These are awesome pickups. Had a light popping noise. Its static. I rubbed my fingers lightly on a dryer sheet and it went away. All the tones are there. From clean to insane. Crisp and clear .

I was looking for a more modern sound for my S2 Mira.I dropped one of these in the bridge position (perfect fit, super easy) and it's doing exactly what I wanted. Individual notes are just articulated more clearly than I'm used to, especially under high gain. They sound warm and clear under clean and breakup tones as well. Highly recommend.

I am completely blown away by the clarity of these pickups. Originally my PRS custom 22 had the Dragon II pickups installed and those are NOT for hard rock. The output is a bit punchy and in high gain, not heavy. After installing, these are the best pickups I have ever heard! High output but controllable. My cleans are articulate and my dirty is as powerful as any pickup I have ever heard. PRS needs to put more into marketing these.

I rarely write reviews on products anymore. The market is oversaturated and nothing has stood out enough for me to take the time to do so. Then this pup comes along. Just wow! Before I begin here is a list of what I use along with pickups I have tried.

Amp:
Mesa Dual rectifier multiwatt Blackout model

Guitars:
Prs Sc245
Prs Custom 22


Pickups I have used in bridge in both guitars:
Duncan pickups
Sh-1 59
Sh-4 JB
Sh-5 custom
Sh-6 distortion
Sh-10 full shred
sh-11 screamin demon

Dimarzio
Super distortion
Titan
Tone Zone

PRS
dragon I
Dragon II
Sc245
SC250
57/08
59/09
Tremonti

Now, all these pickups all head a little too much of one thing or a bit too little of another. Note that my Fav pickup before I purchased this was the 59/09 which I highly recommend as well, but if you need more juice with a similar sound, this is your pup. The Tremonti has WAY to much of everything, too much output, bass and treble. The Metal pickups has a throatier sound than the tremonti with better mids as well as an output that isn't out of control. I mean the Tremonti was just over the top no matter how I adjusted it in height. The metal pickup Is on par with a dimarzio super distortion in output (not sound), but clearer. This is BY far the clearest pickup I have ever played. Every note is heard even under lots of gain, this was very important to me.

Next, the ceramic magnet, many guitarists including myself do not like ceramic pickups, we prefer alnico, for it's more "natural" sound. ALnico tends to react to your playing style better, and is normally a more dynamic magnet. The Metal pickup is CERAMIC, and one would never know! The dynamics on this are incredible, and react very well with how hard and soft you play. I wouldn't even attempt to try a alnico magnet in this, it is THAT GOOD!

Now for the legendary PRS pickup comparison

Dragon I:
Getting all kinds of talk on forums, a great pickup often compared to a gibson 500t, duncan sh-5 custom, and though worlds better, a precursor to the sc250 pickup some say(which is my least fav). If you are interested in this pickup, take it from me, get the metal pickup. The Metal pickup has a fatter, throatier, and clearer tone. It is everything the dragon 1 is missing.

57/08:
Ahhh the gods of the PRS market at the moment. I absolutely LOVE This pickup. Clarity, midrange, depth, and butter! Just not enough output for my likings, can do the heavy stuff no doubt, but you will have to grind a bit harder to get there.

59/09
MY FAVORITE pickup until now....Like the 57/08 but with a slight scoop to the midrange in comparison and a more modern thump and grind to it. This was once in all my guitars.

Tremonti
This pickup is pure metal, over the top bass and treble and lacking in the mids. I did not find this pickup dynamic, no matter how hard or soft I hit the strings, the sound remained the same. Also any pickup adjustments I made to lessen the output resulted in complete tonal loss on all frequencies. If you want to be Mark Tremonti who is my fav guitarist then go for it, you will only get that sound. If you want to be yourself and let your fingers express your playing, get the Metal pickup.

Now for the PRS \M/ Metal pickups. I would describe it as a 57/08 and 59/09 having a baby that is an out of control fire breathing godly monster. It has all the clarity of a 57/08. slightly more scooped like the 59/09 and output and depth that trumps the Dragon I. The output is strong enough for metal heads but not so strong to where they are too much for people like me who prefered medium output humbuckers for metal. This has that modern sound that we strive for, power and clarity. They are clearer than my 59/09s which is what they replaced. I liked everything about the 59/09 and prefered over all the pickups I have tried, I am keen on versatility. I hate a pickup that can only to one thing. The \M/ pickup took my love for the 59/09 nd made my guitar easy to play with it's amazing clarity, extra output, and amazing harmonics.

VERDICT
This pickup covers all music, the name does not do it justice. I place light rock to over the top metal, thsi is the greatest pickup I have every played, It makes playing easier!

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These pickups are the real deal for tight rhythm sounds. Lot of clarity and extremely high output. Great definition on the lows and will not sound muddy at all. They have incredibly high output for a passive pickup. In my opinion blows away the Dimarzio Illuminator pickups after putting them on a PRS Custom 24 SE and comparing that guitar with a Music Man JP13.
They are so high output that they are almost like an EMG but still keeping the passive pickup dynamics.