Pickups for a PRS McCarty!?

[papersoul]

Okay gents......I have been through a lot of pickups and can't nail it with my Mccarty. The lows on this guitar are dark and not to clear - needs more punch as well! I have the Dragon IIs back in and like the neck a lot - very clear and about 9k. Could be a bit more vintage but it works. I am going to check with Lew about ordering a nickel covered C-5 since this seems to be the go-to McCarty-Duncan match. Any thoughts guys?

I need to make sure it will do clean well and match with the Dragon II neck which is on the bright side for a neck pickup. This guitar needs fat yet clear pickups. If I have to, I'll get a Jazz neck.

Thanks!!!!!!!

[Gearjoneser]

C-5/Jazz. Leave the bridge coil tap wire disconnected, but connect the red/white of the neck to the same place the PRS's white lead goes.

I did that mod, so I could always go between the full bridge and either the full neck or split neck. Then, you don't have to push down the tone control push/pull knob when going from a single coil neck back to the full bridge. It's a good mod for McCarties, if you don't really care about a split bridge tone.

[dr.barlo]

Why not a 59?

B

[papersoul]

Thanks guys..

I find the McCarty needs clear pickups and maybe the Jazz would be better. I am using the PRS Dragon IIs right now and are pretty good but I think Duncans have more punch and organic qualities. I am checking with Lew on ordering.

Gear - I like the center split tones the most for acoustic like tones. I find splitting one pickup rather thin. You?

I may also just try the C-5 with the dragon II neck since that neck is near perfect in this guitar and about 8-9k.

[papersoul]

Apparently the Pearly Gates also rock in a McCarty.

[Benjy_26]

Apparently the Pearly Gates also rock in a McCarty.

That's waht I was about to say. If you don't need super output, a pair of Pearly's would romp in that McCarty. If you do want some more punch from the bridge, the C5 will fit the bill, but I would still go with a Pearly Gates in the neck.

[papersoul]

That's waht I was about to say. If you don't need super output, a pair of Pearly's would romp in that McCarty. If you do want some more punch from the bridge, the C5 will fit the bill, but I would still go with a Pearly Gates in the neck.

Thanks.....the stock McCarty pickups seemed to lack a tad of tightness and bite but had amaxing clean. I now have the Dragon IIs. I am going to try the C-5/Jazz and see.....

But the Pearly Gates always make me wonder.

[Gearjoneser]

Barlo is right about the 59. I wish I could try out a 59B/Jazz N combo in a McCarty.

[captain cavman]

I've tried several combos in my Mc Carties :

Sethb/'59n
Seth b&n
Seth b/Ant n
A2P set
Ant set
Seth b / A2P n

My favorite one remain Sethb / '59n

[flipside]

How could you not like PRS pickups? I think they're gorgeous. But anyways, i will try and add to this discussion. I'm surprised nobody has even bothered to mention the JB, i'm assuming it might have a little too much output for the threadstarters tastes, but i've always known the JB to be very crisp and clear, and that was one of the requirements he had. And who doesn't like to rock out every now and then.

[fusion101]

flipside i was going to suggest alinco II pro neck and jb bridge, but i realized this guy wants real clean sound i would'nt suggest the jb for that

[papersoul]

After trying many boutique pickups...they always seem over sensitive and some too bright. So I hang my head in shame and return looking for Duncans. I say, in shame because I walked away from the Duncans for a while. I am still loving my McCarty but I need a new pickup set. I tried multiple PRS pickups but many seemed too muddy in the bass frequencies!

I am looking at the JB, C-5, CC, Seth and even the Rio Grande BB for the bridge slot. Thoughts?

I want this to be a big, clear sounding guitar with good versatility. I don't want pickups too low in output or too bright.

[junior]

I just put a pair of Seths in my Custom 22 stop tail- they are awsome! I did a jazz gig, and the neck pup was just beautiful. On a blues gig I was havi ng the time of my life experimenting with all the tones availkable using the vol and tone. I have a rock gig this weekend and can't wait to hear them through my Marshall By the way- I have it wired up as a three-way, without any coil tapping or anything.

[papersoul]

I just put a pair of Seths in my Custom 22 stop tail- they are awsome! I did a jazz gig, and the neck pup was just beautiful. On a blues gig I was havi ng the time of my life experimenting with all the tones availkable using the vol and tone. I have a rock gig this weekend and can't wait to hear them through my Marshall By the way- I have it wired up as a three-way, without any coil tapping or anything.

So how was the Rock gig? I have heard from a few that the McCarty pickups actually sound similar to Seths.