richard parker
Active member
I see a lot of threads of folks looking to replace the pickups on high end PRS guitars. Does anyone actually like PRS pickups or do they just not cut it ?
PRS pickups
- Thread starter richard parker
- Start date
Beerman
New member
Re: PRS pickups
Just my 2 cents....for the money you pay for them, I think the pups should be a little better. I liked them, just didn't love them. I changed the bridge to an SH-11 and it's more of what I want it to sound like. One day I may change the neck but I'm pretty happy with it.
Seems like the only PRS's that come with better pickups are the signature one's. However, I have to say, mine plays so nice, I don't feel bad about having to change the pickup.
Just my 2 cents....for the money you pay for them, I think the pups should be a little better. I liked them, just didn't love them. I changed the bridge to an SH-11 and it's more of what I want it to sound like. One day I may change the neck but I'm pretty happy with it.
Seems like the only PRS's that come with better pickups are the signature one's. However, I have to say, mine plays so nice, I don't feel bad about having to change the pickup.
jmh151
Active member
Re: PRS pickups
I think they make great pickups, it's just we like to customize our guitars to get our personal sound.
PRS pickups are generally meant to be played straight into an amp on clean to medium gain settings . In this context they have a huge variety of tones. Theyre kinda like a Swiss army knife. You can get better sounding pickups, but then you'll lose the variety of tones
I think they make great pickups, it's just we like to customize our guitars to get our personal sound.
PRS pickups are generally meant to be played straight into an amp on clean to medium gain settings . In this context they have a huge variety of tones. Theyre kinda like a Swiss army knife. You can get better sounding pickups, but then you'll lose the variety of tones
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: PRS pickups
I once heard someone say that the older PRS pup designs were released during the "rack era" and that the pups were ideal for heavy processing. I can believe that. In recent years PRS has made great strides to update their pickup line and appeal to vintage lovers too. That said, they still are a little stiff for me.
I once heard someone say that the older PRS pup designs were released during the "rack era" and that the pups were ideal for heavy processing. I can believe that. In recent years PRS has made great strides to update their pickup line and appeal to vintage lovers too. That said, they still are a little stiff for me.
Theycallmetex
New member
Re: PRS pickups
I like the McCartys and the Dragon IIs. HFS, SC245s and SC250s are not my cup of tea. These are the only ones I have experience with.
I like the McCartys and the Dragon IIs. HFS, SC245s and SC250s are not my cup of tea. These are the only ones I have experience with.
C
CountFunkula
Guest
Re: PRS pickups
They are great pickups. Very versatile, but a lot of people find them too versatile - not a very unique sound. Kind of meh, but a great player can put them to good use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW6HY1n1Bwg
Just for the record, Dragon 1 necks are my favorite all time neck pickups.
They are great pickups. Very versatile, but a lot of people find them too versatile - not a very unique sound. Kind of meh, but a great player can put them to good use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW6HY1n1Bwg
Just for the record, Dragon 1 necks are my favorite all time neck pickups.
AudioWonderland
New member
AudioWonderland
New member
Re: PRS pickups
So how do you expect them to produce a pickup that meets everyone's liking? Thats just very unrealistic. Why is this thread directed at just PRS? Gibson and others should be included as well
So how do you expect them to produce a pickup that meets everyone's liking? Thats just very unrealistic. Why is this thread directed at just PRS? Gibson and others should be included as well
Beerman
New member
Re: PRS pickups
I agree, almost any guitar you buy now will have a certain percentage of us saying, "I like it....but". My McCarty is awesome and I could have lived with it just as I purchased it but for what I play, I felt it was a tad weak and I changed 1 pup. I'm a happy PRS'er now!
dr.barlo
New member
Re: PRS pickups
I have a McCarty which I like quite a lot. But the pickups...
Well... They were not bad. But kinda too generic. Were not as clean as the Duncan PAFs in general. I have to add that I played with them over a year. So its not like I replaced them right away...
Now the same guitar sounds excellent with a Brobucker in the bridge and a 8.00K Pearly Gates Bridge pickup in the neck.
B
I have a McCarty which I like quite a lot. But the pickups...
Well... They were not bad. But kinda too generic. Were not as clean as the Duncan PAFs in general. I have to add that I played with them over a year. So its not like I replaced them right away...
Now the same guitar sounds excellent with a Brobucker in the bridge and a 8.00K Pearly Gates Bridge pickup in the neck.
B
Binnerscot
Well-known member
Re: PRS pickups
I kept the HFS and Vintage Bass in my PRS...I like them well enough and they sound good to me.
I have Duncans, EMGs, and DMs in other guitars...I figured I would just let the PRS sound like a PRS.
I kept the HFS and Vintage Bass in my PRS...I like them well enough and they sound good to me.
I have Duncans, EMGs, and DMs in other guitars...I figured I would just let the PRS sound like a PRS.
C
CountFunkula
Guest
Re: PRS pickups
Anybody know why the heck they replaced Dragon Is with Dragon IIs? Dragon Is are absolutely amazing (as I mentioned above), while the Dragon IIs are meh at best.
Anybody know why the heck they replaced Dragon Is with Dragon IIs? Dragon Is are absolutely amazing (as I mentioned above), while the Dragon IIs are meh at best.
J.LaGrassa
New member
Re: PRS pickups
I have a McCarty that I replaced the pups a few times only to put them back, I like the McCarty pickups there warm and fat sounding for a vintage style pickup.
I have a McCarty that I replaced the pups a few times only to put them back, I like the McCarty pickups there warm and fat sounding for a vintage style pickup.
jmh151
Active member
Re: PRS pickups
What convinced me to get my PRS Korina is with the stock pickups, I could go between a Les Paul"ish" to a Tele"Ish" tone- when I was in the market for a Tele- and the PRS played better than both, stayed in tune better, and was easier to play than both. Does it nail both tone? No, but it comes close enough with the stock pickups to make me happy.
Since I've tried numerous pickups in guitars from other manufacturers and have not been able to do this, I'd say for my purpose the stock Mira pickups are great.
What convinced me to get my PRS Korina is with the stock pickups, I could go between a Les Paul"ish" to a Tele"Ish" tone- when I was in the market for a Tele- and the PRS played better than both, stayed in tune better, and was easier to play than both. Does it nail both tone? No, but it comes close enough with the stock pickups to make me happy.
Since I've tried numerous pickups in guitars from other manufacturers and have not been able to do this, I'd say for my purpose the stock Mira pickups are great.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: PRS pickups
You read about people wanting to swap them out because THIS IS A PICKUP SWAPPING FORUM :laughing:
The only people who end up here are people who are into Duncans, which are generally aftermarket pickups.
For every time you read about somebody wanting to swap a CC/59 into their PRS, there could be 200 guys who think their PRS sounds awesome as is and have no need to Google "Seymour Duncan Pickup swap" and end up here.
You read about people wanting to swap them out because THIS IS A PICKUP SWAPPING FORUM :laughing:
The only people who end up here are people who are into Duncans, which are generally aftermarket pickups.
For every time you read about somebody wanting to swap a CC/59 into their PRS, there could be 200 guys who think their PRS sounds awesome as is and have no need to Google "Seymour Duncan Pickup swap" and end up here.
Nagash
New member
Re: PRS pickups
I might disagree... neck pickups sound differently on 22-fret guitars than they do on 24s. Some people absolutely want it to sound 22, even on a 24, therefore they always jerk around that it does not (well, 24s are not 22s). The jerking part was kidding but I think that's more like it.
And to answer the OP : PRS pickups are great, PRS guitars are great, you just gotta like them. Pay the price and enjoy, or stick to Gibson
I might disagree... neck pickups sound differently on 22-fret guitars than they do on 24s. Some people absolutely want it to sound 22, even on a 24, therefore they always jerk around that it does not (well, 24s are not 22s). The jerking part was kidding but I think that's more like it.
And to answer the OP : PRS pickups are great, PRS guitars are great, you just gotta like them. Pay the price and enjoy, or stick to Gibson
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: PRS pickups
A lot of guys here change pickups like a ho changes pimps. It's just what we do.
Personally, I think the whole concept of a "bad" pickup is flawed. Now, it may not sound how YOU want it to...or maybe it isn't the right pup for you in that guitar or that amp.
An exception is epiphany. We generally agree those suck and any change there is usually an improvement. And the 490/498 combo doesn't exactly make sense to most - not that either is a bad pup....
A lot of guys here change pickups like a ho changes pimps. It's just what we do.
Personally, I think the whole concept of a "bad" pickup is flawed. Now, it may not sound how YOU want it to...or maybe it isn't the right pup for you in that guitar or that amp.
An exception is epiphany. We generally agree those suck and any change there is usually an improvement. And the 490/498 combo doesn't exactly make sense to most - not that either is a bad pup....
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