Build pics added: Finally getting a custom built guitar - but pickup choice is tough!

imalrightjack

I've finally decided to get a custom-built guitar, having cycled through tons of guitars, mostly PRS.  I've actually settled on two keepers (a 2008 Custom 22 with a rosewood neck and a 2007 Hollowbody I - at least until the custom build is done) but still fancy getting something entirely fitting my tastes.

It will be based on Williams Guitars' lil '58 but modded:

http://williamsguitars.co.uk/electrics/lil-58/

So, I've opted for the classic mahogany body/maple top.  Neck will most likely be roasted maple (oiled) with an ebony fretboard.  The top will use very local maple which isn't like the PRS-style tight lines which I first envisaged but something more individual - with a story.  I'm going to go for a tremolo with a piezo installed, as I've fallen in love with the Helix's acoustic sound using IRs.

Now, the pickups...I'm a bit lost.  PRS' 58/15LT pickups sound great in a Custom 22 I had with similar spec to above - but I can find out very little about their spec, and they're not freely available.  They take high and low gain equally well and have a nice vintage sound but also capable of lovely fat rock tones.  I play bluesy/jazz stuff (I like a nice warm neck pickup) but also enjoy cranking out some thrash.  I'll also likely get mini toggles for coil-tapping.

Any recommendations?  Or suggestions on the best wiring method for coil taps without big volume drops?  The PRS 408 does it incredibly well but I think it's down to the pickup, rather than wiring - although might be entirely wrong.

I will, of course, post pics when it's done in a few months' time!

Alegree

You can't split a normal humbucker without a volume drop. That's why I made a special one around that entire concept.

imalrightjack

Alegree said:

You can't split a normal humbucker without a volume drop. That's why I made a special one around that entire concept.

C'mon, Mysterio, tell me more! @Alegree ;

John_A

The LT stands for Low Turn, they measure <8K  So any medium output PAF style should be close.  If you ask 'which PAF' you'll get a million different answers, my faves are Deacci's but Bare Knockle Stormy Monday or a stormy Monday/Mule combo would be nice.

IMO low output humbuckers sound shit when tapped, but if you do go that way I'd suggest push-pull pots, mini toggles are the work of the devil

Congrats on the Williams, he makes some stunning guitars

imalrightjack

@John_A - just preference on push-pull ahead of toggles?  I find toggles quicker and easier.

John_A

Fair-enough, it is your guitar

Alegree

imalrightjack said:

Alegree said:

You can't split a normal humbucker without a volume drop. That's why I made a special one around that entire concept.

C'mon, Mysterio, tell me more! @Alegree ;

If you insist

My Chameleon humbuckers have the PAF tone you're after, then in the high output mode split modes they'll retain approximately the same output level.
https://www.alegree.co.uk/collections/humbucker-sized-pickups/products/chameleon-humbuckers-the-most-versatile-humbuckers

imalrightjack

@Alegree - are there any other demos out there?  Interesting.  No disrespect intended but the playing makes the demos a bit hard to listen to.

Alegree

imalrightjack said:

@Alegree - are there any other demos out there?  Interesting.  No disrespect intended but the playing makes the demos a bit hard to listen to.

Yeah, I partnered with a couple of great Youtubers to do some video demos.

ArchtopDave

Alegree said:

You can't split a normal humbucker without a volume drop. That's why I made a special one around that entire concept.

In the original spec, he said "coil tap". If this is being precise i.e. "tap" as opposed to "split", then the volume drop off is considerably less with "tapping".

 Also, as I have recently discovered in relation to "coil splitting" with 2 Humbuckers plus 2 Volume Controls, when you "split" one or both Pickups, there's a lot less volume drop off (with both Humbuckers engaged) when unequal volumes are used.

imalrightjack

@ArchtopDave Fair points from you both. I think it might be a fruitless pursuit and best sticking to what I use - humbucking sounds. But I can’t help but think in the back of my mind that it’s worth adding the option, even though I hardly use it (due to volume drop).

@Alegree Sadly, I don’t think either video sells the product well. I’m intrigued, truly, and would love to give them a go but the only thing that would, for me, sell them to me is straight audio files played well. Too risky to put in this, I think, unfortunately. Message me if you want to discuss further!

Collings

If your after a low wind paf type pickup like the 58/15LT then Montys PAFs are great.

crunchman

On the coil tapping, AFAIK the later PRS guitars don't completely remove the second coil when "tapped", or whatever word you want to use.  They use a resistor so you get part of the output of the second coil, and don't the big volume drop and weedy sound you normally get from one coil of a humbucker.

As far as I know, the later PRS pickups are reasonably PAF like, so as others have suggested, something like Bare Knuckle, Monty's or Oil City should be in the ballpark.  If you really want the PRS 58/15LTs then I'm sure an overpriced set will turn up on Feebay at some point.  I'd just put in pickups by one of the British makers to start with.  It's easy enough to change them if you don't like them.

ArchtopDave

crunchman said:

On the coil tapping, AFAIK the later PRS guitars don't completely remove the second coil when "tapped", or whatever word you want to use.  They use a resistor so you get part of the output of the second coil, and don't the big volume drop and weedy sound you normally get from one coil of a humbucker.

As far as I know, the later PRS pickups are reasonably PAF like, so as others have suggested, something like Bare Knuckle, Monty's or Oil City should be in the ballpark.  If you really want the PRS 58/15LTs then I'm sure an overpriced set will turn up on Feebay at some point.  I'd just put in pickups by one of the British makers to start with.  It's easy enough to change them if you don't like them.

This is the whole point of coil tapping : you can vary the amount of “tap” to suit whatever you want. As opposed to coil splitting where one coil is being completely removed from the equation. The big problem is that people use the two words without care, so that this can result in confusion.

imalrightjack

Creamery looking likely as pickup choice. ‘57 or ‘59.

grungebob

Prs Starla pickups are great for everything. 

sweepy

I'm a bit old fashioned, No coil taps, I like my pickups with 2 wires and thats it

imalrightjack

My latest dilemma is whether to go with a compound radius.  I'd planned on getting one to the size of PRS wide fat with 10" radius, as it's what I know, but leaning to towards 10-14 to make soloing easier.

The top will be using some of this local fallen maple (same tree!):

And the colour will be the red of these, I think, but darker with a dark burst:

sweepy

That blue is stunning

imalrightjack

sweepy said:

That blue is stunning

It is.  I think I want red though!

imalrightjack

Still labouring over pickups...