2007 PRS Custom 24 pickup assistance/combinations

[Gmills]

I see this has been a fairly discussed topic already - however I thought I would put my situation forward and see what comes back!

I have a 2007 PRS Custom 24 with a 5-way rotary + tremolo bridge that I have recently started playing again. This has stock HFS/VB combo installed.. and I’m not a big fan of the HFS bridge. It seems quite piercing and too treble-ish to me. I’ve been fiddling with the heights in the neck and bridge position and having trouble balancing these nicely. When I get the volume levels similar in the isolated bridge or neck positions, the other splits are very quiet.

I know these guitars are known for their bright tendencies, so this may be why I’ve taken a dislike to this bridge pickup in particular now I’ve come back to playing it, as it seems to almost magnify this (VB I don’t actually mind, however swapping out the bridge would likely mean this coming out also). I would be mainly playing rock and blues styles, and basically just looking for a satisfying and versatile set of tones from the guitar. Something more rounded and thicker that still cuts through; I think the sounds the gent gets in the following video are incredible :

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=evEXJK7JFso

So as I am set on BKP’s as replacements, the main contender after some research seems to be the Abraxas set. The name keeps coming up in relation to PRS and seems to have been made with the brand and sound properties of the guitars in mind. What do people think about this considering? Would this be a safe bet for me or could it be even better mixing pickups like in the video? I’m sure that leaving the VB in the neck and changing the bridge to Abraxas wouldn’t split very well as they would likely be too different, but having the right combination from this brand can be very effective it would seem.

I’ve read that when buying a pair of BKPs there is a potential for small tweaks to ensure that both pickups work well and balance easily with each other, however it’s more likely the case that I would be purchasing these separately due to current spare funds. Can anyone advise otherwise to this, or will it not matter given you make the right selections? Any further recommendations on sets, combinations or how to buy would be greatly appreciated. Apologies for all the content here I am sure you can tell I’m new to this side of things!

Many Thanks

[Muffler]

I have an Abraxas bridge in my PRS SC245 and it sounds amazing, the guitar is similar to the Les Paul Standard I had, but brighter and a bit thinner, more refined. I think it should work great in a Custom 24 too.
My other options to consider in the BKP catalogue would be the VHII and the Rebel Yell, but if you find the guitar too bright, maybe the VHII wouldn't fit as well as Abraxas or RY

[Gmills]

Interesting! So maybe an Abraxas bridge is a good idea. I’ll have a look at the Rebel Yell also - thanks!

Combining these could potentially be a great mix! Or, of course, a set of either...

[Telerocker]

Interesting! So maybe an Abraxas bridge is a good idea. I’ll have a look at the Rebel Yell also - thanks!

Combining these could potentially be a great mix! Or, of course, a set of either...

You did describe the Abraxas in your first post. The Rebel Yell is a totally different pickup.

[Gmills]

Sp what are the main sound differences between the Abraxas and RY?! And what are they best suited to?

Thanks

[richard]

I have the Abraxas set in a PRS Bernie and the RY set in an S2 Singlecut. Both are amazing sets. The Abraxas are overwound PAF types and have a vintage flavour but with a lot more punch. The RY's have a little more output and are slightly more modern sounding. Both sets have a fair amount of top end but it's not harsh. For playing rock and blues either set are fine but if you like the sounds in Matt Coulson's video I think maybe the RY's would be your best bet. Here's my S2 with RY's in action. Not a great recording but it'll give you an idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL4qjtsEQ0Q&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2gY0OmWqNBbUOv4Hg90yaUE57SbN1xmEXw1ZNw9d2ZM8u1Qe1WB3zzQOY

[Gmills]

Brilliant! Thank you that’s really helpful, and I did get a good idea from the video there.. As you said the top end isn’t too harsh, although still very noticeable on what I imagine was the humbucking bridge position?

Thanks!

[richard]

Yes, I stayed on the bridge pickup for the whole gig but the neck RY is great. The recording is very compressed particularly when the bass kicks in. If you listen for the moments where I play a couple of chords when no-one else is playing you'll hear the top end cut through a lot more. When I first heard the RY's I thought they were very toppy but it's easily sorted out with your amp's eq. What amp are you using ?

[Telerocker]

Sp what are the main sound differences between the Abraxas and RY?! And what are they best suited to?

Thanks

You have to see the Abraxas as a hotrodded Mule, with more bass mids and slightly less topend. Where the RY is brighter, with a clear emphasis on the uppermids. It has a more contemporary tone compared to the Abraxas and also a tad less bass. You might say that the RY is a polite version of the Nailbomb.

[Yellowjacket]

Rebel Yell is an interesting bridge pickup:  It loves to live in warm, low mid focused guitars.  It has a tight and tapered low end with a very even harmonic frequency spread.  It isn't pokey in any band.  The HFS is pokey in the treble where one specific frequency band really sticks out. 

I don't know what I would think of a Rebel Yell in a bright guitar.  I like it in a warm and low mid focused one, somewhere that the instrument adds back in all the missing low end.  In this application, the results are astounding.

The particular guitar I am describing has a Rebel Yell bridge and VHII neck.

[Gmills]

Richard - With amps I am between a Marshall Vintage Modern and an Orange Crush! Thanks for that..

Seems that both have very defining factors, and up to now I’m quite liking the idea of an Abraxas in the bridge at least. How would a RY neck perform alongside an Abraxas bridge? Just thinking the Abraxas can be getting rid of this pokey treble as Yellowjacket said at the bridge, while the RY in the neck as a less vintage sounding option covering a slightly different spectrum... stick to a set of each or mix?!

Thanks

[Yellowjacket]

I love the rebel yell neck, but I paired it up with an Alnico Nailbomb bridge pickup.  Incidentally, I suspect an A-Bomb would have the additional warmth and girth to work well in your guitar.  Just be aware that it is pretty ferocious sounding.  It sounds awesome for blues to thrash.

For an Abeaxas bridge, I would say an abraxas neck or mule neck.ĺ

[Muffler]

I love the rebel yell neck, but I paired it up with an Alnico Nailbomb bridge pickup.  Incidentally, I suspect an A-Bomb would have the additional warmth and girth to work well in your guitar.  Just be aware that it is pretty ferocious sounding.  It sounds awesome for blues to thrash.

For an Abeaxas bridge, I would say an abraxas neck or mule neck.ĺ

I combine the Abraxas bridge with The Mule in the neck in my PRS, perfect combo, though the Abraxas is setted quite high to compensate the output and the brightness of the mule

I wouldn't define the RY as a very bright pickup, even thought is a bit brighter than the Abraxas, I think it's closer to the Abraxas than the VHII in terms of brightness. I had installed in a dark Les Paul Standard and it sounded great, it growled like an orc in heat, but I hadn't mind to get a bit more shine

[richard]

The Abraxas neck pickup is great but very different to the RY neck - far more vintage sounding and an absolute delight to play. If you're going for the Abraxas bridge I would go for the Abraxas neck as well. They work very well together.

[Telerocker]

BKP did put quite some R&D in balanced sets. I would pick the Abraxas-set.
I have a Mule-set. The balance is perfect and the in between position is happening.