Author Topic: Pickup Set for PRS CE 24 (Read 3182 times)

bluesymetal · « **on:** February 24, 2008, 10:36:31 PM »

Hi all, I just discovered bareknuckle pickups and want to try some out. Play modern hard rock and metal. From Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry and Alice in Chains to Killswitch and Avenged Sevenfold. Some classic maiden, megadeth and sabbath as well.

I'm looking to make my PRS a little thicker, more low mids, and smoother on the top end. I play through an ENGL Blackmore with a mesa cab that has 2 greenbacks and 2 blackshadows. My tone is so close to how I want it, I think the pups are the final piece to the puzzle. I need fluid leads and a chunky rhythm tone. I need something hot but not EMG hot. I would like to be able to coil tap as well. I think I want to avoid ceramic magnets from now on, and am interested in hot alnico's.

So far I'm thinking holy diver for the bridge?? Think that would do it for me? I don't know about the neck yet though. I switch to my neck a lot when I play sweeps and tremelo pick, so a fluid sound is kinda big. The only non-bareknuckle I'm interested in at this point is the dimarzio breed set.

Any help is appreciated!

Machek · « **Reply #1 on:** February 24, 2008, 10:51:23 PM »

I doubt you be disappointed with a Holydiver bridge...
As for the neck, Cold sweat are usually advised for modern rock stuff.
Maybe HD neck too...

The rest of the pack should be here any minute nowand they are way more experienced than I, so listen to what they'll say...

ericsabbath · « **Reply #2 on:** February 25, 2008, 12:55:45 AM »

holy diver is PERFECT for alice in chains, does killswitch very well, and sounds very good through my framus cobra + cobra cab with greenbacks and my other rig (peavey rockmaster, leadvox soldano slo preamp clone, mini power amp head with 2x6550)
i played a lot of pantera, killswitch engage, black label society, sepultura and lamb of god in my bands
i love jerry cantrell, adam jones, tony iommi, doug aldrich, michael amott stuff and this pickup is damn good for almost everything, at least in my les paul

bluesymetal · « **Reply #3 on:** February 25, 2008, 01:37:10 AM »

My main concern is thick and smooth. The Prs is a little thin sounding during leads and a little harsh. I wanna smooth out the top end and add some lower mids.

ericsabbath · « **Reply #4 on:** February 25, 2008, 05:47:01 AM »

Quote from: bluesymetal

My main concern is thick and smooth. The Prs is a little thin sounding during leads and a little harsh. I wanna smooth out the top end and add some lower mids.

yes it is very thick and smooth, but tight enough on the low end

i suppose your guitar has the PRS HFS on bridge position
i had this pickup but didn't install it
i measured the dc resistance and checked the magnet
about 15.7k, huge ceramic magnet
these specs are very close to the duncan distortion (bright and harsh pickup), but i don't know how it sounds for real
the prs website said it is bright

i can't think of another BK that would be better for modern thick and smooth rock stuff than the holy diver
maybe a crawler if you want less output

bluesymetal · « **Reply #5 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:42:00 PM »

Cool stuff man, that sounds just what I'm looking for! The HFS is really harsh and it's gets thin on single note runs. I think I'm going to order the holy diver, any suggestions for a neck pickup?

ilÿti · « **Reply #6 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:48:40 PM »

Just thought I'd chime in that the Crawler bridge does many of the things described above in connection with the Diver, it's just more vintage sounding and slightly less hot.

As for the neck, there's many BKPs that cover the "fluid" sound. Maybe be more specific in terms of output and eq?

bluesymetal · « **Reply #7 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:59:33 PM »

Umm for the neck I need something can stays nice clean so not to hot, but the majority of it's use is during solos, so it needs to be clear for single note runs and arpeggios. Kinda like Slash's lead tone meet petrucci I guess?? Kinda hard to describe.

ilÿti · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2008, 07:01:49 PM »

Quote from: bluesymetal

Kinda like Slash's lead tone meet petrucci I guess??

Crawler!! :D

bluesymetal · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:11:47 PM »

Haha

So that sounds good with the holy diver in the bridge than?

ilÿti · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:48:28 PM »

Ask Tim. I don't think that many people here have tried that combination.

bluesymetal · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2008, 09:37:10 PM »

Ok cause Im such a noob, who is Tim??

HAHA I just found out Tim is the man making them!

ericsabbath · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2008, 10:55:13 PM »

lol
that was like going into a church and screaming "who the $%&# is that semi-naked guy nailed to a cross???"