New Pickups for PRS

[Levophed]

I have a PRS custom 24. Plays great and sounds pretty good but is lacking on the bottom end for the heavier/ rock stuff i play. I just bought a Gibson Les paul studio and can't believe how much better it is for this kind of sound. The problem is I miss the split coil cleaner sound of the PRS. Any suggestions on pickups that would be compatible with this PRS guitar and its 5 way switching that would get that lower end stuff (but still have what I believe is split coil clean sound)? I don't know much about pickups so maybe I am not making sense but would appreciate any input.

Thanks

[Brian]

First off - Welcome to BAM

Second - It sounds like you're looking for a more vintage sounding pup if you wanna follow that LP bucker thump. First thing I would recommend (as I do to most pup recommendations) is #10 pickups. If you are not familiar with them, they are PRS's version of the Gibson PAF pup. The just recently became available aftermarket and normally are only available as straight buckers (no coil tap). However, you can prolly get one of the big pushers (Brian Meader at WMC, Jack Gretz at Magdon) to get you a custom wound set with the 3 conductor wiring you need.

If you don't want to go that route, you might want to switch over to McCarty Switching (3 way w/ a push pull) and try Artist or McCarty pickups. Those are also very vintage choice.

Best of luck in your search.

[Big Mike]

Wow. A Custom not heavy rock enough? Interesting. If you're not digging the tone on the HFS and want a closer to a hot rod lester tone, I'd go with a Duncan Custom bridge, and a 59 neck. You can order the 59 4 conductor for the rotary, then flip the magnet to keep the split positions hum canceling.

The Custom should fix you right up.

[Stink Fiddle]

No matter what pickups you put in a Custom 24, it will never sound like a LP. It's just simple physics, the LP has much more mahogany and a shorter scale length, it's going to have a fatter sound with more low end.

Appreciate the guitar for what it is.

[thrill74]

Custom 5 or Custom Custom for your Custom.:cool:

[Dan Desy]

Dude! It sounds like I wrote that post!

I feel the exact same way. As much as I loved my custom 24, when I got my old LP Studio I was just floored by the punch that thing had! I posted a lot about it on here as well a few months ago.

I too have decided that it's at least partly a pickup thing. So I changed the Custom's puikcups with a SD Screamin Demon and 59. Definitely more chunk in my tone now, althought I'm not entirely sure about the Screamin Demon. Seems to have too much of a scooped response - but at least it has more punch than the HFS.

I loved the HFS for lead, but NOT for rhythm. The SDs seem to be a better alternative. By the way, the '59 in the neck position was a TREMENDOUS improvement over the Vintage Bass. I always thought the VB was "just another bridge pickup" in the neck position. The 59 is a lot creamier, in the LP vein.

In any case, I don't regret the pickup swap, it made a difference for sure. Now on my Singlecut Trem, even though I love the tone of the #6 pickups, I'm going to put in a Custom 5 in the bridge to try and get a little more kick out of it as well. But there's NO way I'm changing out the neck pickup on that one!

[Dan Desy]

No matter what pickups you put in a Custom 24, it will never sound like a LP. It's just simple physics, the LP has much more mahogany and a shorter scale length, it's going to have a fatter sound with more low end.

Appreciate the guitar for what it is.I have to agreee with this as well, but make no mistake, you can get mmoer punch from your Custom.
I never wanted my Custom 24 to sound like a Les Paul, just kick my face like one! :dude:

[Levophed]

I appreciate all the replies.

Its strange but I thought the custom had more end when I first got it. Went on a road trip and upon arrival found the bridge pickup was push in and the thread on the 6th string end was now stripped. when I returned home I glued a small nut onto pickup to hold it in place. I did not seek professional repair. Again I am a complete hardward know nothing. Is it possible this nut is messing up the coils magnetic field. I was convinced that the loss of low end started then but not sure .. maybe I just became more picky.

What about the Tremonti treble is that pickup an option ?

[Stink Fiddle]

I have to agreee with this as well, but make no mistake, you can get mmoer punch from your Custom.
I never wanted my Custom 24 to sound like a Les Paul, just kick my face like one! :dude:
I agree a pickup swap can make a Custom a lot better! I don't have the original pickups in my Custom. But it will never match the punch and low end of a LP, and that's just the reality of the situation. There's a reason why PRS made the McCarty and Singlecuts, to come closer to the Gibson sound. That's why I said appreciate the guitar for what it is. I like my 1989 PRS Custom because it doesn't sound like a LP. :)

[Erik]

I'll second (or third) the Screamin' Deamon in the bridge. Dan Desy and I have pretty much gone down the exact same paths...:D