Too many choices?

I

Iceman63

New member
Hello all,
I'm getting ready to pick up a PRS SE Custom semi hollow. To my understanding, the stock pups are basically vintage PAF voiced. I'm going to give them a chance; however, I've heard many players change the pups on the SE's. So, just in case I end up doing so, I'd like to get an idea of what I'd put in it. I play many styles of music these days, from cleans to blues, pop, classic rock, and heavy rock. I would'nt be using it for metal. I have other guitars for that. I'd like to stay close to a PAF/vintage type voicing. I'm almost overwhelmed by all the pickup choices. I have had the SD JB/Jazz and JB/59 combo in past guitars. I had a SD Custom in the bridge of an old SG and liked it fine. Otherwise, I've not tried any of the other SD's or DMZ's.
Right now I'm considering the following choices:
SD
59's (both)
Jazz (both)
59n/Custom bridge
Seth Lover's....though in a semi, being unpotted, I don't know if they'd feedback too much. I do use some fairly high gain.

DMZ
Air Classics
PAF 36th Anniversary
PAF PRO

I like nice note separation for distorted chording/riffs. For single note/soloing I like a nice, percussive attack, singing tone w/ nice sustain.

Sorry so long.
Thanks guys and gals.
 
Re: Too many choices?

If you're wanting a PAF vibe, a pair of '59's (sharper) or a pair of PG's (bright but wide sound) are very popular here. Some of us prefer them with 250K's on the bridge (500K on the neck), to shave off some treble. The Jazz set has fans, but some guys think they're kind of bland and lack the color and character of a PAF.

If you want a bridge PU with more muscle, a C5 or C8 work well in mahogany. I have a C8/'59N pair in an Epi Sheraton 335 (semi hollow), that sound very good. As a blues/classic rock player, I don't like the sound of ceramics. If you want 'PAF/vintage voicing', you don't want a ceramic either.
 
Re: Too many choices?

I have an SE 25th Anniversary Custom 24; mahogany body and neck w/ maple laminate top. I play similar music as you but wanted this guitar to be a little hotter; cleans, bluesy, classic and heavy rock. I put a Custom Custom in the bridge with an Alnico II Pro in the neck and have no interest in changing them.......yet.

From what you said, I'd think the '59 or Custom 5 in the bridge with either a PG or A2P neck.
 
Re: Too many choices?

Iceman63 said:
Hello all,
I'm getting ready to pick up a PRS SE Custom semi hollow. To my understanding, the stock pups are basically vintage PAF voiced. I'm going to give them a chance; however, I've heard many players change the pups on the SE's. So, just in case I end up doing so, I'd like to get an idea of what I'd put in it. I play many styles of music these days, from cleans to blues, pop, classic rock, and heavy rock. I would'nt be using it for metal. I have other guitars for that. I'd like to stay close to a PAF/vintage type voicing. I'm almost overwhelmed by all the pickup choices. I have had the SD JB/Jazz and JB/59 combo in past guitars. I had a SD Custom in the bridge of an old SG and liked it fine. Otherwise, I've not tried any of the other SD's or DMZ's.
Right now I'm considering the following choices:
SD
59's (both)
Jazz (both)
59n/Custom bridge
Seth Lover's....though in a semi, being unpotted, I don't know if they'd feedback too much. I do use some fairly high gain.

DMZ
Air Classics
PAF 36th Anniversary
PAF PRO

I like nice note separation for distorted chording/riffs. For single note/soloing I like a nice, percussive attack, singing tone w/ nice sustain.

Sorry so long.
Thanks guys and gals.
Click to expand...

What you want is a Pearly Gates set.

Don't forget to change pots and caps... those are REALLY *not* top notch...
 
Re: Too many choices?

Thanks guys. Lot's of opinions. I'm thinking maybe the PG"S, or PGb/AP2 or 59n. I just read another thread on the DMZ 36th anniv PAF's, and may consider those. From what I heard on SD's website from the soundclips, the Custom 5 is a bit dark....or maybe I'm thinking of the custom custom...can't remember now.
I may change electrics as well. Any pot suggs? It's a single vol/single tone setup. I'm thinking it's 500k pots.
Are the RS kits any good?
 
Re: Too many choices?

PAF PRO for note seperation and percussive single note leads. One of my fav dimarzio's! Really cool PU.
 
Re: Too many choices?

Iceman63 said:
From what I heard on SD's website from the soundclips, the Custom 5 is a bit dark....or maybe I'm thinking of the custom custom...can't remember now.
Click to expand...

CC (A2) is dark; the C5 (A5) is bright and scooped. The C8 is somewhere in between them.
 
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