I fought a brave fight against making use of Sweetwater's 48-month 0% financing, but alas, I was overcome with the GAS. ;D
Been eyeing PRS guitars for ages now, but always found a reason to go with another brand. Ran out of reasons this week.
I liked the look of a certain Custom 24 SE, and there was a demo model (saved me almost $100). Also, been wanting to try the 25" scale length. So .. TL;DR, I bought it!
I've had less than an hour to play it so far, but I'm really liking it. The overall quality and fit/finish is beyond what I expected, to be honest. Flamed top, body and neck binding, headstock veener and binding, and the QC is on point. The hardware is also very nice, even though I gather it's not quite as nice as the USA stuff. The tuners are really smooth.
I've been known to make fun of PRS because I think I lot of their custom shop stuff is the guitar world equivalent to spinnin' rims and hydraulics, but they do make some classy (to me) guitars as well.
Haven't even had time to take my own photos, but here are a few that Sweetwater sent me right after I ordered. The only thing I might want to change is going with covered pickups (purely for looks).
WhoooooWheee. Classy.
+1 on covered pickups. They'll take it to the next level.
I just had to go and whooowhee in my head. Now I've got a case of the SCOTS in the brain...
(http://www.jumpingfrom6to6.com/scots_1.gif)
Quote from: jubal81 on September 22, 2017, 02:32:41 AM
WhoooooWheee. Classy.
+1 on covered pickups. They'll take it to the next level.
Agree on all counts.
You know, aluminum knobs would look pretty sharp, too. You could get some of that Cermark stuff and laser mark them...
(https://s26.postimg.org/t5ncconll/knobb.jpg)
That's nice looking. I too fell prey to the 48 month financing and got a Trampas Green one like yours and a Zach Myers semi hollow. I think they are nice guitars. The finish on both is out of this world. The tuners on the Zach Myers feel really cheesy but they work well. The setup from Sweetwater was pretty good also (but from everything I've read they go through the US plant for setup/inspection before they're shipped to dealers). For the money and if you like PRS guitars i think what you get for the price is fantastic. I'm not sure I am to keen on the pups in either one. That's about the only partially negative thing I have to say about them. Hope you enjoy yours.
Quote from: jubal81 on September 22, 2017, 03:25:18 AM
You know, aluminum knobs would look pretty sharp, too. You could get some of that Cermark stuff and laser mark them...
(https://s26.postimg.org/t5ncconll/knobb.jpg)
The only thing is that Cermark needs power to work correctly. I'm skeptical that it'll work with a lower power laser. I've used it with a 30W laser that seemed marginal with it. I haven't tried it again since we got the 50W laser at work. The Thermark paste we had dried out and I haven't ponied up for a replacement. We tried bringing it back to life with denatured alcohol, but it didn't work right (admittedly, we didn't know the exact ratio).
I really want some of the Thermark tape, but it's pricey.
Quote from: BrianS on September 22, 2017, 04:27:11 AM
That's nice looking. I too fell prey to the 48 month financing and got a Trampas Green one like yours and a Zach Myers semi hollow. I think they are nice guitars. The finish on both is out of this world. The tuners on the Zach Myers feel really cheesy but they work well. The setup from Sweetwater was pretty good also (but from everything I've read they go through the US plant for setup/inspection before they're shipped to dealers). For the money and if you like PRS guitars i think what you get for the price is fantastic. I'm not sure I am to keen on the pups in either one. That's about the only partially negative thing I have to say about them. Hope you enjoy yours.
A Zack Meyers is calling my name. Of course, so is a used Korina McCarty somebody I know is selling.
Okay, so now I can make some minor complaints after another 30 minutes of playing. The nut slot for g-string needs to be widened slightly (ping!), and the tone control pot is ever-so-slightly loose.
I think the coil split sounds really good. Probably the closest to a real single-coil sound I've heard on a split humbucker. It still does have some humbucker honk, but it's in the background and not at all overpowering. Both pickups split at once has a nice a sort-of Strat 2/4 position chime but doesn't quite quack. Most impressive. I wonder if this is pickup design or some kind of innovating wiring?
The trem is nice and smooth. I'm not a "whammy bar" guy generally, and I'm thinking of getting a Tremol-No for this guitar so it can mostly be a fixed bridge but floating if I get the notion. What I'd really like is this guitar body shape and finish, but with a fixed bridge (wraparound), and 22 frets. I've got no business with 24 frets, haha. But the neck on this thing is awesome (it's PRS "Wide Thin").
The string tension isn't tight, but also not loose (probably a by product of the scale length). Action is pretty low. It's set up very well. I assume it came pretty good from the factory and then Sweetwater tightened it up.
Quote from: BrianS on September 22, 2017, 04:27:11 AM
I too fell prey to the 48 month financing and got a Trampas Green one like yours and a Zach Myers semi hollow.
Man, I was so close to getting a Zach Myers in the sunburst finish. But I really wanted to try out the longer 25" scale length on the Custom 24. I played a green ZM at our NAMM booth last summer (it was a provided demo guitar), and I really liked it.
Your comment about the tuners is interesting. When I first pulled this one out of the case, the tuners looked kinda cheap. And they feel a little light. But the gear movement is very smooth and they seem to hold tune well (so far).
I'm damn well impressed with this specimen, I'll have to say.
Quote from: pickdropper on September 22, 2017, 04:28:40 AM
Quote from: BrianS on September 22, 2017, 04:27:11 AM
That's nice looking. I too fell prey to the 48 month financing and got a Trampas Green one like yours and a Zach Myers semi hollow. I think they are nice guitars. The finish on both is out of this world. The tuners on the Zach Myers feel really cheesy but they work well. The setup from Sweetwater was pretty good also (but from everything I've read they go through the US plant for setup/inspection before they're shipped to dealers). For the money and if you like PRS guitars i think what you get for the price is fantastic. I'm not sure I am to keen on the pups in either one. That's about the only partially negative thing I have to say about them. Hope you enjoy yours.
A Zack Meyers is calling my name. Of course, so is a used Korina McCarty somebody I know is selling.
Not sure if you are a lead or rhythm player but if you play a lot of rhythm I would go try one out. I play mostly rhythm in our church band and while I was practicing with it for this Sunday my hand got really fatigued. Mine has a thin neck which I like for playing lead but not so much for rhythm. I didn't have that problem with the SE (it has a thicker neck). But it is a nice guitar.
Quote from: culturejam on September 22, 2017, 04:39:29 AM
Okay, so now I can make some minor complaints after another 30 minutes of playing. The nut slot for g-string needs to be widened slightly (ping!), and the tone control pot is ever-so-slightly loose.
Quote from: BrianS on September 22, 2017, 04:27:11 AM
I too fell prey to the 48 month financing and got a Trampas Green one like yours and a Zach Myers semi hollow.
Man, I was so close to getting a Zach Myers in the sunburst finish. But I really wanted to try out the longer 25" scale length on the Custom 24. I played a green ZM at our NAMM booth last summer (it was a provided demo guitar), and I really liked it.
Your comment about the tuners is interesting. When I first pulled this one out of the case, the tuners looked kinda cheap. And they feel a little light. But the gear movement is very smooth and they seem to hold tune well (so far).
I'm damn well impressed with this specimen, I'll have to say.
Both of mine are binding in the nut. I did a lot of reading before I bought them and that was a common complaint from several people.
When I said the tuners on the ZM were cheesy it's the plastic tulip buttons. They stay in tune fine and I know they have to cut cost somewhere.
And I will +1 your comment on being impressed with the guitar(s). They're really nice.
Quote from: BrianS on September 22, 2017, 04:39:48 AM
Quote from: pickdropper on September 22, 2017, 04:28:40 AM
Quote from: BrianS on September 22, 2017, 04:27:11 AM
That's nice looking. I too fell prey to the 48 month financing and got a Trampas Green one like yours and a Zach Myers semi hollow. I think they are nice guitars. The finish on both is out of this world. The tuners on the Zach Myers feel really cheesy but they work well. The setup from Sweetwater was pretty good also (but from everything I've read they go through the US plant for setup/inspection before they're shipped to dealers). For the money and if you like PRS guitars i think what you get for the price is fantastic. I'm not sure I am to keen on the pups in either one. That's about the only partially negative thing I have to say about them. Hope you enjoy yours.
A Zack Meyers is calling my name. Of course, so is a used Korina McCarty somebody I know is selling.
Not sure if you are a lead or rhythm player but if you play a lot of rhythm I would go try one out. I play mostly rhythm in our church band and while I was practicing with it for this Sunday my hand got really fatigued. Mine has a thin neck which I like for playing lead but not so much for rhythm. I didn't have that problem with the SE (it has a thicker neck). But it is a nice guitar.
I've played a ZM out at the local PRS dealer many many times. I like the looks of the Trampas green one, but the Sunburst one on the wall is a better guitar. They did just get a new Trampas green model in, so I'll have to try that out.
I have a core SC-245 that I love, but there is a part of me debating if I should get a 25" scale PRS if I get another one. But the 24.5" scale plays sooo easily. The 245 I have has the pattern neck, which is my preference. The one I have is nicely thick, but without too much shoulder, which suits me better than ultra-thin or a thick D shaped neck.
HELL YEAH. I just got my first PRS too!!! Mine also is a Custom 24. Congrats bud Love that finish!
Guys, I have a nice set of Stew-Mac gauges nut files that we can mail around if you meed
Sexiness! A PRS is on my wish list. I did put a MannMade bridge on my strat so that's close, right? ;) I had my old trem blocked but set this one up floating and really miss being able to do pedal steel style bends. So thanks for the mention of the tremel-no. I'd never heard of that before and I think that's exactly what I need.
Forgot to mention I put this on the scale last night: 7 lb 6 oz. So it won't hurt my back and shoulder for the hours on stage at all those gigs I'm not playing. ;D :'(
Quote from: culturejam on September 22, 2017, 07:28:59 PM
Forgot to mention I put this on the scale last night: 7 lb 6 oz. So it won't hurt my back and shoulder for the hours on stage at all those gigs I'm not playing. ;D :'(
If you ever decide you want to recreate that 70's Les Paul experience, you could always buy another one of the CU24s and glue them together.
Quote from: pickdropper on September 22, 2017, 07:43:38 PM
Quote from: culturejam on September 22, 2017, 07:28:59 PM
Forgot to mention I put this on the scale last night: 7 lb 6 oz. So it won't hurt my back and shoulder for the hours on stage at all those gigs I'm not playing. ;D :'(
If you ever decide you want to recreate that 70's Les Paul experience, you could always buy another one of the CU24s and glue them together.
I could do that and sell them as Norlinized Customs. What could go wrong?
Quote from: culturejam on September 22, 2017, 07:45:21 PM
Quote from: pickdropper on September 22, 2017, 07:43:38 PM
Quote from: culturejam on September 22, 2017, 07:28:59 PM
Forgot to mention I put this on the scale last night: 7 lb 6 oz. So it won't hurt my back and shoulder for the hours on stage at all those gigs I'm not playing. ;D :'(
If you ever decide you want to recreate that 70's Les Paul experience, you could always buy another one of the CU24s and glue them together.
I could do that and sell them as Norlinized Customs. What could go wrong?
"The long-awaited return of the pancake body."
^ ;D ;D ;D
Happy NGD! I've played a couple Custom SE guitars and agree w your description of being surprised at the quality - I think the combo of the price and my expectations before I handled em left me like, 'whoah - ok --- these are legit'
Okay, some more interesting data points, some good some sort of neutral.
I noticed the Tone pot seemed a little wiggly, so I did some investigating in the control cavity. Turns out the shaft, when pulled for coil cut, is wobbly/loose. This is not uncommon on cheaper push/pull pots, but I'll have to swap that out. The wobble drives me nuts.
The 3-position switch is also a little wobbly, but that's because it's one of those dead-cheap Chinese jobbies. It's 100% functional, just feels insubstantial and not up to the quality of the rest of the guitar.
I did discover, however, that there is already a 180pf treble bleed cap on the Volume pot. It's ceramic, so I'll be replacing it with polystyrene or silver mica. Probably won't hear a difference, but so what? It's mojo.
Also, the Tone cap is a very nice flat/tubular axial film cap (400V). Wasn't expecting that. 33n value, by the way. I see no compelling reason to replace this.
Cool guitar man
Did you end up selling/trading your 201?
Quote from: peAk on September 26, 2017, 02:27:54 PM
Did you end up selling/trading your 201?
Yes! Listed it on Reverb and got full asking price (no haggling). ;D
Quote from: culturejam on September 26, 2017, 02:39:14 PM
Quote from: peAk on September 26, 2017, 02:27:54 PM
Did you end up selling/trading your 201?
Yes! Listed it on Reverb and got full asking price (no haggling). ;D
Sweet!!
Quote from: culturejam on September 26, 2017, 02:19:45 PM
Okay, some more interesting data points, some good some sort of neutral.
I noticed the Tone pot seemed a little wiggly, so I did some investigating in the control cavity. Turns out the shaft, when pulled for coil cut, is wobbly/loose. This is not uncommon on cheaper push/pull pots, but I'll have to swap that out. The wobble drives me nuts.
The 3-position switch is also a little wobbly, but that's because it's one of those dead-cheap Chinese jobbies. It's 100% functional, just feels insubstantial and not up to the quality of the rest of the guitar.
I did discover, however, that there is already a 180pf treble bleed cap on the Volume pot. It's ceramic, so I'll be replacing it with polystyrene or silver mica. Probably won't hear a difference, but so what? It's mojo.
Also, the Tone cap is a very nice flat/tubular axial film cap (400V). Wasn't expecting that. 33n value, by the way. I see no compelling reason to replace this.
You have done much more investigating with yours than I have with mine. That is all good information though and I guess I should see if I have the same issues. I have looked at buying new nuts for the both but still undecided. I figured there would be some less than quality parts on them. Wish they would just put better pots/switches in them. I would pay a little more for that.
Quote from: BrianS on September 26, 2017, 03:24:41 PM
I have looked at buying new nuts for the both but still undecided. I figured there would be some less than quality parts on them. Wish they would just put better pots/switches in them. I would pay a little more for that.
I think the nut is okay as is, just needs to have the G-string groove widened slightly. Otherwise, I think it's fine.
And like the pickup switch, the tuning keys are totally functional, just not "nice". I'll surely end up replacing both at some point, but there's certainly no pressing need to do it. It's an extremely well playing guitar as is.
Oh yeah, and probably the pickups will have to go. They are okay, but I want covers and I might as well put something fun in there. :)
That's a beauty.
So I opened up my S2/22 and it looks like it's got the same guts as your SE Custom 24: 180pF ceramic, 33n flat film, etc. Luckily the switch on my pot is not loose like yours (I may even have an extra one of those if you want me to look). But, I think yours has the Korean 85/15 pups which mine don't. I expect those a pretty nice pups you have in there. Just sayin'!
Almost one year on I seriously love the neck on mine. It just feels right on: scale length and carve are so comfortable. Still have a little fret buzz on the low E even with proper relief and saddle height. Pretty much the deal with every single guitar I own! I also finally broke out the trem bar and the thing stays in tune fairly well (I'm not a big tremolo guy).
Quote from: madbean on September 27, 2017, 11:19:40 PM
So I opened up my S2/22 and it looks like it's got the same guts as your SE Custom 24: 180pF ceramic, 33n flat film, etc. Luckily the switch on my pot is not loose like yours (I may even have an extra one of those if you want me to look). But, I think yours has the Korean 85/15 pups which mine don't. I expect those a pretty nice pups you have in there. Just sayin'!
My Custom 24 S2 that i got a few months ago has the same guts. It also has the 85/15 Korean Pickups. THEY SCREAM!!!
After playing it a bit more, I think maybe I'll just ditch the coil-cut option altogether. It sounds pretty good, but I have guitars with single coils (Strat and ASAT) that do that sound a lot better. And they are never more than, like, 20 feet away. ;D If I played out a lot, I'd probably want to keep it more.
Also, I want to do a PCB to fit the nicer solder-lug 24mm pots. I want to have multiple tone cap options with a DIP to select. Like, having 3-4 ~10n caps in parallel so the value can be adjusted. Or it could be done with multiple caps of the same value but different dielectric materials for a real mojo comparison. ;D