Prs sc250: A2p + ?

[taxi]

So, I picked up an SC250 that happened to have an A2P at the neck. A little woofy in the bottom end but overall not bad (I might have put a Jazz or PAFP there personally). The stock bridge pickup is a sledghammer (14.4k, big ceramic magnet, very modern and mid-heavy). I wanted something at the bridge hotter than the A2P but with more sparkle than the stock PUP. My guitar tech had a used screamin' demon laying around that he sold me reasonably so I tried that. A little too sparkly. I think this guitar is pretty ringy due to the 25" scale and chambers. I think I need something a little warmer with more mids and I definitely need some bottom to compensate for the lows of the A2P. Somewhere in between the stock (which is probably similar to a DD) and the Demon. I'm thinking maybe a custom or even a JB. I haven't used a JB for many years. I remember loving it in an 80's Kramer but that was a long time ago. Not sure if it would work in such a jangly guitar but folks do seem to like them in LP's and I think it would have more mids than the Lynch. But there are those who think it's brittle on top. I don't need super hot, just hotter than the A2P. Any thoughts? :arms:

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Prs sc250: A2p + ?

I would look into the Alnico II Pro Slash bridge pickup if you don't need super high output, maybe the Custom 5 if you need more power.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Prs sc250: A2p + ?

Its a tough guitar to get "right" IMO- the bridge is real bright and the neck is real dark. They have a ton of clarity, with big bass response.

I had the stock pickups in mine, a covered Custom5/59, and finally a Dragon II (b) and McCarty neck-

For neck pickups, I actually think the stock 250 was best-alnico5 about 8K. The 59 was all bass and just bland as bland could be. The mcCarty was more 3D/alive, but was also way too muddy (looking back I see why it was bad choice for me to try to begin with)

The bridge was just as picky- the stocker had wayyy too much grind for me- I like crunchy pickups, but I did not care for that one (its the same as Tremonti pickup from my understanding). The C5 was pretty good- bright and kinda thin on the high strings, but had "enough" mids-did not sound scooped. Bass was not overbearing. The Dragon II warmed it up, and had more crunchy mids, but the high strings were still a bit thin and raspy. I could never get the higher strings meaty enough for my tastes.

If I had to do it over again , I actually think a Super Distortion in the bridge would have been perfect- something thick with plenty of mids and not a whole lot of treble (and slightly compressed top end). In stock Duncans I'd likely try a custom custom if you don't need the super tight bass/chugga, but the custom 8 sounds like it would be perfect for an SC250. The neck, I'd probably go with a Jazz bridge model- something more evenly eq'ed with a bit of clarity. maybe a pearly gates- but it might get pretty muddy on the low end as well- worth a try though..

Good luck!

 

[taxi]

Re: Prs sc250: A2p + ?

The stock bridge pickup actually sounded good in high-gain modes, very focused and liquid. I miss it sometimes when soloing. But when I switched to clean sounds or more dynamic crunchy sounds, it was so much louder than my other guitars that all my balance was lost between patches (I use a fractal axe-fx and switch sounds a lot mid song). Most of my other guitars have medium-output PUPs (McCarty, LP, Grosh with Kinman Woodstocks, McInturff, ....) I like McCartys but the McCarty neck PUP is a little woofy even in a McCarty so I can see that it wouldn't have been ideal in the SC which seems to have less mids but maybe more bottom. The McCarty bridge PUP sounds great in a McCarty and just as good in a les paul but I don't know if I'd try it in this.

I agree the stock neck PUP might have been nice, I didn't get it with the guitar so I dont' know. But I suspect it's very similar to a Jazz.

I think I might try dropping an A8 magnet into the screamin' demon, for eight bucks it's worth a shot. Hopefully it will keep some of the sparkle and articulation, which I like, but give it some more mids and bottom.