Wrong choice of pickups?

[erpece]

I just received a new custom made guitar with Seymour Duncan pups and I am not happy with the sound. My guitar is a PRS model: mahogany body with maple top, maple neck with ebony board, Ibanez Lo-Pro trem bridge. Pup setup is hum-sing-sing.

Current SD pups are a Pearly Gates (bridge) and 2 Duckbuckers. I find the overall sound too bright. I own Tele's and Strats and I am looking for an allround sound (I play pop and classic/modern rock). I was aiming for a cross-over between a Strat and a Gibson SG. I realize that it's impossible to put 2 guitars in 1, but I am sure that another set of pups will get me closer.

Please advise.

Thanks in advance, Robert.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

I'd suggest a Custom Custom for that guitar. You have a lot of maple and ebony happening there and the CC should warm it up a bit.

The Vintage Rails are great sounding hum free Start replacement pickups but they are a little bright (as are all Strat singles for the most part) and they lack the output that I like. I'd suggest a Hot Stack in the middle and a lil59 in the neck.

The CC/HoT Stack/lil59 will get you about as close to at SG/Strat hybrid as you will get. Adding a push/pull pot so you can combine the lil59 with the CC is another nice touch.

 

[SirZeusor]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

im with robert on this one...custom custom

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

A CC will give you more mids, with less high end, and less bass. Of the high output pups it's your best bet.Sticking with PAF's I'd go with an A2P if the PG is too bright. I just have to

I have to ask though, are you sure all the wires are connected correctly? Maybe someone accidentally wired it in parallel? The PG should be pretty thick.

For the neck and middle hot stacks for less treble and no hum. For genuine singles I'd go with 2 APS' I love mine they have a smoother top end and a round bottom end.

Luke

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

Yes, I'd also start with either a CC at the bridge or an APH. As for the singles, the APS (Alinco Pro Singles) should be the warmest of the bunch. You can get the flat pole pieces as opposed to the vintage staggered, and that will add a touch more warmth as well.

 

[MattPete]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

I just received a new custom made guitar with Seymour Duncan pups and I am not happy with the sound. My guitar is a PRS model: mahogany body with maple top, maple neck with ebony board, Ibanez Lo-Pro trem bridge. Pup setup is hum-sing-sing.

Current SD pups are a Pearly Gates (bridge) and 2 Duckbuckers. I find the overall sound too bright. I own Tele's and Strats and I am looking for an allround sound (I play pop and classic/modern rock). I was aiming for a cross-over between a Strat and a Gibson SG. I realize that it's impossible to put 2 guitars in 1, but I am sure that another set of pups will get me closer.

Please advise.

Thanks in advance, Robert.

You've got a guitar design that leans towards the bright side (maple cap = bright, ebony fingerboard = bright, Floyd =...not bright, but less bass). The PG bridge tends to be on the bright side.

I think the CC, Custom, Blues Trembucker, or Seth Lover would work better.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

I'd suggest a Custom Custom for that guitar. You have a lot of maple and ebony happening there and the CC should warm it up a bit.

The Vintage Rails are great sounding hum free Start replacement pickups but they are a little bright (as are all Strat singles for the most part) and they lack the output that I like. I'd suggest a Hot Stack in the middle and a lil59 in the neck.

The CC/HoT Stack/lil59 will get you about as close to at SG/Strat hybrid as you will get. Adding a push/pull pot so you can combine the lil59 with the CC is another nice touch.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[erpece]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

Thanks, you guys - I really appreciate your help. I've been doing a bit of research based on your suggestions and I think I should be going for a Custom Custom and 2 Hot Stacks. While we're at it I have a few final questions (please bear with me... )

1. Since both the CC and the APH-1 use Alnico 2 magnets, is the main difference that the CC has more output level (but a similar sound)? The CC seems to be slightly hotter than the PG and APH-1 and I need a balanced volume with the Hot Stacks.

2. When you say the CC has less bass, will it do a convincing job playing modern rock? We play this stuff occasionally, it's not the main thing (mostly pop and classic rock).

3. I came across an SD hummer pup called the EVH on the internet. Can't find it on the SD website though. Would you say that this one could also be a candidate to replace the PG?

Thanks again,
Robert

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

The Blues Trembucker could also be right up your alley, very "PAFish" tone but mildly dark, designed specifically for locking trems......

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

You have a PRS with an Ibanez LoPro trem?

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

Thanks, you guys - I really appreciate your help. I've been doing a bit of research based on your suggestions and I think I should be going for a Custom Custom and 2 Hot Stacks. While we're at it I have a few final questions (please bear with me... )

1. Since both the CC and the APH-1 use Alnico 2 magnets, is the main difference that the CC has more output level (but a similar sound)? The CC seems to be slightly hotter than the PG and APH-1 and I need a balanced volume with the Hot Stacks.

2. When you say the CC has less bass, will it do a convincing job playing modern rock? We play this stuff occasionally, it's not the main thing (mostly pop and classic rock).

3. I came across an SD hummer pup called the EVH on the internet. Can't find it on the SD website though. Would you say that this one could also be a candidate to replace the PG?

Thanks again,
Robert

Yes! The CC will do a good job with modern stuff. WFD uses it for his unholy Brazilian metal. The EVH is a more percussive PAF with slightly higher output than the PG. It is available through the Custom Shop only.

Luke

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

I also think the EVH may not be the right choice for this guitar. I have one, and it does have an upper mid or treble presence that you may find to bright as well. The EVH sound is not based upon a great presence of base. My first impression upon installing it in my Les Paul was, boy...this has a crisp high end bite. Now it's not bad in my Lester, but in an already bright guitar I can see it being a bit much.

The Blues Trembucker would be a good alternative to the CC. As Zerb said, it is designed specifically to give trem equiped guitars that PAFish warmth and vibe. I have the CC in the bridge of a double fat strat with a floyd type bridge....and love it. If you click on my soundclips below, you can hear it doing classic rock in "All Right Now", and a little heavier on the distorted rythym of "Heavens Door" my GNR Cover.

Let us know what you work out.

 

[erpece]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

Thanks you guys for your thoughts and your advice. I thought I'd let you know I've made up my mind and I am going to replace the Duckbuckers by Quarterpounders.

I'm actually glad I gave the Pearly Gates a chance to prove itself and right now I really like it.

Thanks again,
Robert

 

[bobby]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

i'm glad you ended up liking the pearly gates. that's my favorite humbucker!
please let me know how the quarterpounders perform. thinkin about puttin one in the middle position of my h/s/s strat.
cheers! =)

 

[Bones]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

You have a PRS with an Ibanez LoPro trem?

That's what I was thinking man.

 

[Artie]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

One other thing to consider . . . humbuckers traditionally call for 500k pots. All my humbucker equiped guitars run 250k pots. Some of my favorite 'buckers are the same ones I didn't like when I first tried them with 500k's because they were too harsh and bright.

Its a fairly cheap "mod".

 

[erpece]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

That's what I was thinking man.

It's a PRS style body made by Warmoth (www.warmoth.com). I took it to a local guitar builder and he finished the job:

- Warmoth "VIP" PRS style body
- Ibanez lopro edge II
- the neck has the same dimensions as a JS1000, my favorite neck

Check the attached pic.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

Hmm....Whoever did that neck for you might be facing legal action. The birds and headstock are trademarked by PRS if memory serves.

 

[XSSIVE]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

Hmm....Whoever did that neck for you might be facing legal action. The birds and headstock are trademarked by PRS if memory serves.

nah, he's fine...you know how many small luthiers will clone a big companies guitars on a custom order basis...tons...it's only when you either mass produce them or get caught making several of them that you'll have problems. big companies don't have time to search forums to find guitars that look like the ones they make...he'll be fine.

nice guitar by the way!

-Mike

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Wrong choice of pickups?

Thanks you guys for your thoughts and your advice. I thought I'd let you know I've made up my mind and I am going to replace the Duckbuckers by Quarterpounders.

I'm actually glad I gave the Pearly Gates a chance to prove itself and right now I really like it.

Thanks again,
Robert

The only foreseeable problem is the high DC resistance on the QP's might make for a harder sound in the neck and middle than you would like. A hot might be a better choice, but in the end let your ears guide you.

Luke