509/513 players and the middle pickup? + NGD

[Darkside Six]

Hello, I recently purchased, I think one of the first production 509's in black gold wrap, built on 11-15-16. Needless to say I haven't been able to put it down. I also currently have a SC hollow body II and have had in the past a Custom 24, a SAS, and a modified S2. The pickups on the 509 are very articulate and the single coil sounds are an added bonus. I didn't notice any difference in using the upgraded tremolo, but the sustain with gain is amazing, almost as long as my Les Paul. I'm coming from an AVRI Stratocaster and Telecaster which the 509 still, to my ears, doesn't exactly nail, but it definitely has it's own voice that is a great addition to my stable of guitars. I have it tuned to Eb right now and if I had to grab just one guitar, it would definitely be the 509. My only issue with playing the guitar is that whenever I'm palm muting specifically, my pick is always hitting the middle pickup. On my Stratocaster I have the middle pickup lowered to get more "quack", but with 509 you can't lower the pick up any more. Have any of you 509/513 players experienced this? Is it something you get used to? I find that it is the most prevalent when I'm palm muting over the bridge. Thank you for any advice you can give. I wish I had the required pics for the NGD, but I have no way to upload them. Sorry.

Thanks!

 

[drdoom8793]

Never owned a 513/509, but I used to have the same problem with Strats. I tried lowering the pickup but wasn't liking the tone I was getting out of it. I ended up just changing my picking technique to compensate for the additional pickup.

 

[ReptilianNosewood]

Im on the fence on a 509. The faded whale blue one is an incredibly handsome guitar, do those pickups do heavier gain music convincingly? Like the chug a luggy heavy metal?

 

[Darkside Six]

Dr. Doom.. I dropped the center pickup on my strat as well, but with the 509, the pickups are screwed directly into the wood, so there appears to be no adjustment. I may have adjust my technique a bit.

RepNosewood... I normally play more rock/classic rock, so I have no idea if they can play metal. I feel they are more of a vintage inspired pickup. Very bright, but not ice-picky.

 

[Dancing Frog]

It's nice to hear that you can't put it down. I have had a lot of fun with the GOTM version. As far as the middle pick up goes, I have never had a problem with hitting them. Coming from the SAS through the 513, I seem to have just sort of adapted to picking away from it or got used to hitting it, but I remember banging into the middle a lot more when I was using regular sized picks instead of the Dunlop Jazz III's.

 

[gush]

Dr. Doom.. I dropped the center pickup on my strat as well, but with the 509, the pickups are screwed directly into the wood, so there appears to be no adjustment. I may have adjust my technique a bit.

RepNosewood... I normally play more rock/classic rock, so I have no idea if they can play metal. I feel they are more of a vintage inspired pickup. Very bright, but not ice-picky.

Not. Sure on the 509/513 but I can adjust the pickups on my 305. Same pickups.

 

[gush]

I do find myself hitting the center pickup on my 305 too.

 

[dogrocketp]

I know this is a stupid question, but have you tried screwing down the middle pickup? I`ve never seen one on a PRS that couldn`t be adjusted. Granted, I haven`t seen a 509. I did screw down the middle pickup on my SAS for the same reason. I would expect that it`s a standard to body mounting with 2 Phillips head screws, and a spring around the screw.

 

[Rider1260]

You can adjust the pickups on the 305/513/509 but they only go down so far , I don't have an issue hitting the pickup but I play with my hand fairly planted on the bridge

 

[Uncle Paul]

Hey Darkside Six,
I just got my 509 and I love it but, I'm running into the EXACT same problem you are having. Were you able to come up with a solution?

 

[László]

I never hit the middle pickup on my 20th PS Anniversary Ltd, but I use a Jazz III style pick that's small and accurate. So maybe that's the reason it isn't an issue.

[/URL]

 

[jcolmn]

I had a PRS Brent Mason and had the same problem with the middle pickup. The pickup is designed to have the same radius as the strings and to my ears it sounds best close to the strings. Very clear and full. Unfortunately, I could never get past it at that height and lowering it really affected the volume. It is also a non-standard rout. There are some folks who have changed pickups and you can google, but I did not want to do that to an otherwise perfect guitar. Other middle pickups arent an issue. It has to do with the radius.

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Damn, Les...That's a beautiful guitar!!!! (I love seeing it reappear every once-in-a-while) Thanks.

 

[ViperDoc]

The only way to lower the 509/513 middle pickup is to route the wood lower underneath. Perhaps a shim system might allow for final adjustment and keep the same firm installation. Good luck. Alternative: move your hand.