HFS vs \m/

[Screamingdaisy]

I'm sure this was discussed in the past, and I tried searching, but Google doesn't like \m/ and searching "PRS metal pickup" didn't really work out.

So... HFS vs \m/?

And,

Anyone know why I can't order uncovered \m/ aftermarket?

 

[justmund]

Haven't tried \m/s yet so can't comment sorry.

You can however get uncovered \m/s, there's treble and bass on eBay, I know because I bought a "set" and there's still some available

 

[Jazzedout]

I really like the HFS and would really know how it compares to the \m/ ...

 

[CVS]

I have a core CU24 with a HFS bridge pick up. I think I read a post on this form that said HFS stands for "Hot,Fat Screamin", which I can tell you it is all these things. Don't know anything about "m" pickups.

 

[gush]

The only thing that makes them simular is the higher output. That's where it ends. To ME, the hfs is shrill and brittle in standard tuning but seems to lose that the lower you tune.I typically don't care for the hfs but found it to work pretty well in D or lower.

The M is high output but you hear every note in your chord and it is smooth or maybe balanced is a better word.

 

[gush]

I got both covered and uncovered off of ebay.
if you get a set don't be alarmed at how the wires are routed out of the pickup.

 

[solacematt]

Can't say I'm a fan of the \m/ pickups, especially compared to the HFS/VB. Not sure about the whole clarity issues mentioned in stanard tuning. When I got my CU24 in 2010 with HFS/VB I was using it in standard for one of the bands I was in and it was a massive upgrade from the gibby LP I was using (That I used to love before I got the CU24), the tone clean and dirty was impeccable. I didn't feel that way the first time I tried a guitar with the \m/ pickups in it. I actually felt like they lacked the clarity the CU24 had, even moreso when tuned down (I tune down CGCFAC) and it was kind of a turnoff. amp was set up the same way on both as well. So yea, I guess it's a matter of what exactly you're looking for, how you tune, and how you eq your amp that says whether or not it speaks to you and gets the sap rising or not

 

[Drew]

The output of both is more or less the same. The HFS has accentuated treble and midrange. So, its a pickup that needs some care with the amp settings. You can't just plug it into any random amp an have it sound good. Its finicky. If you don't take the time to dial it in, its going to be very shrill and ice picky. However, once you hit that sweet spot, it's massive for thick searing leads. The M is more scooped in the EQ. It thumps in the low end and sings in the high end, but is more rounded off in the top end which avoids that shrillness of the HFS. So, its a pickup that doesn't have to be dialed in just to sound good. On neutral amp setttings on my JVM (everything set to noon), its quite good. The greatest difference between the HFS and M can be found when playing clean. The M cleans are as good as any alnico mag pickup I've ever heard. Usually you don't bother playing cleans with ceramic pickups but the M is beautiful in that regard. The cleans on the HFS are pretty lousy, no matter what you do with the amp.

 

[Screamingdaisy]

Has the HFS stayed the same over the years? Or has PRS tweaked it over time?

 

[solacematt]

The output of both is more or less the same. The HFS has accentuated treble and midrange. So, its a pickup that needs some care with the amp settings. You can't just plug it into any random amp an have it sound good. Its finicky. If you don't take the time to dial it in, its going to be very shrill and ice picky. However, once you hit that sweet spot, it's massive for thick searing leads. The M is more scooped in the EQ. It thumps in the low end and sings in the high end, but is more rounded off in the top end which avoids that shrillness of the HFS. So, its a pickup that doesn't have to be dialed in just to sound good. On neutral amp setttings on my JVM (everything set to noon), its quite good. The greatest difference between the HFS and M can be found when playing clean. The M cleans are as good as any alnico mag pickup I've ever heard. Usually you don't bother playing cleans with ceramic pickups but the M is beautiful in that regard. The cleans on the HFS are pretty lousy, no matter what you do with the amp.

Not for nothing, but you may want to try a tube amp instead of a hybrid like the JVM. I've been using a Rectifier, a Mesa Mark I and a Mark IV, a Fender tweed and prior to those a Marshall JCM800 and the HFS/VB and the pickup set sounded great dirty and clean.

 

[Rider1260]

Others have said it before one persons Ice pick is another clear one persons full is another mud.
I have not tried the M but I do like the HFS that I have in my CU24 I have another that may find a home in my SCT

 

[markintime]

I don't have a lot of experience, but IMHO the HFS/VB in my SE 30th Anny CU24 are a bit different sounding from my '12 SE Cu24, and I like them. I will probably end up putting covers on them purely for cosmetic reasons, but I think it will help my tone since I am primarily a blues player.

 

[VHTStark]

Described really well here: the HFS has lots of upper mids and top end. One my least favourite pickups ever. Words that come to my mind when thinking of the HFS: shrill, brittle and grating. For an old high output PRS pickup, the Dragon 1 blows it away all day long.

The Metal is a different beast to my ears, aggressive mids, but more balanced and with a tight, chunky low end and quick attack. Way more versatile than the name suggests.

 

[solacematt]

Really surprises me to see all the negativity on the HFS/VB pickups...because in the end, the sound that has kind of defined the PRS sound and made them so recognized has been that of the McCarty and the CU24 (HFS/VB), not the \m/ and most definitely not the 58/08's that the company has decided to put in so many of their instruments the past few years.

 

[CVS]

Really surprises me to see all the negativity on the HFS/VB pickups...because in the end, the sound that has kind of defined the PRS sound and made them so recognized has been that of the McCarty and the CU24 (HFS/VB), not the \m/ and most definitely not the 58/08's that the company has decided to put in so many of their instruments the past few years.

I am surprised at all the negativity as well. I have a 2002 CU24 with VB/HFS and every time I start to think about potentially changing out the pickups (usually after reading a thread in this forum) to something more "modern", I quickly retreat because the guitar sounds great the way it is.

 

[Drew]

Not for nothing, but you may want to try a tube amp instead of a hybrid like the JVM. I've been using a Rectifier, a Mesa Mark I and a Mark IV, a Fender tweed and prior to those a Marshall JCM800 and the HFS/VB and the pickup set sounded great dirty and clean.

You may want to tell the guys at Marshall that the JVM is a hybrid amp. I'm sure they'll be just as surprised as I am

 

[solacematt]

You may want to tell the guys at Marshall that the JVM is a hybrid amp. I'm sure they'll be just as surprised as I am

I have a friend with one, it's a solid state hybrid amp with tube pre-amp. That's not quite the same as a JCM800 or 900, or the DSL or TSL series that are all tube amps. Pretty sure the JVM is more along the lines of a hot rodded valevestate amp from the 90's/early '00's.

 

[Deleted member 2284]

I have a friend with one, it's a solid state hybrid amp with tube pre-amp. That's not quite the same as a JCM800 or 900, or the DSL or TSL series that are all tube amps. Pretty sure the JVM is more along the lines of a hot rodded valevestate amp from the 90's/early '00's.

Not quite right EL34s.

 

[vchizzle]

I've used both, but haven't used the HFS in awhile so my memory is probably clouded. All of my reference here is tuned to drop C. I really liked the HFS in solid mahogany guitars. I think the pickup sounds better in standards than in customs. I used one in my McCarty std for a long time. I feel like the \m/ works better for me in either standards or maple tops. The highs aren't quite as in your face if that makes sense. I feel like the \m/ pickup is more dynamic and maybe a little more versatile. I think I get more out working my volume knob too. The Dragon I and \m/ pickups are my favorite for hot pickups by PRS.

 

[vchizzle]

Not quite right EL34s.

Yup.

I have a friend with one, it's a solid state hybrid amp with tube pre-amp. That's not quite the same as a JCM800 or 900, or the DSL or TSL series that are all tube amps. Pretty sure the JVM is more along the lines of a hot rodded valevestate amp from the 90's/early '00's.

Nope.

https://marshallamps.com/products/amplifiers/jvm4-series/jvm410h/