Q: I understand the PRS pickup switching that has the 3-way toggle switch, but what exactly do the five positions on the rotary switch offer in terms of pickup combinations and voicings?
A: On all PRS CE Bolt-On, Standard, and Custom models, there is a 5-way rotary hybrid pickup switching system. This system is not offered on the company’s Singlecut or McCarty models. Here is the breakout: (Note: The switch position numbers below refer to the number displayed on the knob as the rotary switch is turned; this isn’t a 10-position switch…)
- Position 10: Humbucking treble (bridge) pickup alone
- Position 9: Outside coils of both pickups in parallel for what PRS calls a “deep and clear” sound
- Position 8: Series single coils – PRS describes this as a “warm version of the classic in-between the bridge and middle pickups”
- Position 7: Parallel single coils – Here PRS describes the sound as a “crisp version of the in-between the treble and middle pickups”
- Position 6: Humbucking bass (neck) pickup alone
As you can see, this switching and pickup configuration offers a number of interesting and “non-standard” voicings.
