Tempted to swap pickups in my PRS SC245...help?

[Phrygian]

Hey guys

I'm tempted to swap the pups in my PRS SC245. I do like the stock pickups, but I'm wanting more. I played my SG yesterday for my entire band practice and was in heaven. Now I know this is a different guitar altogether, but there was just something bitchin' about my tone yesterday. Mainly playing through my Herbert. Now, before I go on, I'm looking to try what's available to me first, and not spend any money. I have the following available to play with:

Suhr Aldrich Neck & Bridge
Gibson humbuckers out of my '89 Les Paul Standard
Gibson humbucker's out of my Dad's old '72 SG
Seymour Duncan JB bridge
Fender dual red lace sensor (ya, I doubt that'll jive with the PRS)

Has anyone tried Suhr Aldrich's in a PRS Singlecut here? What about Gibson's?

After the swap I may try my SC245's in one of my other guitars. Maybe my Les Paul, since I'm not blown away with the Suhr's in there.

Your thoughts and opinions are appreciated. Cheers!

Matt

 

[moltisanti]

I put an Aldrich in a 245 in the bridge hoping to get more punch, it sounded better but still didn't do the trick.

The DGT is the best PRS bridge pickup i've tried by a long way

 

[02Singlecut]

Find a set of used PRS #7's like they use to put in the original Singlecuts....you'll thank me later!!!

 

[Phrygian]

I put an Aldrich in a 245 in the bridge hoping to get more punch, it sounded better but still didn't do the trick.

The DGT is the best PRS bridge pickup i've tried by a long way

That's how I feel about the Aldrich in the Les Paul it's in. Sounded better, but nothing crazy. It's probably gonna come down to me trying what I've got and see what works. It'll be a bit of a pain in the arse, but it's probably the only way I'll find out. Thanks for the input.

 

[Phrygian]

Find a set of used PRS #7's like they use to put in the original Singlecuts....you'll thank me later!!!

My 3 other Singlecuts had PRS 7's and I was quite happy with them. None of them gave me the vibe my SG did yesterday though. Maybe I should just start gigging with the SG lol.

 

[rokker]

I have a SC245 and put WCR darkbursts in there....man what a difference.

I might be wrong but have heard Diezel's do not like high output pickups...the darkbursts are a PAF only a tad hotter around 8-9k.
I used to have an Einstein and they sounded fantastic with the WCR's.
Check 'em out....they are great for LP style guitars...not so much in a superstrat.
They can be a tad bright so you might want to get covers on them.

 

[snowdog]

I would be interested to hear it with these in it: Gibson humbucker's out of my Dad's old '72 SG... What did he replace them with out of curiosity?

 

[Phrygian]

I have a SC245 and put WCR darkbursts in there....man what a difference.

I might be wrong but have heard Diezel's do not like high output pickups...the darkbursts are a PAF only a tad hotter around 8-9k.
I used to have an Einstein and they sounded fantastic with the WCR's.
Check 'em out....they are great for LP style guitars...not so much in a superstrat.
They can be a tad bright so you might want to get covers on them.

I haven't tried any high output pickups through the Diezel yet, other than the Suhr's in my LP, which sounded good, but I'm still not convinced of the Suhr / LP combo. Your post makes me curious about trying some of my Gibson pups in the PRS first. Could be interesting. And this is not to say I don't like the SC245 stock pups. They're actually quite nice. But my SG was just slaying last night, so I have to try some stuff out!

I'll keep the WCR's in mind should I decide to buy some pups. Thanks for the input!

 

[Phrygian]

I would be interested to hear it with these in it: Gibson humbucker's out of my Dad's old '72 SG... What did he replace them with out of curiosity?

It may be the first thing I try.

My Dad unfortunately didn't replace them. He had a bad night/gig back when he was touring and smashed his SG into a million pieces

 

[sinestro]

I like lower output pickups in the 245. More sounds direct from the guitar. I'd rewire it to "50's wiring and put the SG pickups in there. Try and rethink your amp settings too and don't just go with what you're used to.

 

[JTyson]

I had a set of Aldrich's in a McCarty, I liked them but ended up with a Tremonti bridge and an RP in the neck. the Tremonti has better mids, less compressed, more open and slightly tighter than the Aldrich. The RP is my fav neck pickup, not too hot, very fat, nice overtones
and splits very well.
Wonder what comes stock in your SC??

 

[jcj]

Man, a HUGE plus one for the WCRs in a 245.

I did Godwoods, and the guitar went from REALLY good, to GREAT.

 

[Death by Uberschall]

EMG 81/85, trust me on this!!!

 

[rupe]

A buddy of mine just stuck a pair of Dimarzios in his...a Super Distortion on the bridge and a Super 2 in the neck. I would have never thought that that combo would sound good but it just crushes. I thought it sounded good with the stock PRS pups but these are definitely better...much more alive. I'm still scratching my head as I've never been a fan of those Dimarzio models.

 

[tdarian]

I found the SC245 pickups in my SC245 to respond very well to height adjustments. I assume you have already tried to optimize there, but if not, fiddle around with the heights 1st before moving on. FWIW, I ended up lowing my neck p/u and raising the bridge p/u in tiny increments and did find a "sweet spot". As mentioned, the PRS DGT bridge is excellent, but not the easiest to come by.

 

[snowdog]

I would be interested to hear it with these in it: Gibson humbucker's out of my Dad's old '72 SG... What did he replace them with out of curiosity?

It may be the first thing I try.

My Dad unfortunately didn't replace them. He had a bad night/gig back when he was touring and smashed his SG into a million pieces

 

[Phrygian]

I like lower output pickups in the 245. More sounds direct from the guitar. I'd rewire it to "50's wiring and put the SG pickups in there. Try and rethink your amp settings too and don't just go with what you're used to.

I probably won't be doing any re-wiring on my SC245. I actually really like the sound of it, I just want a bit extra. The tone is, dare I say, too polite. The SG just had this juice and presence to it, and an unmistakable tone. I know there are many things to factor in...wood, body size and shape, etc. But if I could get the PRS to be just a bit nastier, I'm willing to give it a go. First ones I will try are my Suhr's I think. I'm really curious to see if they'll gel with the 245. As for amp settings, not opposed to changing things up, but the amp's dialed in so well at the moment that it does sound great with all my guitars, and I have a wide variety...Fenders, Ernie Balls, Gibsons, Tokai's, Charvels, etc.

Gonna be trial and error, that's for sure.

 

[Phrygian]

I had a set of Aldrich's in a McCarty, I liked them but ended up with a Tremonti bridge and an RP in the neck. the Tremonti has better mids, less compressed, more open and slightly tighter than the Aldrich. The RP is my fav neck pickup, not too hot, very fat, nice overtones
and splits very well.
Wonder what comes stock in your SC??

The SC245 comes with 245 specific pups. More vintage sounding. They are nice, I just want to see if I can get a bit more out of the guitar. I do love it though, it's my #1.

I'm gonna try the Aldrich bridge first then go from there. I would love to set my 245 up for splitting coils. Would you happen to know where I can get PRS push/pull pots? I remember asking around a while back and no one really knew where I could get PRS ones. I think the pots on my 245 are fantastic. Great feel and response.

 

[Phrygian]

Man, a HUGE plus one for the WCRs in a 245.

I did Godwoods, and the guitar went from REALLY good, to GREAT.

Something to consider once I try my current options hehe. Thanks!

 

[Phrygian]

EMG 81/85, trust me on this!!!

I'm sure it would sound killer, but I don't want to go the EMG route. Thanks though!