Best body for pickup experimentation?

[Dusty Chalk]

So I'm going to get one of the entry level PRSses (why do people call them PRSi, that ain't no plural I ever heard of -- the noun form of the acronym PRS is short for Paul Reed Smith guitar, and the plural of guitar is guitars; but if you're pronouncing it "pee-ar-es", then the obvious plural is "pee-ar-esses"), and start experimenting with pickups. What's the best choice? I think the obvious choice is the SE Custom 24.

Also thinking of black or purples, so Paul Allender, Santana, Tremonti, Clint Lowery, Bernie Marsden, plenty of others. But I probably shouldn't mention that, because that's much less important.

Unfortunately, I don't know enough about tonewoods or body depths to base my decision on woods or body depth. Should I step it up beyond SE and look at the semi- and hollowbodies?

If I'm not specifying enough information, please press me for details, I'm just not experienced enough to know everything to even ask the right questions.

I'm going after two sounds -- that electro-acoustic sound of Parker Fly Deluxes, and that jangly JB/Filtertron/??? sound -- the one that has plenty of interesting overtones, but has more body than an electro-acoustic tone that is my other interest.

 

[Mixstar]

why do people call them PRSi

Because 'PRS' is an irregular noun, think cactus, fungi, focus, nucleus etc.

I bought a Tremonti SE in black to experiment with. The main reason was for years I though about modding my LP but wanted to leave it stock. The thinking was if I screwed it up I could always buy another but, fortunately, I haven't damaged it up to now and it's a fantastic guitar IMO.

 

[garrettb]

What type of pickup experimentation do you want to do? If you REALLY want to experiment, get something with a pickguard. That way you can hack up the body underneath to fit whatever you want. Then just get a new guard cut. You can transform it a dozen times and it'll still have a clean look.

If you're just plugging in different humbucker-sized pickups, it doesn't matter much. Just get the one you like best.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Yeah, I've already hacked up one of my 24/7s to accomodate a Benedetto, which is easily disguised with a new pickup ring. That's probably as radical as I'm going to get. I'm not wrapping my own pickup or breadboarding or anything.

I actually already have a couple -- a core Starla and a Mira and a SE Custom 24 and Santana, so maybe I'll add a Tremonti, and experiment with those.

 

[vchizzle]

Assuming you're installing a graphtech ghost piezo system? There must be humbucker size filtertron pickups, maybe TVJones makes something?

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Hadn't thought of that during the experimentation phase -- was definitely going to do that during the custom build...hmmm...good idea!

And excellent thought on the humbuckered filtertron! I will investigate. Also thinking Lollar Imperials. Which I may already have. (Lollar does a humbuckered filtertron -- called the Lollartron -- in the 6 string but not 7. Which is fine, since I was talking about sixes, but also interested in pickups that have corresponding 7-string pickups.)

 

[garrettb]

TV Jones will do most of their pickups in a humbucker housing, so you can definitely get some 'tron action if you want it. Lollar Imperials sound super; my first choice in humbuckers. Suhr Thornbuckers being a close second.

Adding a Tremonti to the stable sounds like a winner!

 

[Crwilsn]

I have any SE Tremonti that is on its 4th pickup change including all new pots. Got it with EMGs cheap, swapped in Guitar Fetish VEHs, swapped in a set of core HFS/VBs and is now back to the VEHs while I contemplate replacing the 59/09s in my Core Cu24 with the HFS/VB combo and try the 59/09s in the Tremonti.

BTW the non trem SE Tremonti is a great lightweight single cut. Every time I get the itch to get a Les Paul I realize I have a better playing guitar already. And that is comparing it to everything from Epiphone through LP standards.

 

[vchizzle]

Hadn't thought of that during the experimentation phase -- was definitely going to do that during the custom build...hmmm...good idea!

And excellent thought on the humbuckered filtertron! I will investigate. Also thinking Lollar Imperials. Which I may already have. (Lollar does a humbuckered filtertron -- called the Lollartron -- in the 6 string but not 7. Which is fine, since I was talking about sixes, but also interested in pickups that have corresponding 7-string pickups.)

When you were talking the electro acoustic sound in the Parker, they use the Ghost system. Can do either trem or stoptail PRSi. :biggrin: (BTW, the PRSi thing became a fun plural even though it's improper. Some people use it just to annoy people. I use it because it's far more fun than PRSes. There are far worse offenses of proper English and grammar around here.)

 

[Mixstar]

even though it's improper

But it's not though.

 

[11top]

There are far worse offenses of proper English and grammar around here.

That there are a fact!

 

[11top]

Answering the question in the OP's subject: I'd use the body in which you are going to use the pickups. For example, I like 245 SCs, so that is certainly what I'd choose to find the right pickups.

 

[bluefade]

Do you play open string harmonics ? If so, 22 frets open up the notes on the neck pickup.

 

[László]

Best body for pickup experimentation? I always liked women with nice legs, and a firm butt; decent boobs are a plus, too. But it's really hard to do that and ignore the face.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

And here I was thinking everyone was going to pass up a straight up lob like that. ;-p

Yeah, I think the mind is more important for that kind of experimentation.

 

[László]

And here I was thinking everyone was going to pass up a straight up lob like that. ;-p

Yeah, I think the mind is more important for that kind of experimentation.

In my case, a pickup experiment was often followed by a slap in the face.

Perhaps I just should have thought about it instead.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I also saw a Zach Meyers that had 3 humbuckers, like a Studio or an NF3 etc. -- is this preferable? I figure more pickups == more experimentation?