Need help choosing bridge pup in a PRS

[Criff]

I've been lurking here for the past few months, doing searches and gathering data and whatnot, but the time has come to ask specific questions. Here's the deal:

I have a 2016 PRS SE custom 22 (mahagony body, maple top, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard) and I'm trying to get some nice hard rock/metal tones out of it. Definitely wanting a modern tone, but nothing too brutal like metalcore or djent. Tool and Porcupine Tree would be good examples, though after watching the Keith Merrow bridge pickup shootout I can conclude that a couple of those are probably closer to what I'm after (the sh-5 being the closest), but I know there are a ton of factors to take into consideration when going off that video and otherwise. Basically I want something pretty full-bodied, tight (especially for palm mutes and articulation), clear and focussed but not harsh, and with some warmth.

This is for a recording project and I'm running amp sims (specifically bias 2) and going into an apogee duet 2 through a countryman type 85 DI. I know amp sims are not ideal for instant mix-ready tones, but it's the only option I've got and I'm determined to get it as good as it can be. So far I've put together a custom 8, which sounds better than the duncan custom, which sounds better than the stock bridge pup. But I'm still left wanting more, and have twiddled those digital dials to some degree of success (it already sounds waaay better than when I first started), but I want to explore every option in terms of hardware to get it as good as I can before I place the onus solely on the software to get me the rest of the way. My next move here would be to pick up a JB and from there I can magnet swap to get a distortion or a JB8, so 3 more options to try. If that doesn't cut it I may try out a bareknuckle nailbomb which I've read on this forum is great in PRSs (also read that the aftermath and black hawk work well), but I'll avoid that price tag if I can.

Onto the questions:

1. Does anybody have experience getting something like the tone I described on a PRS, and if so what direction should I be going in pup-wise? Doesn't have to be SD, I'm open to anything passive that will get me where I want to be.

2. Of those that have experience with PRSs with said tone and also have experience with amp sims, what should I be looking out for?

Advanced thanks for any help or insight - It's much appreciated!

 

[Mincer]

Re: Need help choosing bridge pup in a PRS

Welcome to the forum!

I dig the Custom 5 & Jazz combo, which can do a wide range of gain. The Custom 5 can be transformed into other great sounding pickups with a magnet swap, too (like an Alnico 8), but it seems like a combo like that in a PRS (which I have tried before) can get a diverse range of heavy tones without sounding overtly modern.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Need help choosing bridge pup in a PRS

The JB8 and a Phat Cat neck with an A4 and A5 magnet combo would sound nice. It's also a very versatile set that could cover plenty of tonal ground.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Need help choosing bridge pup in a PRS

For what you're after, a SH-5 Custom would be a good place to start along with a Jazz in the neck. I'm not a fan of the Custom 5 as I find it scooped and a bit harsh on the high end, at least in most of the guitars I've tried it in. If you want to tinker, swapping magnets like Mincer suggested is a good next step.

 

[Criff]

Re: Need help choosing bridge pup in a PRS

Thanks for all the replies. I currently have a custom 8 and jazz neck happening, and it's not bad. The custom 8 has a bit of a cocked wah type thing going on with some of the lead stuff which I don't dig, and the bottom seems to loosen up a bit with heavy handed riffage, as well as some squelchy sounding palm mutes, but some of this could be the amp sim.

I really want to explore options and know for sure that I'm making the right choices before settling on anything. Would the JB8 be a little closer to what I'm after? I've heard it can be a little too hot for some, and maybe a little too harsh. I'm after, tight, big, clear, and smoothe. I'd prefer to check out the JB8 first, but I'm reading good things about the nailbomb and getting curious. Moves will be made on something soon.

 

[Nightburst]

Re: Need help choosing bridge pup in a PRS

Hi Criff,
I have the same guitar (PRS SE Custom 22 hardtail)
After having used a SD Custom UOA5 for a while I settled for a Gibson Classic 57+. The Custom is awesome and one of my fav pickups of all time. Being a lead guitarist I found it too scooped to be useful in a full band context. Its probably the ultimate home pickup for recording and practicing but in my current band setting there are other things required. The Custom UOA5 might be perfect for you and its easy to try out since you already have the Custom pickup, be sure to get the unoriented A5 pickup (or roughcast, I don't know what is what exactly but to me its the same thing) because it just sounds better than with a polished regular A5 magnet.

If you like the custom 8, you could try and dial back the mids for leads and lower the bass to tighten up the mutes. With your amp sim you can control these parameters? Add a slight delay and reverb on the lead tone and you are golden. Less gain is almost always better when recording.

While the 57+ is warm and PAFish it's also a bit bright so that it helps a great deal with cutting though a dense mix. My band plays with pretty heavy guitars both on Mesa boogies. I use 2 different overdrive pedals so that I can get tight riffing and also searing leads.
Since the pickup is fairly low output it 'breathes' nicely so things don't get overly compressed and I can shape the tone the way I like it for best sound and feel with EQ and overdrive. Both bands you mentioned have this breathing quality in their sound and use less gain than you would think.
Hope this helps. It's hard to give a better answer since I'm not familiar with your gear. I use amplitube 3 on my pc to record at home.

 

[Criff]

Re: Need help choosing bridge pup in a PRS

Hi Criff,
I have the same guitar (PRS SE Custom 22 hardtail)
After having used a SD Custom UOA5 for a while I settled for a Gibson Classic 57+. The Custom is awesome and one of my fav pickups of all time. Being a lead guitarist I found it too scooped to be useful in a full band context. Its probably the ultimate home pickup for recording and practicing but in my current band setting there are other things required. The Custom UOA5 might be perfect for you and its easy to try out since you already have the Custom pickup, be sure to get the unoriented A5 pickup (or roughcast, I don't know what is what exactly but to me its the same thing) because it just sounds better than with a polished regular A5 magnet.

If you like the custom 8, you could try and dial back the mids for leads and lower the bass to tighten up the mutes. With your amp sim you can control these parameters? Add a slight delay and reverb on the lead tone and you are golden. Less gain is almost always better when recording.

While the 57+ is warm and PAFish it's also a bit bright so that it helps a great deal with cutting though a dense mix. My band plays with pretty heavy guitars both on Mesa boogies. I use 2 different overdrive pedals so that I can get tight riffing and also searing leads.
Since the pickup is fairly low output it 'breathes' nicely so things don't get overly compressed and I can shape the tone the way I like it for best sound and feel with EQ and overdrive. Both bands you mentioned have this breathing quality in their sound and use less gain than you would think.
Hope this helps. It's hard to give a better answer since I'm not familiar with your gear. I use amplitube 3 on my pc to record at home.

Awesome stuff man, thanks a lot. I can definitely tinker with lots in bias and that will be where the main action happens once I figure out what pickups work for me. I guess where I'm at right now is I just need to experiment with different pups so I can be content that I've explored this area before settling on any one. I do have a UOA5 so I'll try that in the Custom.

Does your band have anything online I'd be able to check out?