Replacement pups for 2010 CU24

[srmd22]

I have a custom 24 I bought used. I am not sure what the pups are, but I read that they should be HFS/VB.

I don't hate the sound, but after playing the guitar for a few months, I am coming to the conclusion that I would prefer a more vintage, less hot sound, more like my ’71 Les Paul custom. Nice, round, mellow but clear. The PRS pups sound a bit flat on the one hand, and overly bright and biting on the other. Again, I can get a good sound from them, or I would never have bought the guitar, but compared to my tele, LP, strats, they seem less colorful and harsher. I don't want them to sound exactly like a vintage axe, just a bit less harsh and mellower.

I have heard lollers, fralins and wolftones is other guitars, and loved them. I have not heard bare knuckles, but I see they are very popular, paticularly in PRS's.

Is there a model tht will get me where I want to be, and if so which? Btw, I want to change both the neck and bridge.

[darkbluemurder]

There are a few good options for what you want. For a hotter vintage tone, the Abraxas set would be great - less output than the PRS stock Combo and no harshness anywhere.

In my own PRS Custom I have played a Holydiver in the bridge and a Cold Sweat in the neck for years. I just recently changed the neck pickup to a VHII neck which I like even better. That combination would have almost as much output than the stock pickups but less nasal at the bridge and less woofy at the neck. None of these pickups are harsh in the treble range, not even through hot-rodded Marshall amps.

Cheers Stephan

[srmd22]

Nice. Of those, which are the mellower, or more vintage option? The abraxis or the holy roller? And what is the difference between the cold sweat and the VHII?

[Telerocker]

Vintage and mellow, yet dynamic, 3D, warm with a lovely crispiness: Mules.
If you want more bite: RiffRaffs.
If you want more output with vintageflavour a la The Mule: Abraxas.

[ericsabbath]

mules

[darrenw5094]

Mules

[srmd22]

Awesome, mules it is then! Still considering these vs. wolfetones Mr. Vintage.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I have two Custom 24 guitars and have changed the HFS/VB combo in both of them. In one I use a Holydiver set and in the other it's a Crawler/Emerald set.

For what you describe, the Holydiver is just way too modern. The Crawler makes the PRS sound more like a Les Paul than any other pickup I can imagine so in that respect it's perfect for what you describe but there is a very distinctly modern edge to it. If that is the case, I think the next best bet would be the Abraxas.

[darkbluemurder]

I definitely agree. The Crawler is quite hot but still has that PAF DNA whereas the Holydiver does not. Both are great pickups but for more vintage like tones I think you are better served with the Abraxas. Cannot comment on Mules as I have never played them (I know I should :) ).

Cheers Stephan

[darrenw5094]

Mules are vintage with a slight mid scoop, Abraxas are similar but with more mids, making them feel hotter.

[ericsabbath]

I think prs guitars really benefit from the extra clarity of low output pups
and by that, I don't mean they aren't clear enough, but that more transparent pickups really put out their naturally resonant and complex overtones
but they tend to sound good with anything