Prs dragon 2 pickups... Any good?

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

I see huge sweeps all over the net for good or bad on these. If they're horrible what's the bad thing about them? I'm happy with my mccarty's but I found a new set for SUPER cheap and I love the brushed nickle covers(which is only why I'm condsidering).

 

[Kelly]

I hated them. They are great for ac/dc power chords, but leads were clunky with no sustain. The pickups in an old $200 dearmand I had hanging around were better then the dIIs. Really wonky pickups imho.

 

[snowdog]

Buy them if its a great deal, flip them if you don't like the sound of them.

 

[cphr3d]

I have a set of Dragon II's in my Custom 22. Personally, I like them. I had a set of Duncan Distortions at one point, but went back to the Dragon II's. In my experience, running a clean boost with these pup's helps out a lot. I know a lot of guys dont like them, but I think they are great. Just my $0.02.

 

[vchizzle]

Not that you can tell much there, but...
Emil likes 'em. 5:48 in the top vid and he's playing the guitar with them at start of 2nd vid...At the same time, he can tear it up on a hollowbody too. I haven't played DII's in so long, I can't remember how much I like them or not.

If they're super cheap, why not?

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

Thanks guys! Yeah I kinda figured from all I've read they're a hate/love pickup. I've read they're very compressed which would be kinda favorable for tight rhthym work. I like my cleans tho. Just gunna have to try them. I love the mccarty's but there's hate for them too, I'm really just doing this for an aesthetic thing so I'm not even sure if it's worth it or not 200 for brand new unopened... Is that a good deal? Emil also mentioned "newer dragon II's" I wonder if they changed something? Is that price worth pulling the trigger to just give them a go?

 

[vchizzle]

Thanks guys! Yeah I kinda figured from all I've read they're a hate/love pickup. I've read they're very compressed which would be kinda favorable for tight rhthym work. I like my cleans tho. Just gunna have to try them. I love the mccarty's but there's hate for them too, I'm really just doing this for an aesthetic thing so I'm not even sure if it's worth it or not 200 for brand new unopened... Is that a good deal? Emil also mentioned "newer dragon II's" I wonder if they changed something? Is that price worth pulling the trigger to just give them a go?

I think by newer, he's meaning dragon 1 vs. dragon 2, not a newer, different dragon 2.
Price wise, it's ok for a new set. There's not many out on the market, so... There's a used set on ebay for $150 BIN that are in good shape, I'd go that route instead. Or take your chances and try to snag 'em for $100.

edit: and I don't think these get a bad clean tone, they're not THAT hot. Maybe not as vintagey as McCarty's but not super hot.

 

[megaboogie]

I have them on my CU22 and I love them for modern high gain stuffs, they really cut thru well with aggressive voicing. That's the guitar I grab for playing something like Lamb of God, although they sound great for other genres of music as well.

 

[Hey_bert_whtcha_doin_bert]

Yeah I noticed they're around 13k which isn't neccessarily an indication of output but all of my fav pickups have been around that with exception of the WCR icebucker. I saw the eBay set but it's polished covers I mean if I end up liking them I'd rather have the right finish to begin with. I think I'll snag them up and give them a go for grins. I actually like my gain tone modern sounding anyway so that's a good thing I just like clean to mean capabilities tho too.