2023 Custom 24 Piezo muffled tone

[Chadom]

Hello.
I recently bought a 2023 PRS Custom 24 Piezo. It plays great, but I can't dial in the sound. The magnetic pickups are very muffled even with the tone all the way up. I think it might be the type of pickups?
I can't get a good sound from it and am disappointed with it right now. I have 2018 Custom 24 SE and it sounds great. The 2023 plays vastly better, but I just can't dial in the sound to where I am happy picking it up to play.
Has anybody else experienced this with this model? And any suggestions on how I can adjust it to sound better?
Thank you in advance!

 

[Jo-]

Have you tried a fresh battery?

I’ve found when the battery is dying the mag pups start sounding distorted.

 

[Chadom]

Hello Jo.
Thanks. I just replaced the battery and yes, that helped alot...
Thank you!
Can I get the standard pickup heights and any insight on if raised or lowered from standard?
Also, do you measure the pickup height from the magnetic pole or the body?
Thanks again...

 

[FatFingerBlues]

Hello Jo.
Thanks. I just replaced the battery and yes, that helped alot...
Thank you!
Can I get the standard pickup heights and any insight on if raised or lowered from standard?
Also, do you measure the pickup height from the magnetic pole or the body?
Thanks again...

The best answer and the one you're most likely to get here is:
set the pickup heights by ear

raise or lower them a half turn or so and play it
Continue to adjust until you like what you hear
Once you get the height about right don't forget that you can adjust the sound by changing just one side
For example if you have too much treble you can lower the treble side or raise the bass side to even it out

be patient
I fiddled with my S2 Cu24 for weeks until I finally got a sound I like
at one point I was ready to move the guitar on but now I love it too much

 

[Jo-]

PRS has a video with adjusting the pup heights. Maybe this will help too.

Did swapping the battery get rid of the muffled sound?

 

[Chadom]

The best answer and the one you're most likely to get here is:
set the pickup heights by ear

raise or lower them a half turn or so and play it
Continue to adjust until you like what you hear
Once you get the height about right don't forget that you can adjust the sound by changing just one side
For example if you have too much treble you can lower the treble side or raise the bass side to even it out

be patient
I fiddled with my S2 Cu24 for weeks until I finally got a sound I like
at one point I was ready to move the guitar on but now I love it too much

Thank you!

 

[Chadom]

PRS has a video with adjusting the pup heights. Maybe this will help too.

Did swapping the battery get rid of the muffled sound?

Thank you!
Yes, It did help quite a bit, however there is still a midrangey sound to them. They are bright and clear and can't seem to equalize it to the point of reducing the midrange without an overwhelmingly high end. The Tone knob seemed to function better after I replaced the battery as well.
Thank you for the advice. I didn't realize the battery affected the magnetic pups also.

 

[Jo-]

Also don’t leave the guitar plugged in, even if it’s just in the mix/mag option it still seems to drain the battery faster. So I’ve just got into the habit of unplugging after playing.

 

[Chadom]

I appreciate all the help PRS brothers... your recommendations have helped me tremendously in hearing the value in this guitar again. Still working on tweaking the pickup heights, but getting there. Thanks again!