2013 PRS Custom with 57/08 pickups - Anyway to put covers on them??

[Yamariv]

Hey Gents,
Is there any way to get covers on those funky square shaped 57/08 pickups? I think the guitar would look so much better with a nickel cover over them.

From previous research I don't think it's possible so does PRS make a 57/08 with covers and different rings that may just drop in or am I screwed? I love the sound of the pickups, just think cosmetically, covers would make it look way better.

I see I can buy replacement 57/08 pickups with covers on them already, can I use the stock rings that came with the square bobbin pickups if I went this route?

Cheers

 

[Stephen J.]

I see I can buy replacement 57/08 pickups with covers on them already, can I use the stock rings that came with the square bobbin pickups if I went this route?

Yes, and you can recover some of your costs by selling the uncovered 57/08 pickups. I didn’t realize they made an uncovered variety. They will probably sell quickly.

The guitar will sound different with the covers. Someone else will be more experienced with the difference, but I think it will take a little of the high end off the tone. It might not sound as open as it does with the uncovered versions.

 

[Going Modal]

Uncovered squabbin 57/08's? The only ones of those that I know exist came out of the later-model P22 guitars. (Is that what you've got?)

Honestly--as stated earlier--if you do like the pickups, you'd be best probably removing them and re-installing a set of covered ones.. which are much more widely available used or from PRS dealers. There's probably a good market out there for the squabbin ones, too, if somebody else does want them uncovered black squabbin style.

Just be mindful about re-wiring your P22 (if that's what you've got) because I believe the wiring is reverse-phase in order to work with the piezo system. [Check with a knowledgeable technician and/or the PRS tech desk on that.]

PS. Even easier and likely not much different at all--get yourself some Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in whatever style you'd like. They're affordable and easily available, and according to their specs and to my own ears they're not much different than the 57/08 set. [Wiring-phase issues may still apply the same as the covered 57/08's.]

 

[Glide-bpm]

Uncovered squabbin 57/08's? The only ones of those that I know exist came out of the later-model P22 guitars. (Is that what you've got?)

Honestly--as stated earlier--if you do like the pickups, you'd be best probably removing them and re-installing a set of covered ones.. which are much more widely available used or from PRS dealers. There's probably a good market out there for the squabbin ones, too, if somebody else does want them uncovered black squabbin style.

Just be mindful about re-wiring your P22 (if that's what you've got) because I believe the wiring is reverse-phase in order to work with the piezo system. [Check with a knowledgeable technician and/or the PRS tech desk on that.]

PS. Even easier and likely not much different at all--get yourself some Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in whatever style you'd like. They're affordable and easily available, and according to their specs and to my own ears they're not much different than the 57/08 set. [Wiring-phase issues may still apply the same as the covered 57/08's.]

I highly recommend, instead, that you pickup a pair of Seymour Duncan Hades Gates!!! They are freaking KILLER pickups!!!

I installed a gold covered set on my SE CU24-08 to go with all the other brass and gold hardware In installed on it
(Including a hybrid chrome/brass/gold MannMade tremolo bridge). SDHG's are AWESOME!!!!!

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

Square bobbins = no
Round bobbins = yes

 

[Going Modal]

I highly recommend, instead, that you pickup a pair of Seymour Duncan Hades Gates!!!

Dude, those must be a pretty new development, 'cause I'd totally never heard of them. They seem like they'd be noticeably hotter than the 57/08's, but still I trust that they'd be pretty awesome nonetheless.

 

[Yamariv]

Uncovered squabbin 57/08's? The only ones of those that I know exist came out of the later-model P22 guitars. (Is that what you've got?)

Honestly--as stated earlier--if you do like the pickups, you'd be best probably removing them and re-installing a set of covered ones.. which are much more widely available used or from PRS dealers. There's probably a good market out there for the squabbin ones, too, if somebody else does want them uncovered black squabbin style.

Just be mindful about re-wiring your P22 (if that's what you've got) because I believe the wiring is reverse-phase in order to work with the piezo system. [Check with a knowledgeable technician and/or the PRS tech desk on that.]

PS. Even easier and likely not much different at all--get yourself some Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in whatever style you'd like. They're affordable and easily available, and according to their specs and to my own ears they're not much different than the 57/08 set. [Wiring-phase issues may still apply the same as the covered 57/08's.]

Sorry guys, just realized my Title didn't include 2013 Custom 24. From my research I'm supposed to have 57/08's no?

Anyone know if I get some nickel covered used ones, can I still use the squabin pickup rings or do I need different ones?

 

[Yamariv]

How do I post a pic of my guitar so we can verify what they are.. I only see an instert image and it only gives me a URL link to pin

 

[Stephen J.]

How do I post a pic of my guitar so we can verify what they are.. I only see an instert image and it only gives me a URL link to pin

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/how-to-post-photos-2024-and-beyond-edition.57908/

Yes, the pickup rings will work on both styles.

You can’t tell from looking at the top which pickups are in the guitar. You can remove the pickup while changing strings and look at the bottom. There will be a sticker that indicates which pickups are in the guitar.

 

[SinSir]

Yes to rings and leave the squabbins alone. Sell those and buy covered 5708. Look at the back of the pickup to know which. My 2011 Cu24 has 5909.

 

[RC Mike]

I’d guess that they’re 59/09s. You can loosen the strings and slip them out easily enough to know for sure. There’ll be a sticker on the bottom of each pickup.

 

[Glide-bpm]

Dude, those must be a pretty new development, 'cause I'd totally never heard of them. They seem like they'd be noticeably hotter than the 57/08's, but still I trust that they'd be pretty awesome nonetheless.

They have bottom end with clarity and scream! Not a metal guitar pickup, but I could make it happen with the right rig!
Basically Pearly Gates with a little more juice (and I think there's a hair more bottom end).

 

[Yamariv]

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/how-to-post-photos-2024-and-beyond-edition.57908/

Yes, the pickup rings will work on both styles.

You can’t tell from looking at the top which pickups are in the guitar. You can remove the pickup while changing strings and look at the bottom. There will be a sticker that indicates which pickups are in the guitar.

Awesome that the rings will work, that's what worried me the most if I had to redrill holes or something like that just to pop in a covered pickup.

Ok cool, I'll pull the pickup and confirm what I have in a bit. Whatevert they are, they sound great to my ear so I'll replace them with the same model

Thanks guys!

Out of curiosity, what should I expect to get for a set of square bobbin 57/08's used?

 

[Simon Says]

Dude, those must be a pretty new development, 'cause I'd totally never heard of them. They seem like they'd be noticeably hotter than the 57/08's, but still I trust that they'd be pretty awesome nonetheless.

They indeed exist

PRS 57/08 Bass Humbucker Square-Bobbin https://reverb.com/item/84874091?ut...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=84874091

 

[SinSir]

Out of curiosity, what should I expect to get for a set of square bobbin 57/08's used?

My money is on they're 5909. They are pure perfection in a CU24. Covered 5909 don't come up often. They're around but takes a minute as they're only available used.

 

[Going Modal]

They indeed exist

PRS 57/08 Bass Humbucker Square-Bobbin https://reverb.com/item/84874091?ut...are&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=84874091

(Was actually referring to the Hades Gates, which I didn't know existed.) Those uncovered 57/08's did very well exist, but as the reverb ad says, they're quite rare. To my knowledge, only available factory-fitted in post-2013 piezo custom's.

 

[Yamariv]

My money is on they're 5909. They are pure perfection in a CU24. Covered 5909 don't come up often. They're around but takes a minute as they're only available used.

Haven't pulled them out yet but Google's first answer for my 2013 Custom 24 is this "The 2013 PRS Custom 24 guitar has 57/08 pickups with square bobbins"

I didn't realize they are so rare. Why is that? Sorry, I'm new to PRS as I'm a Gibson man. I get the PRS now lol, what a guitar!

 

[Glide-bpm]

(Was actually referring to the Hades Gates, which I didn't know existed.) Those uncovered 57/08's did very well exist, but as the reverb ad says, they're quite rare. To my knowledge, only available factory-fitted in post-2013 piezo custom's.

I think SD also offers both covered and uncovered Hades Gates pickups!!!

 

[SinSir]

Haven't pulled them out yet but Google's first answer for my 2013 Custom 24 is this "The 2013 PRS Custom 24 guitar has 57/08 pickups with square bobbins"

I didn't realize they are so rare. Why is that? Sorry, I'm new to PRS as I'm a Gibson man. I get the PRS now lol, what a guitar!

It could be.. just a guess and my preference for the Cu24. Big fan of 5708 but imho PRS should have stopped at the 5909 for the Cu24.

The 5708 typically but not always have been used in more vintage type guitars like my SC58 and to me covers work better looks wise for those applications than squabbins. Maybe Paul feels the same?