Pickup Question

[zerocool81]

I currently have a Schecter sls c1 ex baritone with passive pickups. I am completely unsatisfied with the current Seymour Duncan full shred bridge and jazz neck. I have heard nothing but praise about PRS's USA made pickups and decided to start checking them out.

From everything I have heard I am leaning towards the 57/08's. That being said I cannot find any examples of the pickup in an extended scale application.

Anyone know how this combo might work out? I'm not looking for high output. I'm looking for tone. You can always push an amp to get extra juice without throwing Invaders and EMG 81's. Thanks for your time.

 

[maxtuna26]

Hi, welcome to the forum! IMO, I don't think it matters that much whether it's baritone or standard scale. The basic tone will be there, the differences will only be in your amp's eq, tuning and probably "that piece of wood". What's the guitar going to be plugged into? And your preferred tuning?

 

[zerocool81]

I have an EVH 5150 iii 50 watt head into an Avatar 4x12 with greenbacks. When using my baritone I usually play in A#.

 

[John Beef]

Going from a full shred to a 57/08 in the bridge will be a night and day difference and you might find the pendulum swung too far in the other direction. Maybe not, who knows?

I currently have a SE Mushok baritone strung with 14s and tuned to B standard. I also have a USA Mira strung with 13s and tuned to B standard. My main standard tuned guitar is my Custom 22 with DGT pickups. The important thing for me is to be able to be able to switch guitars at a gig and not have to touch any knobs anywhere. I have found that it helps to have a pickup that's just a touch hotter for the lower tuned stuff than what I would normally use in a standard tuned guitar.

The baritone with a Suhr SSV+ bridge pickup pairs nicely with the CU22 when I switch back and forth. The Mira, when it was standard tuned, paired nicely with the CU22 when I would switch back and forth. But since stringing the Mira with 13s and down tuning it, the stock Mira bridge pickup lacks a little in the balls department. Also, it should be noted that even though we play several songs in lower tunings, we are not a metal band and metal is not what we're going for.

The point of all my rambling is, maybe 59/09s would be more the speed you're looking for. They're a little hotter and might get you a fuller sound.

 

[zebraprs]

Why not try the new \m/ Metal pickups?

 

[zerocool81]

The 59/09's may be an option. Would I not have to change the 3 way blade pickup selector to a 5 way to be compatible?

I think the new \m/ pickups may be too hot for what I am looking for. My amp is already hot as is. I do not want the pickups to push my clean channel into unwanted breakup. I realize I can roll off the volume to help prevent that; however I would rather not have to utilize those kinds of techniques to get the sound I am looking for.

 

[claythomas]

plus 1

 

[zerocool81]

I guess I am wondering about the midrange response between the 57/08's and 59/09's.

From my experience, baritones tend to accentuate lows and highs. With mine being mahogany, I am worried about getting a too scooped ice pick sound going on.

 

[John Beef]

The 59/09's may be an option. Would I not have to change the 3 way blade pickup selector to a 5 way to be compatible?

There are a couple different versions of this pickup as far as wiring goes. If you check out the schematics on the PRS Support pages, you should be able to find the correct wiring for your guitar. I'm not really familiar with the one you mentioned.

As far as midrange response, I would have defer that to someone who has used both 57/08s and 59/09s in the same guitar.