PRS #7 pickups compatability

[paulee]

I am looking at pickup a set of PRS #7 pickups that came out of a 2000 Singlecut to put into a Custom 22, would they be compatible, or do the different controls on the 2 models make this unworkable?

 

[thewesdavis]

I am looking at pickup a set of PRS #7 pickups that came out of a 2000 Singlecut to put into a Custom 22, would they be compatible, or do the different controls on the 2 models make this unworkable?

The old singlecuts are les paul wiring - so you would be going "down" to a master tone and a master volume with the 3 way switch, but they'll wire in like any other PRS pickups.

 

[paulee]

So if I understand you correctly, they would not be able to coil split, correct?

 

[thewesdavis]

You could wire a push/pull tone pot to coil split them...or swap out the 3 way switch for a 5-way rotary (that would be my preference)

 

[paulee]

Thanks for the information!

 

[gush]

Thanks for the information!

You must remember the wire configuration onwhatever #7 pickups you buy will determine most of this.

They must have black white red and shield to work with rotary and one magnet needs flipped so they are out of phase.

If they have big black wire covered in mesh plus a small white coil tap wire then these will work with 3 way toggle.

You can install a push pull tone pot to do coil splits

 

[Herr Squid]

Those pickups will probably have the big black wire covered in mesh and not have the additional white tap wire. In which case they won't even split. Those old Singlecuts didn't offer coil splitting, certainly my '01 didn't. I think the rotary would be a no-go with those pickups.

 

[paulee]

Here is the wiring configuration.

https://reverb.com/item/89222183-paul-reed-smith-prs-7-pickup-set

 

[Herr Squid]

Here is the wiring configuration.

https://reverb.com/item/89222183-paul-reed-smith-prs-7-pickup-set

Just what I thought. Those will support a 3-way toggle switch and that's it.

No splitting, no rotary unless a brave soul opens up the pickups and attaches new leads to the coil wires and maybe does a magnet flip. Sorry to be the wet blanket on that question.

 

[DISTORT6]

Last time I was poking around in one of my #7 equipped Singlecuts, I didn’t notice any extra wires that are meant for the tap.
Unless those sillies at the factory hid them.

 

[paulee]

Thanks for the information, guys!

 

[thewesdavis]

Last time I was poking around in one of my #7 equipped Singlecuts, I didn’t notice any extra wires that are meant for the tap.
Unless those sillies at the factory hid them.

Sorry for the misinformation - I had my tech pull the 7s from my singlecut...that'll teach me to assume

 

[dogrocketp]

Interesting note for you, I got a real shock when I turned the volume down to 7. They cleaned up beautifully! I also had a sweep pot installed with a center detente. Even though you can’t split them, you can get a lot of tonal variation.

 

[DS_180]

The OG #7 pickups were single conductor, no coil splitting (confirmed by looking at my '06 Singlecut).

 

[thewesdavis]

Interesting note for you, I got a real shock when I turned the volume down to 7. They cleaned up beautifully! I also had a sweep pot installed with a center detente. Even though you can’t split them, you can get a lot of tonal variation.

I found the same thing with a Trembucker I had installed - something magival happened when I turned the volume down to 7....so magical that I had a resistor installed so that "max" volume for that pickup was around 7:00 on the volume know. Made it easy for me live to go from full OD on Bridge to "rolled back" on neck with the flick of a switch....(this was during my "no effects pedals" days so I relied solely on amp)

I **MAY** have just found a singlecut on reverb way too close to "the one who got away" to pass up...