PRS SE Alternative Pickups

[Lesm]

Hi,
just joined the forum so you’ve probably heard this question a million times before but here goes.
I am just on my second used PRS SE single cut 2007 and would like to improve the sound. I find the stock pickups a bot muddy and not enough bite.
Looking at options to get the sound I want -
new pickups but not mega expensive ones
change The pickup magnets
coil tapped pickups
pickup height adjustment

Any suggestions please?
I am based in the UK

Thanks

 

[Paul G.]

I put a set of Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers in my SE 245 and I'm very happy with them. Decent power with plenty of clarity. They are available in 4-conductors as well as 2. Reasonably priced and very nice.

 

[Fullmoon 1971]

Hi,
just joined the forum so you’ve probably heard this question a million times before but here goes.
I am just on my second used PRS SE single cut 2007 and would like to improve the sound. I find the stock pickups a bot muddy and not enough bite.
Looking at options to get the sound I want -
new pickups but not mega expensive ones
change The pickup magnets
coil tapped pickups
pickup height adjustment

Any suggestions please?
I am based in the UK

Thanks

A decent magnet swap does wonders for the stock pickups and is cheap. I like a Alnico 3 in the neck and better quality than stock alnico 4 or 5 in the bridge. These can be got real cheap £2.70 a magnet from https://www.cermagmagnets.co.uk/guitar-pickup-magnets-11-c.asp here in the uk

 

[Lesm]

A decent magnet swap does wonders for the stock pickups and is cheap. I like a Alnico 3 in the neck and better quality than stock alnico 4 or 5 in the bridge. These can be got real cheap £2.70 a magnet from https://www.cermagmagnets.co.uk/guitar-pickup-magnets-11-c.asp here in the uk

Thanks. Is swapping the magnets quite easy? So are you recommending Alnico 3 in both pickups please. Most of the music I like is 70s based. Thanks for your help. Les

 

[Lesm]

I put a set of Seymour Duncan Seth Lovers in my SE 245 and I'm very happy with them. Decent power with plenty of clarity. They are available in 4-conductors as well as 2. Reasonably priced and very nice.

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. Les

 

[MarcWink]

A set of Bare Knuckle Old Guard Boot Camp pickups could work really well for your application.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I'm a big fan of the 58/15 "S" pickups that come in several SE & S2's. You can usually find a used set reasonably priced on Reverb

 

[Lesm]

I'm a big fan of the 58/15 "S" pickups that come in several SE & S2's. You can usually find a used set reasonably priced on Reverb

Thanks, will have a search online. Les

 

[Lesm]

A set of Bare Knuckle Old Guard Boot Camp pickups could work really well for your application.

Hi, thanks. I have a BK on my Vintage v6, fantastic pickup. I think a set of Old Guard may be a bit out of my price range at the moment but will look at used one. Cheers, Les

 

[Fullmoon 1971]

Thanks. Is swapping the magnets quite easy? So are you recommending Alnico 3 in both pickups please. Most of the music I like is 70s based. Thanks for your help. Les

Alnico 3 is what gibson used in their "custombucker" pickups found in most historic reissues and the collectors choice guitars in both bridge and neck. I use a Alnico 3 in the neck position goving a lovely humbucker/P90 type tone on most of my neck pickups, in the slightly overwound bridge pickup of a older style singlecut the Alnico 3 should beef it up nicely for 70's style rock.

Magnet swaps are super easy as long as your careful. Basically you don't even need to un solder the pickup.

Loosen the tape that surrounds the pickup, then flip the pickup over and undo the 4 small brass screws but not all the way out,

You will see the magnet sitting between the poles and screws. Grab it with a pair of needle nose pliers from the side without wires showing and gently slide them half way out. If they are stuck gently heat with a hairdryer. Check your new magnets polarity against the already installed ones and replace. Tighten the four brass screws and rewrap the pickup withe existing tape.

It sounds way more complicated than it is. There are plenty of clips on YouTube showing magnet swaps (there's a great with guitar drill showing the how one pickups sound changes just by swapping magnets) if I can the link I'll post it.

If you choose to go down this route and want more help, contact me and I'll talk you through it in more detail with pictures

 

[Lesm]

Alnico 3 is what gibson used in their "custombucker" pickups found in most historic reissues and the collectors choice guitars in both bridge and neck. I use a Alnico 3 in the neck position goving a lovely humbucker/P90 type tone on most of my neck pickups, in the slightly overwound bridge pickup of a older style singlecut the Alnico 3 should beef it up nicely for 70's style rock.

Magnet swaps are super easy as long as your careful. Basically you don't even need to un solder the pickup.

Loosen the tape that surrounds the pickup, then flip the pickup over and undo the 4 small brass screws but not all the way out,

You will see the magnet sitting between the poles and screws. Grab it with a pair of needle nose pliers from the side without wires showing and gently slide them half way out. If they are stuck gently heat with a hairdryer. Check your new magnets polarity against the already installed ones and replace. Tighten the four brass screws and rewrap the pickup withe existing tape.

It sounds way more complicated than it is. There are plenty of clips on YouTube showing magnet swaps (there's a great with guitar drill showing the how one pickups sound changes just by swapping magnets) if I can the link I'll post it.

If you choose to go down this route and want more help, contact me and I'll talk you through it in more detail with pictures

Thanks again. I will order a Alnico 3 for the neck and try a Alnico 2 in the bridge first. I will order a second Alnico 3 to try in the bridge also. Will get these from Cermag, I think that’s what they are called. Thanks for all your advice and I shall look forward to experimenting. Les

 

[Fullmoon 1971]

Thanks again. I will order a Alnico 3 for the neck and try a Alnico 2 in the bridge first. I will order a second Alnico 3 to try in the bridge also. Will get these from Cermag, I think that’s what they are called. Thanks for all your advice and I shall look forward to experimenting. Les

No worries, why not get a few different grades and see what sticks. After you've swapped the magnets leave them in for a days before making a final decision. The tone will change slightly after being sat in the pickup for a while.

Anything else just holler.

 

[Proteus]

All good stuff...but I'm wondering if it's our ears or the guitars. The pickups in my 2010 SE Singlecut are every bit as bright and biting as I could want. I'm sure the 25" scale is part of it, but it's a whole different kind of sorta-LP. Pretty much the bite and sizzle of a Tele or really good Strat, but humbucky.

The combination is so bright, I generally roll the tone control back to about half to put it in more familiar LP territory (though it's still a different fundamental tone thanks to the scale). It's great to have the extra high-end for when it's needed.

Anyone know if the pickup spec changed between 2007 and 2010? And have you played with pickup height under the strings? Mine aren't particularly high: between 3.5 and 4mm, measured from the tops of the bobbins (not the poles or screws) to the undersides of the strings, varying slightly from neck to bridge and 1st string to 6th, but in that ballpark.

If yours are significantly different, either direction, you might give them a tweak and see what you get. I haven't been the worst abuser of my ears over the years, but I know I have some high-end hearing loss, and as I say...plenty of brightenbite from the stock pups on mine.

 

[Lesm]

All good stuff...but I'm wondering if it's our ears or the guitars. The pickups in my 2010 SE Singlecut are every bit as bright and biting as I could want. I'm sure the 25" scale is part of it, but it's a whole different kind of sorta-LP. Pretty much the bite and sizzle of a Tele or really good Strat, but humbucky.

The combination is so bright, I generally roll the tone control back to about half to put it in more familiar LP territory (though it's still a different fundamental tone thanks to the scale). It's great to have the extra high-end for when it's needed.

Anyone know if the pickup spec changed between 2007 and 2010? And have you played with pickup height under the strings? Mine aren't particularly high: between 3.5 and 4mm, measured from the tops of the bobbins (not the poles or screws) to the undersides of the strings, varying slightly from neck to bridge and 1st string to 6th, but in that ballpark.

If yours are significantly different, either direction, you might give them a tweak and see what you get. I haven't been the worst abuser of my ears over the years, but I know I have some high-end hearing loss, and as I say...plenty of brightenbite from the stock pups on mine.

Hi, thanks for your reply. I adjusted the height of the pickups and they are much better, more bit and not so mushy. I have a Vintage V6 strat style guitar with a Bare knuckle and a Seymour Duncan. These both sound fantastic both clean and driven whilst the SE pickups do t have their character or warmth. I am going to try changing he magnets first then if not happy the pickups. Only received the guitar used this week so will give it a service and set up tomorrow using PRS specs. Thanks again for your valuable input. Les

 

[NBW]

I like BKs myself, I just got a set of Seth Lovers for the SE Hollowbody. There are a few supposedly excellent pickup makers in the UK beyond BK, isn’t Creamery in the UK? There was another hand wound builder who’s name has escaped me.

 

[TonyG]

Being in the UK you might want to consider Tonerider or Irongear pickups. Both have plenty of tonal choice and great value. I couldn’t decide between Tonerider Alnico iv classics or Irongear blues engine for my SE Santana, wanted something a little less hot. In the end went with Tonerider just because they were slightly cheaper. Very happy with the result.

 

[Lesm]

Thanks. I will check these out. I have heard of them.
I have a Vintage VS6 SG and the humbuckers in this are a lot better than prs ones to my ears.
Thanks

 

[Lesm]

I like BKs myself, I just got a set of Seth Lovers for the SE Hollowbody. There are a few supposedly excellent pickup makers in the UK beyond BK, isn’t Creamery in the UK? There was another hand wound builder who’s name has escaped me.

I have a bk in my vintage v6 strat style, best pickup I have had.very powerful but with the volume rolled of it gets those really crisp strat sounds. I haven’t heard of Creamery. Thanks.

 

[Lesm]

A set of Bare Knuckle Old Guard Boot Camp pickups could work really well for your application.

Thanks for your advice

 

[Lesm]

All good stuff...but I'm wondering if it's our ears or the guitars. The pickups in my 2010 SE Singlecut are every bit as bright and biting as I could want. I'm sure the 25" scale is part of it, but it's a whole different kind of sorta-LP. Pretty much the bite and sizzle of a Tele or really good Strat, but humbucky.

The combination is so bright, I generally roll the tone control back to about half to put it in more familiar LP territory (though it's still a different fundamental tone thanks to the scale). It's great to have the extra high-end for when it's needed.

Anyone know if the pickup spec changed between 2007 and 2010? And have you played with pickup height under the strings? Mine aren't particularly high: between 3.5 and 4mm, measured from the tops of the bobbins (not the poles or screws) to the undersides of the strings, varying slightly from neck to bridge and 1st string to 6th, but in that ballpark.

If yours are significantly different, either direction, you might give them a tweak and see what you get. I haven't been the worst abuser of my ears over the years, but I know I have some high-end hearing loss, and as I say...plenty of brightenbite from the stock pups on mine.

Thanks. Still working on the pickup height. The clean sound is passable but I just can’t live with them when overdriven. Cheers.