Garhel
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2013
- Messages
- 121
- Reaction score
- 82
Avoid PRS with the run-of-the-mill / stock: HFS. I bought a beautiful custom 24 "10" top for like $1600 by negotiating from GC as it had a replacement nut.. These HFS pickups are just really bland sounding to me and I returned it rather than dump more money for better pickups like the Tremonti or the ones like the 57/08s which are more toneful..
I agree the 57/08's are fantastic pick-ups, I have them in a couple of PRS, and already lamented their lack of availability as aftermarket pick-ups in another post, but my experience with the HFS has been very different to yours. I've gigged my mid-2000's Custom 24 for a few years now and I've never had an issue with the HFS - powerful and articulate, especially with a bit of crunch. I do have an issue with the VB neck pickup though - I find the bass overpowering and it too easily gets muddy at volume.
To be honest I am just in the process of swapping the pick-ups out in this guitar for some Bareknuckle Mules, which are closer to PAF specs, to try and get the neck tones I'm looking for. For entirely cosmetic reasons the HFS will be replaced as well - I know, how it looks shouldn't be important, but I'm like that - I just can't stand the idea of the pick-ups not matching!!!
But I've already got the HFS earmarked to go into my Ibby RG - I reckon it will just scream in there...