PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

[Gearjoneser]

I've owned a few PRS's over the years, and somehow always gravitated back to my Gibsons, just because the McCarty always sounded a bit too hard in the mids and a bit punchier than I liked. It came with A5's, and it ended up with a C5/59.

WHY did I never try what the two pioneers would have done, had they had control over the PRS design back in 1955?

I own the 1955-2005 Anniversary Seth Lover set, and tried it in a LP Std back when I got them, and thought they were just a tad looser sounding than I liked in that Gibson. So, they sat in their boxes since then, until I found a guitar for them.

That guitar is my 2000 PRS McCarty Custom. It's an absolutely great guitar, but always had a hard, sustaining, and resonant quality that made the C5/59 too 'in your face.'

Now, what if this guitar design had come out in the 50's, and they automatically used 1955 Gibson/Seth Lover's? It would have been a classic tone, because this McCarty is just incredible sounding now. I lost the pullup tone splitting feature, but who cares. The beautiful authentic PAF, as wound by MJ, is glorious sounding on cleans, midgain, and highgain. So fat, rich, and toneful.

If you have a PRS, you owe it to yourself to try Seth Lovers or Antiquities.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Awesome Joe, glad your sorted. That guitar looks seriously cool and classy... love it!

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Awesome Joe, glad your sorted. That guitar looks seriously cool and classy... love it!

The Modern Eagle I heard you mention is almost overkill, pricewise. A regular McCarty sounds really good. And now better with Seth Lovers.

I only played PRS's with A5's, and never got to hear their Dragon II's at full volume, but I assume they're amongst the best from PRS.

But PRS's really shine with Alnico 2 pickups. If you own one, install some A2 PAF's. It mellows out the hard edge PRS's are known for.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Yea seth lovers are the ****.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Hi Gear, are you sure that your set is the A2 version. i heard about to versions the lower wound with A2 which is nearer to the standard seth and a higher wound A5 set which should similar to a Ant set with A5s?

 

[LtKojak]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Hi Gear, are you sure that your set is the A2 version. i heard about to versions the lower wound with A2 which is nearer to the standard seth and a higher wound A5 set which should similar to a Ant set with A5s?

The info is on each box. This was a special set that has not the same specs as the stock set.

I've recently found a similar set on E-Bay: it was wound hotter, had A5s and golden screws, IIRC. I couldn't get'em; the seller wouldn't ship to Italy.

HTH,

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

I have the boxes right here...

8..52K/7.48K, A2, and wound by MJ.

I've mostly used A5 pickups my whole life, but I'm starting to really warm up to A2 PAF styles, which are now Seths, PG's, Gibson 57's and BB 1/2. They all sound really nice.

And the A5's that I've settled on are Brobucker, C5, C/59 hybrid, and UORC C5.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

I love the seth. The A2 adds a sort of breath to the notes, the highs are still very high definition, and the variety of sounds from raising the pickup or adjusting the pole pieces is just a dynamic as how it responds to the way one plays.

I recently enjoyed the shift in sound from raised poles to dropped poles and raising the pickup closer to the strings. I like how assertive and pleasant the seth lover plays in all conditions, I have had trouble getting bad sounds through any amp, however the ceiling for awesome tones is extremely high. Transformed my strat completely and far out performs the surfer single coil, at least for what I perform.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

I have the boxes right here...

8..52K/7.48K, A2, and wound by MJ.

Looks like a '59n matched with an Antiquity bridge specs, being the engine non-degaussed A2s... We're looking at a Gourmet recipe for Classic Rock/British Blues tone monsters. Stock Seths are not wound as hot.

My all-time favorite neck p'up is the stock Seth Lover neck... it suits my style to perfection and then some. It's the only Duncan p'up I use that's STOCK. Can you believe that?

My standard neck p'up in a 22 fretter, 24.75" scaled guitar is the A4 '59n. It's unbelievable how much TONE you can get with so little money.

HTH,

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

That's one gorgeous looking McCarty. I've always liked the looks and playability of the McCarty. Now it sounds like you've got #1 tone as well. I guess that's what you would call serendipity.

 

[jmh151]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Many posters on the PRS forums compare Duncan Seth Lovers and Antiquities to the PRS 59/09 set, which many say is PRSs best pickup, though it's difficult to get a set and when you do, a set is over $400

 

[tone4days]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

excellent, joe - glad youre happy with them -

how is the low end clarity under medium gain?

how is the note-to note separation in chords, both clean and with medium gain?

what do you think the change would be putting a set of A2 seths in a 24.5" scale PRS as opposed to the 25" scale mccarty?

i think my prs sc245 needs a little something in those areas ... the stock pickups are really nice for single notes (all gain levels) and rock chords sound good with with all gain levels ... but low notes dont jump out with clarity the way i'd like - a little too flubby and underpowered ...

then again, if i want that, i just plug in the PRS ted DC 245 soapy and i'm set

 

[ErikH]

Nice. I noticed my SE Korina Singlecut had that hard edge. Granted, the stock pickups aren't the best but they're not the worst either. I put some Air Classics in which gave it a great airy tone. It sounds ten time better now.

 

[JOLLY]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Damn, it's been six years since those pickups came out? Wow, time flies!!

 

[LtKojak]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

Damn, it's been six years since those pickups came out? Wow, time flies!!

Just wait for the 60th Anniversary ones with even more MOJO!

 

[d1dsj]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

The Modern Eagle I heard you mention is almost overkill, pricewise. A regular McCarty sounds really good. And now better with Seth Lovers.

I only played PRS's with A5's, and never got to hear their Dragon II's at full volume, but I assume they're amongst the best from PRS.

But PRS's really shine with Alnico 2 pickups. If you own one, install some A2 PAF's. It mellows out the hard edge PRS's are known for.

I agree ref the price of the ME hence it probably will never happen. I may just see how things go and get a Mac and get it refinished in faded denim, then will try Seths... will be a while yet though! Lol

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

excellent, joe - glad youre happy with them -

how is the low end clarity under medium gain?

how is the note-to note separation in chords, both clean and with medium gain?

what do you think the change would be putting a set of A2 seths in a 24.5" scale PRS as opposed to the 25" scale mccarty?

i think my prs sc245 needs a little something in those areas ... the stock pickups are really nice for single notes (all gain levels) and rock chords sound good with with all gain levels ... but low notes dont jump out with clarity the way i'd like - a little too flubby and underpowered ...

then again, if i want that, i just plug in the PRS ted DC 245 soapy and i'm set

The guitar is really punchy and sustaining on it's own, so the Seths sort of counteract that in a good way. They're softer on the top and bottom, and really natural sounding in the mids.

If you're wanting a tighter low end, the 59's might be better. I've still got a zebra C5/59 set in my teal black McCarty.

So I'd say the sunburst is totally Allman Bros. type tone, and the teal black is like Alex Lifeson.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

I have the boxes right here...

8..52K/7.48K, A2, and wound by MJ.

Thats sound quite like a Ant Set with full charged A2 mags ....

 

[blueman335]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

I love the seth. The A2 adds a sort of breath to the notes, the highs are still very high definition, and the variety of sounds from raising the pickup or adjusting the pole pieces is just a dynamic as how it responds to the way one plays.

+1. My favorite A2 PU. I put a pair of Seth's in my Santana SE.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: PRS McCarty + Seth Lover = What should have been

I put seth lovers in my friend's chambered les paul studio faded. Its the best sounding vintage-toned guitar i have ever played.