How similar are the 58/15 LT "S" to the American 58/15 LT pickups

[Kiper]

To start off, I know this sounds like a common question but I really can't find the answer anywhere (here or otherwise).

I have a PRS SE McCarty 594. I'm toying with the idea of getting an S2 McCarty 594 which has the American made 58/15 LT pickups.

Now, I find the LT "S" pickups really too low output for my liking. I prefer medium output pickups, even for heavier music, but these are just too low of an output.

So my question is, if I were to get an S2 McCarty 594, how similar are the LT and LT "S" pickups in terms of output?

 

[24Fretter]

Output probably similar, but tone is not. I love the usa LTs; the S sound nothing like them.

 

[Kiper]

Interesting.

Wish I could just try them but they don't have many S2s around where I live.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

Two things you could do - order an S2 from a dealer with a good return policy so you can try it yourself through your rig, but you're not on the hook if you don't like it.
Or, pick up a simple boost pedal and keep using what you've got if you like the tone but just want a stronger output driving your amp

 

[Kiper]

What I'd also like to know is where they line up with the Gibson pickups. I've looked several times for charts but haven't found anything yet.

 

[gush]

I feel this needs to be said.

The core LT pickups are pretty low output HOWEVER both neck and bridge PUs provide a push that I "feel" when playing. It's almost like there is a force pushing the notes out longer and with authority.

I absolutely LOVE all versions of this neck PU.....58 or 85.......doesn't matter....all are full and thick with tone and sound better the cleaner you play them.

The bridge leaves me scratching my head. I don't love the rhythm tones I get from bridge PU but it has that "push" I was talking about that makes lead lines speak with fullness and authority.

Normally when I don't gel with a pickup.....it's 100% outta there but I just keep coming back to the LT???????

I just scored a set of DGT pickups and the bridge is going in this guitar so I will find out how well a DGT bridge and LT neck pair up. Never know....

 

[Matte82]

I have 4 594's. Two cores with 58/15LTs, one with soapbars, and an SE. When played back to back there is very little difference imo. I think it would hard for a guitarist to pick which was which with any consistency in an a/b/c blind test. And your average listener wouldn't be able to at all. You do notice a slight difference in feel when playing. I feel like the SE is a bit more compressed. Especially in the high mids. So it has a bit of built in attack all the time. Where as I once heard someone say the LT's are "polite". And that's a good description. At least when playing softer. But you can dig in and get all the but you want out of the LT's too. It's not there all the time.

To say it another way. I love picking up the SE, to just rock out. And if I wanted I could swap for the LT's. But I don't feel any need to whatsoever.

 

[Rocketscientist90]

I have 4 594's. Two cores with 58/15LTs, one with soapbars, and an SE. When played back to back there is very little difference imo. I think it would hard for a guitarist to pick which was which with any consistency in an a/b/c blind test. And your average listener wouldn't be able to at all. You do notice a slight difference in feel when playing. I feel like the SE is a bit more compressed. Especially in the high mids. So it has a bit of built in attack all the time. Where as I once heard someone say the LT's are "polite". And that's a good description. At least when playing softer. But you can dig in and get all the but you want out of the LT's too. It's not there all the time.

To say it another way. I love picking up the SE, to just rock out. And if I wanted I could swap for the LT's. But I don't feel any need to whatsoever.

Most of the differences are between our ears and are small nuances. In a mix, the subtle differences are drowned out, and with a bit of dirt I think even the nuances that survive are lost completely. For most people they are imperceivable.

By complete coincidence I watched this video on 594s yesterday with proper headphones on, and I couldnt really tell the difference. Those who can got better ears than I do! The most important thing is that you are happy with the instrument (even if you are the only one that can tell the difference).

 

[Alessandro]

The pickups in the SE 594s are really good and close. It’s those damn pots and the switch that will absolutely let you down eventually. Change those and keep the pickups they are more than fine for that guitar

 

[Alessandro]

For high gain roll the bridge tone back to 7.5/8 and hit it with a boost pedal

 

[Matte82]

Most of the differences are between our ears and are small nuances. In a mix, the subtle differences are drowned out, and with a bit of dirt I think even the nuances that survive are lost completely. For most people they are imperceivable.

By complete coincidence I watched this video on 594s yesterday with proper headphones on, and I couldnt really tell the difference. Those who can got better ears than I do! The most important thing is that you are happy with the instrument (even if you are the only one that can tell the difference).

Absolutely. It's is very far from a night and day difference imo. It also helps when you learn we have very short and unreliable hearing memory. If it's not nearly instantly back to back. It's nearly impossible to accurately hear differences.

 

[Matte82]

The pickups in the SE 594s are really good and close. It’s those damn pots and the switch that will absolutely let you down eventually. Change those and keep the pickups they are more than fine for that guitar

Yes the 3-way switches they use do tend to fail too soon and at the most inopportune time. I've not had too many issues with the pots but I do tend to swap those when I'm doing the switch. Might as well get it all up to spec.

 

[Abe]

I've never even held a Core or S2 PRS, only played on my SE with the 58/15 LT "S" pups, which I'm happy with for now. I have to try it plugged into a bigger variety of amps n stuff before I can say if I suspect my Gibson Les Paul had better pups for clean channel clarity. Achieved a great overdriven tone with my current rig but haven't been able to get the best range of clean.