Pickups for PRS Swamp Ash Special

[ACD]

Hey all, recently picked up a PRS SE SAS and love it! I mostly play hard rock but wanted to add something to the roster that was a little more versatile For lighter rock, classic rock, and some country.

Love the guitar so far, just wish the pickups had a little more heat. I have a Duncan SH-5 Custom bridge in my main guitar and I love it, but worry it might be too bright in a Swamp ash guitar with a maple neck.

Currently considering Pearly Gates Neck (or alcino II pro), SSL-5 Mid and Custom Custom (Sh-11) bridge but am interested in suggestions/feedback and to hear what combos others have tried in similar guitars with HSH setups.

Thanks!
​

 

[jeremy]

welcome to the forum!

thats a great set of pups for sure. the ssl6 might be a better fit, same pup with flat poles. its not a vintage strat pup at all, lots more power and mids, but i really like it with 500k pots

 

[Chistopher]

The way the forum has been the last few weeks, don't be surprised if someone recommends a JB in the neck, a JB in the bridge, and a JB Jr in the middle

 

[Rex_Rocker]

The way the forum has been the last few weeks, don't be surprised if someone recommends a JB in the neck, a JB in the bridge, and a JB Jr in the middle

Don't be hatin', LOL.

 

[Mincer]

You can swap your magnet in the Custom for an Alnico II magnet, and you have a Custom Custom without having to buy a new pickup to test. For the middle pickup, I'd recommend a Classic Stack. It is hum-cancelling, and sound more traditional than the SSL-5, which sounds like a thicker single coil.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I think the Custom Custom conversion sounds like a great rec for the bridge. Flatpole stack for the middle is good steer too.
Even if you won't be using a whole lot of gain with this guitar, venues are pretty unpredictable when it comes to hum.
Probably better to be humbucking all round.

 

[EmiAba]

Hey all, recently picked up a PRS SE SAS and love it! I mostly play hard rock but wanted to add something to the roster that was a little more versatile For lighter rock, classic rock, and some country.

Love the guitar so far, just wish the pickups had a little more heat. I have a Duncan SH-5 Custom bridge in my main guitar and I love it, but worry it might be too bright in a Swamp ash guitar with a maple neck.

Currently considering Pearly Gates Neck (or alcino II pro), SSL-5 Mid and Custom Custom (Sh-11) bridge but am interested in suggestions/feedback and to hear what combos others have tried in similar guitars with HSH setups.

Thanks!
​

Sorry but I don't understand. Do you want a more versatile combo than 85/15 S pickups or something hotter? Because I would not play country with a sh-5. Don't know why you don't like the stock pickups but I know them very well, having a prs custom 24 se, and they are pretty good to cover a lot of ground (well to be honest I prefer a little more bite from the bridge but every time I try to change pickups I end up leaving it as is). Then if you want something really different I think the black winter set can fit easily. And I think they're a perfect match for a swamp ash/maple guitar. Now regardless your choice will be, are you going to maintain the same switching pattern.?

 

[ACD]

Sorry but I don't understand. Do you want a more versatile combo than 85/15 S pickups or something hotter? Because I would not play country with a sh-5. Don't know why you don't like the stock pickups but I know them very well, having a prs custom 24 se, and they are pretty good to cover a lot of ground (well to be honest I prefer a little more bite from the bridge but every time I try to change pickups I end up leaving it as is). Then if you want something really different I think the black winter set can fit easily. And I think they're a perfect match for a swamp ash/maple guitar. Now regardless your choice will be, are you going to maintain the same switching pattern.?

Thanks for your comments! To answer your question I am looking for something a little hotter and I do plan on maintaining the same switching pattern (I don't plan on putting a Sh-5 in this guitar).

 

[Butch Snyder]

I have that same guitar. I replaced the stock pickups with the following:

1. Neck: SH-PG1n Pearly Gates neck model
2. Middle: APS-1 Alnico 2 Pro Strat model
3. Bridge: SH-11 Custom Custom

That change made a huge difference. The SH-5 is one of my favorite pickups.

 

[elelpe]

Some people play country with PAF voiced hb guitars, not something in Custom family territory. So I'd suggest Pearly Gates for the bridge. It's also adequate for rock music.

Bridge: Pearly Gates.
Middle: APS-1/2, or... you could try APST-1 (Twang Banger) for experiment.
Neck: you can't go wrong with either PG or APH-1. That said put Phat Cat into consideration.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Some people play country with PAF voiced hb guitars, not something in Custom family territory. So I'd suggest Pearly Gates for the bridge. It's also adequate for rock music.

You could use a Custom with the middle single coil. That's what I do on that guitar. Honestly, though, I usually grab one of my Telecasters for Country. That said, for today's Country, a Custom would work fine.