How are the DC3 pickups/ guitars

[Deleted member 5962]

I just saw a deal on a used one. I love my PRS guitars and have always wanted a "PRS Strat." I LOVE the Pattern Regular neck. I was convinced several years ago, that I needed a 305. I got one brief test, with an amp I wasn't familiar with and I wasn't blown away buy the tones.

So how are the pickups? I would be looking to replace a strat. I've heard the PRS pickups are strat like, but not as bright. That would be fine! I have also heard that you can get the quack if you adjust the pickup height. Basically, I love everything about the guitar, except I haven't had a good chance to try the pickups. And, if I do this deal, it might be a "drive an hour to meet in the middle" deal... No chance to bring this home and try it out first.

So... How are these pickups? How different are they from other single coils?

 

[SharkGuitar]

I will say this, I am totally in love with my NF3!
I have two Srats, a Tele style guitar, A Custom 24, a JEM, a Carvin Contour C66, a Reverend Pete Anderson Eastsider, and a few others.
That NF3 though just has some magical properties that make me want to play it so much!
Sad they have stopped production of them.

 

[Link]

The DC3 pickups yield really good single coil sounds. Maybe very slightly warmer and less ice-picky than your average Strat pickup. At the 2010 PRS Experience, Paul did a side by side comparison with a DC3 and a vintage Strat. Can't say which one sounded better; both sounded really good. I'm pretty sure that an average listener would not notice any difference.

I have a DC3 and a nice AVRI Strat. From an ergonomic standpoint, the DC3 wins. I prefer the neck finish, the tuners, and the vibrato on the DC3. Also, the DC3 scale is slightly shorter. However, the Strat is iconic. I would never sell my Strat.

It's always easy spending other people's money, but if I were you, I would definitely consider getting a DC3 while you still can.

 

[vox801]

I have a DC3... and I've owned a few strats at one time or another. As far as the pickups go, it's very strat-like, the tones are there, but warmer and you can hear more of the wood. I played it side by side with an American Standard Strat. The DC3 was a tad darker than the strat, but I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference in a live situation..... Also, the DC3 is much easier to play, stays in tune and has the better trem. I'd say it has the flavor of a 50's strat. IMO

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I have 3 strats, so replacing one of them, especially if I like this better, is not a problem.

 

[GeoDude]

I bought one and kept it for two weeks, but returned it and got an NF3 . I found the DC3 to a bit too trebley, but I was playing it through a less than optimal amp. Still, its overall sound was very strat like, and there was no problem getting the out of phase sounds from positions 2 and 4. As for playability, it is tremendous, and the neck is fantastic. Two things to look out for, though: the middle pickup might get in your way more than a strats (you can lower it, but that does change the sound a bit), and the frets are jumbos, which for me took a little getting used to. Anyway, good luck.

 

[Rider1260]

I have the 305 and I have always loved the way it played ( sounded really good also ) I did two things that really ( IMHO ) changed the guitar for the better

1) Lower the Neck and middle pickups all the way down

2) Switch to 9.5 strings it just makes it feel a bit looser which is better for me.

Good luck in your search

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Thanks for the info. A couple more specific questions that I forgot to answer the first time. Are the pickups noiseless? And if not, are the 2 and 4 positions noise canceling (middle pickup reverse wound)?

 

[Link]

Thanks for the info. A couple more specific questions that I forgot to answer the first time. Are the pickups noiseless? And if not, are the 2 and 4 positions noise canceling (middle pickup reverse wound)?

Not noiseless, but 2 and 4 are noise canceling.