Another Pickup Recommendation Thread..

[Funkin182]

Hey guys, upgrading the pickups in my PRS Se. Dont mind the stock bridge pickup but the neck is utterly useless. Id still like to upgrade both though, the bridge lacks clarity/definition and sounds a bit thin when playing fills and lead runs. I want something that will drive my boogie well, its a solo 50 rectifier. Id like a pickup that will allow this prs to be a jack-of-all trades.

So far i like the sounds of the alternative 8, custom custom and duncan distortion. Anyone with some PRS/Mesa experience please help!!

[AlexR]

The boogie is pretty high gain is it not? (not that I've got one, just played thru one a few times). For a high gain amp you could probably use a fairly low output pup that has clarity, but with some balls to get the growl/crunch for thick driven chords.

The custom with the ceramic and anything with an alnico 8 is likely to be balls to the wall, but be pretty poor come clean tone time. The custom2 will be growly but lacks bottom from user reports.

My slightly left field suggestion is to try the PATB range. They have great articulation despite fairly solid winds. The 3 also does a great job of making strats sound thick like a LP. This sound like what you want to do, which would be my pick for the bridge posi. The 1 in a neck would be a good match.

You could also try coil splits or series/parallel with push pulls for added tonal colours

[DonP]

So far i like the sounds of the alternative 8, custom custom and duncan distortion.

You've heard those in the neck of a PRS?

[sbecker67]

I have a CustomCustom in the bridge and an Alnico II Pro in the neck of my PRS SE 25th Anniversary Custom 24 and I play mostly through a Mesa Road King. No complaints at all. Of your three choices, I don't see how you could go wrong with either.

For the neck, an Alnico II or Pearly Gates would be a great match for the CustomCustom but I couldn't comment on the A8 or DD.

[GuitarDoc]

I'm not a real fan of the Custom series (Custom, C5, CC), but with an A8 it does very well in the bridge. I agree with AlexR that you don't really need this high output pup for driving the Mesa, but it should still be ok. The PATB pups are very good also. Maybe a bit strong on the low mids for the Mesa, though.

My feeling is, if you want to have an articulate bridge pup with enough sizzle to get the most out of that Mesa at the same time, go with the Pearly Gates. The PG is also my first choice for the neck position. It can give you some rich, smooth, full sounding tones when you want. And it can give you some aggressive sizzle when you want. All the while being very clear and articulate. A fuller yet more agressive sound than the '59

[chcjunior]

I've got the 59/Custom combo in my McCarty which runs into my Knucklehead which I'm happy with. The pups cover alot of ground sonically with clarity and gain.

[Funkin182]

You've heard those in the neck of a PRS?

No they were some of the bridge pickups i'd been looking at.

As for the suggestions on using lower output pickups i think thats a good idea. I dont need extreme/brutal distortion anyways - even if i do the modern channel on my recto will make any pickup sound insane - as long as its articulate. The guitar only runs through my tuner and wah pedal before the amp so it definitely doesnt need the output to drive an fx chain.

the pearly gates or 59 look pretty good for a neck pickup and the duncan custom for the bridge. Cant go wrong with mark morton and his mesa tone :P