replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

chcjunior

chcjunior

New member
I've got the HFS pair in the Custom 22 and they sound great....but, of course, I'm curious what Duncan's would drop in there well. The HFS sounds (at least to my ears) somewhat compressed. I had a JB/Jazz combo back in the day in a Schecter that sounded really good....and am wondering if that would translate well to the Custom 22 (as they're both super strat'ish, same woods, etc.). I'm looking for a versatile combo that will handle high gain as well as cleans pushed thru my Knucklehead. Thanks!
 
Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

I just got a PRS KL1812- basically a solid korina PRS Standard. It came with the Mira pickups, which are really the best stock pickups I've ever tried.

The reason I mention them is The PRS HFS/ Vintage Bass combo is relatively high output compared to the other PRS pickups. The lower outout Mira(the 245 pickups) are low output and the opposite of compressed, they're very expressive
 
Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

I honestly don't know all the differences of the 22 vs. 24 other than the frets but I have the custom 24 and I changed the bridge to an SH-11 and never looked back. Some pretty major difference. Not too hot but hot enough. At that time, I based my decision on mp3's I heard on line and that's not at all the way to decide. I think I just lucked out.
 
Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

Based on a lot of info I read here, I just replaced the stock Dragon IIS in my Custom 22 trem with a Pearly Gates Neck and Custom 5 bridge. Way, way better than the Dragons. The Duncans are clearer and just more "there" if that makes any sense. They are not compressed sounding AT ALL. Much better woman tone using the PG-n with the tone rolled all the way off. The Dragon II neck went to pure mush when the tone was rolled completely off. Not only do these pickups sound great by themselves, they sound superb when split ( I have the 5-way rotary). Obviously not like a true Strat, but very nice, usable tones. For reference, I play through an older Boogie Mark-III and Suhr Badger 18. The PRS's slightly overdriven tone on the Badger makes me weak in the knees.
Lots of options out there, but these fit the bill for me.
 
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Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

For some reason my Custom 22 came with the HFS instead of the Dragon II's....I'm guessing it had something to do with the fact it has a five way switch in it (like a Strat) instead of the five way knob that's hard to mess with live. As luck would have it, I've got a Custom 5 laying around and can rationalize picking up a PG. Thanks!
 
Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

I'll agree with Custom 5/PGn. Try that first. Before you buy, make sure the PG is 4 lead.
 
Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

chcjunior said:
For some reason my Custom 22 came with the HFS instead of the Dragon II's....I'm guessing it had something to do with the fact it has a five way switch in it (like a Strat) instead of the five way knob that's hard to mess with live. As luck would have it, I've got a Custom 5 laying around and can rationalize picking up a PG. Thanks!
Click to expand...

The HFS/VB combo is not available stock. They would have had to be special ordered with the guitar or installed by a previous owner. I ordered Dragon 1's with one of my Cu22's for example.

As for recommendations, it depends on the wood. I put a CC/A2P set in one Cu22 that was really bright. My other Cu22 has a big ole fat ass on her so that got a 59b/PGn set. I later replaced the 59 with a Brobucker.
 
Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

AudioWonderland said:
The HFS/VB combo is not available stock. They would have had to be special ordered with the guitar or installed by a previous owner. I ordered Dragon 1's with one of my Cu22's for example.

As for recommendations, it depends on the wood. I put a CC/A2P set in one Cu22 that was really bright. My other Cu22 has a big ole fat ass on her so that got a 59b/PGn set. I later replaced the 59 with a Brobucker.
Click to expand...

Magdon Music did indeed order it custom......hence the five way blade switch (i.e. think Stratocaster switching).
 
Re: replacement pups for PRS Custom 22?

I am in the same boat. I have Dragon IIs in my Custom 22 and they seem shrill, bright and thin to my ears. My Dragon pickups in my CE-22 are MUCH better.

I am afraid the C-5 would make the Custom 22 too thin sounding do to the lack of mids in the C -5....so I am going for more thickness with maybe the JB in the bridge.

I thought about going the boutique pickup route but why spend that much? Is there a reason?
 
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