Swapping pickups on my PRS Custom 24?

[Trippled]

Hi,

I own a Custom 24 and thought recently about swapping the pickups for bkp's.
I'm actually ok with the tone itself, but I feel the pickups lack output and dont feel that
good for shred stuff, could be also related to their voicing when I think about it.

The thing is I like alot the splitted sounds, and I'm not sure if bkp's would work that well for that guitar in that aspect - any experience, thoughts?

You're also welcome to recommend a set that you think compliments the custom 24, I dont want a really high output pickup, but something that would be more suited to shred stuff,
could use more low end and more chunk to the low mids too.

Daniel.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

If you're willing to go active, I've always LOVED the EMG 85 in the bridge of a CU24. Easily my favorite pickup for these guitars.

Eric

 

[mboogman]

I like the JB/Jazz for higher gain, and the Alnico Pro II/'59 combo for lower gain stuff in my PRS guitars.

 

[kasperjensen]

I would like to try this too.

Some medium-high output, big huge warm sounding phat-ass juicy pick ups...

And does anyone have any experience with using 11s on the Custom 24?

 

[kasperjensen]

I like the JB/Jazz for higher gain, and the Alnico Pro II/'59 combo for lower gain stuff in my PRS guitars.

Talk to me, son.

What's it like?

 

[chunktone]

could use more low end and more chunk to the low mids too.

Daniel.

Motor City Pickups Afwayu set!
I have them in my Hamer, and they are KILLER!

 

[mboogman]

I like the JB/Jazz for higher gain, and the Alnico Pro II/'59 combo for lower gain stuff in my PRS guitars.

Talk to me, son.

What's it like?

The JB is a great match for the mahogany body IMO. It's got plenty of body, but it retains articulation really well. Not mushy at all. The Jazz might be a little too warm, but it splits really well, as does the JB. The APII is as really just a great Phat sounding pickup. I've done lots of high gain stuff with it, but you'll want your amp to do most of the gain. Not to say it's a quiet pickup, as it's got lots of beef. Watch the low end a little, and you'll be fine. The '59 might just be my favorite neck humbucker I've ever used. Very controllable, can fool many with a great strat like split tone. It has just enough sparkle for great low gain lead work. I'm actually considering trying the JB w/ the '59 next time I get around to changing strings.

 

[Trippled]

I also forgot to mention it's very important that they'll split well!

 

[kasperjensen]

I like the JB/Jazz for higher gain, and the Alnico Pro II/'59 combo for lower gain stuff in my PRS guitars.

Talk to me, son.

What's it like?

The JB is a great match for the mahogany body IMO. It's got plenty of body, but it retains articulation really well. Not mushy at all. The Jazz might be a little too warm, but it splits really well, as does the JB. The APII is as really just a great Phat sounding pickup. I've done lots of high gain stuff with it, but you'll want your amp to do most of the gain. Not to say it's a quiet pickup, as it's got lots of beef. Watch the low end a little, and you'll be fine. The '59 might just be my favorite neck humbucker I've ever used. Very controllable, can fool many with a great strat like split tone. It has just enough sparkle for great low gain lead work. I'm actually considering trying the JB w/ the '59 next time I get around to changing strings.

Thanks for your reply. You da man.

It sounds like the sorta thing I am after. I want more body, more thickness. Like molten lava flowing through your strings.

Before anything else I will try and adjust the height of the stock PUs, and see if I can find a sweet spot.
If not... It's time to let a professional loose with a soldering iron.

 

[JohnnyC]

i use a Custom5 and Jazz combo in my magohany Standard 24
the custom5 is like a PAF on steroids and the jazz is one of those crystal clear,mid scooped/smooth neck tones, which i dig, but ibut i think i prefer the 59 for neck position(which i had in the otehr guitar)
if had the JB as well and i think it has the edge on the Custom5 for lead tones, but the custom5 IMO has a better chunkier rhythm tone. also had the Custom(ceramic) and didnt like it. had this upper harsh treble/brittle characteristic that i didnt like, and the Custom Custom (alnico2) which suits for tamin brighter guitars.

you have the HFS/vintage bass in there currently? FWIW i found changing the pickups lifted the blanket over speaker type characteristics.
i still think the HFS is a good pickup, but i believe its meant to be used with the guitars volume rolled back for rhythms and on full for sizzling leads.

i have lots of clips in my sig using the custom5/Jazz if its of any help

 

[vchizzle]

Do you have the HFS/Vintage Bass pickups or one of the new custom 24's with 59/09's & blade switch. Need to know where you're at now, HFS is pretty hot 15k with a ceramic mag. Have you tried raising the pickup height if you feel they lack output?

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've got an Anderson H2+ in the bridge and a Dimarzio Air Norton in the neck of mine. I absolutely love the H2+. The jury's out on the Air Norton. It's got a lot of mids and bass, sometimes I think I'd like more bite on the high end, less mids and bass. Works for now though.

 

[mbman]

And does anyone have any experience with using 11s on the Custom 24?

I use Dunlop 11-50 tuned standard on most of my guitars. Used to use Thomastik Power Brights 12-53 but I play a lot less now so my hands aren't so strong now. I love the feel and sound of bigger strings! Playing past the 15th fret is a little tougher than on my Mockingbirds and Soloists, the bigger frets on those guitars make legato runs and bends much easier. I plan on getting my Custom 24s refretted with jumbo frets someday.

Martin

 

[Trippled]

Do you have the HFS/Vintage Bass pickups or one of the new custom 24's with 59/09's & blade switch. Need to know where you're at now, HFS is pretty hot 15k with a ceramic mag. Have you tried raising the pickup height if you feel they lack output?

I have a 95 custom 24 with hfs\vb wih a rotary switch.
It actually looks pretty high allready.

 

[mboogman]

I've got an Anderson H2+ in the bridge and a Dimarzio Air Norton in the neck of mine. I absolutely love the H2+. The jury's out on the Air Norton. It's got a lot of mids and bass, sometimes I think I'd like more bite on the high end, less mids and bass. Works for now though.

I really like the Air Norton, but it's got to be in the right guitar. I've even used the Air Norton as a Bridge pickup in an overly bright guitar. For my tastes, It can be too fat in the neck position, but if that's what you're looking for, then it should work really well for you.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've got an Anderson H2+ in the bridge and a Dimarzio Air Norton in the neck of mine. I absolutely love the H2+. The jury's out on the Air Norton. It's got a lot of mids and bass, sometimes I think I'd like more bite on the high end, less mids and bass. Works for now though.

I really like the Air Norton, but it's got to be in the right guitar. I've even used the Air Norton as a Bridge pickup in an overly bright guitar. For my tastes, It can be too fat in the neck position, but if that's what you're looking for, then it should work really well for you.

I keep going back forth with it. It really cuts through well with the band, I seem to only dislike it when I playing by myself. I've experimented a lot with bridge pickups but never with neck pups. Looks like I'm about to head down another never ending tone chasing road.

 

[mboogman]

I've got an Anderson H2+ in the bridge and a Dimarzio Air Norton in the neck of mine. I absolutely love the H2+. The jury's out on the Air Norton. It's got a lot of mids and bass, sometimes I think I'd like more bite on the high end, less mids and bass. Works for now though.

I really like the Air Norton, but it's got to be in the right guitar. I've even used the Air Norton as a Bridge pickup in an overly bright guitar. For my tastes, It can be too fat in the neck position, but if that's what you're looking for, then it should work really well for you.

I keep going back forth with it. It really cuts through well with the band, I seem to only dislike it when I playing by myself. I've experimented a lot with bridge pickups but never with neck pups. Looks like I'm about to head down another never ending tone chasing road.

Just get a '59 and be done with it.

 

[Mr. Willy]

I've got an Anderson H2+ in the bridge and a Dimarzio Air Norton in the neck of mine. I absolutely love the H2+. The jury's out on the Air Norton. It's got a lot of mids and bass, sometimes I think I'd like more bite on the high end, less mids and bass. Works for now though.

I really like the Air Norton, but it's got to be in the right guitar. I've even used the Air Norton as a Bridge pickup in an overly bright guitar. For my tastes, It can be too fat in the neck position, but if that's what you're looking for, then it should work really well for you.

I keep going back forth with it. It really cuts through well with the band, I seem to only dislike it when I playing by myself. I've experimented a lot with bridge pickups but never with neck pups. Looks like I'm about to head down another never ending tone chasing road.

Just get a '59 and be done with it.

Tried that too. Wasn't blown away. A bit too hollow for me.

 

[kasperjensen]

Anyone tried something like the Hot Rails?

Or the Andy Timmons signatures?

 

[Trippled]

I'd be happy if we could get back on topic...
So, more recommendations for pickups that wo9uld work for the custom 24?
Is it possible to get the same sound from a rotary switch and a 3 way + split coils?