CU 24 Pick Up Change - Is it Time??

[CVS]

I have a 2003 CU24 that has HFS / Vintage Bass Pickups. I have been very happy with the tone of the guitar over the years, but after looking the beautiful 30th anniversary CU24's, I am thinking that maybe I should change the pickups. I play primarily 70's classic rock (Allman Brothers, Eagles, Joe Walsh, etc., rock blues and Santana type music with this guitar.

If you were going to change out the pick ups, what pick ups would you put in? Or should I not change out the pick ups?

Comments & opinions welcome.

 

[Whitecat]

The sounds you are looking for do not lend themselves very well to 24 fret guitars, IMO. That said, if you want to stay PRS, 57/08s will probably be the closest if you can find a second-hand set or are willing to pay the price of having the PTC do the change for you. Alternatively, there are many aftermarket options - Fralin, Bareknuckle, or even the good ol' Seymour Duncan all have great vintage-flavoured pickups that would work well. Just my 2p of course, YMMV, etc etc..

 

[gush]

I am surprised that you have gotten along with HFS so well with the type of music you listed. I would recommend 5909s. 5708s are excellent pickups but if you can't split your pickups to get just single coil bridge and single coil neck like with a rotary then 5909s may be a better choice. I find they are brighter sounding when you roll the vol pot down than 5708s. Might get you a better single coil sound.

 

[gush]

You could leave it alone and buy another guitar!!!!!!!! Always good advice.

 

[László]

We're all different.

Considering that Santana has used a 24 fret PRS since the 80s with his classic rock music, and that Howard Leese also used one for the Heart stuff, I'm not sure one can really make a case for a 24 fret guitar being somehow unsuited to Classic Rock.

I will say that my CU24 30th with its 85/15s works well with all the styles I've tried it with, but of course individuals vary in their tastes. But I use it an awful lot of different styles in my work. I haven't tried it with jazz, but that's about the only style I haven't worked with lately.

If I had a 13 year old CU24, I'd send it to the PTC for all the secret sauce updates and have a set of 85/15s put in.

 

[CatStrangler]

We're all different.

Considering that Santana has used a 24 fret PRS since the 80s with his classic rock music, and that Howard Leese also used one for the Heart stuff, I'm not sure one can really make a case for a 24 fret guitar being somehow unsuited to Classic Rock.

+1

 

[markintime]

I have a 2003 CU24 that has HFS / Vintage Bass Pickups. I have been very happy with the tone of the guitar over the years, but after looking the beautiful 30th anniversary CU24's, I am thinking that maybe I should change the pickups. I play primarily 70's classic rock (Allman Brothers, Eagles, Joe Walsh, etc., rock blues and Santana type music with this guitar.

I like exactly the same type of music, and especially the blues. And when my left hand finally heals, I will be ever so glad to resume the honeymoon with the 30th Anniversary SECU24 that I had Sweetwater equip with 59/09's recently. IMHO, that's the cat's meow. Not to ignore the Paul's sitting next to it; they are about to get equal time. Hey, 408's are great, the single coils don't lose volume when switched.

 

[DarkPenguin]

It is always time to change pickups.

 

[CVS]

We're all different.

Considering that Santana has used a 24 fret PRS since the 80s with his classic rock music, and that Howard Leese also used one for the Heart stuff, I'm not sure one can really make a case for a 24 fret guitar being somehow unsuited to Classic Rock.

I will say that my CU24 30th with its 85/15s works well with all the styles I've tried it with, but of course individuals vary in their tastes. But I use it an awful lot of different styles in my work. I haven't tried it with jazz, but that's about the only style I haven't worked with lately.

If I had a 13 year old CU24, I'd send it to the PTC for all the secret sauce updates and have a set of 85/15s put in.

Not worried about playing Jazz with my CU24 - Now thinking about the PTC option. I want to find out just what they would do re: "secret sauce" updates. I also need fret work done so maybe "the time has come"....

 

[GTinSpanishFort]

I highly recommend the bare knuckles. I have BK crawlers in a singlecut and BK abraxas in an SE tremonti custom and I absolutely love them. Are they better than 85/15's? That's debatable but, I can guarantee they are some of the best pickups out there.

 

[Rider1260]

I have NO problem with classic rock / blues etc with HFS / Vintage Bass Pickups in a CU 24 in fact it KILLS for Doobies and such, this pickup combo is so versatile IMHO but I have also played a CU24 with 57/08s and it kills also

 

[pjdude]

I put McCarty pickups and a 3-way toggle in my '91 Custom. Sounds a lot more 'even' now...love it!!

 

[CVS]

I have NO problem with classic rock / blues etc with HFS / Vintage Bass Pickups in a CU 24 in fact it KILLS for Doobies and such, this pickup combo is so versatile IMHO but I have also played a CU24 with 57/08s and it kills also

At last band gig - I used the CU24 to play Listen To The Music by the Doobies - played rhythm part clean and lead at end with some distortion. It "did the job" for me - no issues