I have a very early PRS (1986) standard (24 frets) and the pups are ceramic & too BRIGHT. I read that PRS in later years changed them (and finally put in a tone pot) but I'm exploring SD options and trying to figure a way to have a tone pot. The guitar I have only has rotary pup selector, volume and "sweet switch",(mini toggle) and I don't want to carve any new holes in the body. I don't think a 5 way mini toggle exists, so that leads me to think about changing the sweet switch to a 3 way mini toggle, and changing the rotary pot to a tone, and maybe some kind of push pull thingy to get split sounds. I'm thinking about the usual 59 neck & JB bridge as replacements but also considering the new P-rails as well. Has anyone out there made similar changes to their PRS. What's the collective wisdom/solution? Thanks for all replies
Seeking PRS options
- Thread starter Mr. Blues
- Start date
tone4days
Heel Whacker
Re: Seeking PRS options
welcome to the forum
what kinds of tones are you looking for? plenty of guys (including our very own host, evan skopp, has some SDs in a killer prs) ... you could go from vintage (set of ants / set of seths) to modern (blackouts) or anywhere in between (custom series, JB/jazz, PGs, etc)
as for your pot situation, would a stacked concentric pot fit in the cavity?
this would give you volume and tone in one drilled hole (no extra drilling) ... be sure it wouldnt stick up too tall in your gutiar case in a way that inhibits closing the lid ... dunno how you'd incorporate the sweet switch ...
alternately, could you convert to mccarty switching without drilling? ... put a 3 way pickup selector instead of the rotary and get rid of the sweet switch and use it for tone control
also, standard warning .. you have a vintage collectible guitar there ... taking it away frmo stock will diminjjish its resale value .. be really sure you want to change this ... or at least keep everything that you take out in a condition that could be reinstalled
good luck
t4d
welcome to the forum
what kinds of tones are you looking for? plenty of guys (including our very own host, evan skopp, has some SDs in a killer prs) ... you could go from vintage (set of ants / set of seths) to modern (blackouts) or anywhere in between (custom series, JB/jazz, PGs, etc)
as for your pot situation, would a stacked concentric pot fit in the cavity?
this would give you volume and tone in one drilled hole (no extra drilling) ... be sure it wouldnt stick up too tall in your gutiar case in a way that inhibits closing the lid ... dunno how you'd incorporate the sweet switch ...
alternately, could you convert to mccarty switching without drilling? ... put a 3 way pickup selector instead of the rotary and get rid of the sweet switch and use it for tone control
also, standard warning .. you have a vintage collectible guitar there ... taking it away frmo stock will diminjjish its resale value .. be really sure you want to change this ... or at least keep everything that you take out in a condition that could be reinstalled
good luck
t4d
Last edited:
YellowDog
New member
Re: Seeking PRS options
+1. I have a PRS Artist One (probably not as old/valuable/collectible as yours, I think), and that rotary switch drove me crazy; it's useless for live work, and positions 2 & 4 (or 7 & 9 or whatever the hell they're referred to as) are hopeless. I told the guy that sold me the guitar that I was thinking of ripping it out & putting in McCarty switching (a huge improvement, btw), and he couldn't believe I was even considering it, telling me I had a "goldmine there" & I shouldn't mess with it. He was a collector, & not much of a player, I think.
If the guitar isn't the way you want it, then it stops being an instrument that you play, & just becomes an ornament (or, at least, it's not fulfilling its considerable potential). Have your cake and eat it - rip out the old parts, but keep them safe should you ever want to sell the guitar on.
With the exception of the McCarty neck pup, I'm not a fan of the PRS pickups that I've tried. There's a huge range of aftermarket pickups out there, and if in doubt, ask on this forum - it's the best one there is. Once you get your new pups, there are people here who can even help you with magnet swapping advice to fine-tune them to your guitar (if needed!).
With a 3-way selector switch and two push-pull pots, you could install ArtieToo's Coil Swap & Split (do a search if you're not familiar with it - it's the best mod for any HH guitar IMO).
And with that, you'd have a whole new guitar, one that was a pleasure to play, and all accomplished with no drilling or irreperable alterations of any kind. Just keep all those old parts, just in case...
Welcome to the forum.
+1. I have a PRS Artist One (probably not as old/valuable/collectible as yours, I think), and that rotary switch drove me crazy; it's useless for live work, and positions 2 & 4 (or 7 & 9 or whatever the hell they're referred to as) are hopeless. I told the guy that sold me the guitar that I was thinking of ripping it out & putting in McCarty switching (a huge improvement, btw), and he couldn't believe I was even considering it, telling me I had a "goldmine there" & I shouldn't mess with it. He was a collector, & not much of a player, I think.
If the guitar isn't the way you want it, then it stops being an instrument that you play, & just becomes an ornament (or, at least, it's not fulfilling its considerable potential). Have your cake and eat it - rip out the old parts, but keep them safe should you ever want to sell the guitar on.
With the exception of the McCarty neck pup, I'm not a fan of the PRS pickups that I've tried. There's a huge range of aftermarket pickups out there, and if in doubt, ask on this forum - it's the best one there is. Once you get your new pups, there are people here who can even help you with magnet swapping advice to fine-tune them to your guitar (if needed!).
With a 3-way selector switch and two push-pull pots, you could install ArtieToo's Coil Swap & Split (do a search if you're not familiar with it - it's the best mod for any HH guitar IMO).
And with that, you'd have a whole new guitar, one that was a pleasure to play, and all accomplished with no drilling or irreperable alterations of any kind. Just keep all those old parts, just in case...
Welcome to the forum.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Seeking PRS options
You know, there's a lot of advocates of magnet swapping on this forum (I'm one of them). I don't like ceramics in most PU's, for their bright, harsh sound. You need to get alnicos in there if you want more color & warmth. Very easy & inexpensive to do, and only takes minutes. An example of how much magnets change tones is Duncan's: Custom (ceramic), Custom 5 (alnico 5), and Custom Custom (alnico 2); all are the same except for the magnets. You can do the same yourself. Hang onto your cash and don't buy PU's when you don't need to. You may not like them any better than what you have now.
You know, there's a lot of advocates of magnet swapping on this forum (I'm one of them). I don't like ceramics in most PU's, for their bright, harsh sound. You need to get alnicos in there if you want more color & warmth. Very easy & inexpensive to do, and only takes minutes. An example of how much magnets change tones is Duncan's: Custom (ceramic), Custom 5 (alnico 5), and Custom Custom (alnico 2); all are the same except for the magnets. You can do the same yourself. Hang onto your cash and don't buy PU's when you don't need to. You may not like them any better than what you have now.
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: Seeking PRS options
Never had a PRS, but that rotary switch seemed to be a source of confusion under stage conditions. With push-pulls and mini-toggles, you can glance & see what's on or not.
Never had a PRS, but that rotary switch seemed to be a source of confusion under stage conditions. With push-pulls and mini-toggles, you can glance & see what's on or not.
veryhungrycaterpilla
New member
Re: Seeking PRS options
I'd keep the (collectible) PRS stock and buy another guitar and experiment with pups with that axe.
I'd keep the (collectible) PRS stock and buy another guitar and experiment with pups with that axe.
Luke Duke
PRSlustologist
Re: Seeking PRS options
Great post!
I've got a CU24 and I tried and tried to make the 5 way work for about 6 months....I finally got fed up and drilled out the hole and put in a normal 3 way toggle. Wow...I end up with THREE useable positions instead of 2 useable positions and 3 gee wow positions.
I really like an Alnico 2 bridge pup in the neck slot like a 59B with A2, A2Pb or a PGb. Then in the bridge go with whatever floats your boat...Custom Custom, JB, C5, etc. I've got a 78 in mine and dig it.
Luke
Great post!
I've got a CU24 and I tried and tried to make the 5 way work for about 6 months....I finally got fed up and drilled out the hole and put in a normal 3 way toggle. Wow...I end up with THREE useable positions instead of 2 useable positions and 3 gee wow positions.
I really like an Alnico 2 bridge pup in the neck slot like a 59B with A2, A2Pb or a PGb. Then in the bridge go with whatever floats your boat...Custom Custom, JB, C5, etc. I've got a 78 in mine and dig it.
Luke
Karn Evil 9
New member
Re: Seeking PRS options
An easy way to get around the trickiness of the 5way is just to change the sort of knob on it; whack on something knurled and with little markers and you're away!
An easy way to get around the trickiness of the 5way is just to change the sort of knob on it; whack on something knurled and with little markers and you're away!
Re: Seeking PRS options
I did the 3 way plus Push Pull for Series Parallel on the Neck and another with split for BOTH.
I have tried a few pups and liked the Dimarzio VPAF with a Hotter Bridge. I also LOVE the APH1/PG. Two PGs is nice as well. The CC is mudd but works there. I have heard the EVH is good too. The 59 doesn't twang well in this guitar, but the 59/JB works!
I did the 3 way plus Push Pull for Series Parallel on the Neck and another with split for BOTH.
I have tried a few pups and liked the Dimarzio VPAF with a Hotter Bridge. I also LOVE the APH1/PG. Two PGs is nice as well. The CC is mudd but works there. I have heard the EVH is good too. The 59 doesn't twang well in this guitar, but the 59/JB works!
Re: Seeking PRS options
Thanks for your reply...never seen those concentrics B4 (where do I get them? Stew Mac?)...they look too large for the mini toggle cavity...do you think one would fit in the volume cavity?... as for mcarty switching do you mean a 3 way toggle switch or 3 way rotary (is there such a thing?) I definitely do not want to drill but rather keep it as stock looking as possible. I've noted a suggestion to change magnets instead of the whole pick up. Is there a quick link that explains how this is done? I've changed pups B4 but doing a mag swap sounds scary with all those fine wire windings close by. Thanks again.
Thanks for your reply...never seen those concentrics B4 (where do I get them? Stew Mac?)...they look too large for the mini toggle cavity...do you think one would fit in the volume cavity?... as for mcarty switching do you mean a 3 way toggle switch or 3 way rotary (is there such a thing?) I definitely do not want to drill but rather keep it as stock looking as possible. I've noted a suggestion to change magnets instead of the whole pick up. Is there a quick link that explains how this is done? I've changed pups B4 but doing a mag swap sounds scary with all those fine wire windings close by. Thanks again.
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