Best pickups for me

[NDogg]

Ive tried mccartys and dragon 1 bass/dragon 2 treble in my les Paul. I've also tried 53/10s in a PRS.

I prefer the dragons as they have richer harmonic content content than the mccartys and the 53/10s are lacking in high end (muddy to my ears).

Are there any other PRS pickups which I might like better than dragons... That would give me an even more colorful Harmonically rich tone?

Too bright = no good. i tend to prefer lower output because they are smoother... I don't like the growl and roughness of high output pickups. But if a high output pickup is smooth sounding that's even better!

Thanks!

 

[justmund]

59/09s or \m/s :rock:

 

[NDogg]

Cool thx... How do 59/09 compare to the new 59/08 and 57/08? I also like smooth/warm tone (but not muddy) and I'm looking for a clean tone.

 

[blaren]

Unfortunately I cant comment on how the 59/09s compare to the others even though I have a 59/09 and a 57/08. The 59/09 is a neck/bass pup and the 57/08 is a bridge/Treble pup. They were also in different guitars.

I love a good neck pickup. Has to be nice and warm and womany but not undefined and muddy. The 59/09 is the best neck pup I've ever played I think. It's a good Goldilocks pickup. Not too hot, not too cold...not too bright and not too mushy...
In the guitar I had the 57/08 in, it was being overpowered by the other pups so out it came. That guitar was a PRS Studio (double cutaway but thicker than a CU24...it's McCarty thick).
The guitar I have the 59/09 in is a SC (Tremonti SE Custom) and it is very heavy and thick. That probably has a lot to do with how this 59/09 sounds.

In the end, the 59/09 should be close to what you're after and they can be had for decent prices. A lot less than a 57/08 or a 53/10 is gonna cost. Well...it USED to be anyway.
Good luck.

P.S. Don't forget that a $2.50 magnet can really change the personality of a pickup and makes "sampling" really cheap.