Better pickups for an S2 Standard?

[gtrdave]

I've got a newer S2 Standard 24 and overall I'm fairly happy with its tone, but I think I could get a bit 'more' out of it with a pickup change.
It does seem a bit on the darker side - maybe a bit muddy? It that inherent in the import 85/15s that are in it?
Wondering if a swap to the domestic 85/15 pickups or something from Duncan, etc...would be worthwhile?

 

[Ovibos]

First recommendation here is usually to play with pickup height.

 

[Barquentine]

I have an S2 Singlecut. I played with the original pups for a while but I felt that I wasn't getting what I wanted from them. I put in a set of BK Rebel Yells and the improvement was astonishing. I had these pups in a different guitar but they sound way better in the S2. Couldn't be happier.

 

[László]

It’s never a bad idea to experiment with pickups and see whether a change gets a tone closer to what you like!

 

[gtrdave]

First recommendation here is usually to play with pickup height.

Yeah, done that and didn't make the difference I was looking for. I was thinking of starting with the popular Duncan JB/Jazz set and going from there.

 

[JJJ]

heights but also play with the pole pieces

lower the pickups but raise the pole pieces and give it a go

Otherwise, yeah they're just pickups you can always put them back in. The only S2 pickups I have long experience with is the Starla ones and I think they're excellent

 

[merciful-evans]

Its an impossible thing too ask. Only you have your ears and your taste.

Ive never liked any Seymour Duncan products I've owned or tried out, but I'm part of a tiny minority. They might be ideal for you. The problem is, you could spend a small fortune changing out a succession of pickups.

What are you using your guitar through? Do you use FX/pedals/signal processor?

 

[gtrdave]

heights but also play with the pole pieces

lower the pickups but raise the pole pieces and give it a go

Otherwise, yeah they're just pickups you can always put them back in. The only S2 pickups I have long experience with is the Starla ones and I think they're excellent

Same goes for the ones in my Vela. I can't see ever changing those, but the Standard sounds muddy in comparison. Of course, some would say, since the Vela is an inherently bright guitar.

I'm going to do a little more in-home demos before I make a change. At my last gig I wasn't feeling well and so that may have been playing tricks on my ears. Also, it was a smaller venue and I was using my AC10C1 as opposed to my Night Train 15 and 1x12 cabinet, so the different amp may have been messing with my ears, too.

m-e, I've got a pedalboard w/ about 10 different stomp boxes in it and I've used it at countless shows and studio dates. The PRS guitars have played well with it in the past.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

I don't have any S2s so I have no idea how close the pickups are to the core 85/15s. However, I recently replaced the Draon1s in my '97 CE22 with a reissue 1985 T&B set and am very happy with them. They sound (and feel) very much like the originals in my '87. Small differences aren't due to the pickups, I think, but rather because the two guitars are different. The CE22 is slightly brighter and a bit less voicelike in its basic character. Bolt-on vs long tenon, maybe? I can't say, but the reissues really brought this guitar to life.

+1 on the Rebel Yells too. They deserve their reputation IMO. Have a set in an Explorer and they smoke.

 

[dogrocketp]

Also try a set off NYXL's on it before you change anything other than the pickup height. My old CE woke up like a big dog when I put those on.