BKP to Replace a PRS HFS?

[darrenw5094]

Hi guys, new to this forum, but not new to BKP's. I have a set of Mules in a Bacchus Les Paul Goldtop and a set of VHII's going in a PRS CU22.

I have a PRS CU24 also and the HFS was never on my like list. I love the hotness with the Ceramic magnet, but sound is a bit throaty with the high mids that drown out the treble quite a bit. I want a similar hot pickup, but with normal mids and treble. I do prefer balanced pickups, either vintage or modern, but not the tight bass type like Vai's Evolution's.

Can anyone suggest a replacement for the HFS that is just as hot, but less middy, not to tight bass and has a balanved tone. The Aftermath is one that is have singled out. I am not into metal though.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Well if you're not into metal, I don't think the Aftermath is what you should be looking for. Can you give us a little more info? What do you play?

[darrenw5094]

More into Classic Rock, but i might go for a more modern pickup as i have the Mules in a LP. Maybe a pickup with a AV magnet might be hot enough?

[Twinfan]

Cold Sweats would get my vote  :)

[itamar101]

+1 for the Cold Sweat.
If you're ok with Alnico V you might wanna give the rebel yells a look too.
Both are great pickups that'll take away the mid bump and add a bit of brightness yet stay just as aggressive as the HFS.

[Telerocker]

For classic rock I would take a peek at the Emeralds too.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Yeah, I'd go for either the Emerald or Rebel Yell. Both great at vintage stuff, but handles lots of power well.

[darrenw5094]

Thanks guys......i was looking at the wrong pickups all along. Checked out the Emeralds and the Cold Sweat on the U toob. The Emerald sounds classic alright. I might have a think about the Rebel Yell's, but they might be to close to the VHII's.

[TheyCallMeVolume]

I don't really hear any similarities between the VH and RY...I'd listen to a few more demos.

[Slartibartfarst42]

No doubt in my mind on this one as I have a PRS SE Custom 24 and I have been talking to Tim about the pickups I wanted. I said I was looking for something that was versatile but would spend most of its time in the range from Classic Rock to 80's Metal. Everything about the way you describe what you're looking for sounds like what I wanted and the answer Tim confidently came up with for me was Holydiver bridge and Emerald neck.

[darrenw5094]

Yep the Holy Diver is the 80's rock machine according to the BKP descriptions. Maybe a bit beefy in the mids.

Allstar.....the RY and VHII have the same specs on the BK page.......maybe i should have another listen then. Thanks.

[Slartibartfarst42]

The description and name of the Holydiver certainly suggests 80's Metal but I think you'd find it significantly more versatile than that. I use a Holydiver in my main guitar and it's so good and so versatile that I'll use it in my PRS too. I run this pickup to play clean stuff like 'Drops of Jupiter', through more Blues based material, Classic Rock and all the way up to Black Sabbath. It really can do the lot. As for the mids you mentioned, I think you can think too much about the EQ charts on the website. The Holydiver has mids, yes, but it's not something that dominates at all. Saying a pickup is 'a bit beefy in the mids' suggests that you'd be left trying to tone this aspect of the pickup down but you're not. The Holydiver is actually quite balanced with a slight emphasis in the mids. It certainly isn't dominating because I still have the mids turned right up on my amp and I also boost the mids using the EQ in my effects chain. All the EQ of the pickup itself does is give you a starting point and helps it to cut through the mix in a band situation.