Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

jalguitarman

Junior Member
Hi folks, I have a 2017 PRS SE Zach Myers that I am thinking could benefit from a new set of pickups. If I go the route I am thinking then I would want something a little warmer in the high end, but not dark in the low end and the right amount of mids for a vintage out put humbucker. The guitar unplugged has a very acoustic sounding tone. It is definitely on the warm side though I would not say it's dark. Basically like I mentioned in response to a different thread it's an "airy Les Paul sound". Basically, I want to acheive a tone that is very warm, yet super clean and will not turn into mud if put it through medium high gain.

I use a Fender Blues Junior that comes stock with a Cannabis Rex speaker (I recently retired one that had the Jensen Speaker). Right know I only use a Strymon Timeline for Delay and a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet, which is not a super high gain pedal. As for style I play a little of everything but my Live playing is in Church for the modern contemporary service. Much of this is guitar driven and can get into some delay fueled semi overdriving ringing arpeggios plus some faster leads at times depending on the particular song. I am not set on a particular brand so feel free to share whatever you think. Thank you as always.
 
Last edited:
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

For a set that is cleaner and clearer than the Seths, the Antiquity set might be considered. For a little less cash, and an equally open sound (and also better with gain than unpotted pickups), you might consider a regular '59 set, as it also does everything you want.
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

For a set that is cleaner and clearer than the Seths, the Antiquity set might be considered. For a little less cash, and an equally open sound (and also better with gain than unpotted pickups), you might consider a regular '59 set, as it also does everything you want.
The Antiquity set is one that I have been considering, although the lack of potting is of concern to me.
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

In my SE Zach Myers I have a set of Custom 5/'59 pickups and it sounds amazing. Not sure if the C5 might be a little hotter than what you're after tho.

Zach-3.jpg
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

I just put a set of Pearly Gates in my Black LP Custom and they sound superb
I've got two sets in my guitars now and they're never coming out
I've tried over 8 sets of other pickups and the Pearly's are far better than any of the others i've tried
These include:
SD Antiquity
SD WLH
Lollar T-Tops
Dimarzio 36th Anniv
SD Antiquity Jazz
SD Slash pickups
And some Boutique pickups which i won't name
My Pearly's killed them all, great authentic PAF sound to my ears
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

I just put a set of Pearly Gates in my Black LP Custom and they sound superb
I've got two sets in my guitars now and they're never coming out
I've tried over 8 sets of other pickups and the Pearly's are far better than any of the others i've tried
These include:
SD Antiquity
SD WLH
Lollar T-Tops
Dimarzio 36th Anniv
SD Antiquity Jazz
SD Slash pickups
And some Boutique pickups which i won't name
My Pearly's killed them all, great authentic PAF sound to my ears
I have had some recent experience with the Pearly Gates. I think they would sound good in this guitar, but they aren't quite the sound I am after. It's really going to be a difficult decision because it's going to require such a delicate balance to end up within the narrow set of parameters that define the sound I am after. And yes my ears are that picky.:D
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

What about the AP2's?

I love this set, but it can get muddy with too much gain. If you use vintage Marshall or Friedman Dirty Shirley levels of gain, then they are amazing. If you are talking 5150 or so, then they are not the right ones.
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

Hi folks, I have a 2017 PRS SE Zach Myers that I am thinking could benefit from a new set of pickups. If I go the route I am thinking then I would want something a little warmer in the high end, but not dark in the low end and the right amount of mids for a vintage out put humbucker. The guitar unplugged has a very acoustic sounding tone. It is definitely on the warm side though I would not say it's dark. Basically like I mentioned in response to a different thread it's an "airy Les Paul sound". Basically, I want to acheive a tone that is very warm, yet super clean and will not turn into mud if put it through medium high gain.

I use a Fender Blues Junior that comes stock with a Cannabis Rex speaker (I recently retired one that had the Jensen Speaker). Right know I only use a Strymon Timeline for Delay and a Fulltone Fulldrive 2 Mosfet, which is not a super high gain pedal. As for style I play a little of everything but my Live playing is in Church for the modern contemporary service. Much of this is guitar driven and can get into some delay fueled semi overdriving ringing arpeggios plus some faster leads at times depending on the particular song. I am not set on a particular brand so feel free to share whatever you think. Thank you as always.
From what you describe tonewise, a set of A4 equipped pickups may do the trick.
I had a set of Dimarzio PAF Master pickups in a LP a few years back and they sounded great, the Bridge was an A4 mag and it was glorious.
Or you could try the new SD Sat Night Specials which are A4 mags in your guitar.
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

From what you describe tonewise, a set of A4 equipped pickups may do the trick.
I had a set of Dimarzio PAF Master pickups in a LP a few years back and they sounded great, the Bridge was an A4 mag and it was glorious.
Or you could try the new SD Sat Night Specials which are A4 mags in your guitar.
Funny that you should mention this. I am also considering a set of Sheptone Tribute 4s https://www.sheptone.com/collections/humbuckers/products/humbuckers-tribute-4-set I have the BKP Mules in another guitar which are A4 and those are awesome!
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

Nah, get the Sat Night Specials, come on, you're on a SD forum !!

I will look into them a little deeper. The name doesn't make them stand out as something that I would normally consider but perhaps I am being a little short sided. I am not a one brand kinda guy. LOl
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

I love this set, but it can get muddy with too much gain. If you use vintage Marshall or Friedman Dirty Shirley levels of gain, then they are amazing. If you are talking 5150 or so, then they are not the right ones.
Got ya. I asked because a while a go I heard a comparison of different SD neck pickups in a YouTube video and the AP2 and PG were the ones that sounded the best out the ones demoed. I think there were 5 total. Know the 59 neck and Jazz neck were among those compared but I cannot for the life of me remember what the other set was.
 
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

In my SE Zach Myers I have a set of Custom 5/'59 pickups and it sounds amazing. Not sure if the C5 might be a little hotter than what you're after tho.

View attachment 84977
That is nice. Here in mine. These are the Sweetwater photos of it. It will get a major overhaul. It is getting CTS 500k pots with a new 3 way switch, plus vintage style metal braided wire. I have bought the PRS Ivory Pickup rings and the Amber Lampshade knobs to go on mine. I have set of the Kluson Revolution 19:1 tuners for it that have beed slightly modified to take the black PRS top-locking screws (which will make them function like a set of the PRS Phase II locking-tuners), with a set of nickel buttons to replace the snot-green ones that the Revolutions come with. I also have a set of polished brass bridge inserts. Plus what ever pickups I get I will end up putting gold plated pole screws in. It should look quite awesome when all is said and done.
 

Attachments

  • R10994-angle-large.jpg
    R10994-angle-large.jpg
    49.9 KB · Views: 0
  • R10994-body-large.jpg
    R10994-body-large.jpg
    45.1 KB · Views: 0
  • R10994-front-large.jpg
    R10994-front-large.jpg
    36.5 KB · Views: 0
Re: Pickup suggestion for SE Zach Myers.

Nah, get the Sat Night Specials, come on, you're on a SD forum !!
I just listened the demo video on the main Duncan site and the Saturday night specials sounded pretty stinking good in that demo!!!
 
Back
Top