HFS VB combo vs Dragon1s?

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hurtwoodec

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Apr 27, 2012
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Hi all, i am just after some opinions re the title. I always steered clear of the HFS VB combo due to the ceramic magnet in the HFS but my relativley recently acquired 1990 custom has turned me around on this combo.

I have just managed to snag a Dragon1 set and have them incoming. Any thoughts on the differences or similarities would be appreciated.

My understanding is that the HFS is a bit hotter than the Dragon 1 treble pup, and that the Dragon is a little less compressed?
 
The Dragon 1 has a greater resistance, but the HFS is a bit more modern sounding.

I have never gotten along with the VB pickup, so I swapped my VB out for a Dragon 1 neck pickup in my Standard 24. It’s a great combo.
 
Thanks, i guess i will see for myself when the Dragons arrive. Im curious cause the HFS VB combo seems to polarise a lot of people whereas the Dragon 1s have been pretty universally praised.
 
Im reading some older info on the forim saying that the resistance is greater as you said. But the feedback im reading says that the Dragon is smoother!?
 
hurtwoodec said:
Im reading some older info on the forim saying that the resistance is greater as you said. But the feedback im reading says that the Dragon is smoother!?
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I consider it a more “organic” type of hot pickup. It’s also a ceramic magnet, but it’s voiced much different.
 
Ok so I got the Dragon 1s and ....... they are fantastic!

They are absolutely as described and I am understanding why they are held in such high regard.

I would describe them as a super hot paf and with the volume knob they are easy to control and sculpt the gain to your liking, great mids and not at all scooped like the hfs.

Good, good.
 
I love the Dragon 1 neck so much that I bought another one to pair with my HFS in my ‘91.

Glad you like them! They truly are great pickups.
 
Agreed. I'm actually a little surprised that this thread didn't generate more responses!?

I guess Dragons are getting harder to find and most Prs players of the last 10 or 15 yrs wouldn't have them on their radar.
 
hurtwoodec said:
Agreed. I'm actually a little surprised that this thread didn't generate more responses!?

I guess Dragons are getting harder to find and most Prs players of the last 10 or 15 yrs wouldn't have them on their radar.
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They definitely are an acquired taste. I personally find them best suited for all mahogany guitars. I found them the best in my mahogany CE due to the maple neck and all mahogany body. They sound great in my Standard 22, but I didn’t like them in my CU24.
 
Bowtiefanatc said:
They definitely are an acquired taste. I personally find them best suited for all mahogany guitars. I found them the best in my mahogany CE due to the maple neck and all mahogany body. They sound great in my Standard 22, but I didn’t like them in my CU24.
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That's interesting, for me it has been the last piece to a Custom 24 puzzle.

I have had 5 custom 24s. None of them hung around until the current 1990 sweet switch milcom small heel yada one I have now.

And those dragons have now topped it off.
 
Well then I suppose this is a fair question for me to be asking in the middle of this thread:

If I haven't really liked 85/15 pickups in CU22/CU24 guitars (a little too "modern" scooped and punchy-attack for me) but I do prefer 59/09's in these guitars (the punch is in the mids, but still modern-ish qualities to my ears)... would I even like the Dragons (I's or II's) or the HFS/Vintage Bass? Those are all from the era where most guitarists sort of poo-poo'ed PRS pickups--saying the guitars were great, but the pickups weren't--so I'm kinda hesitant to go out of my way to try them.

For the record... 57/08's, 53/10's, RP's, 408's, Artist V's... all killer freaking pickups that do not deserve any "poo-poo'ing" from the peanut gallery.
 
Going Modal said:
Well then I suppose this is a fair question for me to be asking in the middle of this thread:

If I haven't really liked 85/15 pickups in CU22/CU24 guitars (a little too "modern" scooped and punchy-attack for me) but I do prefer 59/09's in these guitars (the punch is in the mids, but still modern-ish qualities to my ears)... would I even like the Dragons (I's or II's) or the HFS/Vintage Bass? Those are all from the era where most guitarists sort of poo-poo'ed PRS pickups--saying the guitars were great, but the pickups weren't--so I'm kinda hesitant to go out of my way to try them.

For the record... 57/08's, 53/10's, RP's, 408's, Artist V's... all killer freaking pickups that do not deserve any "poo-poo'ing" from the peanut gallery.
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If you like the 59/09’s I think you would like the Dragon 1’s. The neck is super versatile, not overly bassy. The bridge is really hot, but I think in a good way.
 
Going Modal said:
Well then I suppose this is a fair question for me to be asking in the middle of this thread:

If I haven't really liked 85/15 pickups in CU22/CU24 guitars (a little too "modern" scooped and punchy-attack for me) but I do prefer 59/09's in these guitars (the punch is in the mids, but still modern-ish qualities to my ears)... would I even like the Dragons (I's or II's) or the HFS/Vintage Bass? Those are all from the era where most guitarists sort of poo-poo'ed PRS pickups--saying the guitars were great, but the pickups weren't--so I'm kinda hesitant to go out of my way to try them.

For the record... 57/08's, 53/10's, RP's, 408's, Artist V's... all killer freaking pickups that do not deserve any "poo-poo'ing" from the peanut gallery.
Click to expand...

Well here is my 2c whatever that's worth, I have had 5708s, 5909s, Dragon 2s, HFS VB and now Dragon 1s in a custom.

I found the 5708s to be a great paf, but not the unobtainium fan boy stuff others talk about. I hated the Dragon 2s and would rate them among the worst most bland pickups I've ever experienced. The 5909s underwhelmed me, a hotter paf - yes, but I think the perfect hot pafs are the dgt pickups. The 5909s sounded too middy and congested to my ears, not enough "air".

Now the HFS vb combo are pretty scooped and I really liked the punch of the 15k ceramic magnet.

So for me, in a custom, the Dragons are about perfect for what I want. They have a good mid presence but not congested, they clean up great with the volume pot. If I run my volume down to 6 or 7 they can pull off a pretty decent paffy type tone and up to 10 they roar!

I have heard and experienced the 8515s and thought they were pretty bright. If you get the chance to give some Dragons 1s a go, you should.

Ymmv.
 
Bowtiefanatc said:
If you like the 59/09’s I think you would like the Dragon 1’s. The neck is super versatile, not overly bassy. The bridge is really hot, but I think in a good way.
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hurtwoodec said:
Well here is my 2c whatever that's worth, I have had 5708s, 5909s, Dragon 2s, HFS VB and now Dragon 1s in a custom.

I found the 5708s to be a great paf, but not the unobtainium fan boy stuff others talk about. I hated the Dragon 2s and would rate them among the worst most bland pickups I've ever experienced. The 5909s underwhelmed me, a hotter paf - yes, but I think the perfect hot pafs are the dgt pickups. The 5909s sounded too middy and congested to my ears, not enough "air".

Now the HFS vb combo are pretty scooped and I really liked the punch of the 15k ceramic magnet.

So for me, in a custom, the Dragons are about perfect for what I want. They have a good mid presence but not congested, they clean up great with the volume pot. If I run my volume down to 6 or 7 they can pull off a pretty decent paffy type tone and up to 10 they roar!

I have heard and experienced the 8515s and thought they were pretty bright. If you get the chance to give some Dragons 1s a go, you should.

Ymmv.
Click to expand...

Thanks! These comments do seem to be helpful for me.
 
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