Pickups for PRS CU24

[tiny969]

hi there,
i'm sure to have a plenty of specialists with a lot of experience here...

i'd like to do a pickup mod on one of my PRS CU24, styling it to new metal / metal sound. i've heard a dimebucker in bridge position and a 59 in neck pos would be the ultimate way... any other opinions?
i've been also told 'bout dimebucker / invader or full shred combi, but i think that would be a little bit too much output?

thx for help!

 

[Al Heeley]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

Maybe a good place to start is saying what it is you don't like about the HFS/VB stock pups; too thin? not hot enough?
I thought they'd be pretty decent pups (well the HFS) for the sound you are after?

 

[tiny969]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

yes, i'm looking for a little bit more powerful and through-pushing sound, more difficile sounding from the HFS and vintage pu's... first i was looking for EMG's but they are not appropriate for PRS... this way i read 'bout the dimebucker and 59 or invader/full shred combis, 'cause they all have 4-conductor wiring which fits to the 5-way rotary switch of the CU24...

 

[tiny969]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

huh, no more opinions? i'm thankful for every input...

greez

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

Hey man, I've got a CU24 with a 59 in the neck and a Custom/Distortion hybrid in the bridge.

It can get very heavy, but the pup is just too hot for me.

I'd think the Dimebucker might be overly bright, but you could try 250K pots, that's what I have in mine.

The Custom will sound similiar to the HFS with more low end.

The Distortion will have lots of output and harmonics.

The JB might be a contender as well. It has the same wind as the distortion, but an A5 mag so it sounds a bit smoother and warmer.

Hope that helps!

Luke

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

Luke- While we are on JBs, considering moving a JB over to the bridge of my 24CE- Would I expect about the same sound as in the CU24?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

Zion,

The difference in the guitar's tones will primarily come from your constuction. I tend to consider bolt ons and bolt ins to be slightly more crisp sounding than glue ins.

Does your CE have a maple top? That could make for other tonal differences since Customs have a maple tops.

In mine I've swapped mags and made a C5/JB hybrid which sounded very nice. It still seemed a little bright, but I'm anxious to try it with my new 250K pots. IMO brightness would be the main consideration about putting the Dist. or JB in a PRS. That's why I'm trying the 250K pots. Of course all of that is kind of off topic I can't tell you from my own ears experience how the regular JB would sound, I can only theorize.

Hope that helps!

Luke

 

[tiny969]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

wow, kind of really awesome people in here...

well, i think i'm going to try the dimebucker / 59 combination with 250K pots as luke mentioned. will let you know how it works!

thx

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

Thanks Luke-
Yep it's the old tabaco finish with maple top also appearing as 'binding'-

I actually like the sound quite a bit, I just don't play humbs much anymore (other than the JB in my HSS parker) so it got me thinking a different pup there would make a differnce-

Theoretically I would think the ce24 would be relatively bright and snappy leading to something more like a PG or maybe a custom- But in reality it's pretty warm and I may very well try a JB in there-

Thx for the input!

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

hi there,
i'm sure to have a plenty of specialists with a lot of experience here...

i'd like to do a pickup mod on one of my PRS CU24, styling it to new metal / metal sound. i've heard a dimebucker in bridge position and a 59 in neck pos would be the ultimate way... any other opinions?
i've been also told 'bout dimebucker / invader or full shred combi, but i think that would be a little bit too much output?

thx for help!

Thats a tough call. The HFS is pretty hot and very much in line with what you are looking for. Maybe you should give the PRS Dragon I a shot? About the same output as the HFS with a bit different flavor tonewise.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

Let me say this:

The PRS CU 24 has been HELL in the PUP search. It's such a unique guitar, kinda thick in the mids, and the neck pup is an interesting challenge.

I think the Dragon II's might sound great in there but I have converted mostly to SD's as of late - I just like the sauce.

I can tell you the Dimarzio Air Zone and Air Norton sound fat classic and amazing. The VPAF neck model works well in there (but it has this sizzle - NOT a PG sizzle that irks me).

My expectations are high on a guitar like this. To keep it in LP-ish territory I think you need a little more thickness in the neck. I have discovered the APH1 bridge and Pearly Bridge in the neck work well. Any pickup around 8k-ish. I have had amazing results with the C5 and CC in the bridge BUT one was lacking thickness and one was too thick - so mayyybe an A3? Maybe a custom wind?

I had Zhang wind me a 10k pup with A3s in it that sounded just right as far as being open and thick in the bridge. FOR NOW - I am just using the Pearly Gates SET (both bridges) in my PRS and am quite content, but you have to like the PGs.

I would one day like to hear an EVH or something around 9 - 10k in the bridge with a pearly or APH1 neck or perhaps even an EVH neck.

So there is my .01 cents since I have yet to solve this conundrum in total.
The 24 fret models just lack a sweetness, esp in the neck that the 22 fret models easily get. However, I love the 24 fretters because they combine metal, shred, and classic rock in a feel and tone I had never heard.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

I had a 24 fret PRS like that. I liked the bridge pickup but could never get happy with the neck pickup because it wasn't in the same position as I was used to compared to my Gibson guitars. I like the polepieces right under where the 24th fret is on a 24 fret guitar so I could never get happy with the sound of the neck pickup in my PRS because it's moved about an 1" closer to the bridge.

Anyways, since that neck pickup is picking up a little less bass than it would if it was an 1" closer to the neck, you might like the 59 neck...although my favorite is the Pearly Gates.

I've never tried a Dimebucker...Robert S. has and he seems to like it in a Les Paul.

As far as bridge pickups go, I can't recommend the Duncan Custom highly enough.

The PG and Custom split into single coils beautifully too...gives almost a Tele tone. Excellant.

Lew

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

wow, kind of really awesome people in here...

well, i think i'm going to try the dimebucker / 59 combination with 250K pots as luke mentioned. will let you know how it works!

thx

Best of luck Tiny!

Zion,

If you give the JB a whirl and it is too bright I would try putting 1 250K pot in. That would give you a tad more warmth without compromising the neck tone too much. If it is still two bright I would try 2. The 59 neck sounds pretty good with two, but I might knock it down to one 250K and one 500K. The 500K being on the tone pot.

Luke

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

You know I went to the APH because the 59 was too "stiff" for me

Hey that's just me. The PRS is 25" so it's doesn't twang like a Les Paul, and it's not as chimey as a strat. Ahhh the conundrum.
Have you considered the Jazz ?

 

[sungod]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

i have a '90 CU24 and found that the JB nails my tone perfectly... there's a lot of tight bottom end, the mids sing, and with distortion it has a smooth but slightly nasty snarl on top... it cleans up very nicely too........ with the maple cap and whammy the CU24 is relatively brite compared to other guitars.....

in the neck i found the jazz to be pefect by itself or mixed with the JB...... the series/parallel combinations are awesome......

i should note that my CU24 has the old style small neck heel, which i think makes the guitar more articulate and sweet than the big neck heel.... i have absolutly no problems with sustain.....

... btw... i think i'm gonna try the dimebucker in my santana se that i use for gigging... it's a much darker guitar with no maple cap, the long heel and fixed bridge.....

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: Pickups for PRS CU24

The JB is perfect for the PRS but it will give you a good dose of the HFS vibe. I was looking to go more classic sounding.

I must say I rather likes the sweetness of the C5 in there. An overwound C5 or a C3 or C4 would be goo din a PRS. The CC was too thick for me at times. I wanted a little twang and funk - spank!