looking for a guitar inbetween a fender and a prs

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imbwang

Member
Messages
47
is there even such a thing?

I currently play a PRS Custom 22 20th Anniversary Model w/Dragon II pickups through a VOX AC15CC1x. I recently picked up the VOX after playing through a Blues Jr for several years and it turned out be a bigger change in sound than I had imagined. It sounds a lot more natural, transparent, and can get gritty at higher volumes. The Custom 22 sounds full, warm, smooth, but one problem...it's been only more difficult to get a clearer sound through the VOX (yeah go figure...I should've saw that one coming)...

Another [stupid] reason why I kind of want to have something else other than my PRS is that I never was able to get comfortable in playing it. It's a gorgeous guitar (gray black flame maple top w/the 20th anniv. edition bird inlays)...I felt like I had to be cautious most of the times...felt like I was taking care of a baby rather than playing it for what it was...a guitar!...but that's just my problem :cry:

I recently decided to go back to learning more blues stuff and wanted a guitar that could give me that sound without losing too much of the warmth and fullness of my PRS. I love the strat sound but it's a bit too twangy for my taste (I'd probably hang around the middle and bass pickup setting for the most part). I received a few suggestions from a friend...to check out G&L's, Tom Anderson Classics and Drop Tops, and possibly even a Fender (I'm a little more uneasy with Fender since they mass-produce their guitars leaving room for inconsistency in the craftsmanship of their guitars...so maybe a [used] custom shop strat somewhere in the 1500-2000 price range?)

any suggestions?
 
W

waini001

Member
Messages
200
I'd recommend an Anderson Drop Top (if you prefer a 25.5" scale) or an Anderson Cobra S (if you prefer a 24.75" scale). The Cobra S should be able to be had used for around 1900-2000, while the Drop Top may be slightly less. For the money I think used Andersons are tough to beat.

The Cobra S may be more up your alley...two hums with a five way switch...and a push-pull pot splits the middle pickup selection.

I know what you mean about being cautious with the PRS...I felt the same way with my old LP. While the Andersons are georgeous, I feel like they beg to be played hard.
 
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webe123

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1,405
Sounds like you want a P-90 equipped guitar. The sound is sort of a cross between a strat and paul.
 
Bhodie

Bhodie

Silver Supporting Member
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webe123 said:
Sounds like you want a P-90 equipped guitar. The sound is sort of a cross between a strat and paul.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I was thinking.. and this fits the bill (at least for me)

IMG_0286.jpg


Fat 59 neck, nitro finish, ballsy blues tone, wrap tail, you can find them used for $1,500 or less.. the LP Special VOS is one hell of a guitar! (and I have a PRS and a Fender)
 
Jon Silberman

Jon Silberman

10Q Jerry & Dickey
Silver Supporting Member
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imbwang said:
Another [stupid] reason why I kind of want to have something else other than my PRS is that I never was able to get comfortable in playing it. It's a gorgeous guitar (gray black flame maple top w/the 20th anniv. edition bird inlays)...I felt like I had to be cautious most of the times...felt like I was taking care of a baby rather than playing it for what it was...a guitar!...but that's just my problem :cry:

any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Free your mind instead! ;)
 
I

imbwang

Member
Messages
47
thanks for all the feedback.

i haven't played a mira but they do look nice. however, i think i'm trying to get out of the PRS scene for now.

p90s huh. i heard about them but don't know a whole lot. i thought they were considered as hot pickups...maybe i'm getting them confused for something else. i'm looking for something warm and clear as a bell...and maybe something that can get a little twangy/marbly like a strat.

yeah i have dragon II's in my custom 22. the cleans are nice but you're right...they are a little too hot for my liking.

free my mind. that's actually a nice piece of advice but i think it would be short-lived. haha. in the end, that feeling will always be there.
 
B

baimun

Member
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1,271
imbwang said:
is there even such a thing?

I currently play a PRS Custom 22 20th Anniversary Model w/Dragon II pickups.....
Click to expand...


Let me stop you right there.

I've owned several different PRS guitars and after playing a McCarty with a Rosewood neck and a Modern Eagle, I was really geeked to get my hands on a Custom 22 with a solid rosewood neck...

cu2204.jpg


... but I was disappointed by the Dragon II pickups. Gritty.. murky... fine if you're playing chugga metal or such but was lacking any of that "singing" clarity I was looking for.

Tried various pickups... some different Duncans... some McCarty's...

...then I discovered the PRS 57/08's

cu2212.jpg


They're just PERFECT for this guitar.... they can growl like a hot, overwound PAF, but their clarity is amazing. They even have some of the best split tones I've heard from a humbucker (and I normally hate split humbucker tones)

cu2210.jpg


The 59/09's are the same formula but wound a little hotter and darker, so you've got some options there as well. They're not the cheapest pickups out there, but it may save you from having to buy a whole new guitar when you've already got a great player. Quit looking at the finish and PLAY THE $#*% out of it. :D
 
Help!I'maRock!

Help!I'maRock!

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11,781
any double humbucker strat will do. you may decide to replace the pickups down the road, and there are plenty of options out there.
 
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dspellman

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8,304
imbwang said:
p90s huh. i heard about them but don't know a whole lot. i thought they were considered as hot pickups...maybe i'm getting them confused for something else. i'm looking for something warm and clear as a bell...and maybe something that can get a little twangy/marbly like a strat.
Click to expand...

P90's are currently going through a whole bunch of boutique attention, but P90's as originally constituted (Gibson's) weren't "hot." In fact, they're the jazz pickup of the day (my '49 ES-175 is a case in point, with a single P90 in the neck position). But some of the various manufacturers (largely in order to have something "else" to offer) are screwing with them, with some making them less noisy by reducing their power, some feeling they need to duplicate humbucker power with them, and several versions in noiseless.

worth a look.
 
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imbwang

Member
Messages
47
baimun - i just skimmed through some reviews and videos of 57 08s and they're still too hot for my taste. i know the best would be to just go into a store and play a prs that has the same pickups.

they have a newer version of the 57 08s called the 57 08 narrowfield pups. it's supposed to sound like a mccarty with soapbars with a mix of that single coil flavor giving out an "exceptional clarity" sound. however...i listened to the sample sound clips for those and their "clean" sound still sounds very gritty. i'm looking for cleans that are as clean as a fender strat while having that warmth and fullness of a prs.

could you recommend me any cleaner pickups than the 57 08s?

flyin' brian - thanks so much for reminding me about fralin's. i'll be sure to check out the 92s along with the p90s and even the pure pafs. this might be a dumb question...but what guitars can these pickups fit into?

just found out Lindy Fralin is located 10-20 minutes from where I live...talk about a small world.
 
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mojoslide

mojoslide

Senior Member
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1,171
The new PRS Swamp Ash Special with Narrowfield pickups might be exactly what you're looking for. A really nice blend of Fendery tones with some P90 and humbuckerish bits thrown in.
 
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imbwang

Member
Messages
47
mojoslide said:
The new PRS Swamp Ash Special with Narrowfield pickups might be exactly what you're looking for. A really nice blend of Fendery tones with some P90 and humbuckerish bits thrown in.
Click to expand...

yeah i just saw those on the prs website. the samples of the clean sound they have actually sound really gritty still...i'll give it the benefit of the doubt that they have a much different EQ setup as opposed to how I would have it. regardless, i'm going to check it out in person the next time I make my round trip to the guitar stores around my area.
 
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