not "slightly" darker; it's nearly as dark as an Invader.

Of the three pickups listed, I'd go with the standard JB first. It's a fine match in output and if you're messing with the rest of the wiring anyway, you can wire up an additional resistor, or use a stacked pot, so the PG sees 500k and the JB sees 250k. That'll get them balanced as perfectly as any of those three pickups can.

Personally, I'd go for a Custom, which is the actual hot humbucker to match a PG, and ideal for pre-mid-90s metal of any subgenre, with enough versatility for some classic rock and heavier blues.
That said, think about whether or not you actually need the high output. Unless you're running your amp on 10 across the board and still want to push it more (and don't want to use a pedal), which you probably aren't, then you might well be fine with the simple PG bridge. It's got a solid mix of warmth but clarity, and obviously it matches your neck pickup perfectly. The lows aren't muddy like most A2 humbuckers, and the highs aren't all-or-nothing shrill-vs-muffled like most high-output pickups have to choose between. It won't work for metal with every set up, but for many modern amps/pedals/modelers, the output isn't an issue.

 

[uOpt]

Among the pickups you have there I would drive the JB with an A2 magnet.

Of course it is a pain in the allerwertesten to change the magnet on a covered pickup.

 

[Toejam]

A PATB-2? And you wonder what to use?

It's been a long time since I've used one. I got this one in a trade awhile ago. Though, I did have one in an old Jackson RR1T where I took a JB out. Now that I'm thinking about it, the neck pup was a Jazz, so I guess it should pair up fine with a PG.

 

[Toejam]

Among the pickups you have there I would drive the JB with an A2 magnet.

Of course it is a pain in the allerwertesten to change the magnet on a covered pickup.

I've actually thought about trying to remove the cover and see what color bobbins it has. It's also only two-conductor.

 

[AdrianSD]

I've actually thought about trying to remove the cover and see what color bobbins it has. It's also only two-conductor.

You'll want a 60W soldering iron at least, preferably with a chiselled tip and desoldering wick, or a suction pump, to take the cover off quickly without overheating the baseplate.

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

If you want dark, that would be the Tone Zone, although it might be somewhat *too* dark in a PRS.

I got a free P90 sized Tone Zone. Was thinking of putting it in the neck of a Les Paul Custom with P90s. Going for the heavy doom sound in the neck position. Do you think it would be too muddy? Like should I use a 1 meg pot? Or a magnet change? Like an A8? Or do you have better suggestions? I have 2 other P90 guitars, so looking for something different than the normal. But still want it to sound good. Thanks in advance! I'll be dropping it off to a tech, so trying to get it right the first time instead of experimenting.

 

[jeremy]

i wouldnt put the p90tz in the neck, even with 1m pots. its got a ton of bottom and low mid without much high end and any magnet change will probably make it worse. why not put it in the bridge where it should sound great?

 

[Kirk Dahnke]

i wouldnt put the p90tz in the neck, even with 1m pots. its got a ton of bottom and low mid without much high end and any magnet change will probably make it worse. why not put it in the bridge where it should sound great?

I already have a bridge P90 I love. Was hoping for a P90 sized Super Distortion sound like a band I love. He uses a P90 Super D in the neck and bridge of a Goldtop. But im assuming the GT has a maple cap. My LPC does not. Super heavy doom gain. It was free, just looking for a place for it. Unfortunately, it just might not work in the Les Paul Custom. Perhaps in the bridge of my SG Special P90.

 

[jeremy]

meh... give it a try. i wouldnt put a sd in the neck either, so who knows. might work out well for you. the bridge of the special is a safe bet though

 

[Cynical]

I got a free P90 sized Tone Zone. Was thinking of putting it in the neck of a Les Paul Custom with P90s. Going for the heavy doom sound in the neck position. Do you think it would be too muddy? Like should I use a 1 meg pot? Or a magnet change? Like an A8? Or do you have better suggestions? I have 2 other P90 guitars, so looking for something different than the normal. But still want it to sound good. Thanks in advance! I'll be dropping it off to a tech, so trying to get it right the first time instead of experimenting.

Tone Zone in the neck?!?! Good lord, that's going to be mud city; that's a bridge pickup, and a very dark one at that.

It's a pickup designed specifically to be a "problem solver" for overly-bright guitars without having as much output as most pickups that do that (like an Invader or War Pig). You'd never put a bridge Invader in the neck, but that's basically what a Tone Zone in the neck would be (but maybe even darker, the TZ is just *that* crazy dark).