Black Plaid
Other Alan!
The only thing I have ever noticed about covered pickups is they seem to sound brighter than uncovered.
Updated List of PRS Pickup Specs
- Thread starter Johnny Rigs
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WA Paul
All dogs go to heaven
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I don’t have direct experience with the uncovered versions, but I seem to recall 59/09s having DC values around 9.3k treble 57/08s more like 8.7k treble and 53/10s were much lower like 7k treble. I have all three pickups and output wise this is the order I’d rank them in terms of hotness / driving the front end of the amp.
58/15s are in-between 57/08 and 59/09 output wise and the 58/15LT are lower output versions of the 58/15s. Those look accurate.
I’ve heard of covers impacting the perceived brightness of a pickup, where uncovered is perceived to be brighter than uncovered. I haven’t tried any uncovered versions though so I can’t say what my muddled ears would say.
DGTh pushed back on some of the improvements over the years. There’s a good possibility this is one of those areas where adjustments were made and he either didn’t want fanfare or didn’t want the change. Watch the videos with both he and Paul. David isn’t afraid to tell Paul no, which Paul isn’t used to hearing. Sometimes it’s a little uncomfortable like watching a married couple argue. 
Andrew Paul
The cat's meow
Thanks for doing that!
Alnus Rubra
Loving nature’s wonders
DGTh pushed back on some of the improvements over the years. There’s a good possibility this is one of those areas where adjustments were made and he either didn’t want fanfare or didn’t want the change. Watch the videos with both he and Paul. David isn’t afraid to tell Paul no, which Paul isn’t used to hearing. Sometimes it’s a little uncomfortable like watching a married couple argue.
I bet Mrs PRSh(erself) has said “No” once or twice! Come on it’s only to be expected.
Jkater
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By "hot wind" you mean hot wound or "very warm movement of air"?
Would the values differ much if at all from the American versions? Not that I have any idea what the voltage numbers mean.
-k
Dead Astronaut
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- Sep 11, 2021
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I've heard that a lot about both 85/15s and 58/15s, that they're nearer vintage PAF output than the official ratings indicate.
eclecticsynergy
PRS user since '87
I only drop in on the forum once in a while these days; resurrecting this thread again with my take on covered vs uncovered.
Do covers make humbuckers darker or brighter? Yes.
Yes, they do.
I see it this way: even high quality covers can dim a tiny bit of treble, particularly the high airiness that we love about low winds.
So, all else being the same, pickups normally seem slightly brighter uncovered - though almost imperceptibly in many cases.
But here's the thing: usually all else is not exactly the same.
After a cover's installed, screw poles usually get raised to look level with the surface of the cover. Few leave them below, flush with the slugs.
Raising the whole row of screws even slightly can make for an audible change in some humbuckers; it affects the coil balance.
Adding a cover also results in both coils and magnet being a tiny bit farther from the strings when surface height is adjusted to the same spec.
Not much, sure, but with certain pickups a mere quarter turn on the mounting screws is enough to make a difference you can hear.
A millimeter can matter.
I think those factors occasionally make a bigger difference than any treble loss from the cover itself.
It varies from one wind to another, of course. Like many aspects of tone, not always predictable.
Still, It makes sense that sometimes a pickup will actually sound brighter after being covered, while others seem to become warmer instead.
claythomas
Nothing but the best!
I didn't see anything for the Chainsaw.....
If I missed it, I apologize.
But when I get home later this week I will pull mine out and get the specs so it can be added.
Simon Says
I EaT GrAss
I was surprised to see alnico 2 as a magnet in 59/09. I see this pickups as hotter than 85/15
Johnny Rigs
"Hold on to your butts" - Samuel L Jackson
That would be sweet~ I'd be happy to add some not-so-well-known pickups like this.
Another one to add if possible: Santana SE 2011. The pickups have stickers saying SE245, but the DC resistances are different to standard 245 pickups.
Bridge 12.4k Ohm. Switch 3-Way only
Neck 8.2k Ohm. Switch 3-Way only
Zebra, no covers.
No idea about the magnet type, but both appear to be the same, and are stronger than a known Alnico IV.
My measurements were confirmed by another forum member with a 2017 Santana SE model, the only difference being the sticker on the back saying Santana.
Bridge 12.4k Ohm. Switch 3-Way only
Neck 8.2k Ohm. Switch 3-Way only
Zebra, no covers.
No idea about the magnet type, but both appear to be the same, and are stronger than a known Alnico IV.
My measurements were confirmed by another forum member with a 2017 Santana SE model, the only difference being the sticker on the back saying Santana.
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Rhythmisking
New Member
Any info on the original Core Starla pickups?
Are they the same internally as some other pickup, or are they their own beast?
Are they the same internally as some other pickup, or are they their own beast?
EatSleepGuitar
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- Apr 8, 2022
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So I think I may have stumbled on some stuff that could help us out here.
We all want to know magnet type. And if possible of course, wire gauge. Inductance/DCR and enamel type are pretty easily discerned obviously.
I found a site: tone-kraft.com, which features pickup components for sale, including magnets. They mark their A2 magnets "N" orientation with red marking, A3 white, A5 blue, and A8 green.
I incidentally tore into an 85/15 TCI this week, and found that magnets (of which there were THREE in the treble pickup, and no maple spacer, so no its not the same as the 58/15 TM just uncovered) were marked with RED. Which makes sense, because we know the 5X/XX and 85/XX series pickups use A2's.
(I'd post pics but Im ToO nEw)
If this in fact the PRS magnet supplier, it would be simply a matter of untaping a pickup if already open-coil, or pulling the cover and untaping, and checking the color marking on the magnet(s) to discern magnet type. It could be coincidence, but I know SDs magnets are black for A5 and blue for A2, so its not like the colors are universal. No A4 magnets are listed for sale, so maybe that would be black or yellow or something? and that we know, PRS doesnt use A3 or A8. So, if it sounds like an A5 and has a blue line, good chance it is. If you find something not ceramic, red, or blue, could very well be A4. Please report.
This spec list is awesome BTW, thanks OP for creating it.
I will post up the #10 Pickup specs when I get a chance to measure them. They measured differently than what PRS customer service said they should, not by much though.
We all want to know magnet type. And if possible of course, wire gauge. Inductance/DCR and enamel type are pretty easily discerned obviously.
I found a site: tone-kraft.com, which features pickup components for sale, including magnets. They mark their A2 magnets "N" orientation with red marking, A3 white, A5 blue, and A8 green.
I incidentally tore into an 85/15 TCI this week, and found that magnets (of which there were THREE in the treble pickup, and no maple spacer, so no its not the same as the 58/15 TM just uncovered) were marked with RED. Which makes sense, because we know the 5X/XX and 85/XX series pickups use A2's.
(I'd post pics but Im ToO nEw)
If this in fact the PRS magnet supplier, it would be simply a matter of untaping a pickup if already open-coil, or pulling the cover and untaping, and checking the color marking on the magnet(s) to discern magnet type. It could be coincidence, but I know SDs magnets are black for A5 and blue for A2, so its not like the colors are universal. No A4 magnets are listed for sale, so maybe that would be black or yellow or something? and that we know, PRS doesnt use A3 or A8. So, if it sounds like an A5 and has a blue line, good chance it is. If you find something not ceramic, red, or blue, could very well be A4. Please report.
This spec list is awesome BTW, thanks OP for creating it.
I will post up the #10 Pickup specs when I get a chance to measure them. They measured differently than what PRS customer service said they should, not by much though.
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darkbluemurder
New Member
This is great info. I would love to see this as a sticky thread.
watelessness
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- Apr 26, 2012
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- 2,546
this is great, man!
