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hi! looking for advices about pickups...so i have a PRS semihollow special. i like it, i like the neck and the fret, i just don't liek the neck pickup, is too twangy or thin for me. but i like the other pick ups. I was thinking to change just that pick up, but i don't have a lot of experience on that. I like the super58 pickup i have on my ibanex john scofield (both on clean and distortion), and the one i have on my heritage semihollow (very very dark) and i was curious on the gibson 57, but i never tried. Do you think putting some of these pickup would change a lot the sound? thanks for any advice
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12-11-2025 10:34 AM
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You need to experiment to find your perfect tone fit. One thing to consider is how the replacement will interact or sound with your other pickups. Is it 4 conductor wire or just 2?
Maybe contact PRS and they make a pickup that will work for you?
I ended up putting aSeymour Duncan Bridge Mini Hum in the neck position of my Tele. It’s wound hotter, therefor it has more bass response which sounds better for a Clean Jazz type tone in my opinion.
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If this is obvious, my apologies.
Changing the height of the pickup and polepieces will change the sound. If it's too twangy, I'd first try lowering both pickup and polepieces. That reduces the high harmonics sensed by the pickup. (Lowering the pickup while raising the polepieces does the opposite).
It might not give you what you want, but it's easy to do, fully reversible, and costs nothing. Changing the pickup in a semi can be a struggle.
There may be things you can do regarding the values of the cap(s) and pots, but I'll leave that for more experienced people to address. In a solid body with an access panel those are pretty easy to change out. But if you have to fish out all the electronics through an F hole and put them back just to try out a different cap value ...
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It would be a good idea to establish what pickup you already have and its spec. You could end up liking a description of a different brand/model only to find it has a similar spec.
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Googling "PRS Semi-hollow special" comes up with three guitars at wildly different price points. Do you know what pickup is in the version you have? And as others have said adjusting the pickup height has a big effect on the sound of the pickup.
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The pick up is 58/15 lt "s" ...and yes, i already adjusted its height
Originally Posted by jim777
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Is your PRS a 22-fret or 24-fret instrument?
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There are many pickup options available these days. As others have noted, be sure to adjust your current pickup for a more satisfactory sound. Also, if you have an ohm meter, check the reading. That might help you avoid buying a similar sounding pickup to what you already have.
For replacement pickups, here are a few of recommendations based on your comments:
PRS 57/08 (AlNiCo II magnets, 9.4k (Treble) and 8.5k (Bass)
Seymour Duncan Seth Lover (AlNiCo 2)
Ibanez Super 58 (AlNiCo magnets (3 or 5), around 7.8Kohm resistance)
Good hunting!
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I had Novak Wide Range Humbuckers in a PRS S2 Custom 22 Semi hollow. I never bonded with the guitar but I loved the pickups and now have them in an ES-330. They're very high output which gives them a nice low mid presence, good for a fat jazz sound. But wide range pickups are brighter than PAF types, so there's still plenty of top end if you want it.
But in general, a good PAF type pickup from one of the usual designers will do you well. Lollar, Novak, Gibson, SD, Fralin, etc.
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If it’s a 24 fret guitar, it would move your neck pick up further towards the bridge.And therefore be brighter in tonality.
I have addressed this issue with Dimarzio Strat Tone Zone single coil Humbucker.
That way only the pickup is only picking up closest to the end of the fingerboard. Also the Tone Zone Strat is humbucking and quite dark and powerful as well.
Its not perfect,but you will get a much bassier tone and the output will closer match your bridge Humbucker as well.
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22 Originally Posted by Bob_Ross
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Interesting. I have a PRS Special 22 Semi as well. I call it the poor mans John Mayer Super Eagle. I have put alot of hours on mine. i use it mostly for rock/pop, jam band type gigs as it is definitely a swiss army knife with all the tones you can get from it. I dont find that neck pickup twangy or thin at all. its pretty fat/round sounding. are you talking about when you have it split?
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no, just in general when i play it Originally Posted by jazzgtrl4
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Have you found a good solution for a thicker warmer neck Tone on your PRS semi special?
I just bought a private stock semi special, I find it has great tones Yet would like the neck pick up slightly thicker and warmer.
PRS installs the neck pick up backwards on The semi special guitars. My first thought is to reverse the position back to the normal position where the pick up screws are closer to the neck.
That might do the trick, but From what I read, it will affect the tones of the split coils slightly.
I look forward To hearing what you are trying and what success you've come up with?
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Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
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I have a Special Artist , and would agree the LT's are a bit lacking in warmth. In the PRS range ( I have 16) the 57/08's would be my choice. I have them in a PRS Walnut LTD ..which is similar to the Special without the NF middle.
My other recommendation is a Lollar Imperial . Jimmy Herring switches all his PRS's with humbuckers to them , and even one of his strats..
I have them is several other instruments, they split well and are just a warmer sound.
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