Author Topic: Classic Rock Pups for a PRS SE Singlecut (Read 5549 times)

99_not_out · « **on:** July 16, 2007, 01:02:52 PM »

Right, my month of work hell is nearing an end and as it would happen the 96 straight hours I spent on call last week have earnt me enough for a new set of BKPs ... so not all bad afterall :)

I've had my PRS SE Singlecut for a few months now and good that it is, it could do with better pups as the stock ones are a little bit mushy. I use the PRS for clean stuff / low gain rock (AC/DC, Led Zep, GnR &c.). So now the old BKP conundrum starts - which ones?

I am torn between:

VHII
Rebel Yell
Stormy Monday

Anyone have any of the following in a PRS or similar, and have any word on the tonal qualities of these?

All I've managed to decide so far is that they have to be Zebras :)

Twinfan · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2007, 01:52:11 PM »

Rebel Yells - too modern sounding for classic rock?

Stormy Mondays - might mush a bit if you use lots of gain? Great cleans I believe.

VHIIs - somewhere in between the other two sets and probably the best choice for you?

Hunter has VHIIs in his PRS SE. See if you like his tone:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7452

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** July 16, 2007, 02:27:34 PM »

sounds like mules to me!

hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** July 16, 2007, 02:54:43 PM »

I have the VHIIs in my PRS SE as TwinFan said and they are very versatile, also great cleans and split sounds.

But sometimes I wish it had a bit more grunt or meat to it. Tim suggested Holy Divers, which might in fact be a very good match, but probably too hot for you?

Maybe Mules...

I want to try my BlackDogs in her, as I think they might be an awesome match for the SE SC.

99_not_out · « **Reply #4 on:** July 16, 2007, 03:25:40 PM »

Thanks for the feedback guys, and lovely VHII clips there Hunter. I had been thinking in a VHII kind of direction recently. SM and RY probably out then.

Mules and Black Dog are also tempting, I'll have a poke around for some clips. Also, the Crawlers ... forgot about the Crawlers.

Damn it Tim, too much choice!

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #5 on:** July 16, 2007, 03:32:26 PM »

I really hate to muddy the waters, but do you have the Riff Raff yet? It just oozes classic rock, and still has enough bite to do higher gain stuff, too. A Riff Raff/Stormy Monday combo is just delish, also!

99_not_out · « **Reply #6 on:** July 16, 2007, 03:58:10 PM »

Oooo-oo. No Riff Raff yet, and as a DC fan surely I must!

Considered the RR / SM for my SG before I got seduced by the darkside (Warpig set). Would an SM neck still give a good lead tone? Don't play much lead, but am trying to learn! I like a nice clean but powerful lead tone ... would the SM do that?

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #7 on:** July 16, 2007, 04:26:43 PM »

I love the Riff Raff/Stormy Monday combo in my Agile 2800. The SM will give you a tonally neutral lead tone that positively sings. (And for the record, I don't even like neck humbuckers)

Philly Q · « **Reply #8 on:** July 16, 2007, 05:12:15 PM »

Quote from: TwilightOdyssey

The SM will give you a tonally neutral lead tone that positively sings. (And for the record, I don't even like neck humbuckers)

+1 (but I love neck humbuckers)

I have a Black Dog/SM combo in a V and a Riff Raff in an SG - no maple top like the SE Singlecut, but not a million miles away. I personally prefer the RR to the BD, the BD doesn't sound as "big" as I expected - but maybe it's the guitar.

99_not_out · « **Reply #9 on:** July 16, 2007, 09:13:11 PM »

Twighlight, I just listened to this clip of your RR / SM combo:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6132

I think I'm sold :)

I'm right in thinking the Riff Raff's will be more 'classic rock' sounding that the VHII's? Probably a dumb question I know ...

I also noticed Twilight switched between parallel & series wiring. For low output pups like the SM, am I right in thinking using parallel wiring is better than a coil tap, as you don't lose as much gain?

TwilightOdyssey · « **Reply #10 on:** July 16, 2007, 09:22:22 PM »

Lot of stuff here. I'll try to be comprehensive. :)

Quote from: 99_not_out

Twighlight, I just listened to this clip of your RR / SM combo:

http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6132

I think I'm sold :)

Glad I could be of service! :)

Quote

I'm right in thinking the Riff Raff's will be more 'classic rock' sounding that the VHII's? Probably a dumb question I know ...

Not dumb at all. And yes, the Riff Raff is definitely more classic rock, if I can be that simple. That being said, I'm able to get great metal tones from both of those pups as well, but the Riff Raff does require way more effort. (Fortunately, I'm a real ham-fisted player PDT_008)

Quote

I also noticed Twilight switched between parallel & series wiring. For low output pups like the SM, am I right in thinking using parallel wiring is better than a coil tap, as you don't lose as much gain?

To tell you the truth, the reason I use parallel is to roll off the low frequencies more than cutting the gain down. Even in series, the Stormy Monday is C-L-E-A-N!!!

99_not_out · « **Reply #11 on:** July 16, 2007, 09:36:38 PM »

Sweet, sounds like the Riff Raff is the one for me. I like a pickup you really have to attack, also being somewhat heavy handed from years of trying to get a noise out of stock Epi pups :)

Thanks for the info Twighlight!, and everyone else ... I think I went through almost the whole BKP catalogue in this thread :)

99_not_out · « **Reply #12 on:** July 16, 2007, 10:27:02 PM »

Oh and one more thing Twighlight: Is that an Alnico II SM in your clip?

Ted · « **Reply #13 on:** July 16, 2007, 10:38:23 PM »

I would get some unpotted Mules they should sound amazing.

I have VHII's in my Gibbo LP and don't really like them, bridge is too hot for me and that guitar, but the neck pup is very nice.

When I asked Tim about classic rock HB's for a LP he recommended Stormy Mondays.

PhilKing · « **Reply #14 on:** July 16, 2007, 10:47:14 PM »

Quote from: 99_not_out

Oh and one more thing Twighlight: Is that an Alnico II SM in your clip?

It is an Alnico IV Stormy Monday. Tim likes the mix of AV & AIV when you have the Riff Raff & Stormy Monday.