My thread really didn't yield anything concrete regarding the question. But it has been useful to me and I thank all of you. Just an FYI since other pickups suggestions are mingled in this thread - if you're looking for a another version of great pickups that work great in PRS guitars - you owe it to yourself to check out the
cjlab pickups. I've bought 5 sets over the last 2-years and what a bargain vs. pickup sweetness. Put a set in a S2 24 last week that is a low wind paf type. Played that guitar for Sunday worship yesterday and it shined with sparkle and girth. That set is staying. Back to PRS - for how I play and the amps I use, I found the 85/15 USA version to be very special pickups in the CE I have. Those pickups brings a big smile - just a joy to play. The 85/15 S that were in my S2 shined in split mode - very very similar sounding to my ears to the USA version. When using overdrive in humbucker mode they would be best described as "almost" when compared to the USA version. Just lacking to my ears in strength of clarity. All in all - they sounded good though. I'm just picky sometimes.
Appreciate the maker suggestion. I hadn't heard of them. Looking forward to checking them out more.. The list of my favorites that I actually use:
Wolfetone (great pickups and the BEST to work with)
Brandonwound (newish addition that impresses me more and more everyday)
Porter (Excellent, a level above)
Bootstrap (Top quality and affordable)
Cavalier (Rob rocks tele pups like no one else)
Fralin (some of the best)
Seymour Duncan (my go to major maker)
Wish I could be of more help about the 85/15s versions. I really only know about the G&B. I'm interested to hear more on the answer too. I keep wondering if the maker changed labels? PRS changed sources? Hopefully someone else can chime in.
I'm with you on the 85/15 and CE. That's the first guitar I heard and liked the 85/15 in. To my ears they sound best there. The 85/15s pickups I've owned I found the same. They did some things well, others almost, and then for me some things they just didn't. I can get picky too.
My experience with all of PRS pickups is they split the best in the business. It has to do with how they are wired more than the pickup. I was playing my Core Cu24 last night with 59/09 after my favorite strat. I had my rig dialed in for the strat. I was surprised how close my Cu24 was able to nail those single tones.