PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

M

MattBlue

New member
Hey guys!

I joined this forum because I have certain questions about Seymour Duncan PU's.
I want to replace the stock PU's in my PRS Vela with 'better' sounding alternatives. I don't want to change the routing of the guitar fore doing this.
I thought about the following two options, aiming for a warm and sweet 'vintage'-sound:
- For the neck position I would like to go with the Seymour Duncan SM-1 Mini Humbucker.
- For the bridge position I was thinking of the eymour Duncan APH-1 Humbucker.

Now , since I've never changed the PU's in any guitar yet, my questions are:
- Is it sure that for installing these there is no routing required?
- Do those two PU's 'match'?
- How concerned should I be about string spacing?
- Is the mini humbucker in the neck position going to sound way different than the stock (or any) single coil? I would like to keep some single coil charm, but without the annoying hum... furthermore the stock PU has several other weaknesses to it, in my opinion.
- Is the APH-1 going to sound less agressive and sharp than the stock PU (or any average humbucker in bridge position)? I am looking for something that sounds less 'metallic' but more mellow.

Any kind of information is very much appreciated :)
And sorry for my English - I am not a native speaker.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

They will fit. The APH-1 has that mellowness you are looking for, but I cannot speak for the mini humbucker as I have never tried one. Personally I think you should try to maintain the aesthetic of the Vela's pickups. I think they look cool.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

Welcome to the forum!

That is a cool guitar. The pickups are an interesting combo...that neck pickup in the Vela is a single coil, so I am not sure if it is a standard size (mini humbucker). This is the size of SD's SM-1 (in inches), so just measure what is in there.
As far as the 2 pickups sounding good together, sure! The APH-1 will be a little mellower, but that isn't a bad thing...the bridge position will bring out more treble. And volume-wise, they should be fine. The string spacing on the APH-1 is 49 mm.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

The Vela uses a mini humbucker sized route in the neck.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

Thanks to the two of you, for your kind replies!

Mincer said:
... The string spacing on the APH-1 is 49 mm.
Click to expand...

Hum, that could be a problem. I don't know if I did it right, but if I measure the distance between the first and the sixth string, right where the polepieces of the currently installed humbucker are, it results 52mm. So 49mm would be very narrow, right?
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

The SM-1n is a GREAT pickup, yes it will still have some single coil character to it but a bit fuller sounding.

You want to get a trembucker/TB spaced version of the bridge pickup, the one you would be looking for is the TB-APH1.

I think that'll be an interesting pickup set in the Vela and the Duncan pickups will be a huge improvement in tone over the stock PRS S2 pickups.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

The only other thing to note is that the Vela is wired for split, so you’ll want to get a 4-conductor version of the bridge humbucker.

I have to say res nothing I’d change from stock on my Vela - it’s a quite lovely guitar for what I do!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

Wattage said:
The SM-1n is a GREAT pickup, yes it will still have some single coil character to it but a bit fuller sounding.

You want to get a trembucker/TB spaced version of the bridge pickup, the one you would be looking for is the TB-APH1.

I think that'll be an interesting pickup set in the Vela and the Duncan pickups will be a huge improvement in tone over the stock PRS S2 pickups.
Click to expand...

:)
Hey! Thanks for your input! First I was like: What does that mean - trembucker? Then I read this: https://www.seymourduncan.com/faqs/what-does-trembucker-mean-and-how-is-it-different-from-humbucker
However: I don't really get why the string spacing is so wide at this guitar - it actually has a fairly narrow nut width and no Tremolo...


@VinceT About the split I have another question: If I do get the humbucker in a 4-conductor version, what about the volume? Does it change when being splitted or does it stay the same?
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

MattBlue said:
:)
Hey! Thanks for your input! First I was like: What does that mean - trembucker? Then I read this: https://www.seymourduncan.com/faqs/what-does-trembucker-mean-and-how-is-it-different-from-humbucker
However: I don't really get why the string spacing is so wide at this guitar - it actually has a fairly narrow nut width and no Tremolo...


@VinceT About the split I have another question: If I do get the humbucker in a 4-conductor version, what about the volume? Does it change when being splitted or does it stay the same?
Click to expand...

It’ll sound weaker split. Weaker in parallel too. Best tone is the stock series tone.

A Trembucker is about 1/8” wider than a regular Duncan humbucker and won’t fit in most pickguards cut for regular humbucker. The ht. adjustment screws won’t line up either.

They can be a real hassle to install so I’d avoid a Trembucker.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

Lewguitar said:
It’ll sound weaker split. Weaker in parallel too. Best tone is the stock series tone.

A Trembucker is about 1/8” wider than a regular Duncan humbucker and won’t fit in most pickguards cut for regular humbucker. The ht. adjustment screws won’t line up either.

They can be a real hassle to install so I’d avoid a Trembucker.
Click to expand...

Is it for sure wider? The article I posted above says the opposite... it says they are completely same but the spacing between the polepieces.

However... what would you do if you were in my shoes? Keep the stock bridge humbucker? I can live with that one, it's actually too harsh sounding to my ears but it is at least possible to tame it a bit with the tone knob... but the Neck PU has to go. Would the SM-1n in neck position work with the stock bridge PU?
 
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Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

The opening in the guard should be 2.75", the trembuckers are 2.78" at the widest part of the coils. It depends on how much effort you want to put into making the change over.

You can use a regular spaced humbucker, it will be slightly off, I have never had it be a problem but I can't speak for everyone. I have a regular spaced humbucker in my S2 Mira and it works fine.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

A trembucker or a standard spaced bridge humbucker will work. It is only a matter of 3.8mm, 1.8mm on each side of the humbucker. Just decide which one will line up best with your strings and fit.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

The adjustment screws will not line up. Plus there are three holes on each foot and not all are tapped.

The reason a Trembucker comes with its own custom mounting ring is because it is wider than a normal humbucker.

I’ve had the experience of trying to fit one in a Fender Strat pickguard cut for a bridge humbucker. It was a real PITA.

Had to enlarge the hole on both sides and could not use the original holes for the adjustment screws. Had to drill two more holes and that looked sloppy. And I hate my guitars to look sloppy.

This was a few years ago, but I haven’t read that Duncan has changed the design of the Trembucker. Maybe they have...but the last one I bought one two install in a SSH Strat, about two years ago, the Trembucker hadn’t changed at all.

This time I knew what to expect though so I ordered a Strat pickguard cut for a Trembucker but they wouldn’t drill the adjustment screw holes. I had to do it myself.

I think the Trembucker is a great idea and I like that polepieces line up under the strings...but you can definitely run into complications installing one.
 
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Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

Hum... about fitting it in - does it maybe make a difference if the Trembucker has the nicke plated cover on it or not?

I think it would totally bug me if the strings would not line up perfectly in the middle of the pole pieces - even if it would not make a difference in sound, already the look would be disturbing for me... :15:
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

If I were you I’d measure the outside of the existing pickup. Be very exact. And see if it’s specifications match a regular humbucker or if it’s wider like a Trembucker.

Maybe call Duncan and discuss your findings with someone...if you can get someone on the phone.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

MattBlue said:
Is it for sure wider? The article I posted above says the opposite... it says they are completely same but the spacing between the polepieces.

However... what would you do if you were in my shoes? Keep the stock bridge humbucker? I can live with that one, it's actually too harsh sounding to my ears but it is at least possible to tame it a bit with the tone knob... but the Neck PU has to go. Would the SM-1n in neck position work with the stock bridge PU?
Click to expand...

Matt - next time I’m in the studio, I’ll measure my Vela and the trembucker (59/Custom)I have in another T-type guitar. Will report back.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

I don't want to be rude on the Seymour Duncan forum, but I do not get that "trembucker" thing AT ALL.
Dimarzio F-spaced humbuckers interchange perfectly with "standard" spaced humbuckers, why can't Duncan do the same?

Perhaps someone more familiar with both companies' offerings than myself can recommend a Dimarzio bridge humbucker that would be similar to what the OP wants and that would pair well with the SD mini? No cutting, filing, or drilling required and the poles align nicely with the strings.
 
Re: PRS Vela - do you think these changes will work?

Sort of off topic, but not really. I never would haven known that the OP wasn't a native English speaker. Very nice work.
 
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