Sqaubins. Would PRS ever allow SD to make custom shop Duncans with the PRS look?

[Binnerscot]

I like the HFS/VB, I like the \M/ metal pickups.... but when I go back and forth between two guitars, one HFS and one SD Custom, I prefer the SD. They nearly sound the the same, but one is telling you what it thinks you should hear the other is alive and telling you the truth.

It would be pretty cool if PRS would let SD do the squaubins to look like stock PRS.

PRS isn't bad, I like the models I mentioned, but they're 95% of similar models from SD. The Custom, Distortion, etc are far more responsive and really show you how bad you actually play, no hiding.... and I love that.

 

[beaubrummels]

I believe you can take another vendors pickup and send it to Seymour Duncan as a repair and they can wind what you want on the bobbins as the repair.

 

[Binnerscot]

I believe you can take another vendors pickup and send it to Seymour Duncan as a repair and they can wind what you want on the bobbins as the repair.

Frankly, I don't know why PRS doesn't just call Seymour himself and work something out. So many others walked away from their own pickups and put SDs in these days.

 

[Chistopher]

PRS is built upon the idea of doing everything their own way and in house.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Frankly, I don't know why PRS doesn't just call Seymour himself and work something out. So many others walked away from their own pickups and put SDs in these days.

Everyone has their taste. I haven't tried a lot of PRS pickups, but I'm sure some people go nuts over them and prefer them over the Seymours that we like.

 

[Mincer]

I suppose if a big enough artist specified SDs in their signature PRS model, they'd do it. But as far as SD making a pickup like PRS design, I bet the design is protected IP. And I am not sure if SD still offers rewinding services of other pickups.

 

[Binnerscot]

I suppose if a big enough artist specified SDs in their signature PRS model, they'd do it. But as far as SD making a pickup like PRS design, I bet the design is protected IP. And I am not sure if SD still offers rewinding services of other pickups.

I think they just did a core PRS signature model, the artist has his signature SDs in it. Mark Holcomb I believe?

 

[Binnerscot]

Everyone has their taste. I haven't tried a lot of PRS pickups, but I'm sure some people go nuts over them and prefer them over the Seymours that we like.

I've been through a handful over the years, the HFS/VB combo and Metal pickups are decent enough. The other models reminded me of the 80s when it was given that you were gonna swap pups for aftermarket things you liked.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I've been through a handful over the years, the HFS/VB combo and Metal pickups are decent enough. The other models reminded me of the 80s when it was given that you were gonna swap pups for aftermarket things you liked.

I've wanted to try the Tremonti Treble for a while. That one seems cool. But the price has stopped me. Well, that, and Creed, LOL. But that one seems like something I'd like.

Would I like it better than a Duncan Black Winter or a Gibson 500T, though? Who knows.

 

[Solarflares]

PRS isn't bad, I like the models I mentioned, but they're 95% of similar models from SD. The Custom, Distortion, etc are far more responsive and really show you how bad you actually play, no hiding.... and I love that.

I find all PRS products to be a bit ‘generic’ - with no real identity of their own.
A bit like Friedman.
Having the guts to produce something with it’s own character, is what players look for.

 

[Bill Dennis]

I like the HFS/VB, I like the \M/ metal pickups.... but when I go back and forth between two guitars, one HFS and one SD Custom, I prefer the SD. They nearly sound the the same, but one is telling you what it thinks you should hear the other is alive and telling you the truth.

It would be pretty cool if PRS would let SD do the squaubins to look like stock PRS.

PRS isn't bad, I like the models I mentioned, but they're 95% of similar models from SD. The Custom, Distortion, etc are far more responsive and really show you how bad you actually play, no hiding.... and I love that.

Even if they let them, I doubt Duncan is interested in paying for all of the tooling they would need to make those...

 

[Binnerscot]

Even if they let them, I doubt Duncan is interested in paying for all of the tooling they would need to make those...

Good point, just wishful thinking out loud for something that is completely irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Butch Snyder]

PRS is built upon the idea of doing everything their own way and in house.

^^^This^^^

Paul is a combination creator/inventor/business man. I saw him give a demo on pickup technology to Rick Beato. Most of the time, I was shaking my head because he just wasn't portraying the technology and practices correctly. In the past, I would've been very surprised if he would allow even for his highest grossing artist to say, "Paul, can we put a set of yyy pickups in my signature guitar?" Then PRS made the Herman Li model. It has a complete Fishman Fluence system.

 

[Binnerscot]

^^^This^^^

Paul is a combination creator/inventor/business man. I saw him give a demo on pickup technology to Rick Beato. Most of the time, I was shaking my head because he just wasn't portraying the technology and practices correctly. In the past, I would've been very surprised if he would allow even for his highest grossing artist to say, "Paul, can we put a set of yyy pickups in my signature guitar?" Then PRS made the Herman Li model. It has a complete Fishman Fluence system.

Agreed.... though I'd ask myself, why re-invent the wheel when someone else has done "a thing" better than anyone else, at scale, cost effectively, and partnered with others to provide that "thing". But, that's my LLC side speaking.

 

[jeremy]

i think prs is like gibson, they will push really hard for you to use their stuff, but if you need your signature pups or whatever in there, they will relent rather than not make the deal with a big enough artist

 

[GilmourD]

I suppose if a big enough artist specified SDs in their signature PRS model, they'd do it. But as far as SD making a pickup like PRS design, I bet the design is protected IP. And I am not sure if SD still offers rewinding services of other pickups.

I'm literally holding my PRS SE Mark Holcomb with the factory-installed Seymour Duncan Scarlet/Scourge set as I type this. The older model has the Alpha/Omega set.

That said, I think Bare Knuckle also makes square bobbin 'buckers.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

That said, I think Bare Knuckle also makes square bobbin 'buckers.

I think they only make those for those pickups that have twin rail bobbins like the misfortunately named Black Cock (LOL).

On that topic, the Duncan Parallel Axes are also suare-ish.

 

[Sam SG]

I believe you can take another vendors pickup and send it to Seymour Duncan as a repair and they can wind what you want on the bobbins as the repair.

Was gonna kinda suggest the same. Have SD rewind the prs bobbins

 

[AdrianSD]

Maybe it's got something to do with the fact that aftermarket PRS pickups are more expensive than the "equivalent" middle-of-the-road Duncans or Dimarzios?

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Yeah, but a big part of why PRS pickups are more expensive than Duncan or DiMarzio is only because they make a lot less, and a lot of parts they use to make them (like the square bobbins) are unique to them.

With how little (comparatively) they make, it's no surprise their cost of production is higher.

I truly don't think they are "better" pickups than either Duncan or DiMarzio. Probably not worse either. But it's also on-brand for them to be expensive and exclusive.