PRS McCarty Pickup Replacement

[Ignoramus]

My McCarty with a Drop D has Bare knuckle nailbombs and they kick @ss! Rebel Yell's would also be awesome. Bare Knuckles of many sorts would be awesome, myself.

 

[mermer]

My McCarty with a Drop D has Bare knuckle nailbombs and they kick @ss! Rebel Yell's would also be awesome. Bare Knuckles of many sorts would be awesome, myself.

I am thinking about trying my spare Rebel Yell in the McCarty before my Les Paul Custom. 498T is not so bad, but the 58/15LT should go...

 

[Texsunburst59]

Here’s what Google AI says.

Don’t know how good these recommendations are.

 

[SFW]

Yeah I think so, not sure about A2 magnets though. They tend to have a rounder low end which helps leads and cleans but not the best for riffing according to my experience. Not sure if Slash 2.0 is different.

Which pickups you used in your McCarty's back then? How did they feel / sound?

I used the Tremonti. Also used a Duncan Custom.

The Slash 2.0


PRS Custom 22 S2 with 50/09 pickups.


Or the BKP Polymath set may be a fit as well.

 

[heath]

My PRS in D had similar issues with the 85/15 pickups. I tried probably a half dozen before I found what worked best for me. Suhr thornbucker in the neck and a woodbucker in the bridge. I have a soft spot for A2 pickups in the bridge.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Here’s what Google AI says.

Don’t know how good these recommendations are.

View attachment 461483View attachment 461484View attachment 461485

This is what it gave me LOL:

For a PRS McCarty tuned to Drop C, the Planet Tone Aggressor (bridge) combined with the Planet Tone Dissident or a 1959 Special (neck) provides the ideal tight, high-gain articulation needed for heavy down-tuned riffing. [1, 2, 3]

Recommended Planet Tone Setup for Drop C

• • Bridge Position — Aggressor Humbucker:
    • Specs: ~16k output, Alnico 5 magnet.
    • Why it works: Drop C slackens string tension, which can easily cause high-output pickups to turn muddy. The Aggressor delivers high power and aggressive harmonics while maintaining exceptional clarity across dense, low-tuned chords. [1]
  • Neck Position — Dissident Humbucker (or 1959 Special
    • Dissident Specs: ~15.5k bridge / ~9.1k neck, Alnico 8 magnet.
    • 1959 Special Specs: Vintage-hot, Alnico II magnet.
    • Why it works: The Dissident (with its Alnico 8 punch) offers modern dynamics and thick response under high gain, whereas the 1959 Special gives you fluid high-gain leads and warm, articulate cleans without getting boomy. [1, 2]

Alternative Heavy Options

• • Full Throttle Humbucker: If you prefer a hotter-wound PAF style rather than a ceramic/super-high output monster, the Full Throttle (~10.9k bridge) adds a thick, mid-forward punch that cuts through a heavy mix nicely without losing note definition in Drop C. [1, 2]