Suhr Modern / PRS pickups

[Beret]

I must apologize in advance for the longer post but I've got a bit of a dilemma. I play a wide variety of styles and venues, sometimes with a 30 watt tube combo, sometimes with a 100watt tube head, sometimes direct with an Axe-FX, etc. I play PRS Custom 24s and with the exception of a bit of clarity and definition that I can deal without, I love the tone. They're warm, thick, versatile, cut through, and feel nice.

Wanting a bit more clarity and definition with a different shape and retaining the versatility, I ordered a Suhr Custom Modern. It's a mahogany body/neck, pau ferro fretboard guitar loaded with SSV/SSH+.

So here's the deal, I totally love the Suhr Modern. It feels great, the neck is awesome, it's ergonomic, etc. As far as tone goes, for what I do, my PRS Customs kill it. The SSH+ isn't too bad but the SSV is lacking. I do like them split but as pure humbuckers go, for sound I reach for the PRS.

Since I love the modern, I want to keep it and just improve the sound for me. So I need opinions. Can I stick a set of PRS Vintage Bass/HFS pickups in it, and I'll get a little more definition and clarity out of the bolt-on/pau ferro/25.5" scale and be good to go? Other suggestions?

The VB/HFS PRS pickups are rather hot, but not "awww" sounding. I know lots of people don't like them, but I do.

I'd appreciate feedback/opinions. The SSV/SSH+ pickups just sound a little thin and the SSH+ is too "aww" sounding to me. Thoughts?

~B

 

[Dale B]

It won't hurt to try it out.

 

[JTyson]

+1 fire up the soldering iron

 

[Dallas Marlow]

I had the SSV in my Suhr and I didn't like it much either, but mine was in the bridge position with two single coils. I changed it out for an anderson H02 made a big big difference... I'm sure Motor Cities or WCR's would also sound great.

 

[jkdsteve]

The SSH+/SSV set in my Alder Modern completely remind me of a JB/'59 set with maybe a touch more clarity.