PRS owners help - Custom 24 with 85/15's low end sounds too flubby - which BKs?

[jonthomas83]

Hi guys,

Need a little help. Recently bought my dream guitar and I'm hugely disappointed that I just cannot get the low strings to sound tight and focussed. For example, when palm muting and playing high gain, it sounds loose and flubby with no definition.

I went into a music shop last week and tried a PRS with 85/15s (same as mine) and it sounded exactly the same, loose and undefined in the low end. So I'm thankful it's not just my guitar that sounds like that.

Now, I'm hoping it's not the guitar itself and please tell me that it's not. I'm hoping this can be fixed by switching out the pickups, is that correct? I'm no expert, so please go easy!

1. So to that end, if this can be remedied with new pickups, which BKs would you suggest? I've had Cold Sweats before and loved them. Just need to be tight and defined and great for heavy rock, metal and blues.
2. My PRS has weird sized humbuckers (85/15), but they guy in the shop said that the humbucker rings can be swiched out for regular rings. Will I be able to get regular pickups in there?

Cheers

[Dave Sloven]

Cold Sweats would probably work.  If you are worried that the CS neck might be too bassy maybe try a CS/HD combo as the Holy Diver neck pickup is brighter

[Slartibartfarst42]

You seem to like things tight, bright and very 'Rock' but with some body. I think the Holydiver would be a great choice for the neck. For the bridge, I think the Coldsweat, Rebel Yell and A-Bomb could all do a job for you.

[pac90]

You could likely sell the originals for a premium.....not seen any on ebay yet, maybe even get a couple of new pairs of BKs :)

[Dave Sloven]

PRS can be tight around the feet on the pickup legs, you might want to talk to BKP about that as apparently they can do something for you i that regard

[Slartibartfarst42]

BKP will be able to make a set of pickups that will fit OK so just focus on which ones are best for you. I feel I should point out that while all three of the pickups I suggested are suitable for what you're after, the Cold Sweat is slightly different to the other two. I won't drone on about the Cold Sweat because you've already had one so you know how good it can be. The A-Bomb has a lot more of the aggressive upper mids than the Cold Sweat and seems to really 'sizzle' when you play it. The tone is hairy and aggressive, with a lot of bite and a lot of body. In a way it reminds me of a Gibson 498T but more so. Its aggression can make it too much in some guitars so it depends on your guitar's acoustic properties. If your PRS naturally has plenty upper mids I'd steer clear but if it has a reasonably healthy bottom end I think it will work very well for you. The Rebel Yell is similar to the A-Bomb but toned down a bit so there's less hair and less aggression but still loads of bite for you. Both pickups seem to have their foundations in 'Hot PAF' territory but the A-Bomb is moved more towards very modern and the Rebel Yell sits more between Rock and more modern tones.

[Niilz]

Black Dogs - case closed. 

[Slartibartfarst42]

That could be quite a good shout too. The Black Dogs are rather like the Abraxas pickups in that they seem to be something of an unsung hero in the range, though the Abraxas is getting more love recently. I've never owned Black Dogs but rather like the Abraxas, it's a set I've always suspected I would really like.

[littleredguitars2]

i just put some juggernauts in my mccarty. instant beast mode.

[johnson]

ABRAXAS or emerald

[darrenw5094]

ABRAXAS or emerald

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