Best/favorite PRS Pickup Over the Years?

[Mole351]

Just curious - which PRS pickups over the years are generally considered the"best" or favorites? I ask this realizing it's a completely subjective question. From what I can tell folks really seem to dig the 85/15's now and how much "better" they are. But then I read things like the 59/09's (or was it 53/10's?) were discontinued because of lack of materials and those were really the coveted ones.

I obviously don't have a lot of experience with different pu's (only 85/15 and 57/08)...so was wondering if folks had their choice of any oh from any time period - which would it be?

 

[gush]

8515s 5909s 5310s are my most favorite pickups in no particular order.

 

[veinbuster]

I like quite a few, but somehow I ended up with quite a few 59/09 guitars, so that might mean something.

 

[markd21]

I am all about the 57/08. They provide me with the tone I always wanted to hear. Just enough bite with a tiny bit of twang (at that's the way I hear it).

 

[Mark Ray]

Dragon 1

 

[crocker]

I've never grown bored or tired of 57/08s.

 

[Buildermike]

I've played almost all. By far the 57/08's are my favorites.

 

[vchizzle]

The newest ones!
Like you say, it's all a matter of taste. PRS hit it right when they started with the 5708's and done several vintage style since that will all appeal to people's ears differently. I like a 5909 bridge, 5708 neck generally speaking. But it all depends on what I'm after at a given moment too.

 

[Screamingdaisy]

58/15s are the only stock pickup of any brand that I've never wanted to change.

Even the guitar I bought with the intent of installing a high output bridge... I liked the 58/15 so much I just couldn't do it... I wound up buying another guitar so I wouldn't have to.

 

[garrett]

If you asked 10 different players you might get 10 different answers, but I'd speculate 57/08 and 85/15 would get named most often.

For me, it's the 58/15 LT and that's because I prefer bright, lower output humbuckers.

 

[Rider1260]

513
408
57/08 / Modern Eagle
Mira
Dragon 2

Hell all the ones I have are killer in the guitars I have

 

[JonW]

85/15 or 58/15. I've tried everything from 57/08 on upwards and liked the 15s the best.

 

[Whitecat]

Starlas, 53/10s, 85/15s, 57/08s, possibly in that order, but depends on the specific guitar in many cases.

 

[bodia]

\m/ and Santana, just to be different!

 

[pjdude]

McCarty - IMHO, the best they've come up with thus far. But I can't afford a new 594, so I haven't yet checked out the 58/15LTs. I've tried the 57/08 and the 53/10, and really didn't like either of them.

 

[TroyBaer]

McCarty - IMHO, the best they've come up with thus far. But I can't afford a new 594, so I haven't yet checked out the 58/15LTs. I've tried the 57/08 and the 53/10, and really didn't like either of them.

I love McCarty pickups in an actual McCarty, but they are a bit finicky in other guitars. I tried putting a set of McCarty pickups in my Zack Myers and couldn't get them out fast enough -- they were mud city in that guitar, especially on the bridge pickup. I think they're intentionally wound a bit dark to fatten up a double-cutaway guitar, and in a semi-hollow single-cutaway it's just too much.

 

[László]

Starlas, 53/10s, 85/15s, 57/08s, possibly in that order, but depends on the specific guitar in many cases.

Yup - the individual guitar matters a lot!

 

[Elliot]

Yup - the individual guitar matters a lot!

Les, I was waiting for you to weigh in on this subject and your response didn't quite live up to the hype I built up in my imagination.

edit: In fairness I've read at least 3 of your responses to the exact same question

 

[helmi]

For me it's 57/08's and Narrowfields!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Another vote for 57/08's, if you find the right pair they're magical.

But a DII covered neck pickup is a wonderful thing, and Mira's are highly underrated. The HFS is a classic for the metal/hardrock crowd.. it's like a passive EMG 81 but with personality. McCarty's are rad too. Hell, most of 'em are great depending on what you're using 'em for. I suppose if I ever buy the brightest and thinnest PRS in existence that 53/10 will work out nicely.