PRS CU24 vs Standard HFS/VB

[Rohann]

Hi all,

Question for you - I have Standard 24 from 2002 (or 2004?) that has HFS/VB pickups in it. I've been looking everywhere for a tone comparison between it and a CU24 with the same pickups in it, but can't find one. Does anyone have a video of the two being compared, or has both and wants to be the first to put one on YouTube?I don't want this to turn into a tonewood debate, but I'm really curious to see if I can actually hear a difference. Mine does sound "darker" and more mid-rangey, but I'm not sure if that's just a matter of the PRS sound and the pickups themselves. I do love the tone, but am curious.

Thanks!

 

[Brad737]

A Custom with the same pickups will usually sound a little brighter due to the maple top.

 

[Rohann]

Thanks, but this is exactly why I'm interested in a comparison video. All things being equal I'm not sure how big the difference really is so I'm interested in hearing an A/B comparison.

 

[AP515]

Don't have a comparison video, but I do have my ears. The HFS/VB sound fabulous in my Cu24, I didn't care for them in my Standard 22. I changed them for the 58/07's and am much happier. Same thing others say about the Standard. Lots of midrange (which I like), but for my ears that doesn't work with the HFS. With a more vintage set like the 57/08's it makes a perfect match.

 

[Rachmaninoff]

The HFS/VB sound fabulous in my Cu24

Same here!

 

[Rohann]

Thanks guys, good to know.

I guess I'm colored somewhat skeptical what with all the tonewood debate going around. I'm surprised there isn't really a comparison somewhere, what with everyone reviewing their guitars on YouTube. That's my suspicion though, more mids. I really like the HFS for distortion and the VB is honestly nice for cleans but I don't find myself using many of the other tone selections or even the HFS for anything remotely clean. I'd be curious to hear a comparison between HFS/VB and 57/08's in a Standard.

Any examples or descriptions of what it sounds like with the 57/08's?


Those seem awfully hard to come by, and expensive. Any idea if the Dragon II's would be a better fit in a Standard, at least for the bridge?

 

[cmcgrath72]

I believe tone wood does matter some. You may not be able to find a PRS video but there are other ones out there showing off the wood characteristics. Also, if players like Guthrie Govan, who live with their guitars in their hands notice a difference in woods, then thats a pretty good indicator that there must be some truth to it. Satriani has identical models with identical pickups. One guitar is Basswood and the other Alder.
The Alder guitar clearly has more bit and high end. The basswood a little more mushy.
Also, no two guitars sound the same...

 

[Rohann]

I would most certainly agree with you. It's really difficult to determine exactly how much it matters without blind testing myself though. I've seen tests and whatnot of people "proving" how tonewood doesn't matter, but those same testers don't care to provide a/b tests either. I tend to side with Paul in that tonewood isn't the end-all, but it's a matter of "how much am I subtracting from the guitar". No maple top seems to "subtract" or simply "not add" some high end (or "add" midrange, but I tend to think of it as the former), and maple seems to "add" a degree of brightness to the already existing mid-range. I start to wonder too, how much can be compensated for via amp settings?

I'd even love to hear comparisons between different pickups in the Standard series, or even input on Dragon II's vs. others.

 

[cmcgrath72]

By the way, if you want something a bit brighter...try the 57/08 pickups. They are much lower output but have a sweet high end. Really amazing pickup. I have them on my CU24.