Curious about some older pickups--Treble/Bass and Dragon

[Going Modal]

I've been considering my options lately for some older PRSi, particularly the early Customs with Treble & Bass pickups, as well as early Custom 22's with the original uncovered Dragon pickups. Never played one of these though (of course not, they're not easy to come across!), and I'm wondering if I might love or not-love the pickups.

Granted I can google the specs on these older ones (such as what kind of magnets were used, and the k-Ohm resistance, etc.); but I'm really wondering about the actual character of the sound--whether they're "vintage" vs. "modern" in tonality, compressed or very punchy & forward, bright or dark, etc.

For instance: Are the old Treble & Bass somewhat forbearers of the 85/15 (bright, articulate, powerful)? Are the original Dragons the beginnings of the more vintage-targeted McCarty thing (fatter, warmer, less articulate, PAF's)? That's the kind of thing I'm wondering about. Could or would you describe either of these older pickups by likening/comparing them to some of the more recent pickups (5x/xx and afterward) with which I'm more familiar?

 

[WEDGE]

The Dragons were/are not vintage sounding, they are real hot. But I would not call them modern. Think less subtle and more hammer. But in a good way. Closest to a Tremonti bridge probably but the Tremonti is tighter and way more modern.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

I love the Dragon 1 neck, probably my all time favorite PRS neck pickup. Rumor has it it’s an uncovered McCarty. The bridge pickup is really hot, but it’s more organic sounding than the HFS and can still get plenty of harmonic richness to it.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

My own personal opinion here: Dragon 1’s sound best in Standards. I’ve had them in an all mahogany CE, Standard 22 and Standard 24. I put the same set in my CU24 for a little and I didn’t care for them.

 

[Mark Ray]

Uhhhh, ya'll know what I'm gonna say LOL.

DRAGON 1's FOR THE WIN!!!

 

[Going Modal]

I love the Dragon 1 neck, probably my all time favorite PRS neck pickup. Rumor has it it’s an uncovered McCarty.

Looking at all the specs that have been put out there, that seems very likely the case--my suspicion is that the bass model Dragon, Dragon II, and McCarty pickups are essentially the same, initially uncovered but then covered on the later iterations.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

I have had very polarizing experiences with D2 pickups. I liked them in my old Standard 24, and absolutely hated them in my Standard 22.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Looking at all the specs that have been put out there, that seems very likely the case--my suspicion is that the bass model Dragon, Dragon II, and McCarty pickups are essentially the same, initially uncovered but then covered on the later iterations.

Yeah, a bunch of the pickups have differences similar to that of a taco vs a tostada.

 

[Going Modal]

Yeah, a bunch of the pickups have differences similar to that of a taco vs a tostada.

Totally! And that's actually kind of what I'm looking to find behind the scenes...

 

[Senor Verde]

I had a '95 maple top CE-22 that had Dragon I pickups. I really liked the bridge, but the neck was muddy and way too quiet compared to the bridge. I ended up putting a Duncan JB in the neck position and oddly enough, it sounded great and balanced very well volume-wise with the Dragon I in the bridge position. My vote is for the Dragon I, bridge anyway.

 

[LerxstFan]

I had a old McRosie with DI pups and they were the loudest and most aggressive PRS pickups I have played. Full, and thick distortion from the bridge pickup, and a fat clean and lead tone from the neck pickup. The bridge didn't clean up well because it was so hot. They were not vintage sounding, just great though if you play harder rock and metal.