Members Johansolo Posted February 27, 2011 Members Share Posted February 27, 2011 i now have 2 completely different PRS...and thinking bout changing pickups 1994 standard 24 - mahagony body/neck with the HFS/Vintage Bass pickups ive never been a fan of ceramic magnets...and the HFS...well...i dont think ill keep it for long. the vintage bass is ok...but id prefer something like a Paf pro/59 style pup (which i already have on another guitar) what after markets have you guys tried out in mahagony body PRS? i dont want another guitar with a JB. i want something that isnt mega high output (i want to work the amp more) and can suit all styles. 1990 CE24 - alder body w/maple top/neck with Seymour Duncan Custom5/Jazz pickups. for purely aesthtic reasons...i want nickel covers and to change back the pickup rings to beige..im happy to get some nickel covers and install them BUT i have an opportunity to trade for a set of Dragons (not sure Is or IIs...whatever comes in a CE22) anyone tried Dragons in a 24 fret model? ie was there any reason they come stock in the 22 fret versions. decisions decisions...any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kalebmation Posted February 27, 2011 Members Share Posted February 27, 2011 CE22's came with either Dragon I or II's typically. Dragon I's are uncovered; II's are covered. I personally love the Dragon II's for what I play in my 2001 CE22. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeanoBoy Posted February 27, 2011 Members Share Posted February 27, 2011 I have a PRS Artist from the late 80s (?). It has HFS pickups. I'd love to swap them for the 59 vintagey set when they become available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brewski Posted February 27, 2011 Members Share Posted February 27, 2011 the HGFs pickup is a bit lifeless but very articulate. The combination of the HF and Bass works pretty well together but you R right - it is missing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted February 27, 2011 Members Share Posted February 27, 2011 The Dragon I's are very highly regarded and sound great in a Cu or CE. They are hard to find though.The Dragon II's are not all that great. The new Custom 24's are loaded with PRS 59/09's which are PAF like. The Dimarzio 36th Anniversary would probably sound really good in your Standard 24. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johansolo Posted March 1, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 the 57/08s are now readily available to me...theyre $400(AUD) a set new.my guitar teacher bought 2 sets of them and i got to try them out in his 2 PRS CU22s last night.they certainly are nice pickups! but im not to i would want to put them in my alder body PRS, more the mahogany...but i want to keep that one with the open coil look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ihate100bees Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 I have a '96 Standard 24 that was made for the Namm show that year. They put the MCarty pickups on it, and I think they sound great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members smorgdonkey Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 The Dimarzio 36th Anniversary would probably sound really good What a great 'low cost yet big brand name pickup' they are!! ...and of course Lindy Fralin. Never underwhelmed and always satisfied with every penny spent on one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johansolo Posted March 1, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 the main thing i dont like about stock pups is...with the HFS when the volume knob is on full its got too much sizzle/grainy charactertics in the top end and i dont like it for rhythms, but its nice for high gain leads.. with the volume backed off slightly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jhamnett Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 BG Smoke Stacks kick ass in my CE24! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 3shiftgtr Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 The early 90's HFS bridge mixed with the Vintage neck is a {censored}ing brilliant design, and hasn't been beaten yet. The magnet material they used for their HFS has since changed and hasn't been as good since, IMHO. They are designed to be run with the vol at 7/8. Add or subtract as needed, with NO high end loss, great split tone (or as good as you can get with an alnico in the neck) and tons of output....brilliant design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members billybilly Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 I will only buy Fralins and BG's from now on. Nothing else compares. But that's just me. I am sure there are others but everytime I get one of those two, I never change pickups again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members clay sails Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 I've got a DiMarzio 30th Anniversary in the neck of my PRS. I chose it because it had a brushed nickel cover that matched the 57/08 bridge pickup. (I love the 57/08 at the bridge, but not so much the neck so I swapped.) It is a very good pickup. Whichever direction you go, consider putting covered pickups on -- they look great on PRS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johansolo Posted March 1, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 The early 90's HFS bridge mixed with the Vintage neck is a {censored}ing brilliant design, and hasn't been beaten yet. The magnet material they used for their HFS has since changed and hasn't been as good since, IMHO. They are designed to be run with the vol at 7/8. Add or subtract as needed, with NO high end loss, great split tone (or as good as you can get with an alnico in the neck) and tons of output....brilliant design. with the vol @7/8...i agree RE no high end loss adding or subtracting when the amp is on a GAIN channel. its great. sadly on my amps clean channel the volume needs to be on full (unless i boost it with pedals) anways...spent a LONG time tonight tweaking settings tonight and i think the HFS/VB will stay in the standard 24 for a bit longer...mainly because ive managed to find a compromise setting that sounds good with all four of my guitars (2xPRS, 1x Strat, 1 x LP) with the assistance of a Timmy and a Suhr Shiba drive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Firebrand Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 Hmm...thought I posted lasterday on this.After Don Lace Signatures, Manlius custom pickups, and a set of PRS DGTs, I finally landed on a set of Dragon IIs that sound great with the Alder Body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roners5 Posted March 1, 2011 Members Share Posted March 1, 2011 the main thing i dont like about stock pups is...with the HFS when the volume knob is on full its got too much sizzle/grainy charactertics in the top end and i dont like it for rhythms, but its nice for high gain leads.. with the volume backed off slightly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johansolo Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hmm...thought I posted lasterday on this.After Don Lace Signatures, Manlius custom pickups, and a set of PRS DGTs, I finally landed on a set of Dragon IIs that sound great with the Alder Body. 24 fret as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Johansolo Posted March 2, 2011 Author Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 I currently own PRS's with #7, HB pickups, Dragon IIs, and I owned a SAS with McCartys. From what you're saying, you might like a set of McCarty's for the std- very middy, but nicely balanced pickups. I actually thought I nailed that smooth santana tone with them and TBH, they were probably my favorite pickups but I sold the guitar cause I didn't like the look of the natural wood (it wasn't cool enough :facepalm:) The dragon II's are VERY aggressive pickups and will not give you the smooth tones you're looking for. The #7 neck pickup is the best for jazzy cleans but I hate the bridge pickup. The HB pickups are very nice versatile pickups but they have a certain sound to them that you can't dial out so i would not recommend them for what you want. I have no experience with aftermarket pickups like duncans and whatnot so I'm just commenting on the PRS pickups I know. cheers for that. i still have the option of trading my duncans for the DragonIIs (for hte black CE24). ive decided to keep the HFS/VB in the standard, after tweaking on my amp and pedals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MichaelYoung Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 i would have to say....... dimarzo d-activators....... for either prs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Flogger59 Posted March 2, 2011 Members Share Posted March 2, 2011 Great thread. I'm no PRS fan, but I'm learning a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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