Pickup makers- what do you think of this new PRS model's pickups?

[imaradiostar]

https://www.prsguitars.com/signatureltd/index.php

So it seems the PRS signature guitar has splittable coils but adds windings in single coil mode to balance the tone and volume. I'd love to have this option in a regular sized humbucker. I wonder if they needed the extra room afforded by having larger bobbins at the bridge?

Strange looks aside, I think it's a neat idea.

jamie

[David Schwab]

It's a cool idea. It's similar to the pickups in the 513. He has a patent for the 513, so I don't know if that covers those pickups. Unfortunately, I don't think they make very good pickups, and judging by how many I am asked to replace with Duncan and DiMarzios, apparently I'm not alone.

A variation of that is the Joe Barden humbuckers. Both coils have a coil tap, so when you switch to "single coil" mode, it's really a low wind humbucker. But it sounds good, and gives the effect of switching to a Strat type tone.

[jason lollar]

I think its a mistake for a company that big selling to such a huge wide range of people to put a non standard size pickup in their guitars BUT- more work for guys that can build from pickups scratch!
Because thier customers expectations will vary so widely just due to the amount of people there will be alot of people wanting to replace those pickups or not buy the guitar at all but thats just my narrow perception- obviously PRS has done something right.
I built some triple coil humbuckers years ago- the third coil was added to the slug side when the bucker was split in order to get something like a full size strat coil. it worked OK but had its limitations due to whatever type of magnet you used-rods or bar

[David Schwab]

One thing I give them credit for is that the pickups look much nicer than the standard Gibson style that was never meant to be exposed. The pickups on the 513 are nice looking as well. The new pickups blend in with the guitar better IMO.

[imaradiostar]

I'm still on the lookout for a better pickup for my PRS hollowbody. I was wondering if something like that or possible the Fralins with the underwound/overwound coil would be a good solution.

Any suggestions?

jamie

[Mike Sulzer]

I think the appearance aspect of this is a large part it. The large pickup below and the smaller one above fits the shape of the guitar really well. And the look of the pickups is evolved from the "no cover humbucker look", but it is really well done.

As for the engineering, it is just mini toggles for single coil or humbucker; the single coils are not even noise canceling.

[imaradiostar]

I wouldn't mind that the single coil isn't noise canceling. I usually prefer that in spite of the noise.

I wouldn't worry about the odd size too much- they're only making 100 of these and they're all sold already!

jamie