PRS pickup

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MrDowntown

MrDowntown

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Need some help here.
The Fiddle: PRS CE 24
The new PUPs: Screaming Demon (B) and Full Shred (N)
The problem: sounds like fuckin mud and blankets.

The question: Should it? I’m just not familiar with this marriage. I would think not. Maybe not the best fit for a dbl cut mahogany guitar but I would think it be a little brighter.

Thanks for any input.
MDT
 
Last edited:
Should’ve clarified in the OP
Not my fiddle, it’s a buddy’s. He sent off to sweetwater for the swap. One would think they wouldn’t make those kinds of mistakes, but maybe so. I’ve no experience with them performing these types of tasks honestly. But it certainly seems, to me anyway, something just ain’t right.
 
Wait - guys are eating $$ shipping to have pickups swapped?? Thats crazy.

As for the question at hand - mahog/mahog guitar i prefer a middling hot paf style - maybe pearly gates or the Pg plus?
 
tonedover said:
Wait - guys are eating $$ shipping to have pickups swapped?? Thats crazy.

As for the question at hand - mahog/mahog guitar i prefer a middling hot paf style - maybe pearly gates or the Pg plus?
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Yea. This particular buddy is wired a little differently. It’s His money…he can burn the way he sees fit I guess… I wouldn’t do it but whatever right.
 
MrDowntown said:
Need some help here.
The Fiddle: PRS CE 24
The new PUPs: Screaming Demon (B) and Full Shred (N)
The problem: sounds like fuckin mud and blankets.

The question: Should it? I’m just not familiar with this marriage. I would think not. Maybe not the best fit for a dbl cut mahogany guitar but I would think it be a little brighter.

Thanks for any input.
MDT
Click to expand...
The screamin demon specs are misleading. It's got the same.wind count as a PAF but with 1 step up in wire gauges. It should not be mud
 
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What amp/cab does he use and what are his settings?

Next thing I'd check would be the pots. Are they 500k? I'm not asking if they're *rated* for 500k, I'm asking if they *measure* 500k. I've measured pots labeled as "500k" that turned out to read in the low 400's due to manufacturing tolerance, which will make a big difference. If they measure low, change em out.
 
Wow. Never ship a guitar for a pickup swap.

I'm also thinking the pots are suspect here. A pic of the wiring setup would help, but I understand if there's not one available.
 
I’m headed over in a bit to play it once more.
He’s got a Suhr PT15 & matching cab; Which to me is a pretty bright amp.

I’ve tried to convince him to give me some time to help him figure out what’s going on….alas he’s a determined young man. Lol

I’ll report back.

Thanks so much guys!
MDT
 
Both of those pickups are pretty bright, but in a good way.
 
So I r an over to his house And played for a bit
The Suhr PT15 (nonIR) and matching 112.
His comparative fiddle is a SG CS I think a 59, with the custom buckers or whatever they have.

Compared to it yes quite dark, heavy especially the lower notes I played. I RE-eq-‘d the amp for the PRS, and bravo. Sounded really good.

I’m unsure of the speaker thats in the 112? Maybe a celestion g1265? That could have something to say about it...I’m used to greenbacks for the most part.

Curiosity still has me a bit though. I’m wondering if the SG and the PRS should be closer…eq-wise. I taught him how to dial in with his ears and forget the friggin numbers. But those guitars are def polar opposite’s. Something could be eff’up with his pot, as you guys mentioned.

Thanks again guys!
MDT
 
I had a mahogany single hum strat body from Warmoth that I had a helluva time finding a good pickup for. It sounded really dark and blanketed compared to my other mutt builds - which are mostly alder and ash. I ended selling that body. I like mahogany with a maple top to add some clarity and definition. I have cycled the Screamin’ Demon through a few of my builds and it’s an interesting pickup. It’s not bad by any means - but its on my parts shelf right now for whatever that’s worth. It would be interesting to see your friend’s amp settings as well as a shot of the wiring in the control cavity of the guitar.
 
PDC said:
I had a mahogany single hum strat body from Warmoth that I had a helluva time finding a good pickup for. It sounded really dark and blanketed compared to my other mutt builds - which are mostly alder and ash. I ended selling that body. I like mahogany with a maple top to add some clarity and definition. I have cycled the Screamin’ Demon through a few of my builds and it’s an interesting pickup. It’s not bad by any means - but its on my parts shelf right now for whatever that’s worth. It would be interesting to see your friend’s amp settings as well as a shot of the wiring in the control cavity of the guitar.
Click to expand...
I didn’t take any photos but the eq I set to get it “right”, bass 0, mids noon, treble gagged! 😂 but it sounded good. Obviously it sounds better with a little more juice on the volume /master
 
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Had him send me a few photos of cavity wiring. If anyone can tell anything by it…
 

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Wiring looks pretty tidy - slack is neatly bundled and zip tied. Solder connections look OK. Kind of hard to tell since the slack bundles are necessarily positioned over the back of the pot(s). I would start by using a plastic or wood (non-conductive) stick to gently move the wires back and forth while the guitar is on and plugged in to see if any movement of any of the wires causes signal to drop. Then follow that wire to the connection to see if it has any movement. Also, make sure the braided insulation is. Not touching anything other than the back of the pot. That could pretty easily ground something out.
 
appreciate the feedback @PDC

interesting pickup in this guitar for sure...
 
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PBGas said:
When I had my PRS Floyds, the stock PRS \m/ pickups were awesome! I would see if you can find a set of those to put in.
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whatever pickups come in those guitars is what he took our in favor the screamin demon :lol: i actually thought the guitar sounded great with the original pups... but don't we all know what it's like to start chasing tone...
 
STOOPID question time:
Can you guys Help me with the correct way to measure the pot…? 🫤
 
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