Please help me decide on pickups

[chet]

Hello everyone. It's been a while since I have been on. I've been in a pretty ugly battle with cancer that's getting the best of me.

I have a 2013 CU22 with HFS treble and Vintage Bass pickups. The HFS just doesn't do it for me so instead of swapping out one, I want to replace both. The HFS is too tingy. It's ear piercing.

I play mostly rock and metal.

I hate to do anything to this guitar. It has no more then an hour playing time on it. The guitar is freaking mint.

What would you guys suggest?

Thank you all.

 

[carpincowboy]

Sorry to here about your battle with the illness. I hope you beat it.
The obvious answer would be the \m/ pickups

 

[alantig]

Sorry to hear about your illness - stay strong!

I agree that the \m/ are likely the way to go for you. But don't be afraid to make the switch - it can give you a whole new appreciation for the guitar. I have a CU24 that came with the VB/HFS combo. Very happy with it, but it didn't have "that" PRS sound that I was looking for then. When they did the reissue T&Bs, I popped a set of those in - whammy! Suddenly that quack I couldn't find in the in-between positions was there.

 

[swede71]

I would trade it in for a 408 .Customs are kinda bright guitars to start with so have that in mind if you swap the pickup.

 

[prsrocker1988]

I'm a vintagey pickup guy so I'm going to recommend the 59/09 set that you can drop in (provided your guitar has a 5 way switch and I'm sure it does). I have the 57/08s in my CU24 but with a 3 way/PP setup and it rocks. If I need gain, I use footpedals since I don't use amp dirt. Even in a modern style 24 fret guitar I get killer classic rock tones.

Another option is the \m/ pickups since they are supposed to be pretty versatile.

 

[maxtuna26]

Chet, I wish you the best in your battle. Hope life will give you the strength to fight on! :box:

Anyway, to answer your question. Since you're into metal/rock, I would recommend the Tremonti set. They sound huge and heavy, but never have I heard a Tremonti that's ear-piercingly bright. You could also try to hunt down Dragon IIs, many had said they're not bright enough or dark-sounding. Perhaps that could be where you wanted to go with your sound.

Erhm, a little suggestion here, which is non-PRS. Maybe the Dimarzio Crunch Lab/Liquifire would work for you too. It's smooth and powerful, but retains it's tightness. Listen to Petrucci's playing and you'll never find the sound too jagged/piercing. Just remember to install the Crunch Lab with the bar magnet towards the neck.

Good luck! :beer:

 

[vchizzle]

Chet, glad to have ya back - keep on fighting brother!
The \m/ is what I'd go with for high output AND they are versatile, rolling off the volume allows for nice clean up and good dynamics. The Tremonti pickups are also a good fit, IMO, for what you're after. The bridge pickup didn't clean up well enough for me personally though. Could have been my rig or set up or something but I find \m/ to work out better for me.

 

[chet]

Thank you all for the kind words.

I have the Tremonti pickups in a Tremonti Custom. I do like them.

I believe I will go with the metal pickups.

Thanks again!! I have been eyeing the new PRS Archon amp as well.

I will let you guys know when the swap is complete.