85/15 pickup swap - help please:

[Summer]

I have a P Stock Custom 22 that I love but pickups not quite hot enough. Have 85/15's in both neck and bridge and I just need more punch. My 10 yr old Custom 24 has HFS/Vintage pickups and they are awesome. Love em but don't want to swap P Stock out and get same sound. I'd like to leave one 85/15 in the neck but like to swap the bridge for something hotter. I play a little Metal, alot of classic rock, no country and some blues and again just need this P Stock to play a little hotter. Would appreciate suggestions for swapping just one pickup. Don't mind going outside PRS family to a S Duncan, etc if they would fit well but happy to stay PRS if I could find one. Suggestions appreciated. Merry Christmas!

 

[bodia]

How about a PRS \m/ pickup in the bridge? They're awesome sounding and cover so much more ground than just Metal.

 

[garrettb]

I would go in this order, personally. I like the Tremonti a little better than the HFS. I haven't heard the \m/; I only put it last because it's covered and I don't like mixing covered/uncovered pickups.

59/09
Tremonti
HFS
\m/

 

[Summer]

I would go in this order, personally. I like the Tremonti a little better than the HFS. I haven't heard the \m/; I only put it last because it's covered and I don't like mixing covered/uncovered pickups.

59/09
Tremonti
HFS
\m/

thanks for replying. Like I said, love the hfs/vintage in my old Custom 24 but want a different sound. while it would be cool difference, would you think the 85/15 and HFS would be similar to my 24 and you think a pretty noticeable difference with the 85/15 and HFS? Will also look at the Tremonti. thx

 

[Summer]

How about a PRS \m/ pickup in the bridge? They're awesome sounding and cover so much more ground than just Metal.

Great suggestion and as I mentioned, one of my first thoughts. Also like Garrett's suggestion of Tremonti or HFS but thinking \m/.

 

[bodia]

Great suggestion and as I mentioned, one of my first thoughts. Also like Garrett's suggestion of Tremonti or HFS but thinking \m/.

Since you mentioned going outside of the PRS pickup family, I'd be remiss not to mention the Suhr Doug Aldrich. Might be the perfect pickup. I put a set in my KL-33 and absolutely love them. Played a buddy's 594 that had them in it and I was sold.

 

[Summer]

Since you mentioned going outside of the PRS pickup family, I'd be remiss not to mention the Suhr Doug Aldrich. Might be the perfect pickup. I put a set in my KL-33 and absolutely love them. Played a buddy's 594 that had them in it and I was sold.

ok. will take a look. anyone with experience with S Duncan JB SH-5. also, guitar has 5 way switch, just an fyi.

 

[goat-n-gitter]

ok. will take a look. anyone with experience with S Duncan JB SH-5. also, guitar has 5 way switch, just an fyi.

I have a JB in the bridge of my 594. I love it! Plenty hot and punchy but blends well with the various /15 pickups. They have 4 conductor wiring, so it'll work fine with a 5 way switch.

 

[gush]

You can get M pickups uncovered. I got a set used from eBay a while back.

I love 5909s but it's not anywhere close to HFS in output.

Sc250 bridge
"T" reissue, if you get lucky enough to find one used.
Dragon 1 but it won't be square bobbin.

 

[Steve Dombroski]

The Seymour Duncan alpha/omega set is the way to go. I have 85/15s in a private stock custom 24-08 semi-hollow and alpha/omegas in a standard 24-08. The 85-15s, IMO, are one of PRS’s best, but the Duncan set are just a smidge hotter and more articulate in the lows. I love them both, but if you’re looking hotter, go with the Duncan set. The PRS metals are great as well, but I didn’t fall in love with the guitar they were attached to because of the trem, but those are a good alternative as well.

 

[Drew]

I put Dimarzio Gravity Storms in my CE. Buddy of mine couldn't put the guitar down and continued to rave about how good it sounded.

 

[Geo408]

Ever tried a pearly gates? It’ll match up well with the 85/15. Plus, if you use pedals, they keep their articulation. Also, the pearly won’t overpower the 85/15...ymmv, of course.

 

[Fireheart7]

I have a P Stock Custom 22 that I love but pickups not quite hot enough. Have 85/15's in both neck and bridge and I just need more punch. My 10 yr old Custom 24 has HFS/Vintage pickups and they are awesome. Love em but don't want to swap P Stock out and get same sound. I'd like to leave one 85/15 in the neck but like to swap the bridge for something hotter. I play a little Metal, alot of classic rock, no country and some blues and again just need this P Stock to play a little hotter. Would appreciate suggestions for swapping just one pickup. Don't mind going outside PRS family to a S Duncan, etc if they would fit well but happy to stay PRS if I could find one. Suggestions appreciated. Merry Christmas!

This may sound left field brand wise. But I just installed a Marty Friedman set, passive though EMG. I'm very pleased with those. I also added a coil split mod to the neck. Just had to go .033 with the resistor on that push pull tone pot.

 

[Birdsofprey]

Ever tried a pearly gates? It’ll match up well with the 85/15. Plus, if you use pedals, they keep their articulation. Also, the pearly won’t overpower the 85/15...ymmv, of course.

Yes this, all my Custom 22's and 24's 4 total have zebra Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge, just always loved the balance with the stock PRS neck p/u's.

 

[Summer]

How about a PRS \m/ pickup in the bridge? They're awesome sounding and cover so much more ground than just Metal.

Would like to stay with black, uncovered but thank you. I've heard they are awesome.

 

[Summer]

Great suggestion and as I mentioned, one of my first thoughts. Also like Garrett's suggestion of Tremonti or HFS but thinking \m/.

Thank you.

 

[Summer]

I have a JB in the bridge of my 594. I love it! Plenty hot and punchy but blends well with the various /15 pickups. They have 4 conductor wiring, so it'll work fine with a 5 way switch.

Ok, will check it out. thx

 

[Johnny Rigs]

Would like to stay with black, uncovered but thank you. I've heard they are awesome.

The Custom 24 "Floyd" model comes with uncovered \m/ pickups. You may be able to find them for sale from someone doing a pickup swap.

 

[Summer]

The Custom 24 "Floyd" model comes with uncovered \m/ pickups. You may be able to find them for sale from someone doing a pickup swap.

That would be perfect. Will check it out. Appreciate it.

 

[Summer]

That would be perfect. Will check it out. Appreciate it.

Wanted a 24 Floyd built and was told 10 month wait at least. Good for PRS, bad for us. No thanks. May pull trigger on custom Ibanez i found.