Custom 22 Soapbar question

[Noise Under The Floor]

Just picked up a 2002 Custom 22 triple soapbar. Loving everything about the guitar except the stock P90's. Everything I've read points to them being Duncans, made to PRS specs. Anyone know what Duncans these are closest too? I'm thinking they're ceramic magnet models. Usually I love P90's but personally don't care for these.

 

[rugerpc]

I can't answer your P90 question, but I just had to comment on your profile name - excellent!

 

[wardog]

i have a 3 p90 korina and the original owner swapped them for Kent armstrong stacked pickups. did not like the output so I put 3 Duncan antiquity p90's in it, VERY happy with them. Also had to get a new switch, the original was shot as well.

The original pickups should have been Duncan vintage p90's to PRS specs.

 

[Noise Under The Floor]

I can't answer your P90 question, but I just had to comment on your profile name - excellent!

Thanks! Its based off a few things...I'm usually playing guitar in the basement. Also, a play off of several song titles from The Damned (Noise Noise Noise, Under The Floor Again) and Magazine (Song From Under The Floorboards)

i have a 3 p90 korina and the original owner swapped them for Kent armstrong stacked pickups. did not like the output so I put 3 Duncan antiquity p90's in it, VERY happy with them. Also had to get a new switch, the original was shot as well.

The original pickups should have been Duncan vintage p90's to PRS specs.

I usually love P90's but this is my first non Gibson P90 guitar, don't care for these. There's something really congested sounding, for lack of a better description. They're muddy, no snap or openness.

 

[László]

I usually love P90's but this is my first non Gibson P90 guitar, don't care for these. There's something really congested sounding, for lack of a better description. They're muddy, no snap or openness.

Oddly enough, I like them better than the original P-90s that are on my 1965 SG Special. Just goes to show ya, different strokes...!

 

[Brad737]

They're not wound to PRS specs. They're plain, off-the-shelf Seymour P-90s. Here's the catch...PRS uses only the neck model for every position. I think they sound ok. But I've owned aftermarket versions from Lindy Fralin, Jason Lollar, and Ron Thorn. I think they all blow the Duncans away.

 

[Brad737]

BTW, they obviously used the RW/RP version for the 3-pickup guitars...

 

[Noise Under The Floor]

They're not wound to PRS specs. They're plain, off-the-shelf Seymour P-90s. Here's the catch...PRS uses only the neck model for every position. I think they sound ok. But I've owned aftermarket versions from Lindy Fralin, Jason Lollar, and Ron Thorn. I think they all blow the Duncans away.

Hey Brad, thanks for confirming that info. Someone else on another forum mentioned that to me as well...stock SD, all neck. That completely explains why I'm not digging them. I guess they would be good for fat heavy blues, or a really bright amp, but when I think P90's want snap, punch, bark, snarl, etc. These have none of those attributes. Planning on ordering some Fralins ASAP. He's somewhat "local" for me, or Lollars. I've heard great things about Thorns but can't justify the price tag.

 

[Egads]

My pops has a CU22 Soapy with triple P-90s. Anyone know if all three are SD necks?

 

[Noise Under The Floor]

My pops has a CU22 Soapy with triple P-90s. Anyone know if all three are SD necks?

Yes, see Brad's post, #6 above. I've also been told that be several other people on another forums as well.

 

[Egads]

Yes, see Brad's post, #6 above. I've also been told that be several other people on another forums as well.

Duh! I missed that yours was a CU. I was thinking McCarty, with two soapies. Sorry about that.

 

[Zeke L.]

I read that the P90s used in the PRS soapbar guitars were revoiced Seymour Duncan Antiquities, a nice pickup. I'll try to find the reference and list it here.

 

[Zeke L.]

That was fast - here it is:
From PRS’ ad copy:
“There are a lot of folks out there, myself included, who absolutely love the sound of a good P90 soapbar – they have all the character of a singlecoil with a bit more heft. The PRS/Seymour Duncan soapbars in these models have nice bite and grind, single notes are sweet and clean but still have plenty of heft to them, and they are very responsive to where you pick on the string,” stated recording artist and PRS Product Specialist, Bryan Ewald.

For this PRS/Seymour Duncan collaboration, PRS started with the Seymour Duncan Antiquity P90 for its sweet, vintage growl and cool, gritty sparkle. The pickup was modified slightly so it sits at the proper height in PRS’s cavity design. Like with original Antiquity pickups, chords sound full and round, while single notes sing sweetly. A relatively low output pickup; these soapbars have many usable voicings by simply adjusting your volume and tone controls.”

 

[gush]

I had a triple soap and just didn't love it. Wanted one for a really long time but just didn't bond.

Maybe I should have swapped out at least bridge pickup?

 

[Herr Squid]

That was fast - here it is:
From PRS’ ad copy:
“There are a lot of folks out there, myself included, who absolutely love the sound of a good P90 soapbar – they have all the character of a singlecoil with a bit more heft. The PRS/Seymour Duncan soapbars in these models have nice bite and grind, single notes are sweet and clean but still have plenty of heft to them, and they are very responsive to where you pick on the string,” stated recording artist and PRS Product Specialist, Bryan Ewald.

For this PRS/Seymour Duncan collaboration, PRS started with the Seymour Duncan Antiquity P90 for its sweet, vintage growl and cool, gritty sparkle. The pickup was modified slightly so it sits at the proper height in PRS’s cavity design. Like with original Antiquity pickups, chords sound full and round, while single notes sing sweetly. A relatively low output pickup; these soapbars have many usable voicings by simply adjusting your volume and tone controls.”

I think that ad copy was for the 594 Soapbar limited guitars that were released 3-4 years ago. The Cu22 soapbars are much older than that (early 2000s?), and while I think those older P90s were also Duncans, I don't think they're the same.

 

[ViperDoc]

Grab some Lindy Fralins and you will have perma-grin. BKP and Lollar also rock. Always wanted a Cu22 Soapie.

 

[Zeke L.]

I had a triple soap and just didn't love it. Wanted one for a really long time but just didn't bond.

Maybe I should have swapped out at least bridge pickup?

I don’t think changing the bridge pick up would help you bond with that guitar. Too many other variables. If you don’t like it with the stock set up it’s probably just not for you.

 

[Zeke L.]

I think that ad copy was for the 594 Soapbar limited guitars that were released 3-4 years ago. The Cu22 soapbars are much older than that (early 2000s?), and while I think those older P90s were also Duncans, I don't think they're the same.

Yes. There is also a video for the 594 that states the same things. However I still believe that relationship existed between Seymour Duncan and Paul Reed Smith to simply make their antiquities version fit.

 

[gush]

I don’t think changing the bridge pick up would help you bond with that guitar. Too many other variables. If you don’t like it with the stock set up it’s probably just not for you.

It didn't have that angry tone I was longing for. Cu22 platform so I know that part was ok.

Who knows

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

I had a triple soap with a Dimarzio in the bridge. It was awesome but I sold it to fund a Standard