PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

[Frogman]

My PRS build is nearing completion, so I need to decide on pickups.

-Body: 1 piece black limba (2" thick)

-Neck: 1 piece honduran mahogany

-Fingerboard: 1 piece pau ferro

-25" scale

-22 frets



Edit: Going to use my C/DD8 hybrid for the bridge.


What would you recommend for the neck?


The "heaviness" of my band ranges from:

Most mellow: Pearl Jam & Soundgarden
Norm: Alice in Chains
Heaviest: Down


Link to build progress thread

Please read: I mate very well with the JB and DD type winds....so please don't recommend a Custom8 or other pickups. I want a variation of/modded JB/DD wind.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

My SE Custom 22 sounds phenomenal on the neck with a stock DD neck pickup. Before you go mag-swapping, give that a shot. I was thoroughly surprised by how great it sounded. It can definitely stay mellow, or it can scream. I don't think it stays particularly smooth, like a 59, but it can do mellow.

 

[Frogman]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

Thanks

Bump for more responses


And has anyone done a DDn4 or DDn3 ?

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

Thanks

Bump for more responses


And has anyone done a DDn4 or DDn3 ?

I tried 2, 5, and big ceramic. The 2 is atrocious. Seriously, I don't think I've ever played a neck pickup I disliked more. The 5 was very good in my Les Paul, but not as great in the PRS. May work for you, but the ceramic actually warmed it up and maintained a clear, crystalline high end.

 

[tone4days]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

Dunno what to tell ya - when I see a nice piece of korina like that, my first and only thoughts a pair of P90s

 

[Frogman]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

Yeah, idk if I want to mess around with a DDn...


Looking for some responses regarding the DD bridge with an UOA5 or A4.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

I would wait until I could actually hear the guitar and see what it needs before worrying too much about the magnet. A bit silly to beat yourself up over which magnet to use then find the guitar sounds different then expected and you wind up swapping mags anyways.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

I would wait until I could actually hear the guitar and see what it needs before worrying too much about the magnet. A bit silly to beat yourself up over which magnet to use then find the guitar sounds different then expected and you wind up swapping mags anyways.

This.

Edgecrusher, you're the voice of good reasoning and good sense.

Kudos to you.

 

[Frogman]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

This.

Edgecrusher, you're the voice of good reasoning and good sense.

Kudos to you.

Sound advice.



Maybe what I am looking for are experiences people have had with the DD-UOA5
or DD-A4, so I can have an idea on what to expect before I do make the
magnet purchase/swap in the future.

 

[Frogman]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

Alright, well I decided on my C/DD8 hybrid.


What do you guys recommend for the neck??

 

[CTN]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

'59/Jazz A4 hybrid?

'59/Full Shred might be interesting. Full Shred coils are pretty similar to the Custom coils, so there's no reason this shouldn't also be great.

 

[Frogman]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

I would need to have someone make me a hybrid.

I am fine with mag-swapping, but don't feel comfortable making hybrids yet.


Regardless, I'd like to know about the:


Jazz/'59n3:

Jazz/'59n4:

Jazz3:

Jazz4:

'59n3:

'59n4:

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

The 59 with an A2 really sounds phenominal in the neck if you like warm smooth tones there. Many people like more brightness and the A5 works great for them.

But you can get the best of all worlds with a P-Rail in the neck...Supurb clarity with the Rail, richer tone with bite with the P-90 coil, smoothness and fullness with both coils in series. Parallel sounds about midway between the Rail and P-90 tones but no hum. (Actually, I rarely have a problem with hum from my P-Rails).

You asked about the DD with a UOA5...teriffic!! I like it 100 times better than the ceramic.

Hey, don't be afraid to try hybridding. It seems a little scary at first, but if you can solder two wires together you can do it. (Remember how scary it was to do your first mag swap? Now it's a piece of cake that you don't even think twice about). And once you do your first hybrid, you'll be doing it to most of your pups. It really is simple but very rewarding. Give it a shot, you'll be glad you did.

 

[Frogman]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

The 59 with an A2 really sounds phenominal in the neck if you like warm smooth tones there. Many people like more brightness and the A5 works great for them.

But you can get the best of all worlds with a P-Rail in the neck...Supurb clarity with the Rail, richer tone with bite with the P-90 coil, smoothness and fullness with both coils in series. Parallel sounds about midway between the Rail and P-90 tones but no hum. (Actually, I rarely have a problem with hum from my P-Rails).

You asked about the DD with a UOA5...teriffic!! I like it 100 times better than the ceramic.

Hey, don't be afraid to try hybridding. It seems a little scary at first, but if you can solder two wires together you can do it. (Remember how scary it was to do your first mag swap? Now it's a piece of cake that you don't even think twice about). And once you do your first hybrid, you'll be doing it to most of your pups. It really is simple but very rewarding. Give it a shot, you'll be glad you did.

Thanks doc. I'll look into the Prail...though I tend to be a purist when it comes to the "look" of the coils. Nevertheless...


Bump for more responses regarding the jazz and 59 variations.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

Thanks doc. I'll look into the Prail...though I tend to be a purist when it comes to the "look" of the coils. Nevertheless...


Bump for more responses regarding the jazz and 59 variations.

I tend to be more of a "purist" when it comes to the tone of a pup, and who cares what it looks like if it sounds great.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

Besides, the P-Rail looks very cool. I'm looking forward to receiving my "Fugly Bucker" first because of the tone, but also because of the looks!

 

[Frogman]

Re: PRS Home build....DD -- UOA5 vs A4

I tend to be more of a "purist" when it comes to the tone of a pup, and who cares what it looks like if it sounds great.

Haha :approve:

Of course I care about tone more, but if I could get the tone I want with a "standard" looking humbucker, I would prefer that


Unfortunately I feel like I am going to have to start a new thread discussing the Jazz/'59n3, Jazz/'59n4, Jazz3, Jazz4, '59n3, & '59n4.
I guess when ppl look at the thread title they don't join in.. :banghead: :sigh: