New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

[T-Bone-BBQ]

I put a Dimarzio Norton in the bridge and an Alnico II Pro in the neck. Kind of an odd combination, but I wanted to try it out. We'll see how it does at band practice tomorrow. Sounded great so far just playing at home. If I don't like the Norton for some reason I've got a matching chrome covered Alnico II Pro bridge pickup I'll put in. Looks cool I think.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

if you don't dig the air norton, highly recommend the screamin demon. my goto bridge for singlecuts.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

It's a regular Norton, not the Air Norton, but I do have a Screamin Demon that I did think about putting in. I've had them in other guitars, but never tried the Norton so I thought I'd give it a try first.

 

[daenius]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

You're killing me with your awesome looking PRSs and the cool looking pickup combos!

Covered neck and open bridge?! JIMMY PAGE, IS THAT YOU?!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

Lol. Well I actually wish the Norton was chrome covered and if I decide to keep it in there I may just put a cover on it. I've got one for it, but for now I'll just leave it the way it is.

 

[Diego]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

That's a lovely top, and I normally can't stand combining open and chrome humbuckers in the same guitar, but it looks really good on yours.

I'd love if you could try the Demon and do a comparison of sorts.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

That's a lovely top, and I normally can't stand combining open and chrome humbuckers in the same guitar, but it looks really good on yours.

I'd love if you could try the Demon and do a comparison of sorts.

I've had the Screamin Demon in other guitars and I can tell you that it's not as high output as the Norton. Finally getting to try the guitar yesterday with my Boss Katana amp at higher volume I can say that the Demon is not near as hot as the Norton. I had to lower the height of the Norton and that helped a lot. Made it much more touch sensitive and the tone better IMO. Still too soon to say if the Norton is here to stay, but I do like it so far. The Demon is a great pickup, but brighter than the Norton. I have a Demon in another guitar with 250k volume and tone pots and like it that way better as it helps to tame some of the highs.

 

[Diego]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I've had the Screamin Demon in other guitars and I can tell you that it's not as high output as the Norton. Finally getting to try the guitar yesterday with my Boss Katana amp at higher volume I can say that the Demon is not near as hot as the Norton. I had to lower the height of the Norton and that helped a lot. Made it much more touch sensitive and the tone better IMO. Still too soon to say if the Norton is here to stay, but I do like it so far. The Demon is a great pickup, but brighter than the Norton. I have a Demon in another guitar with 250k volume and tone pots and like it that way better as it helps to tame some of the highs.

I should have explained myself a bit better. I do have a Screamin' Demon I recently took off an Ibanez SZ and a Jackson Kelly.
I'd love to put it in my Les Paul but as stated, I will not combine open and chrome pickups.

I think it's really more suited to classic Rock styles, rather than the "using low output pickup for Metal" thing.
It might have a more modern flavor than a '59 or a Alnico 2 Pro, but it's still more suited to fat, vintage rock tones more than anything else IMO.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I agree that the demon is more suited to 80's rock, but I don't know that I'd like it in a Les Paul, so I probably wouldn't try one in this guitar. I did think about it at one point, but I want something with more output. If I end up not liking the Norton I'll probably get a Custom 5. I have that pickup in two other guitars and it's awesome. Very big sounding. So far I like the Norton tho and if I do decide to keep it in there it'll end up getting the chrome cover I have for it put on so the look will be what I wanted.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

Well I took some video of me playing the Tremonti thru my Boss Katana this weekend while I was waiting for my bandmates to show up for practice. So far I like the pickup combo...mix of a more modern sounding bridge pickup with a vintage sounding neck pickup. Anyways...I'm certainly not a pro player, but I have fun. There's also clips at the end of me playing my SE Custom 24 with the Air Zone/36 Anniv pickups.

https://youtu.be/Mg9IUAx8Eiw

 

[Mincer]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I dig the clean sound of the video more than the distorted sound. Maybe because that is the Duncan?

 

[mwalluk]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I should have explained myself a bit better. I do have a Screamin' Demon I recently took off an Ibanez SZ and a Jackson Kelly.
I'd love to put it in my Les Paul but as stated, I will not combine open and chrome pickups.

I think it's really more suited to classic Rock styles, rather than the "using low output pickup for Metal" thing.
It might have a more modern flavor than a '59 or a Alnico 2 Pro, but it's still more suited to fat, vintage rock tones more than anything else IMO.

Im going have to disagree with you on that one. My band plays a mix of alternative, modeen, hard rock to some brutz.

Prior to my PRS my LP w/ a screamin semon was my goto guitar. The SD handle all those types great.

Now keep in mind, the right amp will help more than any pickup would. Also technique and skill set obviously factors in as well.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I dig the clean sound of the video more than the distorted sound. Maybe because that is the Duncan?

I will have to change up the OD patches to accommodate the tone of the Norton. I had them set up for my PRS SE Santana with the '59 in the bridge which is lower output and thicker sounding. I could tell quickly on the "crunch" setting that it was more gain than I wanted on that patch and would need to change it. I'll also need to back off the gain for sure as well as the treble/presence a bit and possibly also the mids. Just a difference in pickups, but nothing I can't adjust for.

 

[Diego]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

Im going have to disagree with you on that one. My band plays a mix of alternative, modeen, hard rock to some brutz.

Prior to my PRS my LP w/ a screamin semon was my goto guitar. The SD handle all those types great.

Now keep in mind, the right amp will help more than any pickup would. Also technique and skill set obviously factors in as well.

It was way too twangy in my Ibanez/Jackson. I think it would be perfect in my Les Paul and it would be more useful for other styles as you say.
In my Ibanez it sounded so bright it was like an uber-roided Telecaster or something.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

Looks great! Love them PRS SE's.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I ordered a used chrome covered Custom 5 to put in just in case I don't like the Norton. The custom 5 is a beast of a pickup.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

It was way too twangy in my Ibanez/Jackson. I think it would be perfect in my Les Paul and it would be more useful for other styles as you say.
In my Ibanez it sounded so bright it was like an uber-roided Telecaster or something.

That's what makes it such a killer in neck position. LOVE the Demon as a hot neck pickup; probably wouldn't choose it for the bridge anymore myself except maybe in a very warm sounding short-scale axe. But of course that's my personal taste speaking, not an objective assessment.

I have a Custom5 bridge in a Firebird Studio and I really, really like it there.

 

[Mincer]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I ordered a used chrome covered Custom 5 to put in just in case I don't like the Norton. The custom 5 is a beast of a pickup.

It is, indeed. Great choice! Let us know how it sounds when it is installed.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

I might be putting it in tomorrow. I've also got a set of Grover mini locking tuners that are supposed to be direct replacements. I plan to put those in also.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: New pickups in my PRS SE Tremonti

Well I found out today that the TB-14 I bought won't fit in the pickup rings. Had to put the Norton back in, but I've got a SH-14 on the way that I might put in there. I want to replace the A2P in the neck with a Jazz, but I'm having trouble finding a good used one that's chrome covered.