Can you no longer choose your PU options with new Custom 24s?

[KennyoFatoBoiyo]

I'm looking into getting a new PRS and wanted to choose an HFS for the bridge. But when I look on PRSs website it doesn't let you choose the pickups you want? I was pretty sure the website used to allow you to configure the guitar how you wanted it including choosing the pickups but right now when I choose options it just defaults to the 89/09 option with no other options available??

 

[garrettb]

It's been all 85/15 since 2015, except on the Floyd. You used to be able to select different pickups via Artist Package, but not sure if you can any longer. Good thing is HFS and VB pickups are readily available aftermarket and easy to swap in.

 

[KennyoFatoBoiyo]

It's been all 85/15 since 2015, except on the Floyd. You used to be able to select different pickups via Artist Package, but not sure if you can any longer. Good thing is HFS and VB pickups are readily available aftermarket and easy to swap in.

Do you know how the 85/15s compare to the HFS?

 

[garrettb]

The 85/15 are lower output and brighter. Won't have that ripping midrange of the HFS.

 

[gush]

Do you know how the 85/15s compare to the HFS?

They are nothing alike

 

[ViggoP]

The HFS/VB is a pretty terrible pickup combo IMO. The 85/15 set does pretty much everything better, even metal with a lot of gain, and is a lot more versatile.

The HFS has got a very piercing high midrange that can be difficult to dial out and it’s got that honky compressed overwound pickup sound clean that is fairly useless. The Vintage Bass is a very dark sounding pickup that is hard to match to the HFS.
The 85/15 set is very balanced and the neck and bridge pickups match each other perfectly. They have a good amount of output and never feel weak or lacking without sounding overly compressed. VERY nice pickups IMO.

 

[alantig]

it’s got that honky compressed overwound pickup sound clean

The acceptable term is "Caucasian compressed overwound pickup sound". Thank you.

 

[bodia]

The acceptable term is "Caucasian compressed overwound pickup sound". Thank you.

 

[VHTStark]

Nothing alike at all, as has been said. I suppose it would depend on what you are after tonally, as to which you will prefer.

85/15's are lower output, much more open sounding, more touch sensitive and have a tight but still chewiness to them and a chimey top end.

With the HFS, you have to keep in mind when it was made and why. Paul made that pickup high output and very bright, so as to drive a signal through effects/rack setups that were popular at the time or to hammer the front end of a Marshall. It has a tight and powerful low-end, an upper mid spike that Viggo pointed out and has much more juice and results in more compression.

Personally: I would take 85/15's all day long. I never really got on with the HFS and for high output PRS pickups, much prefer the Dragon 1 and Metal.

 

[Korina Jack]

I like the PRS #6 (uncovered Dragon ll’s really). I think they get a bad rap for some reason. With all this downtime I’ve had the chance to compare the PRS #6, Dragon II’s and McCarty pickups. Their characteristics are all different but very useful in anyone’s arsenal. I suspect the 85/15’s would be no exception as well. Looking forward to trying some of the newer pups. I left off at the 57/08’s on my Stripped singlecut. Good luck on your search..

 

[KennyoFatoBoiyo]

Thanks for your guys input. Really thinking about doubling down and getting a 35th anniversary seems like a lot of people love the sound of the guitar with the 85/15s so I'll maybe play the guitar for a good couple months and see how I like them. I had a 97 CU24 in the past with the HFS in the past and really liked the high gain tones it gave but I basically never used the VB PU found it really bland sounding.