Crawler vs Nailbomb vs Holydiver for PRS Custom 24

[Duck2587]

You can't tell the difference. It's more cosmetic.

[skeeter]

Most of the time it does not make a sonic difference but an optical one. Best move is to measure the string spacing.

Generally when in doubt (with emphasis on the last three words - best to clarify beforehand) I would

- choose the 53mm string spacing (better too wide than too narrow)
- choose short leg (in 95% of all cases it will fit into guitars that had long legged pickups) and
- choose 4 conductor wire (it's easier to ignore the separate set of wires than to change the wire on an existing pickup).

Cheers Stephan

Thanks, I finally placed my order and did just this - 53mm for the Crawler bridge.  And the Emerald neck.  Both short leg, 4 conductor, in reverse zebra (black outside, creme inside)

Ben at BKP made sure everything was correct, including the magnet flip for the PRS 5-way.  Now the waiting game begins!

I'll be happy to post a tone report and some clips once I get them installed 

[Duck2587]

Awesome! 

[Telerocker]

Great, hope they will go beyond your expectations. Fiddle with the height to find the sweet spot. Scatterwound pickups are sensitive beasts.

[Slartibartfarst42]

That's a great combination and one I used myself for a while. The Crawler is probably the best Bare Knuckle pickup I ever owned and was absolutely perfect in my PRS. The Emerald matches well in the neck, though I eventually switched to using a Holydiver in the neck as it had the more vintage tone I was looking for there.

[keen007]

I have 59/09s which sustain forever but are a little too hot for my blood. Looking to swap for 57/08s. Happy to trade.

[Telerocker]

That's a great combination and one I used myself for a while. The Crawler is probably the best Bare Knuckle pickup I ever owned and was absolutely perfect in my PRS. The Emerald matches well in the neck, though I eventually switched to using a Holydiver in the neck as it had the more vintage tone I was looking for there.

Or a Mule-neck 

[skeeter]

This is a long overdue post.  I just wanted to sincerely thank everyone for their insight.

I ended up with a Crawler bridge/Emerald neck in my PRS Custom 24.  And it has worked out perfectly! Even after 6 months I'm still impressed with the range and sound of these pickups. 

The Crawler is a real rock beast.  It has a very distinctive throaty roar to it - loving it through my old Bogner and my recently acquired Friedman.  It is really thick and definitely beefed up a thin sounding Cu 24.

The splits are fantastic too - they remain full and lush, almost like a Telecaster on position 4 and sorta Stratty/p-90 in position 2.  I don't know if it's the Alnico IV magnets in the Emeralds, but they definitely have a gorgeous sound.  Both humbuckers together balance really well, taming the Crawler a bit and making the middle position very usable for clean arpeggio work.  This p/u combo produces usable tones in all 5 positions - great fit for anyone with a PRS w/5 way. 

Last, the Emerald on its own is a great combo of modern and vintage.  It cleans up well and definitely has a warm blues tone in there as you add gain and responds well to picking dynamics.  But cranking with more modern gain they really cut through with a liquid tone that works for Petrucci/Vai or fusion - while tracking with clarity and remaining extremely articulate.

Anyways, I just wanted to finally get around to thanking everyone here, as they helped me make the right choice.  These pickups have definitely been the best upgrade I've ever made to a guitar. 

And now, I have a few other projects floating around in my head and some other BKP's in mind to try out...

[Kiichi]

Glad to hear it worked out exactly like we hoped. Good to hear that we have another convert. =)

[Telerocker]

Glad to hear it worked out exactly like we hoped. Good to hear that we have another convert. =)

Amen!