which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

[Golem]

You think this would be super easy to figure out. The guitars top is flat but I realized when at the store the other day that most flat-top guitars don't have angled pickup rings and most arched tops (e.g., epi dot) have ones at an angle like my PRS SE. I am starting to worried I ordered the wrong pickup rings (flat-top) or that even if technically I need flat rings that it will look weird because it is not tapered the way mine are.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

all triple shots are flat on the top. the only difference between the two is the curved or flat bottom. you need the flat ones.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

Hi Golem, I absolutely understand your concern. Unfortunately, triple shots do not come angled, unless you get the arched ones. It is very common to have a guitar with a tune-o-matic bridge (schecters, esps, washburns, prs, etc) that have flat bottom, yet angled pickup rings. I have put triple shots in two guitars and tried both flat and arched.

1.) Flat Triple Shots - they are not angled so you pickup is not exactly parallel with the strings. This could be remedied with a little foam or something in the cavity to nudge the pickup to the correct angle. Or, you could just leave it because the angle does not make a huge difference in tone if you ask me. These rings are very thin.

2.) Carved Triple Shots - These will have the angle that you want, but leave a big arch gap between the wood and the pickup ring. That is exactly how my schecter is set up and the gap doesn't bother me. If it did, it would be pretty easy to sand down the pickup ring to remove the gap I imagine.

So, you have got the flat ones for you PRS and they should work fine. If you really want angled ones because they thicker and look better you can exchange for some. I'll try to find some pics of my angled rings so you can see how that looks.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

The carved triple shots are in my schecter in this pic. As you can see, no one would ever know there is a gap, except the person playing the guitar. I much prefer the carved ones in this guitar because they are nice and thick and angled of course.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

Here is a pic of the carved triple shot against a desk. You can see exactly what the gap would look like.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

Keep in mind, curved Les paul stle pickup rings are significantly wider than flat rings with different screw holes. Also, NOT being angled made my pickups even with the strings.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

I totally agree with Franknfilms, you'll never notice the gap in the carved top TS rings when installed on a flat top guitar (like your SE). And if it does bother you, you can easily sand the bottom of the TS to make it flat.

I've installed TS rings on several carved top LPs and Schecters, and flat top SGs and and Wilshires. The curved TS works on all of them, plus they are angled so the top of the pup lines up better with the strings.

 

[Franknfilms]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

Keep in mind, curved Les paul stle pickup rings are significantly wider than flat rings with different screw holes.

Interesting point. My carved triple shots lined up just fine with my schecter, the flat triple shots were not a great fit for my washburn, but I was still able to make them work without drilling new holes. It is hard to say exactly what the issue was, they are different guitars afterall. It would definitely be a good idea to confirm whether or not the holes are measured differently in flat vs carved from Duncan, I would call them.

If I had a prs I wouldn't hesitate to get the carved ones. Lay out some sand paper and work them down flat before you install them. It's not so much the angles that concern me as the overall thickness. The flat rings are just really thin a not a good match for some guitars.

 

[Golem]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

Ooh. This sound like it is going to be more work than I originally intended but I appreciate the advice I have received from y'all. I already ordered the flats. I might consider getting the guitar store to order the arched but if it is going to take a few weeks trying the foam might be a better method.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

i recently tried to put a flat triple shot on an epiphone les paul. the pickup routing hole was wider than the ring.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: which triple shot (flat or arched) for my PRS SE?

Another reason you don't want to use the flat TS. Use the carved one.