Paul Reed Smith Explains PRS Pickup Design | PRS Guitars 

He is such a pickup artist.🏆🖖

Paul is a total guitar nerd and he makes no secret about it. He is also one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. He remembers names like nobody I've ever met before, and he personally signs birthday cards for every employee. PRS factory employee here.

I love that explains this simply without talking down to us. What a class act.

I want a video like this of Paul explaining every aspect of a guitar. This is fascinating, very enlightening stuff.

As an engineer that plays guitar, I absolutely love the frequency response graph. Best way to explain the differences between pickups.

This man deserves a lot of praise. He is one of the few people in this industry that never stops innovating while staying true to the heritage of the electric guitar. That is just something very special. Proud to own one of his instruments!

Paul is no joke. He really knows his stuff and the main reason why his company is one the biggest in the world now. I bought a new PRS Custom 24 back in 1992 and barely knew anything about the company. At that time, it was the most I ever paid for a guitar. 30 years later it is still one of the best guitars I've ever owned. The thing is magic thanks to Paul and his team.

This is a 13 minute masterclass! Paul explained and demonstrated so well. Pickups and positioning is not easy thing to understand/hear for me, but this demonstration showed day and night difference. Beautiful content and Paul gave 10, and to my ears he got 9.9 back :)

Please put Paul on camera more often. He’s such an amazing wealth of knowledge, and it’s so fun listening to him.

Paul is amazing, I love his passion. The way he retains so much excitement about his projects is a true inspiration. I think the wisest thing you can teach is that if you do something you love as a job it will never feel like work and he clearly loves what he does.

The university of Paul Reed Smith. Good stuff

85/15 are masterpiece, I bought my first PRS just because of their magical sound Now I’m totally a PRS fanboy Want more and more of your guitars and already ordered Horsemeat Keep going Paul! You and your team are genius wizards

Wonderful introduction to pickup design. Paul really should do them as a weekly series, including guitar body design. Great instructor!

The TCI (Paul’s Pickup) and Narrowfield sound amazing! Like it’s the best of everything

Thank you for playing it with clean tones. Every idiot who thinks we can hear anything with distortion added needs to see this vid.

New to PRS, but I’m really loving what I see and hear so far. I personally don’t subscribe to, or understand the criticism regarding “mojo”. I think having a reliably consistent product is terrific. I don’t want to search through a bunch of the same model guitar looking for “the one”. I want to be able to look at a guitar that turns me on and know that visual aesthetic is the only difference between another guitar of the same model. That’s gold.

I'm not a musician but I love music. Paul is such a genius in so many fields and a great teacher too. Love watching his genius at work!!

Paul is the Willy Wonka of the guitar industry. That man has ears like a German Shepherd. Incredibly nice first class guy as well.

Finally, a pickup manufacturer talking about the frequency response curve of pickups! That peak he points out is the natural resonant frequency of the pickup. It's determined by the inductance of the pickup, measured in Henries. I wish pickup manufacturers quoted the Henries of their pickups--it's much more useful than DC resistance. The builder can control both the frequency and the height of this peak. I think it's important to realize that in all pickups, the frequency of this peak is well beyond the fundamental frequencies of the notes on a guitar. The fundamentals run from 82 to about 1100 Hz. Pickup peaks start at around 2000 Hz and can go beyond human hearing, but typically no more than 8000 Hz. So the peak is emphasizing overtones, not fundamentals. After this point, response falls off to zero. You can easily measure the frequency response of pickups yourself. All you need is an audio interface, some free software (like Room EQ Wizard), and Ken Willmott's "Integrator" device ($135).

Paul, your always a joy to watch and we learn so much!!

I imagine Leo Fender had that same drive for perfection of tone and the science behind it. Really impressive.

This is so enlightening! Beautifully explained *and* played too - no frills pure sound comparing. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this, Paul! 🙏😎

Great video Paul!!!! Love how you keep us in the loop!

Fantastic! Always knew it was more complicated than it appeared and it doesn't appear simple at all! Paul you are brilliant!

That was so interesting. Please do more primers about anything you want to enlighten us on. I have a grasp about pick ups that I didn’t have before. Many thanks.

Fantastic video!!.. Love Paul's energy when he's describing things.. Not only can you hear,but you can see his passion for the craft.. 🙂✌️

This is exactly the video I’d always wished they would make

It would be awesome to have shown (or even release on the PRS website) the frequency response spectra for each pickup, so we can see quantitatively how they are voiced and compare output levels.

Fascinating, cant wait to truly see what Paul's been working on behind the scenes

15 more years sounds like music to my ears. Keep us rocking Paul

So clear so concise I enjoyed every minute of the video. Thank you Paul for sharing

Simply superb. I'm sure glad that Paul has taken the realization of knowing he'd maybe never be a guitar God, to being the God of guitar tone. Just look at what his contributions were, are, and going to be. He's the Leo Fender and Les Paul of our time. BTW, my PRS/Doug Sewell HDRX-20 is heavenly. I am in the midst of upgrading my sweet PRS SE Custom 24 lefty with a custom adjustable nut as well as D'Addario Auto-trim locking tuning machines to make my guitar dream come true. PRS has helped make it all possible for me.

This is great! More videos from Paul please!

Hi, Paul! Thank you for putting your enthusiasm and hard work on each small detail of the guitar. So nice to see how shy at the end he became, like a geek kid, speaking on his beloved topic.

Most illuminating! Congratulations to PRS on all these superb instruments. 🌟🎶👍

I have to admit, I was skeptical whether all the PRS TCI claims was mostly marketing hype, and I wouldn’t be able to actually hear much of a difference. But I have been pleasantly surprised just how good some of them sound. Both the 58/15 LT in my core, and the MEV TCI pickups in the Modern Eagle V sound even better than my favorite Traditional Les Paul. They never get muddy no matter what pedal or amp I put them through. Very well done!

Very informative and I like the direction you’re going with that single coil tone, old and new. I played a PRS in a music store and the one thought that stayed with me was how very musical it sounded. Great video Paul. 👌

Thank you Paul for your tireless work on improving the guitar. Mine is on order.

I look at a PRS as a G and an F- without their design mistakes. We are lucky that Paul is still here with us and is constantly looking at ways to make his guitars look, feel and sound better.

Thank you for an illuminating video! Keep exploring.

As a new player, and student of the guitar, it amazes and humbles me the science and passion that this into building these things that resonate across so many genres, cultures and yet inexplicably ties us together. Thank you for the effort and I like many others will one day will experience that for myself and those to whom I can play for and to.

The pickups were one of the first thing I noticed about PRS when I first tried a Custom in '87. I then tried all the PRS at that shop in West L.A. and they ALL sounded great. Their pickups are perfectly matched to their instruments. Superb.

Best explanation ever! Thanks for sharing and taking the time to show how this process works!

GREAT explanation on pickups, Paul. I'm lucky to have built one guitar in my lifetime, and it was somewhat inspired by you. I'm itching to do another now after a 20 year break. I consider myself lucky to have met you at Bob Willcutt's 50th anniversary weekend a few years ago and everyone who has said you are incredibly kind and wise is absolutely right. Thank you for inspiring people continually. Godspeed.

Really interesting and informative. Thanks Paul!

Probably the most informative video I have ever seem about pickups

Brilliant and enlightening video thanks Paul

You know you're really something. I love the fact that you are always evolving. Always thinking always growing musically tone. Thanks for your commitment if just incredible what you done with your brand..

A huuuuge thank you Paul to this video! Now I know why I love so much my 58/15LTs !!!! 😊 always good to see your explanation videos !!!!!

I absolutely LOVE whiteboard Paul! I want you as my teacher in a class! I have so much to learn. I specifically watched this to learn about how you approach pickups, and I respect your opinion a whole lot! Thank you!

That passion is what makes him Paul ❤️ your amazing my brother

Great video! a real library of knowledge here.Thank you!

I remember you sent me a whole box of PRS pickups around 1992. I couldn't find a neck pickup I liked for my PRS Artist..I thought that was so nice of you!

Really enjoyed this explanation of how PRS pickups are voiced. My personal favourite is the 57/08 for classic rock styles, but the 85/15 is the most versatile humbucker for any style in my humble opinion…

Thanks for sharing. I’ve been working in the custom shop of a guitar co for about a year now building pickups. It’s cool to see it laid out so simply. (When it’s definitely not simple!)

Great video! Very informative. Thank you!

Great idea for a video! Thanks!

AWESOME VIDEO, LOVED IT

Super explanation - I even think that I understand what it is about. Super video!

I just learned more in a single sitting than I have at any other time. Man, he is a really good teacher.

At 4:45, Paul takes out his test rig guitar: “So, what we have here is a guitar that we can stick pickups, slide them in and out…” - that’s the PRS guitar I want!

Thanks Pauls, loved the video!

This was a good video. Try to do more like this. Awesome.

keep pushing guitar innovation Paul 🙌

Great presentation!

Bonjour Paul, i just bought a beautiful 2023 Blue PRS SE custom 24/08 with TCI S. Thanks a lot for your amazing work!!

This whole video is illuminating 💛

Thanks for the knowledge... God bless you. You're so generous to share the knowledge

I feel so lucky to watch this video. You rock Paul! I am happy to own one👍

Thanks, Paul. We can see that you "care" about your work as a guitar maker and the artist that you are. Thanks for such a great explanation.

Absolutely brilliant! I'm headed to the store to order my PRS custom.

I have been so excited to see what PRS continues to develop with pickups ever since the Silver Sky. Those Single Coils are among the very best! And the first time I played a PRS semi hollow with 59/09, I was blown away!… Cannot wait until the day I can own a Special Semi-Hollow! Keep ‘em Comin’!

Well done, sir - as usual!

Hi Paul. Thank you for making the affordable SE line. I recently bought an PRS SE Starla, and it's a real thrill to own and play such a great guitar, one you couldn't afford before. Also thank you for your inspirational and insightful statements in every video and interview, really enlightening.

This was awesome! Fascinated by what's driving your test setup ahead of the HP Dynamic Signal Analyzer. Your test jig guitar was clever as well. Thanks from Colorado.

Absolutely fantastic video. I've always dreamed to being able to sit down and create something just like this.

Great video Paul.

I love my P.r.s. it only gets played for special occasions. It's 20 yrs old and pristine..I will never change the pickups.. I feel blessed that I own your product. Thank you so much for gifting us with your intelligence, and guitar innovation.

I love the explanation Paul gave I purchased a PRS standard in 2021 it is in antique white with 58/15 pickups this guitar has a great weight 6.6 pounds I find myself picking this guitar this guitar 99% of the time I have a Gibson standard, Fender Mexican, Fender Telecaster USA and I prefer the PRS on a daily basis great pickups thank you Paul and gang all the best from the Suffolk England.

Would love to see more of the graphs of frequencies. It is so cool how this stuff is able to be quantified and thus adjusted so precisely.

Paul is not only an artist, but he's a scientist and the marriage of those things has resulted in the music industry being given such an excited and passionate point of view on instruments. Paul's the man, would love to chat with him again someday!

Yes please, more from Professor Smith!

Great video thank u With each video I am understanding the guitar and the man better

Dang, this is awesome! Thank you Paul.

That test guitar! SO cool!

Fantastic video

Excellent educational presentation! Pls make more of these video's. I like how the Paul's Gtr pickup sounds. Btw, I do have 2 PRS guitars.

Paul thank you and the whole crew for everything. I don’t know where I would be without guitar and especially PRS..

Excellent video, thanks. Would like to see a video on how the pickup to string distance changes the Db vs frequency graph.

Wow. This really is eye opening. This just makes me think of a time I met Paul and I was in a huge Emg nu metal phase lol really missed out on tone back then.

Thank you for the education Sir.

Great to see that his approach in developing pickups results in better products. He didn’t mention several other variables, such as the difference in output between humbuckers and single coils and the frequency response of our ears. In the end it is still our hearing and feeling experience that decides which pick-up suits the best. But with the systematically approach of designing pickups, he creates great sounding products for the most of us.

This is why PRS guitars are the best mass produced guitars in the world, his passion and knowledge are second to none for a company owner

Thank you, hugely appreciated.

I love your work Paul my 594 Core is my closest possession thank you for making my beautiful instrument the charcoal cherry is astonishing! ❤i recently started winding pickups so this is incredibly helpful and i learned something! 😊

Thank you for your work sir

For many years the Dragon and HFS pickups in my 94 Custom 22 were my fav, but now my new fav are the 85/15's. I just love those pickups, they can do everything!

Please make this a series!!

Thank you Paul. It is always a joy to listen to you explain your craft and I get real pleasure playing your guitars, they are pure magic. How about a Custom 24 with John Mayer single coils?

this was awesome 🔥