HBII Pickup change to Covered 59/09's

[Coaxion33]

I recently bought a set of covered 59/09's to replace the Archtop's in my 2003 HBII. I know they're supposed to be hotter than 57/08's but these were tested to be 8.74 on the treble, and 8.1 on the bass. I'm going to have someone who knows how to swap pickups do the change, but I wanted to know what I'm talking about before finding someone to do the work.

A couple things I'm wondering:
Can these pickups be split if I add a push pull tone pot? Anyone have experience with this? Suggestions on what to think about or look for?
Is there anything else I would want to change out from the original electronics? The guitar is from '03, is there an upgrade on any of the pots that PRS is currently utilizing?

I appreciate anything anyone has to add to my search here. I know very little when it comes to this stuff, but want to know more of what I'm getting into

Thanks!

Joe

 

[Herr Squid]

If the 59/09s have a white wire coming out, along with the usual braided one, then yes they can be split with a push/pull tone pot. The HBII won't have one; so it'd need to be retrofitted. Since the switch on the back of the pot is pretty tall, I don't know if they'd fit in the HBII. Might need a mini toggle or some other kind of switch instead.

 

[gush]

I have uncovered 5909s. They dont have separate white wire like my McCarty pickups do. They are 3 wire plus braid and they split. Fwiw

 

[Chitarrista scarso]

Hello gush!
I've a set of 59/09 uncovered with 3 wires and shield like yours; according the PRS diagram supplied they are splittable in this way:
Neck: white hot - red split - black ground
Bridge: black hot - red split - white ground
Red wires are for split, hot and ground are reversed from neck to bridge; this is PRS diagram, i've not assembled my guitar so i can't be 100x100 sure.
I hope this helps Coaxion. Ciao!

 

[ADP]

Covered 59/09s should have a braided lead and a white conductor to split. Uncovered pickups usually have the black, white and red plus earth/ground. I have 59/09s in both configurations.

 

[gush]

Covered 59/09s should have a braided lead and a white conductor to split. Uncovered pickups usually have the black, white and red plus earth/ground. I have 59/09s in both configurations.

Interesting. Why the different wires? Is there a tone difference?

 

[gush]

Hello gush!
I've a set of 59/09 uncovered with 3 wires and shield like yours; according the PRS diagram supplied they are splittable in this way:
Neck: white hot - red split - black ground
Bridge: black hot - red split - white ground
Red wires are for split, hot and ground are reversed from neck to bridge; this is PRS diagram, i've not assembled my guitar so i can't be 100x100 sure.
I hope this helps Coaxion. Ciao!

Oh and Hello my Italian forum Brother!

 

[ADP]

Interesting. Why the different wires? Is there a tone difference?

It's down to the switch they were intended to be used with. The covered pickups would normally be in a guitar with a 3-way toggle, and the uncovered pickups in a guitar with a 5-way blade.

 

[Coaxion33]

Covered 59/09s should have a braided lead and a white conductor to split. Uncovered pickups usually have the black, white and red plus earth/ground. I have 59/09s in both configurations.

Thanks for the thoughts everyone! BTW, This is my first post here as I'm sure you can see

Yeah, my 59/05's definitely have the white wire. I read after I posted this that with the Piezo, a push/pull tone pot won't fit because of the circuit board height. I really wouldn't want to add a separate switch in the guitar by drilling another hole.

Anyone have thoughts on the tone or volume pot on an '03? Have they changed at all with the newer HB's? I know PRS in general is known for being able to roll the volume back without losing the hi's...do the pots have anything to do with this?

 

[LJD]

I know PRS in general is known for being able to roll the volume back without losing the hi's...do the pots have anything to do with this?

Some models have treble bleeds on the volume pot, not a difficult mod to add or take off. Someone here added a coil split mini toggle by drilling a hole in the piezo assembly plate, next to the battery access. Replacement plates are available in the PRS store.

 

[gush]

It's down to the switch they were intended to be used with. The covered pickups would normally be in a guitar with a 3-way toggle, and the uncovered pickups in a guitar with a 5-way blade.

Ok but my 3 wire / shield works with a 3 waytoggle so why have the 2 wire?

 

[Chitarrista scarso]

Oh and Hello my Italian forum Brother!

:top:
To Coaxion: if you don't want drill another hole, a cheap solution could be swap the miniswitch for piezo/magnetic with a similar switch to split coils, and use the third volume pot for piezo blend... my 1,5 cent!

 

[Egads]

:top:
To Coaxion: if you don't want drill another hole, a cheap solution could be swap the miniswitch for piezo/magnetic with a similar switch to split coils, and use the third volume pot for piezo blend... my 1,5 cent!

^^^THIS^^^

 

[ADP]

Ok but my 3 wire / shield works with a 3 waytoggle so why have the 2 wire?

I don't know why that is, except perhaps for the more vintage look of the two leads.

 

[Coaxion33]

Some great ideas! Really appreciate them

Anyone have thoughts on the Pre- '07 wiring vs Post '07 wiring? Mine would obviously have the Pre wiring since it's an '03. What was the change?

 

[zebraprs]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone! BTW, This is my first post here as I'm sure you can see

Yeah, my 59/05's definitely have the white wire. I read after I posted this that with the Piezo, a push/pull tone pot won't fit because of the circuit board height. I really wouldn't want to add a separate switch in the guitar by drilling another hole.

Anyone have thoughts on the tone or volume pot on an '03? Have they changed at all with the newer HB's? I know PRS in general is known for being able to roll the volume back without losing the hi's...do the pots have anything to do with this?

I had the PTC install a 5 way rotary and Artist Pickups in my 2013 HBII. it sounds great and I have all my favorite sounds.. plus the Piezo...

 

[tabl10s]

I had the PTC install a 5 way rotary and Artist Pickups in my 2013 HBII. it sounds great and I have all my favorite sounds.. plus the Piezo...

How is the combination?