TCI in Paul's vs TCI in MEV

[Consumer_12]

Hi!

Are these two different versions of the TCI pickups? Or do they sound exactly similar? I've heard some people refer to the Paul's as being a bit higher output. But I was hoping to get some clarification here. Currently leaning to the Pauls over the MEV, as some of the middle single coil sounds on the MEV didn't quite persuade me enough. But I'm still more than willing to change my mind.

Thanks!

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

Likely same pickups.

 

[Stephen J.]

I haven’t taken measurements, but mine are pretty much the same. I hear no difference between the two guitars on the bass pickup. The treble position on the Paul’s guitar has a little more aggression to it, but I attribute that to the fixed bridge.

 

[Stephen J.]

I will add, for those curious about older models with similar pickups, the Brent Mason Signature Model with the pre TCI narrow 408 pickups and a 305/DC3 single coil sounds pretty close as well. The single coils in the BM and MEV are farther apart than the humbuckers in the three guitars. Again, I think the construction of the guitars is more influential on the tone than the pickups. They are all different enough that I justify keeping all three and they are also similar enough that I really could get by with just one. Because of the option of the 2/4 tones and the better sounding true single coil, I think I would keep the MEV if I could only keep one. I do prefer the feel of the Brent Mason over the other two.

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

BM is Korina as well. And TCI is 80% marketing 39% tone

 

[Black Plaid]

BM is Korina as well. And TCI is 80% marketing 39% tone

Awww yeah, 119% pickup!

 

[bodia]

They’re the same

 

[Bowtiefanatc]

Awww yeah, 119% pickup!

The maths math for sure.

 

[Broseph]

I can’t compare to a modern eagle but I’ve had a few guitars with Paul’s pickups

The early Paul’s I believe were wound hotter
They backed off it it in later 2010’s
My 2019 wood library Paul’s
measures 7.86k ohms in the neck and 9.25k ohms in the bridge. It was designed to truly split the coils so the split is essentially half that: 3.97k ohms and 4.69k ohms

Pauls pickups in 2024:
Less hot. And designed to tap the coils like PRS has traditionally done for stronger single coil output, so the single coil ouput is not equal to half. This is in my s2 24-08 which has Paul’s tci pickups and USA electronics:
My neck measures 7.0k ohms and bridge is 7.98kohms
Tapped: 4.36k ohms and 5.44k ohms

Same pickup. But they sound different. For sure the Paul’s 2019 is hotter when full humbucker.

PRS does not advertise the pickup changes. Nor did they explain why they opted to tap the coils in 2024 when it was always advertised as true split before for authenticity of a single coil sound. I assume it was done since the pickups were wound less hotter over time?

So long winded answer: yes the Paul’s tci pickups will sound different depending on which year you pick them up. But I would assume that the current year pickups would be the same amongst all the guitars that use them: Paul’s, modern eagle, and 24-08. I wouldn’t be able to say with certainly unless I took a multimeter to a dealer and would be that kind of geek.

 

[gush]

The maths math for sure.

That would be core math.

 

[Marco2073]

In my Custom 24-08 2024 the values are: bridge 8.10k split 5.46k - neck 7.07k Split 4.37k