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PRS - swapped pickup rings

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  • #1

    PRS - swapped pickup rings

    Hey guys...
    I've been way into my two new Charvels the last couple months...that said, in the mid-late 90's, I left my band and put down electrics to play (and sing) acoustic. Then, back in 2005, I got the itch to start playing electrics again...primarily. Writing songs, playing with different effects, looking for that perfect tone, etc. I had a few older guitars in my basement. I had a Charvel Fusion delux....a Kramer nightswan, and an Ibanez that I bought used. My other electrics (which included a few other ibanezes, a jackson v, an epiphone Les Paul...and a few others that I don't even remember) had disappeared over time (sold, lost, traded, etc). So in 2005, having a career and money, allowed me to buy a true professional level guitar. I had it in my head that I wanted a PRS...they seemed to combine all the best features of Gibsons and Fenders.
    Anyway...I walked out of GC with a PRS CE22..USA made bolt on...with a tortoise shell top, Dragon 2 pickups, a wide-fat neck, etc. It was the perfect guitar for me...and really got the ball rolling again...as far as getting me back into electrics again.

    This weekend, I picked it up after a month or two of leaving it alone, and i looked at it and said...it's perfect as it is...but it's missing something in the looks department. I've always liked zebra style pickups...but the p'ups on this guitar are covered...so...what else could I do? Then I thought...well...if I don't want to modify the stock pickups..what about the pickup rings? Perhaps one cream ring (the guitar came with two cream color rings) and one black one. Of course, the process of switching them out eventually lead me back to my local music store because these things are a real bitch to re-install.
    In the end, I have a black ring and a cream ring. I've posted on a PRS message board, and got mixed reviews. Most loved the black, and told me to install two black rings (as opposed to the two cream rings...or the mix that's currently on there). Anyway...I'd love to hear what you guys think. Do I keep it as is? Or go back to stock...(two cream rings)...or swap the other cream ring for another black one? here's a couple pics.
    Would really appreciate your opinions.
    Thanks guys!



    Todd M
    Tags: None
  • #2
    I think brass rings would look pretty sweet on there.Match the gold top hat knobs better than the stock or black rings.
    Really? well screw Mark Twain.

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    • #3
      Seems the creme rings really take the focus off the nice top. I'd go block, or chrome, to match the pickups, but brass would probably look great too

      Pat

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      • #4
        I'd stay with the two cream rings.
        I feel my soul go cold... only the dead are smiling.

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        • #5
          As was stated, the cream draws the eye away from the top. Black rings lets the top be the primary focus of the viewer, which is what you want with a nice top like that.

          The creme doesn't match anything. Not the natural headstock, nor the gold knobs, nor the color of the top. The black matches the darker spots in the wood, the fretboard (black goes with anything, especially earthtones), and the adaptive nature of the shiny pickup covers, which will reflect whatever color is most prominent at any given time.
          I want to depart this world the same way I arrived; screaming and covered in someone else's blood

          The most human thing we can do is comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

          My Blog: http://newcenstein.com

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          • #6
            Originally posted by toejam View Post
            I'd stay with the two cream rings.
            +1
            "I would have banned you for taking part in hijacking and derailing a thread when you could have started your own thread about your own topic." - Unknown

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            • #7
              How about some wood rings?
              Charvel 7308 (TMZ 008), Charvel Pro-mod (yellow), Jackson Soloist Custom (Yellow), Jackson SL2H-V Natural, Gibson LPS DB, Gibson LPS EB, Gibson LPCC C, Charvel Model 2 (scalloped), Jackson DK2M (white), Charvel Journeyman, Fender Classic Player 60's strat, Carvin C66, Musikraft strat mutt, Warmoth Strat mutt, Fender MIM Jazz bass, Epiphone Classical, Takamine parlor. Marshall 2203, Marshall JVM 210H, Splawn Nitro, Fender Supersonic 22, Line 6 AX2 212, Marshall 4X12.

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              • #8
                Thanks for the replies. It's very interesting...here on the Charvel board, most people commenting are telling me to stay stock (2 cream rings)...or go with something a little more traditional.
                On the other hand, the guys on the PRS forums are actually telling me to stay with the mix....or go with black rings (which on this guitar seems to be a little less traditional).
                If I would've guessed, I would've thought it would be the other way around. Charvel guys tend to like something that is a little outside the norm...hell...that's what Charvels were founded on. And yet...in this case, the Charvel guys are telling me to stay stock, while the PRS guys are trying to convince me that the outside the norm is what they would do.
                Fascinating
                Thanks again for the comments. I think for now, I'm gonna stay with the mix. I kinda dig it...reminds me of zebra pickups.

                Todd
                Todd M

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                • #9
                  Sadly enough I literally thought about this for a day before commenting...

                  I think I would like 2 blacks the best. My 2nd choice would be 2 creme rings. I would leave the zebra look to pickup bobbins.

                  Two black rings would make the focus of the guitar the wood on the top. The mixed rings you're kind of trying to figure out "What's wrong with this picture?" when you look at it.

                  That said, it's your guitar so do what makes you happy.
                  GTWGITS! - RacerX

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                  • #10
                    I vote 2 black rings.

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                    • #11
                      Looking at that top got me thinking what the guitar really needs is wooden rings. It would look bad ass with walnut or birdseye maple rings.
                      GTWGITS! - RacerX

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Hellbat View Post
                        Looking at that top got me thinking what the guitar really needs is wooden rings. It would look bad ass with walnut or birdseye maple rings.
                        I've seen brass/gold...but I haven't seen custom wooden rings. But I will say...you got me thinkin now.
                        The worst part is...no matter what I go with, changing these rings is damn near impossible. I tried changing the bridge ring, but getting the two screws (with the springs) threaded back into the pickup is about as easy as learning a new language. I eventually took it over to my local music store, and the kid there put the screws in in 10 minutes. Guess you gotta know what you're doing. So in the end, no matter what I decide...it's gonna be final...unless I can find a youtube video that demonstrates how to do this. A couple guys on the PRS forums tried writing out instructions...but lets just say, they weren't very clear...according to them, I need a third hand...unfortunately, my parents aren't brother and sister, so I didn't inherit the third hand.

                        If anybody knows of a site that sells custom rings, I'd appreciate you passing that info along.
                        Thanks again.

                        Todd
                        Todd M

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                        • #13
                          Getting the height screws/springs back in can be a PITA. StewMac has a humbucker helper for that, but what I'd do (and usually do) is cut the spring to be about 1/8" shorter than the screw (no way in hell the screws wouldn't go in enough to work with that). That will allow the screws to seat in the holes before the spring starts to compress. Once you crank the pickup up to its proper height, the springs will be compressed enough to not rattle.

                          Alternatively, (and probably what the other guys were trying to explain), you hold the pickup in such a manner that the baseplate faces your chest, with the tips of your index and middle finger holding the spring centered over the hole, place the tip of the screwdriver in the head of the screw, and work it until the screw seats.
                          I want to depart this world the same way I arrived; screaming and covered in someone else's blood

                          The most human thing we can do is comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

                          My Blog: http://newcenstein.com

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Newc View Post
                            Getting the height screws/springs back in can be a PITA. StewMac has a humbucker helper for that, but what I'd do (and usually do) is cut the spring to be about 1/8" shorter than the screw (no way in hell the screws wouldn't go in enough to work with that). That will allow the screws to seat in the holes before the spring starts to compress. Once you crank the pickup up to its proper height, the springs will be compressed enough to not rattle.
                            I figured there had to be some kind of tool out there. The guy at the shop did it in like 5 minutes (unfortunately, I didn't get to see it). Still..he must have used something...either that, or the guy's a friggin wizzard.

                            Your comments about cutting the springs are really interesting...and had I thought about that, it would've made life 100 percent easier getting these things in. If I ever change them out again, I'll try that. I did end up putting two black rings on...I managed to use my own method of getting the rings installed...I couldn't in a million years describe how I did it...and I know for sure that it wasn't pretty. But they're in there. And yes..the two black rings look way better than the two cream..in my opinion...particularly with the gold screws PRS provides you with when you purchase these rings. I'm at work now...but I'll definitely post some pics later on...you guys can tell me what you think...I think you'll dig what I've done.
                            And thanks again for all the compliments about the top. I knew I bought a good lookin axe when I got it...didn't realize that many people would think so. So thanks!

                            Look for my updated pics soon.

                            Todd
                            Todd M

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                            • #15
                              As promised...here's some updated pics.
                              Let me know what you think
                              Thanks





                              Todd M

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