What's the Difference Between 58/15 Pickups and 85/15 Pickups?

85/15s sound much muddier and less articulate than the 85/15. I assume it's marketing that they have the same name, but maybe someone more experienced is able to get them to sound similarly.
 
I think the S just means same spec, made overseas. But I’d imagine that correlates to SE.
Idk what S officially stands for but it's the designation for all se pickups and imports in the old s2. Spec makes sense but heck could be Smith for all we know since they are outsourced.

To my ears S often stands for swap. lol I'm the opposite of OP. The 5815S are about the only se pickups that put up a solid fight to stay in my guitars.
 
85/15s sound much muddier and less articulate than the 85/15. I assume it's marketing that they have the same name, but maybe someone more experienced is able to get them to sound similarly.
According
Idk what S officially stands for but it's the designation for all se pickups and imports in the old s2. Spec makes sense but heck could be Smith for all we know since they are outsourced.

To my ears S often stands for swap. lol I'm the opposite of OP. The 5815S are about the only se pickups that put up a solid fight to stay in my guitars.

Yah… not sure… just what I was told. FWIW, the DGT s designated pickups are killer. I’ve got a set of core DGT that I may swap in at some point purely out of curiosity.
 
I agree the PRS xx/xx naming convention is super easy once you know how to read it. Wish more were that way. Definitely better than the old names. What does a Dragon sound like? Even if it is fire!

The "s" for the se does get things a bit confusing. What do the 8515s sound like? Is that plural or se?
Yes the “S” variant is simply the version made overseas. Same thing as the core. Just made for the SE (and used to be used on the S2 line).

There’s also “MT” for multitap. You don’t see those too often. There’s the “LT” low turn variant of the 58/15. And John Mayer even had some special 58/15JM’s. Not sure what’s different about them. And afaik there’s no plans to release them. And there is also the 58/15LT+. Those are a special wind for the single cut 594’s. So that they sound just like the double cut 594.

So it can be a little difficult to keep track of all the little things. But they do all have a reason.
 
Yes the “S” variant is simply the version made overseas. Same thing as the core. Just made for the SE (and used to be used on the S2 line).

There’s also “MT” for multitap. You don’t see those too often. There’s the “LT” low turn variant of the 58/15. And John Mayer even had some special 58/15JM’s. Not sure what’s different about them. And afaik there’s no plans to release them. And there is also the 58/15LT+. Those are a special wind for the single cut 594’s. So that they sound just like the double cut 594.

So it can be a little difficult to keep track of all the little things. But they do all have a reason.
I agree it's all easy. Besides people using S wrong. It's weird to say 8515 when talking more than one. People often say 8515s, which the S designation should mean import, but they are talking core. That's what I was saying. Not sure if that was clear on my end. The S is the only label I think could have been different.

Don't forget the 5815LTV. A precursor to 5815LT+. The V read .5 higher in the neck and per an email from PRS has a mag swap. Presumably an A5. They were briefly used it in the SC594.
 
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The Kool-Aid I drank has worn off. I like the majority of the PRS pickups I have (including the ones mentioned in the OP) but if I ever want something different, I am NEVER blowing almost $500.00 on a pair of PRS pickups ever again. There are other pickup options available which can deliver the goods for a much more affordable asking price.
 
The Kool-Aid I drank has worn off. I like the majority of the PRS pickups I have (including the ones mentioned in the OP) but if I ever want something different, I am NEVER blowing almost $500.00 on a pair of PRS pickups ever again. There are other pickup options available which can deliver the goods for a much more affordable asking price.
Agreed.

At least my proctologist kisses me after.
 
According


Yah… not sure… just what I was told. FWIW, the DGT s designated pickups are killer. I’ve got a set of core DGT that I may swap in at some point purely out of curiosity.
That said, I thought the 58/15s sounded better than the 85/15s...even though I ended up going with the 85/15 I would've been happy with the 58/15s, not as much with the 85/15s.
 
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