Prs Custom 22 Rosewood Neck

[mkh02]

Hey guys toying with changing the pickups on my PRS Custom 22 with Rosewood Neck.

The Dragon II's are just awful lol....to mushy on chords, noisy in general and the lead notes on the high strings sound too thin almost like a gretch or epiphone casino...

Looking for a high gain lead sound, thick and creamy notes, a little scooped with less treble.

Been wanting to try the holy divers for a while any thoughts on whether these would suit the guitar? I have coldsweats in my custom strat which I really like as they are quite modern sounding but I would like to have a bit of variety....

Thanks in advance!

[Twinfan]

Divers.

Get 'em ordered.

[kevinr]

HDs all the way, they will transform that guitar!

[djl]

I changed the p/us in my custom 22 - got to agree with you about the dragons. You will definitely notice a vast improvement with pretty much any of the bkp over the stock pickups in terms of clarity, note definition etc. I put mules in mine, but I tend towards the lower gain/more trad paf sort of sound and they really suit the guitar to my ears.

You won't be disappointed whatever you decide to get.

[Nolly]

Divers would definitely be a great choice

[mkh02]

Just an additional thought on the Holydivers before I go for them.

Was just doing some google research and something hit me that I haven't realised.

My favourite guitar is my Ibanez Jem...I didn't realise that those pickups are ceramics...

My second favourite is my Custom Strat which has a Coldsweat in it which is ceramic...

I don't mind the Les Paul as it does do some of the set list well. I have Alnico Nailbombs in it and the sound is ok but I am not crazy on it.

I don't like the Dragon II pickups in my PRS Custom 22.

It is something that I have not really condisered but are there distinct differences between Ceramic and Alnico?

I dont like harsh trebly guitars at all and the reason I like the JEM and Strat is that the sound out of them is hugh and  thick perhaps compressed and scooped.

Any thoughts on this? I find that solos really sing and sustain more on these guitars more so than the Les Paul and PRS. Could it be I prefer Ceramics lol never really thought about that as I assumed they were mainly for Thrash metal...

[HairyChris]

For someone knowledgable: Abraxas?

For some reason I'm interested in those, Tim says that they're closest to PRS RPs (as found in rosewood necked Modern Eagles). I had a set of RPs in a Cu22 hardtail, mahogany neck, and they sounded fantastic. If Abraxas are in that ballpark then they would be awesome.

Oh yeah if the guitar has a 5 way make sure that you specify on order as the neck magnets are reversed.

Oh yeah #2 I have Cold Sweats in a rosewood Cu24. Very nice but modern, definitely ceramic on the highs at the bridge. HD will be thicker.

EDIT: Abraxas probably not scooped btw. I'll stop digressing. Apologies!

EDIT 2: A-Pigs. You'll need to re-EQ amp and play with gain settings but they're not one-trick ponies. Thick is an understatement. C-Pigs are noticable more aggressive, with ceramic giving tighter bass and sharper highs.

[Twinfan]

Tim's wrong about the Abraxas set being the closest to RPs.  Looking at the specs, wire used and DC resistance they're not even close.  VHIIs would be closer in my experience.

[Alex]

I'd still recommend a Holy Diver.

[mkh02]

Thanks for your input guys.

So going on your opinions and knowledge what would suit me better for the PRS:

HolyDiver Set
Miracle Man Set

Looking to get really fluid thick high gain lead work. Will play a selection of classic rock (Zeppelin, AC/DC, Aerosmith) and more modern stuff (Iron Maiden, Satriani, Whiesnake).

I really like Doug Aldrich's tone...a classic rock tone but very modern, higher gain and saturated.

Any thoughts on the Miracle man I must say I am leaning towards the Holy Divers but like the idea of a higher gain/ output pickup as I love the solo's to flow and scream.

Kind regards

[Twinfan]

I'll just say again that I had Holydivers in a PRS McCarty with a rosewood neck and that guitar would cover the tones you're after.  It was a big, punchy thick sound.

I would expect MMs to be tighter and more 'snappy'.

The choice is yours!

[ericsabbath]

definitely holy diver for Aldrich

alnico miracle man sounds great for the bridge as well, but it's even fatter and rounder