Favorite pickups?

[gush]

Regarding PRS, I really like the McCarty pups. They just work well with my guitars and my rig. I've put them in my P22 and my Custom, and it's a definite improvement. Apart from PRS, I've been experimenting with Bare Knuckles of late with great results.

Just curious, do you like the hfs?

 

[pjdude]

Just curious, do you like the hfs?

My HFS usage peaked in the early-middle 90s. When the Dragon pickups came out, I bought a set for my Custom and they stayed there until last year when I put McCartys in said guitar. I liked the HFS clean. Big fat mids that played nicely with the neck pickup via the 5-way rotary. Amp distortion made them bright...real bright. The Dragons, by comparison, were 'bigger' sounding to my ears than the HFS. I think the HFS is one of those pickups that sounds better in some guitars than others.

 

[DISTORT6]

Dragon I's and #7's.
DragonII's work well for me with LOW tunings. I didn't like them tuned to E, Drop-D, D, Drop-C…BUT, in B-standard, wonderful.

 

[veinbuster]

I don't think I can pick a favourite. I really like the options from the 408 mini toggles. I seem to have gathered a few 59/09. Can I choose "one of each".

 

[TroyBaer]

I tried a guys prs in the mid 90s and hated it. I think it had the hfs. Still dislike the hfs in standard tuning. It changes its character in D or lower.

That's been my experience as well. I swapped the ceramic magnet in my SE Cu24's HFS to an Alnico V because I thought it was too nasal, but I thought the equivalent pickups in the SE Cu24-7s I've had sounded fine.

 

[Rider1260]

I have 305, 408, #6, VB/HFS, 57/08, Modern eagle ( think they are early 57/08s )
I have not found any I dislike yet they all bring something new to the table for me, I have never liked all my guitars to be the same

 

[John Beef]

Different pickups sound different in different guitars, so while a DGT bridge pickup sounds positively glorious in my CU22, it was a downgrade over the stock pickup in my Mira.

 

[RedGuitars]

Narrowfields, followed very closely by 57/08's.

I thought the NF's were a 57/08 variant. I've seen them referred to as Narrowfield 57/08's...

 

[Bignote]

I am kinda an old school guy. I really dig the McCarty pickups. The coils tapping is quite useful as well.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I have never liked all my guitars to be the same

Wisdom.

 

[Whitecat]

I thought the NF's were a 57/08 variant. I've seen them referred to as Narrowfield 57/08's...

Same wire & magnets.

 

[vchizzle]

5708 in the neck. Bridge pickup would depend on the guitar. Probably could go 5909 for the bridge and be pretty safe on most guitars.

 

[JustRob]

5708 in the neck. Bridge pickup would depend on the guitar. Probably could go 5909 for the bridge and be pretty safe on most guitars.

Interesting.

I let go of 2 guitars with 59/09s, but kept the SCHBII with 57/08s. I suspect my issue with the 59/09s was probably my amp, but the 57/08s sounded way better with that same cr*ppy amp.

Can't wait to try the 58/15s.

 

[Pine Cone]

Why do you all like humbuckers more than soapbar P90s? I'm just curious. Cleaner sounding, more versitile, less hum?

 

[solacematt]

McCarty Archtop followed by the HFS/VB combination.

 

[11top]

If I'm picking one: 59/09s.

 

[vchizzle]

If I'm picking one: 59/09s.

Glad you haven't fallen off the wagon!

 

[11top]

Glad you haven't fallen off the wagon!

At my age, I'm just glad I haven't fallen.

 

[vchizzle]

At my age, I'm just glad I haven't fallen.

Well, there's always life alert. Hey, maybe you could be on their next commercial there, old timer! Maybe it would fund the next PS, with a handle on the headstock to use as a cane. Dual purpose!

 

[Whitecat]

Why do you all like humbuckers more than soapbar P90s? I'm just curious. Cleaner sounding, more versitile, less hum?

I don't necessarily, I was just keeping with PRS and their stock P90s are acceptable, but not amazing. Really love them otherwise.