HELP! Need advice for PRS Cu24

[Slartibartfarst42]

I'd have thought the Cold Sweat bridge would be a bit bright myself but I can see how it could work. Tim's suggestion to me was Holydiver bridge and Emerald neck and despite it not being scooped, I think you'd like it as to me, your description does sound like an awful lot of what the Holydiver is really good at. I'd also point out that it's nothing like as middy as the EQ suggests. I used to have one in a middy Jackson and it worked great. The other thought if you wanted something more scooped is a Miracle Man. Until I tried one of these myself I never would have suggested it but it has a lot of the features of the Holydiver in a slightly more aggressive and scooped format.

[Twinfan]

That honk is only in the CU24 model. The CU22 is nicely balanced compared to it.

I disagree, assuming we're taking pickups out of the equation as the OP has swapped them out.

They're almost identical guitars construction-wise, and with the same bridge pickup and neck profile they'd sound pretty much equal.  No two wood blanks are ever the same though, so you have to take each guitar on its own merits.

[ericsabbath]

my first thought was a calibrated abraxas set

my other thoughts were the same  :lol:

[darrenw5094]

That honk is only in the CU24 model. The CU22 is nicely balanced compared to it.

I disagree, assuming we're taking pickups out of the equation as the OP has swapped them out.

They're almost identical guitars construction-wise, and with the same bridge pickup and neck profile they'd sound pretty much equal.  No two wood blanks are ever the same though, so you have to take each guitar on its own merits.

Almost identical, but those 2 extra frets change the natural tone of the CU24. I have both a CU22 and CU24 and they are definately different sounding. My previous CU24 that i sold a few years ago, has the same honky tone that does not exist in the CU22. I guarantee that if you put the exact same pickups in the 22 and 24 fret models, they would not sound alike.

[itamar101]

That honk is only in the CU24 model. The CU22 is nicely balanced compared to it.

I disagree, assuming we're taking pickups out of the equation as the OP has swapped them out.

They're almost identical guitars construction-wise, and with the same bridge pickup and neck profile they'd sound pretty much equal.  No two wood blanks are ever the same though, so you have to take each guitar on its own merits.

Almost identical, but those 2 extra frets change the natural tone of the CU24. I have both a CU22 and CU24 and they are definately different sounding. My previous CU24 that i sold a few years ago, has the same honky tone that does not exist in the CU22. I guarantee that if you put the exact same pickups in the 22 and 24 fret models, they would not sound alike.

I'll have too edge over to twinfans side here. Firstly, he is by far the most knowledgable about PRS guitars on the forum. Secondly, the extra frets will only slightly change the you one of the neck pickup and that's it.

[Philly Q]

I only have 22-fret PRS guitars, but I'm prepared to believe there's a subtle difference in tone between the 22-fret and 24-fret Customs. 

After all, the two extra frets don't extend further into the body, instead there's a greater length of the neck free of the body and the bridge is moved a little to accommodate.  That's going to have some effect on the acoustics.

Also, do both guitars have the same kind of bridge, or is one a tremolo and one a hardtail? 

[ericsabbath]

neck tone must be different, but I doubt the bridge tone change is any more noticeable than the usual differences between guitars of the same model

the HFS is completely different from the dragon II treble, and that's what really makes the big difference
the HFS is like an overwound dimarzio super distortion or something, so it's powerful and nasal, while the dragon II sounds like a really bright version of the gibson 498t, maybe a bit less hot and compressed
they would make the same guitar sound completely different

rough comparison with the HFS x duncan JB
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Savq2wF8GHo
there are other clips comparing them with the aftermath as well

[Slartibartfarst42]

I have a CU24 (albeit only an SE version) and I can't say I've found it to be overly honky at all, though I do tend to like mid-range punch in a guitar. Perhaps I'm a complete philistine but I can't believe that the difference between the CU22 and CU24 is all that much given how similar they are in construction, though I only have the CU24 myself.

[Twinfan]

I only have 22-fret PRS guitars, but I'm prepared to believe there's a subtle difference in tone between the 22-fret and 24-fret Customs. 

After all, the two extra frets don't extend further into the body, instead there's a greater length of the neck free of the body and the bridge is moved a little to accommodate.  That's going to have some effect on the acoustics.

neck tone must be different, but I doubt the bridge tone change is any more noticeable than the usual differences between guitars of the same model

I agree with both of you  :)

[darkbluemurder]

Even two guitars of the same PRS model (or any other maker for that matter) can sound different. When I picked my PRS Custom they had two in the shop. One was harsh while the other (the one I bought) was singing more and had far more substance in the upper registers.

At least in my guitar most of the honk was the HFS pickup. The Dragon II sounds nothing like it - to me that one sounds thin and shrill.

And I also agree that honky mids is not the same as punchy mids, the difference being that punchy mids do not sound nasal.

To summarize there are many good options for you:

- Holydiver bridge and Emerald or Cold Sweat neck
- Cold Sweat set or Cold Sweat bridge and Abraxas neck
- Abraxas set
- Miracle Man bridge and Cold Sweat neck

Except for the Emerald neck I have or had all the combinations listed at one time.

Cheers Stephan

[darrenw5094]

Even two guitars of the same PRS model (or any other maker for that matter) can sound different. When I picked my PRS Custom they had two in the shop. One was harsh while the other (the one I bought) was singing more and had far more substance in the upper registers.

At least in my guitar most of the honk was the HFS pickup. The Dragon II sounds nothing like it - to me that one sounds thin and shrill.

And I also agree that honky mids is not the same as punchy mids, the difference being that punchy mids do not sound nasal.

Finally, someone who had the same view as me and the OP.  :D  The Dragon II was thin to me in my CU22 so i swapped it with the VHII set. The HFS really show up the honky mids, so maybe the Holy Diver or Cold Sweats.

[ericsabbath]

the diver is not honky at all, but still on the same voicing ballpark of the HFS
maybe something brighter, like a rebel yell or emerald
but I'd still pick the abraxas
maybe a nailbomb if I really wanted a FAT bottom end

the cold sweat sounds amazing in PR asses, but I don't think that's what he's looking for

[sdgiffin]

the diver is not honky at all, but still on the same voicing ballpark of the HFS
maybe something brighter, like a rebel yell or emerald
but I'd still pick the abraxas
maybe a nailbomb if I really wanted a FAT bottom end

the cold sweat sounds amazing in PR asses, but I don't think that's what he's looking for

I'm interested in the Cold Sweat, what properties are in it that you think wouldn't be up my alley? I would like a fat bottom end and have enjoyed Nailbombs before, could be a good option as well.

[ericsabbath]

well, being an underwound c-bomb, the cold sweat has a paf-reminiscent clear sounding scooped midrange, but it's not round sounding by any means, the top is very bright and focused and the upper mid crunch has a very strong ceramic feel
it cleans up really really well for its amount of output, and better than any ceramic humbucker I've ever heard, but it's not an alnico-like smooth sounding pickup
reminds me of Ty Tabor (King's X) and Dimebag Darrell, specially on lead tones and pinch harmonics, which are quite unique
I had a '77 50w JMP 2204 and the sweat sounded quite sharp and bright through that amp
the alnico nailbomb was definitely a much better match for that particular amp
it was a hair hotter, but smoother, thicker and more balanced
had both in a '73 les paul custom, not a PRS, though
the cold sweat sounded amazing in my friends mccarty, but the cutting edge feel was even more pronounced

[sdgiffin]

well, being an underwound c-bomb, the cold sweat has a paf-reminiscent clear sounding scooped midrange, but it's not round sounding by any means, the top is very bright and focused and the upper mid crunch has very ceramic feel
it cleans up really really well for its amount of output, and better than any ceramic humbucker I've ever heard, but it's not an alnico-like smooth sounding pickup
reminds me of Ty Tabor (King's X) and Dimebag Darrell, specially on lead tones and pinch harmonics, which are quite unique
I had a '77 50w JMP 2204 and the sweat sounded quite sharp and bright through that amp
the alnico nailbomb was definitely a much better match for that particular amp
it was a hair hotter, but smoother, thicker and more balanced
had both in a '73 les paul custom, not a PRS, though
the cold sweat sounded amazing in my friends mccarty, but the cutting edge feel was even more pronounced

Thanks for the details! The extra top end on the Sweat may be a bit much. A friend has a set of nailbombs in his Cu24 that I may buy from him when he swaps. Gotta throw them in the guitar first, but they seem to be a good, balanced option. One thing I do find that the Cu24 lacks is some low end, so having that fatness in the bottom would be a welcomed attribute.