85/15s alternative for CU22 SE semi

Fenson

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Jun 28, 2024
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Hi- new to the forum and just introduced myself in the new member thread. Aside from a DGT, I have 2 guitars with the 85/15s pickups- an S2 CU22 semi and the SE equivalent. I have been turning the volume down a bit on the semis to get a cleaner, warmer sound, and that certainly works, but I’m curious what pickups I might swap in to get me closer to the sound of the DGT pickups (without that cost.) I’ve seen SD JB/59 and PRS 58/15s as suggestions, and I’ve had 59s in a HBII and they didn’t have a lot of character to me. Has anyone swapped out their 85/15s, ideally in a SE CU22 with the maple neck, and gotten a more typical PAF tone that they really like? Thanks.
 
If it's clean and warm you're after, you might fid the JB/59 too hot for your liking. I would go with something more like Custom Custom in the bridge and Jazz in the neck, or maybe something like an Alnico II Pro set or a Slash set, maybe even a '78 set.
 
I bought one from Sergio (it’ll be our little secret that he sold a PRS) and went with a VB in the neck and a 59/09 in the bridge with a rotary. It’ll do damn near anything. By the way, when you’re gigging, the rotary is the schizzle for going from clean rhythmn to gain. I don’t understand at all why people don’t like them.
 
^ Big fan of the rotary, no different than the Wing tuners once you master them , there a godsend.
The wing tuners were designed by the same people who design equipment to torture terrorists. Can you tell I never mastered them.

As far as pickups, I am not a fan of the 85/15s either. 58/15s I do enjoy in one of my S2’s. Anything in PAF territory I would be happy with. I am a fan of SD Seth Lover’s
 
Well, I do resemble the old folks in the pic. I don’t post pics here. And stay off my lawn. 😎
 
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