do I have santana pickups or no?

D

dazco

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Apr 15, 2014
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I just took my bridge pickup out and on the bottom theres a sticker that says "245" Is it possible that they are no longer putting santana pickups in these or do all SE pickups say 245 no matter what they are?
 
This may clear things up a little.
The pickups are quoted on PRS's website as being 'Santana humbuckers'. "These are new pickups that Paul spec'd specifically for Carlos and the 24.5-inch scale length," explains PRS's Doug Shive. "We are referring to them as '245' pickups because we plan to use them on different models."
Confusingly they have different specs to the existing USA-made 245 humbuckers. "I cannot divulge the amount of turns," continues Shive, "but I can say the US 245 pickups have a DC resistance of 8.75k ohm (treble pickup) and 8k (bass). They both use Alnico II magnets and both have covers. The SE 245 pickups have a DC resistance of 10.5k (treble) and 8k (bass)."
They both use Alnico V magnets and neither has covers, so it seems that the names are the same and not much else!
Click to expand...
 
NomadMike said:
This may clear things up a little.

The pickups are quoted on PRS's website as being 'Santana humbuckers'. "These are new pickups that Paul spec'd specifically for Carlos and the 24.5-inch scale length," explains PRS's Doug Shive. "We are referring to them as '245' pickups because we plan to use them on different models."
Confusingly they have different specs to the existing USA-made 245 humbuckers. "I cannot divulge the amount of turns," continues Shive, "but I can say the US 245 pickups have a DC resistance of 8.75k ohm (treble pickup) and 8k (bass). They both use Alnico II magnets and both have covers. The SE 245 pickups have a DC resistance of 10.5k (treble) and 8k (bass)."
They both use Alnico V magnets and neither has covers, so it seems that the names are the same and not much else!
Click to expand...
Dang, man! What's your source? How's a guy go about finding out more info like this?

Also supposedly US Mira pickups and US 245 pickups are the same as far as wire, winds and magnets. Mira pickups are uncovered with a coil split, 245 pickups have covers and no split wire. My Mira's pickups are 9.3K treble and 8K bass. They're also pretty bright and I'm positively flabbergasted to learn they might be alnico 2? I would have bet a lot of money they were A5 - but I bought it used so the magnets easily could have been swapped out.

Furthermore, if there is such a difference between US and SE 245 pickups, what are the the differences between US and SE HFS/VB pickups?
 
cjmwrx said:
Considering Shawn works for the man, I would say he is correct.
Click to expand...

I couldn't count the times a company rep gave me wrong info on things like this from all sorts of companies. Many times small details change and the employees aren't aware or at least not for a time. It's not only common but epidemic and i run into it constantly in both my job and personal life. In fact, when i ask question of any company's employees i would estimate they are wrong or don't know well more than 1/2 the time. So no disrespect to Shawn, as it's not about him. But when i see pickups listed as different in the specs and employees tell me something different theres a red flag. Either he's not been informed or the page is wrong, and neither is the more likely scenario.

Anyways, on a happier note i made the pickups splittable and the result is very nice. I feared the neck especially was too low at 8k to make for a split tone that wouldn't be too weak. but they both seem to work well like this, tho i haven't yet played it thru my own amp and i'm most familiar with that amp. But i played it thru a blues Jr and it's getting a nice chimey cleaner tone when i turn down. Just what i needed on this guitar to fill out my need for versatility.
 
John Beef said:
Dang, man! What's your source? How's a guy go about finding out more info like this?

Also supposedly US Mira pickups and US 245 pickups are the same as far as wire, winds and magnets. Mira pickups are uncovered with a coil split, 245 pickups have covers and no split wire. My Mira's pickups are 9.3K treble and 8K bass. They're also pretty bright and I'm positively flabbergasted to learn they might be alnico 2? I would have bet a lot of money they were A5 - but I bought it used so the magnets easily could have been swapped out.

Furthermore, if there is such a difference between US and SE 245 pickups, what are the the differences between US and SE HFS/VB pickups?
Click to expand...

The SE HFS/VB and the US HFS/VB pickups follow the same formula, so the maganets types are the same and the output levels are similar.
 
Shawn, what about the S2 Mira pickups, what's the story on them? Are they similar to the 245s? I'm trying to learn my way around PRS territory and the PRS pickups are another world to me.
 
S2 Mira pups use the same formula as the original Mira pickups. The Mira and 245 (US) pickups are basically the same except for the covers used on the 245 pickups and coil tap wire used to the Mira pickups.
 
So the S2 Mira pickups are pretty close to the original Mira pickups which are similar to the US 245. Thanks Shawn, now when I hear a demo I have a point of reference.
 
Last edited:
dazco said:
I couldn't count the times a company rep gave me wrong info on things like this from all sorts of companies. Many times small details change and the employees aren't aware or at least not for a time. It's not only common but epidemic and i run into it constantly in both my job and personal life. In fact, when i ask question of any company's employees i would estimate they are wrong or don't know well more than 1/2 the time. So no disrespect to Shawn, as it's not about him. But when i see pickups listed as different in the specs and employees tell me something different theres a red flag. Either he's not been informed or the page is wrong, and neither is the more likely scenario.

Anyways, on a happier note i made the pickups splittable and the result is very nice. I feared the neck especially was too low at 8k to make for a split tone that wouldn't be too weak. but they both seem to work well like this, tho i haven't yet played it thru my own amp and i'm most familiar with that amp. But i played it thru a blues Jr and it's getting a nice chimey cleaner tone when i turn down. Just what i needed on this guitar to fill out my need for versatility.
Click to expand...

With other manufacturers, you may just be right. But, PRS is a small company. And Shawn has RARELY if EVER steered anyone wrong looking for information regarding PRS products. But, welcome to the forum anyway!
 
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