Not a fan of PRS? How!?!?! I just recently bought my first PRS SE(I'm a Strat/Tele/Ibanez RG guy) and ever since I purchased the 24-08, I haven't touched my other guitars, and they're MIA/MIJ!!! PRS is killing it with the SE. I can only imagine how amazing a core model is. Purchasing one soon. PRS is my new favorite!
If you put the American made PRS 85/15 pups in your guitar you’ll be in shock how much better they are than the 85/15 SE Asian made one you have in it. It’s insane how different the same model pup is when it’s the real ones from America. Do it and you’ll seriously be like, WTF?
@@BAND-MAID-USA I ended up purchasing a CE24 and then a core Custom 24-08 lol so I haven't even touched the SE in like 6 months!🤣I keep it in a case in case I need to take a guitar to a friend's house or a family thing.
Thats how its suppose to be! I used to keep all my guitars in cases my father did the same before me and yet ive found so much more fun and love for my instruments having them around its like having an old Ferrari if you only take it out on weekends then its not justifying ownership as the old quote goes "own the ______, dont let the ______ own you" so use it! Worst comes to worst you invest a slight bit of money into a re coat of lacquer or poly whatever was used if you love the guitar and dont ever intend on selling it then its worth it and especially if its a high dollar instrument let that baby breathe and make some sweet music with it! Even better yet as hes done use it gigging then everyone gets to appreciate it and trust me youll get noticed so much more with a flashy guitar especially if you can play said flashy guitar! Rock on you all 🤘🏻👊🏼
Things I did with 85/15s pickups - cost: $0. 1. lowered them almost to the mounting rings. 2. dialed all tone controls on my amp down about 20% and use the volume and tone on the guitar to tailor to songs. They sound more vintage and rounder now, not as harsh and crispy. Also rotated both pups still attached in their mounting rings 180*. Simply unscrew the 4 screws per ring, flip them around and put back in. I did have to pull the extra lead wire from the switch cavity to reach. Now the single coil bridge has more body and the middle position split has quack like a Strat in the 2 or 4 position. I also suggest raising the pole pieces on the wound strings. It helps even tone with the unwound strings and gives more snap to the low E and A strings. In the end, what amp, effects, settings etc. you're playing through will have more affect on tone than which pickups are in a guitar.
Thanks for sharing!! On my 8/5/15s I just did the lowering and turning down tone controls on the amp and it seems like it helped. Certainly feels more expressive and I'm getting better smooth tube breakup sounds.
I am new to guitar and just got my first PRS. At first the sound caught me off guard. I turned all effects off my amp and eq to noon position and then dialed in a great tone for the PRS. I love it now, but have wondered what raising the poles would do. Hadn’t thought about flipping them as well...thank you, this gave me some ideas for when the time comes!
I shopped Reverb for my SE, got a great one for 550$, then swapped the tuners and pickups. JB neck Pearly Gates bridge. It's now my number 1 guitar. Best feeling neck I've ever played.
i can't seem to find a video with PRS and pearly gate bridge that's what i was thinking and wanted to hear. Would you consider doing a sample just letting some tones ring out or something?
@@whiskerandojoe it would be quite different depending on which amp, but I get tones quite similar to Billy Gibbons through my VHT special 6 ultra with a little boost. I can really push that amp hard with pearly gates in the bridge, mine is a custom 22 semi-hollow. The tones on the Seymour Duncan site are close to what mine sound like, and are probably better audio than anything I could upload
@@whiskerandojoeliterally hype pickups. Just like everything else in the guitar world. Paying double or triple for them is so dumb. Lower or raise your pickups. If possible the pole pieces too before you waste money on the Gates. Also, an EQ pedal is the most important pedal you’ll ever own. Pickups do very little as far as to. Clarity they can do a little better if well made. But pups are 1 of the biggest scales in the guitars world. Unless they’re just cheap garbage pups. Worry about your cab speaker before anything tone wise. And buy an EQ pedal and adjust the height of your pups.
I just bought the same one but black gold burst. I have 20 guitars very expensive ones and I’ve never been so inspired to play a guitar than I was with this guitar right off the bat. I’m so impressed with this guitar I’m thinking about getting another one maybe one with binding on the neck.
since the prs allows you to split the pickups, do I have to buy a special pickup or can any humbucker pickup work? i was looking for tim henson signature pickups, would they work?
Awesome review. I appreciate you also not defending that you don’t like the pickups and get mad. I’ll end up probably doing this down the line. Thanks for making this video!
I like the stock pups, and I have several to compare with, SD Jazz, Classic 57, Probuckers 2 and 3, SD Hyperion, SD Solar, Fender Blackouts etc etc I think the PRS pups do a good job in particular as a package for such low price. Someone said it was Carlos Santana that convinced Paul to release a gig worthy low price guitar for newbies/students so they don't quit because of crappy guitar. Great idea if true!
It is.. the PRS SE "Santana" model is affordable(ish)... At Sweetwater its $829. The US version is $4300 at GC. He wanted PRS to build that.. Unlike the Yamaha SG Santana model that was astronomically expensive for the day with no lower cost alternative with his name attached. (I used to have one of the lower cost SG's. An SG500.. still a GREAT guitar with all the important stuff that made the SG line so awesome)
I am swapping my stock pups from my PRS SE Tremonti Custom to Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Specials. Your video explanation on the process confirmed what I thought I was gonna need to do.
I changed the pickups in my PRS se twice ! They are 4 conductor for the coil split , so remember if your new pickups have only 2 wires make sure you know which wire is earth and live first 👍
I picked up a mint used PRS SE Mark Holcomb for £540. Basically just a hardtail custom 24 but with Seymour Duncan alpha and omega pickups worth £300. Absolute steal. Looks badass too!
Aside from the brand of tuners, I did the exact mods to my Standard 24. No matter what I wanna play, it gives me the sound I need. But I'll admit that it shines for punk and hard rock.
Correct. I have SDs in other guitars and though the tone is slightly different it is by no means a great improvement over the stock PRS. But kids will swear by that so as to retain their delusions.
I agree ,mine sound great.I'm going to swap out the tuners and the trem.Probably will go with bv the se locking tuners and the Mann made vos2,it drops right in and is cast bronze and solid machined brass.
Nice! I did what you did on my Tremonti SE but added core PRS lampshade knobs. Took it up a notch on an old Singlecut with some Fishman Classic Humbuckers and a new GT tusq nut along with PRS locking tuners and PRS knobs. The mods are worth it IMO. It gives you core quality sound with SE Cost! Great Video! 🤘🏼
Very convenient the timing of this coming on right after a prs video and as im looking to upgrade my prs both american models and import models thank you sir!
Thanks for taking time to show us your mods. Every opinion helps. It's important that,as guitarists we give "input "! This may sound a bit off, but I like single coils for distortion. Actual single coil pickups...not splitters.
I put the PRS metal buckers in my SE. Added locking tuners, and had the gloss neck sanded to give it a satin feel. One of the BEST guitars in my arsenal, even over my more expensive guitars.
I have a 2008 core model that I replace the pick ups in for the very same reason I thought that sounded horrible, I also replaced the rotary switch with a 3 way and I love the guitar now
Great video! Thinking about doing the same to my new SE. I have that same pickup config in a Jackson (stock mj dinky) and it really sings. Would love to have that same range in this PRS. Thanks for making the vid on your upgrades!
Paul Reed-Smith & Carlos Santana's decision to go with the Korean-made-for-PRS student edition range was the best thing for guitarists starting out since the invention of, say, beer or else the kebab. Full stop. There is simply nothing wrong with any of them that would hinder a learner from learning successfully. Intonation, frets, balance, finish, electronics - all perfectly passing muster at an affordable price (especially second-hand - there are *thousands* of them out there). Back when I was a teenager, cheap guitars were unbelievably crap...
Great vid, i'm sure i'll refer to it. Doing a Sentient/ Pegasus install on my Custom 24 SE in a week. That JB really rocks wow. I really want to put orange drop caps too, but not sure which ones, I think .001 uf and .022 uf.
Great video, Thanks! I purchased a PRS SE Standard in March. It felt great but sounded well, not so great. I also think there is a wiring problem because there was no difference between switch position 1 and position 2 and the pickups were so bright it caused both my boss Katana and fender champ x2 to make an awful chirping noise. At least I have some idea where to start. Thanks again!
Was about to facepalm somebody modifying a PRS Custom 24. Have a 1994 version, fully stock, and wouldn't change a thing about it, though I understand some people are not fans of the 5 way rotary pickup selector. Then I realized I had dyslexia and didn't read the "SE" part of the title of this video. Lol. My philosophy on modding guitars is that anything that cost you less than $1,500 is fair game. Starting around the $2,000 mark, I'm thinking "Why would you spend that much on a guitar you're gonna mod anyway?" Mid-priced guitars like in this video and budget guitars are great to mod anyway you like. Personally, I wouldn't trade my 1994 PRS Custom 24 for any amount of these mid-price or budget guitars, but that's mostly because of sentimental value. Great video btw. Looks like a versatile beast of a guitar :)
I've got an old Cherry Red PRS SE Custom 24 (the one without the contouring on the front of the body) that I'm in the process of restoring back to full playability, I'm going to be installing two Gibson USA PAF (Silver Shield) Humbucking pickups I salvaged from my old Gibson USA Les Paul Studio guitar, hopefully they'll sound good in the PRS SE Custom 24, I recently bought a PRS truss rod cover, a set of two plastic ivory PRS pickup rings, and a complete PRS trem bridge on eBay since I needed them in order to complete the restoration, I also need to make a small 2mm thick piece of rosewood in order to install a new nut because the original nut-shelf was sanded to accept a Floyd Rose locking nut, I originally wanted to install a Floyd Rose trem on it but I ended up abandoning the install because of some issues.
I have same guitar in Cherry Sunburst. I did some mods... 1) Custom bone nut A MUST DO 2) Gotoh locking tuners, WAY better than the PRS ones (better looking, better ergonomically, no tool required) and cheaper (3) Full pro set up with fret levelling and dressing. (4) PRS lampshade knobs. Much better. Don't fully press on the tone knob, leave it about 1/16-1/8" higher than the volume one. This will make it much easier to pull it up for PuP split. And yes I don't like the PuPs either. They are muddy at the low end and tinny or sibulent at the high end. And for some reason they DO not seam to get along with my Boss AC-3. I had strap locks but they were more of a PITA than anything else since I just play at home and sitting anyway at this point in my "journey V2.0".
What a great video man. I have a 2010 25th anniversary SE. and a couple of months ago put the same pickups. Next will be the tuners. Feels like a new guitar. Also my other guitar is a majesty and 100% with you.
First upgrade is the biggest bang for the buck, which is the hollow cheap plastic nut. Use a GraphTech TUSQ XL #6643. Makes a TON of diff in the sustain and the tuning stability. You can literally feel the extra resonant energy thru the neck and body. Next is definitely the pickups, if they're the garbage 85/15S model. They sound nice clean and up to moderate volume, but anything needing gain or energy is muddy and lifeless. I changed my Cu24 to a Duncan Custom in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck. On my Tremonti I used a PRS USA HFS in the bridge and a Vintage Bass in the neck. Last I put in the new PRS SE Locking Tuners.
Zach Myers SE in vintage burst Kluson locking tuners G rev (silver tuners, gold buttons) Logo repro Alpha push pull pots lambertone cremas (nickel covers, gold screws) Amber lampshade knobs Strap loks Switchcraft toggle switch Switchcraft jack Gold screws all around. Total: still less than a Mc Carty 594 SC Semihollow.
thank you for the video Colton your se custom sounds really good i’m goin to be doin some upgrades to mine pickups locking tuners from prs i want all black but they don’t have them in all black your pickup choice was and is exellent i really like the way they sound
I don't think I've heard an SE Cu24 with the current generation 85/15S pickups, but the previous generation's HFS/Vintage Bass pickups were incredibly nasal. However, they took to magnet swaps like gangbusters. Putting an Alnico 5 magnet in the HFS and an Alnico 4 magnet into the Vintage Bass made them much more usable for me.
Troy Baer this is a really good idea. I think it might help the current “se” line pickups a lot. Nasal is a good description for them. Very mid range-y but not in a pleasant way. The s2 line one seems to do them better but I’ve had conflicting information on whether it’s the same pickups from s2 to se
Love this video. Absolutely hate the SE Custom 24 pups. Tried all SE models and pups sound terrible on all of them. Muddy, underwater, or like they are being muffled under a pillow. So disappointing because my ‘88 Core custom 24 sounds beautiful. This is great video because it not only confirms there’s a way to make the SE sound as great as it looks and feels but shows how. Thanks so much. Interested to know if any other pup replacement recommendations.
Distraught. Good word. Describes that kind of situation well! Good review of a PRS SE. I found my SE (Paul’s Guitar) to be in somewhat similar condition as you described when I first received it, although the pickups are decent. New Gotoh locking tuners, truss rod and action adjust, and very important (ha), a new custom dragon truss rod cover, and I officially announce this guitar to be one I am proud to own. It has its own sound, different than my Fender Strat Deluxe Plus or my Gibson Les Paul Tribute, but that difference is what makes it special. Yours is a nice looking guitar. PRS makes some of the most beautiful guitars at decent prices. Great review with detail of the changes you have made. Enjoyed watching it!
Bobby Allred thanks for the comment and for watching! Sounds like you’ve done some killer mods yourself! The se is quickly becoming my go to in the studio for exactly the reasons you mentioned. It has its own feel and sound.
Colton River I have also tried D’Addario NYXL 09-042 strings, Elixir Optiweb 09-042 strings (on the PRS currently), and of course the PRS strings it came with, which are supposedly 09-042 also, but seemed to be more like 010-046. I am leaning more towards going back to the D’Addario NYXLs. Which strings do you use?
Bobby Allred I use NYXL .0095s - i found this size was the best for the cu24 se. I don’t use that size on any other guitar, for some reason that guitar really feels like it likes that gauge to me. Nyxls are my preferred bc you get a little bit of the coated feel without the actual annoying coating. Thanks for the comment man!
Colton River thanks for replying. I agree that the NYXL is a good fit, and I replaced the Elixirs that I had on my PRS yesterday, going back to the NYXL 009-042. Immediately my guitar felt better with increased quality of sound and better playability IMO, although that 009 likely needs to be increased a bit. I’m thinking 010, but maybe I’ll try the 0095 first. I’ve tweaked everything else on the PRS, and I feel like it deserves the same attention with strings.
My bridge pickup died so in the process of switching pickups Seymour Duncan 59 in the bridge and Seymour Duncan pearly gates in the neck and your write the neck is nice I love the body style as well.
This explains a lot of those nasally low output in my 85/15 pickup. I might go for a PATX set since I enjoy Blues Saraceno tone that much. Cheers to this lovely video insight!
I found a new "used" SE on reverb for 550$ from a guitar shop. I did the pickups, and tuners. Mine wouldn't stay in tune, so I put a trem stop and a new nut on it. I changed the nut for tuning stability, but it drastically improved the tone as well. I bought a core nut from prs. Love the neck on those guitars.
Without a doubt you want your guitar to sound and perform the way that you want. Every instrument has its own character and sound, try before you buy is the sensible approach. Interesting video and informative.
Never seen this guy cept a sweetwater ad. Looks cool. Sold my 2 S2s for a Schecter and a PRS SE standard. I actually like the Standard better, like you the neck of course. Started getting carpal tunnel and I told myself that neck was best but it’s just too thick. The Standard feels right for my hands and the wide thin feel is very good for lead stuff to me.
I have an s2 singlecut semihollow i bought new within 1 yr of ownership the Indonesian stock pups went out and had the electronics warranty. I had bridge issues soft brass heels. I put SD dave mustaine pups.
I just ordered a new PRS SE Custom 24 and a set of (PRS) locking tuners as well. I'll give the stock pickups a fair try first as I normally do before making a change. I'll most likely end up putting in a set of Seymour Duncan pickups in it. I'm thinking about which ones to go with but, first really want to hear how it sounds stock.
I have a PRS SE Custom 30th Anniversary and I wouldnt want to change anything on it. I got it used for 390 EUR in pretty bad condition, like dirty fretboard, two different Strappins, completly rustly strings. I cleaned the fretboard thoroughy oiled it, put two new nice strap pins on and a set of new 0.09-46 Elixir strings and voila perfect guitar for my taste.
The only thing i changed on my SE was the tuners to PRS locking. I dont mind the Pickups. I tried a JB in mine I didnt like it and put the Stock back in. It must be a preference thing. I also have the Mark Holcomb SE and i love the Seymour Duncans That one comes with
jgmopar the JB is definitely a pickup that I think people either love or hate. I’m in the love it category. I know most people feel the stock pickups in the se are fine but I’ve never liked them or the s2. That’s why there’s a booming aftermarket...market lol. Thanks for the comment!
@@coltonriver4456 I have an old kramer that sounds best with a JB for my ear at least. I tried a lot of pickups in that kramer and the only one i liked was the JB.
Hi, thanks for the vid. Definitely my view too regarding mid range guitars for gigging. My Custom SE24 mod was Seymour Duncan P-Rails plus triple-shot rings for 4 sounds per pickup, plus independent switching (24 sounds). Tone switch would have been redundant so used that for phase reverse of neck pickup for Peter Green tones (and another 24 sounds in the process) 🙂 Incidentally, also agree re position of switch: modded my MM Silo HSH for the same reason (ok it aint mid-range, but I got it cheap when they weren’t fashionable), with 3 way slider for HBs and separate on/off for SC. Had push pulls for HB splitting but will add triple shots to that too as I find them easier when playing live.
SE Custom 24 as my first PRS and now after using it as my daily driver for a solid couple months I’ve came to appreciate it. I play a solid state Marshall MG100Fx ( usually always on clean channel ) through a 1960A 4x12 and I get plenty of higher end creaminess however it seems to lack sonically on the the mid to lower ends. Also, Throw away the floating trem bridge and make it a hard tail. If you want more mid to low growl your gonna have to drop a set of pearlies or something in it
Hi Colton, just saw this video today. Thanks for showing up the whole process. I would like to ask, have you consider, or someone else, having P90s on the PRS? Due to the cavities size, we need to go for a P90s humbuckers size correct? i read people say they don't sound that well as the normal size, but would love to hear opinions. Cheers
on pickups, i think the stock pickups sounds more harsh to the point that i lowered it, but still harsh, might need to lower it again. so I definitely agree with him. and im planning to change it soon too
Locking Tuners: keep the back screws from your old tuners and use them. My PRS SE Locking tuners came with screws that are too small for the holes in the back of the head stock. The screws don't bite and will fall out if turned upside down. And many people have commented and several TH-camrs have noticed it as well, so it's not unusual.
After viewing loads of PRS SE and core models, and not hearing a major difference between them. I came across a 2013 Korean made Custom 24 in charcoal grey with the birds on the neck. As it had three holes screwed into it for a GK3 Synth pickup (idiot, use the sticky pads) I got it at a steal, at least $200 less than other ones I'd seen. It also had a hard case so I done the deal. I filled the holes, colored and drop filled them, sanding them smooth. I felt the fingerboard edges a bit too abrupt so I rounded them off, perfect. after playing Les Pauls and Strats for many, many years, I wanted to see what this guitar could bring to the table. Firstly humbuckers, It's a good bit brighter than my Les Pauls, possibly because of the treble bleed capacitor fitted, not the same tone quality, missing the Gibson quack, really a bit generic. Think more Schecter, Ibanez etc! Split coils fare a good bit better, getting a reasonable Strat tone out of each and a nice Tele middle position. Where it falls down of course is Strat positions 2 and 4, everyone's favorites! Maybe a three humbucking pickup version with a five way switch and extra coil split would be the ultimate PRS. I do find it play easier than both, thanks to the extended access cutaways and the 24 frets. Check my video ;0)
Hieronymus excellent point and one I should have covered in the video. It is totally not worth doing the mods if you want to re-sell. It being my gigging guitar I’m planning on holding onto it for a while personally but if you ever want to re-sell no one is going to pay you extra for modifying
Great video! I currently own a CE model and I love it. I’m waiting on a single cut 245 SE to arrive that’s on back order. When it comes in I’m gunna do a review and a shootout between a couple different SE and American models like the CE.
I have a Custom 24 SE as well. I replaced the tuners with Grover Locking tuners and the pickups with a DiMarzio Norton/Air Norton set. It still has had tuning issues, and I'm experimenting with Big Bends' Nut Sauce to see if it works better. If not I'm probably going to replaced the nut with a brass one. I agree with you on Cores. I love Cores as is. I also think the stock pups in Cores are a LOT better than the junk they pop into SEs.
@@robertturtle I had a tech grind down the nut and it stays in tune a little better. The nut matters far more than locking tuners. I have since replaced the DiMarzios with a Duncan Nazgul and Jazz and it sounds way way way better. The Nazgul has so much power, bite, clarity and definition all around. The Jazz is a better neck pickup than the DiMarzio Norton. More alive sounding. A PRS Core will also have tuning issues even though they tend to use really high quality tusq nuts. The only thing you can really do with a non-locking trem to make it stay in tune better is have a brass or rolling nut.
i bought my 24 fret prs se custom becuz it just felt so good to play, but i've always felt underwhelmed by the sound.. some rly good tips in this video thanks
I have the 35th Anniversary model with the TCI pickups. Heard a criticism if the PRS pickup but never TCI's. Have you tried them? I will NOT be changing mine, only upgrading the tuners.
Just got a PRS Se. I change the bridge pickup and the small micro doesn't the string position. The string position are too large for the seymour duncan distortion. Do you have any suggestion of pickup that are larger than normal.
I have an S2 Custom 24. American made guitar with the same pickups in the SE. The pick ups suck. I put a set of USA made PRS Tremonti pick ups. Life Changed. I just got a S2 Custom 22 a week ago. Once again, foreign pick ups suck. Putting 59/09 PRS pick ups in asap. I have an S2 McCarty 594. Stock pick up better, but still sucked. Put in a set of PRS 57/08. Now it Roars! I now have 3 fully USA made PRS guitars for 1/2 the price of the Core models. LOVE PRS! I also have the PRS Silver Sky, Fender American Professional Strat and Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s that I love just as much and left stock.
The S2 uses the same pickups and electronics as the SE line. I recently purchased a McCarty 594 SE and seriously entertained buying an McCarty S2. The S2 doesn't even have binding like the SE and they share the same hardware and pickups for 1000$ more.
Jazz and a 59 I dig it. The tone is clean. I have thought about that set up also. I have a Schecter Tempest Cutom that I want to change them out. Thought about the Billy Gibbons Pearly Gates models. You've given me good ideas for the Custom 24 I just ordered. Maybe the Pearlys in the Schecter and the Jazz and 59 in the PRS. Thanks good video.
I came here on a quest to see if it's worth upgrading the pickups of my PRS SE Custom 24, I also have the charcoal grey model. Love the guitar but I also don't like the stock pickups. Also bought the PRS locking tuners for mine .Thanks for the video!
Same, PRS pickups are trying really hard to have both the humbucker and single coil sound in one pickup. This comes with trade offs. PRS pickups, especially core ones lack a lot of mid to low mids, that is why they sound really sterile compared to say gibson or fenders which sound lush and sweet. The S2 and SE pickups actually sound fuller than the core pickups. So they basically have a humbucker that doesn’t quite sound like one and a single coil that also doesn’t quite sound like one. It is a unique sound and it is new. Some people like the sterile sound, but for most guitarist who grew up listening to classic rock and metal from the past century, it isn’t appealing. The problem is, no one has yet made this tone iconic. It isn’t a bad tone, just different.
Thanks for your informative video! I had a few questions: 1. Did you get the JB in trembucker spacing (TB-4) or standard spacing (SH-4)? I thought the bridge humbucker of SE's are in trembucker spacing. 2. How is the balance when playing seated without wearing a strap? Does it tend to dive towards the body side? 3. Does the gloss neck finish bother you? 4. Do you have you any problems with the stock output jack? 5. Toggle switches or blade switches? Do you have a preference? 6. Is the cavity shielded? 7. Is the stock nut bad quality? 8. Have you tried alternative tunings with the floating bridge? 9. What string gauge are you using? 10. Does the body dig into your forearm?
Me, I don't think I would get an SE...if I really loved, say, a Majesty and had the real deal, I'd just get an import Majesty if I was leary of gigging with my USA one...not one of the older ones; I'd want to find the newest one that has Dimarzio's in it with the Ebony fretboard. But say I did really love SE necks, and that's what did it for me, I would take the guts out of my JTV 69 and turn it into a Variax, because I gig with Variax / Helix set up because of the versatility of that set up, being able to switch from one rig, including amp, effects, virtual guitar, virtual tuning, pickup selection starting point, etc. on the fly with a push of a footswitch. Love the versatility of that, but the guitar itself, the feel, etc...not so much.
How would you compare the bone to the engineered options like graph tech Tusq. ? I think prs is using graph tech or they make a similar graphite impregnated delrin or ? material In house.. most all my guitars have graph tech nuts... I just finished a fat strat build on a yamaha pacifica chassis and made my 1st bone nut from a blank..it turned out almost perfect but my string slots are a bit too wide on the smaller strings. I get a lil ping when bending the g-b strings I'm sure the string is moving around too much at the base of the wide nut slot.. if I can cut it deeper and keep the strings high enuff, I'm good.. if not I may try the baking soda/super glue method to rebuild and recut before I pop it off and make a new one...
Mine too came from Sweetwater with old strings. I asked and they sent me a new set free of charge. And I replaced the knobs as I found the stock ones too slippery.
@@CoryA2503 yes, they have a smaller sound and that is my problem. they can cut through a mix easily but they have no "presence" on stage. I love PRS craftsmanship and their sound but sometimes it leaves me feeling like I "brought a knife to a gun fight".
Gibsons wouldn't be far off from that, they're naturally meant to be warm and a bit mellow. If you're opting for more "cut" to your sound, I'd recommend new pickups. An overwound PAF style may be what you're looking for, since they can clean up like vintage-style humbuckers but also have more punch at 10. I don't think you'd see that same change going between stock S2 pickups and Vintage Gibson pickups
Hi Brian thanks for the tip I bought a set of these I put them in my usa prs standard they sound great!! Pick your brain if I may I have a pes se dgt model the mids cut through in a live application but no low end do you think 🤔 they would improve the tone & warmth of that guitar I use a pedal platform in front of clean amps thanks any perspective would be welcome
Not a fan of PRS? How!?!?! I just recently bought my first PRS SE(I'm a Strat/Tele/Ibanez RG guy) and ever since I purchased the 24-08, I haven't touched my other guitars, and they're MIA/MIJ!!! PRS is killing it with the SE. I can only imagine how amazing a core model is. Purchasing one soon. PRS is my new favorite!
If you put the American made PRS 85/15 pups in your guitar you’ll be in shock how much better they are than the 85/15 SE Asian made one you have in it. It’s insane how different the same model pup is when it’s the real ones from America. Do it and you’ll seriously be like, WTF?
@@BAND-MAID-USA I ended up purchasing a CE24 and then a core Custom 24-08 lol so I haven't even touched the SE in like 6 months!🤣I keep it in a case in case I need to take a guitar to a friend's house or a family thing.
This guys gigging guitar would be my trophy guitar
Thats how its suppose to be! I used to keep all my guitars in cases my father did the same before me and yet ive found so much more fun and love for my instruments having them around its like having an old Ferrari if you only take it out on weekends then its not justifying ownership as the old quote goes "own the ______, dont let the ______ own you" so use it! Worst comes to worst you invest a slight bit of money into a re coat of lacquer or poly whatever was used if you love the guitar and dont ever intend on selling it then its worth it and especially if its a high dollar instrument let that baby breathe and make some sweet music with it! Even better yet as hes done use it gigging then everyone gets to appreciate it and trust me youll get noticed so much more with a flashy guitar especially if you can play said flashy guitar! Rock on you all 🤘🏻👊🏼
Things I did with 85/15s pickups - cost: $0. 1. lowered them almost to the mounting rings. 2. dialed all tone controls on my amp down about 20% and use the volume and tone on the guitar to tailor to songs. They sound more vintage and rounder now, not as harsh and crispy. Also rotated both pups still attached in their mounting rings 180*. Simply unscrew the 4 screws per ring, flip them around and put back in. I did have to pull the extra lead wire from the switch cavity to reach. Now the single coil bridge has more body and the middle position split has quack like a Strat in the 2 or 4 position. I also suggest raising the pole pieces on the wound strings. It helps even tone with the unwound strings and gives more snap to the low E and A strings. In the end, what amp, effects, settings etc. you're playing through will have more affect on tone than which pickups are in a guitar.
Thanks for sharing!! On my 8/5/15s I just did the lowering and turning down tone controls on the amp and it seems like it helped. Certainly feels more expressive and I'm getting better smooth tube breakup sounds.
I am new to guitar and just got my first PRS. At first the sound caught me off guard. I turned all effects off my amp and eq to noon position and then dialed in a great tone for the PRS. I love it now, but have wondered what raising the poles would do. Hadn’t thought about flipping them as well...thank you, this gave me some ideas for when the time comes!
LOL!
Duncan pickups and PRS guitars are a match made in heaven! Makes sense why Mark Holcomb picked that combo too
I shopped Reverb for my SE, got a great one for 550$, then swapped the tuners and pickups. JB neck Pearly Gates bridge. It's now my number 1 guitar. Best feeling neck I've ever played.
i can't seem to find a video with PRS and pearly gate bridge that's what i was thinking and wanted to hear. Would you consider doing a sample just letting some tones ring out or something?
@@whiskerandojoe it would be quite different depending on which amp, but I get tones quite similar to Billy Gibbons through my VHT special 6 ultra with a little boost. I can really push that amp hard with pearly gates in the bridge, mine is a custom 22 semi-hollow.
The tones on the Seymour Duncan site are close to what mine sound like, and are probably better audio than anything I could upload
@@whiskerandojoeliterally hype pickups. Just like everything else in the guitar world. Paying double or triple for them is so dumb. Lower or raise your pickups. If possible the pole pieces too before you waste money on the Gates. Also, an EQ pedal is the most important pedal you’ll ever own. Pickups do very little as far as to. Clarity they can do a little better if well made. But pups are 1 of the biggest scales in the guitars world. Unless they’re just cheap garbage pups. Worry about your cab speaker before anything tone wise. And buy an EQ pedal and adjust the height of your pups.
@@BAND-MAID-USA thanks for insights! i appreciate your time/response
Always wanted a PRS. Always loved the craftsmanship and sound.
I just bought the same one but black gold burst. I have 20 guitars very expensive ones and I’ve never been so inspired to play a guitar than I was with this guitar right off the bat. I’m so impressed with this guitar I’m thinking about getting another one maybe one with binding on the neck.
since the prs allows you to split the pickups, do I have to buy a special pickup or can any humbucker pickup work? i was looking for tim henson signature pickups, would they work?
Awesome review. I appreciate you also not defending that you don’t like the pickups and get mad. I’ll end up probably doing this down the line. Thanks for making this video!
I like the stock pups, and I have several to compare with, SD Jazz, Classic 57, Probuckers 2 and 3, SD Hyperion, SD Solar, Fender Blackouts etc etc I think the PRS pups do a good job in particular as a package for such low price. Someone said it was Carlos Santana that convinced Paul to release a gig worthy low price guitar for newbies/students so they don't quit because of crappy guitar. Great idea if true!
It is.. the PRS SE "Santana" model is affordable(ish)... At Sweetwater its $829. The US version is $4300 at GC. He wanted PRS to build that.. Unlike the Yamaha SG Santana model that was astronomically expensive for the day with no lower cost alternative with his name attached. (I used to have one of the lower cost SG's. An SG500.. still a GREAT guitar with all the important stuff that made the SG line so awesome)
Also, and correct me if I’m wrong here, but wasn’t the first ever Santana signature guitar also the first ever SE?
I am swapping my stock pups from my PRS SE Tremonti Custom to Seymour Duncan Saturday Night Specials. Your video explanation on the process confirmed what I thought I was gonna need to do.
I just got a Tremonti SE, would you recommend the Saturday Night Specials
@@DavidMorales008 sure! I liked the stock pups, and I also like the SNS as well
I changed the pickups in my PRS se twice ! They are 4 conductor for the coil split , so remember if your new pickups have only 2 wires make sure you know which wire is earth and live first 👍
Rob Phillips very good point! I should have put that in the video. Thank you for the comment and the tip!
I picked up a mint used PRS SE Mark Holcomb for £540. Basically just a hardtail custom 24 but with Seymour Duncan alpha and omega pickups worth £300. Absolute steal.
Looks badass too!
have one since 2013 and love it changed my pickups and tuners with locking tuners also which are Schaller m6 minis
I have this guitar, thought i didnt like the pickups .... simply rolled down the tone knob a bit and i love them.
Aside from the brand of tuners, I did the exact mods to my Standard 24. No matter what I wanna play, it gives me the sound I need. But I'll admit that it shines for punk and hard rock.
Honestly, the stock PRS pickups are better to my ears than most SD pickups I hear swapped in them. Not worth the upgrade.
Correct. I have SDs in other guitars and though the tone is slightly different it is by no means a great improvement over the stock PRS. But kids will swear by that so as to retain their delusions.
I agree ,mine sound great.I'm going to swap out the tuners and the trem.Probably will go with bv the se locking tuners and the Mann made vos2,it drops right in and is cast bronze and solid machined brass.
It’s 2021, people nitpick about everything these days.
The stock 85/15s pickups in my Custom 24 SE are excellent. I didn’t hear anything in this video to change my mind.🇺🇸🎸
@@Jamescreaney boomer alert
Not worried about someone knocking over ya $700 guitar is a new kind of peace 😂 i just got one of these. Love it!
Nice! I did what you did on my Tremonti SE but added core PRS lampshade knobs. Took it up a notch on an old Singlecut with some Fishman Classic Humbuckers and a new GT tusq nut along with PRS locking tuners and PRS knobs. The mods are worth it IMO. It gives you core quality sound with SE Cost! Great Video! 🤘🏼
LOL!
Very convenient the timing of this coming on right after a prs video and as im looking to upgrade my prs both american models and import models thank you sir!
That’s what I did too ! Nice to see it’s not so stupid and I’m not a weirdo for upgrading it
This is video is great, high quality and very useful...thank you so much, exactly what I needed
Thanks for taking time to show us your mods. Every opinion helps. It's important that,as guitarists we give "input "!
This may sound a bit off, but I like single coils for distortion. Actual single coil pickups...not splitters.
very interesting, Thank you
I put the PRS metal buckers in my SE. Added locking tuners, and had the gloss neck sanded to give it a satin feel. One of the BEST guitars in my arsenal, even over my more expensive guitars.
I have one too! Love it, came with 85/15’s…not bad.
Great Post…I subscribed!!!
I put a Gibson 498/490 set I got for $60 on CL in my Santana SE. Night and Day tonal difference. Good guitar too Great guitar.
Thanks for the info, I'm in the same bag. ( Old school)
Good to know.. I just found a clean santana se for $350 and I'm looking at upgrading the pickups and adding a coil split as next project.....
I have a 2008 core model that I replace the pick ups in for the very same reason I thought that sounded horrible, I also replaced the rotary switch with a 3 way and I love the guitar now
buddy.. you sir are my hero.. I needed to see this big time!
Great video! Thinking about doing the same to my new SE. I have that same pickup config in a Jackson (stock mj dinky) and it really sings. Would love to have that same range in this PRS. Thanks for making the vid on your upgrades!
Paul Reed-Smith & Carlos Santana's decision to go with the Korean-made-for-PRS student edition range was the best thing for guitarists starting out since the invention of, say, beer or else the kebab. Full stop. There is simply nothing wrong with any of them that would hinder a learner from learning successfully. Intonation, frets, balance, finish, electronics - all perfectly passing muster at an affordable price (especially second-hand - there are *thousands* of them out there). Back when I was a teenager, cheap guitars were unbelievably crap...
LOL!
Thanks for the video, Colton. Very helpful.
Great vid, i'm sure i'll refer to it. Doing a Sentient/ Pegasus install on my Custom 24 SE in a week. That JB really rocks wow. I really want to put orange drop caps too, but not sure which ones, I think .001 uf and .022 uf.
Great video, Thanks! I purchased a PRS SE Standard in March. It felt great but sounded well, not so great. I also think there is a wiring problem because there was no difference between switch position 1 and position 2 and the pickups were so bright it caused both my boss Katana and fender champ x2 to make an awful chirping noise. At least I have some idea where to start. Thanks again!
Was about to facepalm somebody modifying a PRS Custom 24. Have a 1994 version, fully stock, and wouldn't change a thing about it, though I understand some people are not fans of the 5 way rotary pickup selector. Then I realized I had dyslexia and didn't read the "SE" part of the title of this video. Lol. My philosophy on modding guitars is that anything that cost you less than $1,500 is fair game. Starting around the $2,000 mark, I'm thinking "Why would you spend that much on a guitar you're gonna mod anyway?" Mid-priced guitars like in this video and budget guitars are great to mod anyway you like. Personally, I wouldn't trade my 1994 PRS Custom 24 for any amount of these mid-price or budget guitars, but that's mostly because of sentimental value.
Great video btw. Looks like a versatile beast of a guitar :)
I've got an old Cherry Red PRS SE Custom 24 (the one without the contouring on the front of the body) that I'm in the process of restoring back to full playability, I'm going to be installing two Gibson USA PAF (Silver Shield) Humbucking pickups I salvaged from my old Gibson USA Les Paul Studio guitar, hopefully they'll sound good in the PRS SE Custom 24, I recently bought a PRS truss rod cover, a set of two plastic ivory PRS pickup rings, and a complete PRS trem bridge on eBay since I needed them in order to complete the restoration, I also need to make a small 2mm thick piece of rosewood in order to install a new nut because the original nut-shelf was sanded to accept a Floyd Rose locking nut, I originally wanted to install a Floyd Rose trem on it but I ended up abandoning the install because of some issues.
the only good prs video ive found
I have same guitar in Cherry Sunburst. I did some mods... 1) Custom bone nut A MUST DO 2) Gotoh locking tuners, WAY better than the PRS ones (better looking, better ergonomically, no tool required) and cheaper (3) Full pro set up with fret levelling and dressing. (4) PRS lampshade knobs. Much better. Don't fully press on the tone knob, leave it about 1/16-1/8" higher than the volume one. This will make it much easier to pull it up for PuP split.
And yes I don't like the PuPs either. They are muddy at the low end and tinny or sibulent at the high end. And for some reason they DO not seam to get along with my Boss AC-3. I had strap locks but they were more of a PITA than anything else since I just play at home and sitting anyway at this point in my "journey V2.0".
I put the locking tuners and some duncan pickups in my SE standard and it's such a perfect guitar now. Only cost me about $700 total.
What a great video man. I have a 2010 25th anniversary SE. and a couple of months ago put the same pickups. Next will be the tuners. Feels like a new guitar. Also my other guitar is a majesty and 100% with you.
Glad I found this. Best help video for this DYI project. Thanks a bunch.
First upgrade is the biggest bang for the buck, which is the hollow cheap plastic nut. Use a GraphTech TUSQ XL #6643. Makes a TON of diff in the sustain and the tuning stability. You can literally feel the extra resonant energy thru the neck and body.
Next is definitely the pickups, if they're the garbage 85/15S model. They sound nice clean and up to moderate volume, but anything needing gain or energy is muddy and lifeless. I changed my Cu24 to a Duncan Custom in the bridge and a Pearly Gates in the neck. On my Tremonti I used a PRS USA HFS in the bridge and a Vintage Bass in the neck.
Last I put in the new PRS SE Locking Tuners.
Zach Myers SE in vintage burst
Kluson locking tuners G rev (silver tuners, gold buttons)
Logo repro
Alpha push pull pots
lambertone cremas (nickel covers, gold screws)
Amber lampshade knobs
Strap loks
Switchcraft toggle switch
Switchcraft jack
Gold screws all around.
Total: still less than a Mc Carty 594 SC Semihollow.
Sam Z love the point, and probably a beast of a guitar compared to the McCarty. Thanks for the comment!
thank you for the video Colton your se custom sounds really good i’m goin to be doin some upgrades to mine pickups locking tuners from prs i want all black but they don’t have them in all black
your pickup choice was and is exellent i really like the way they sound
I don't think I've heard an SE Cu24 with the current generation 85/15S pickups, but the previous generation's HFS/Vintage Bass pickups were incredibly nasal. However, they took to magnet swaps like gangbusters. Putting an Alnico 5 magnet in the HFS and an Alnico 4 magnet into the Vintage Bass made them much more usable for me.
Troy Baer this is a really good idea. I think it might help the current “se” line pickups a lot. Nasal is a good description for them. Very mid range-y but not in a pleasant way. The s2 line one seems to do them better but I’ve had conflicting information on whether it’s the same pickups from s2 to se
Love this video. Absolutely hate the SE Custom 24 pups. Tried all SE models and pups sound terrible on all of them. Muddy, underwater, or like they are being muffled under a pillow. So disappointing because my ‘88 Core custom 24 sounds beautiful. This is great video because it not only confirms there’s a way to make the SE sound as great as it looks and feels but shows how. Thanks so much. Interested to know if any other pup replacement recommendations.
original pickups sound good to me maybe a bit more dark and bassy than usual but they sound good
Distraught. Good word. Describes that kind of situation well! Good review of a PRS SE. I found my SE (Paul’s Guitar) to be in somewhat similar condition as you described when I first received it, although the pickups are decent. New Gotoh locking tuners, truss rod and action adjust, and very important (ha), a new custom dragon truss rod cover, and I officially announce this guitar to be one I am proud to own. It has its own sound, different than my Fender Strat Deluxe Plus or my Gibson Les Paul Tribute, but that difference is what makes it special. Yours is a nice looking guitar. PRS makes some of the most beautiful guitars at decent prices. Great review with detail of the changes you have made. Enjoyed watching it!
I added PRS Phase 3 locking tuners to my SE Paul’s and that’s it, great guitar 👍
Bobby Allred thanks for the comment and for watching! Sounds like you’ve done some killer mods yourself! The se is quickly becoming my go to in the studio for exactly the reasons you mentioned. It has its own feel and sound.
Colton River I have also tried D’Addario NYXL 09-042 strings, Elixir Optiweb 09-042 strings (on the PRS currently), and of course the PRS strings it came with, which are supposedly 09-042 also, but seemed to be more like 010-046. I am leaning more towards going back to the D’Addario NYXLs. Which strings do you use?
Bobby Allred I use NYXL .0095s - i found this size was the best for the cu24 se. I don’t use that size on any other guitar, for some reason that guitar really feels like it likes that gauge to me.
Nyxls are my preferred bc you get a little bit of the coated feel without the actual annoying coating.
Thanks for the comment man!
Colton River thanks for replying. I agree that the NYXL is a good fit, and I replaced the Elixirs that I had on my PRS yesterday, going back to the NYXL 009-042. Immediately my guitar felt better with increased quality of sound and better playability IMO, although that 009 likely needs to be increased a bit. I’m thinking 010, but maybe I’ll try the 0095 first. I’ve tweaked everything else on the PRS, and I feel like it deserves the same attention with strings.
Just mounted, inspired by your video, the Seymour Duncan JB Trembucker and Jazz Humbucker pair on my 2013 SE. NGD!
My bridge pickup died so in the process of switching pickups Seymour Duncan 59 in the bridge and Seymour Duncan pearly gates in the neck and your write the neck is nice I love the body style as well.
This explains a lot of those nasally low output in my 85/15 pickup. I might go for a PATX set since I enjoy Blues Saraceno tone that much. Cheers to this lovely video insight!
I found a new "used" SE on reverb for 550$ from a guitar shop. I did the pickups, and tuners. Mine wouldn't stay in tune, so I put a trem stop and a new nut on it. I changed the nut for tuning stability, but it drastically improved the tone as well. I bought a core nut from prs. Love the neck on those guitars.
I saw one going for $300 used. I never pulled the trigger.
Thanks for sharing the video with us. 👍
Great video that came at a perfect time. Thanks much
Great video, thanks for sharing this!
Without a doubt you want your guitar to sound and perform the way that you want.
Every instrument has its own character and sound, try before you buy is the sensible approach.
Interesting video and informative.
Never seen this guy cept a sweetwater ad. Looks cool. Sold my 2 S2s for a Schecter and a PRS SE standard. I actually like the Standard better, like you the neck of course. Started getting carpal tunnel and I told myself that neck was best but it’s just too thick. The Standard feels right for my hands and the wide thin feel is very good for lead stuff to me.
Amazing intro to the video 😂, that is soooo much me!
I have an s2 singlecut semihollow i bought new within 1 yr of ownership the Indonesian stock pups went out and had the electronics warranty. I had bridge issues soft brass heels. I put SD dave mustaine pups.
I just ordered a new PRS SE Custom 24 and a set of (PRS) locking tuners as well. I'll give the stock pickups a fair try first as I normally do before making a change. I'll most likely end up putting in a set of Seymour Duncan pickups in it. I'm thinking about which ones to go with but, first really want to hear how it sounds stock.
I have a PRS SE Custom 30th Anniversary and I wouldnt want to change anything on it. I got it used for 390 EUR in pretty bad condition, like dirty fretboard, two different Strappins, completly rustly strings.
I cleaned the fretboard thoroughy oiled it, put two new nice strap pins on and a set of new 0.09-46 Elixir strings and voila perfect guitar for my taste.
The only thing i changed on my SE was the tuners to PRS locking. I dont mind the Pickups. I tried a JB in mine I didnt like it and put the Stock back in. It must be a preference thing. I also have the Mark Holcomb SE and i love the Seymour Duncans That one comes with
jgmopar the JB is definitely a pickup that I think people either love or hate. I’m in the love it category. I know most people feel the stock pickups in the se are fine but I’ve never liked them or the s2. That’s why there’s a booming aftermarket...market lol. Thanks for the comment!
@@coltonriver4456 I have an old kramer that sounds best with a JB for my ear at least. I tried a lot of pickups in that kramer and the only one i liked was the JB.
jgmopar sounds like a killer combo honestly!
Pickups change everything.
@@vince8081 yes they can. sometimes for the better
Hi, thanks for the vid. Definitely my view too regarding mid range guitars for gigging. My Custom SE24 mod was Seymour Duncan P-Rails plus triple-shot rings for 4 sounds per pickup, plus independent switching (24 sounds). Tone switch would have been redundant so used that for phase reverse of neck pickup for Peter Green tones (and another 24 sounds in the process) 🙂 Incidentally, also agree re position of switch: modded my MM Silo HSH for the same reason (ok it aint mid-range, but I got it cheap when they weren’t fashionable), with 3 way slider for HBs and separate on/off for SC. Had push pulls for HB splitting but will add triple shots to that too as I find them easier when playing live.
SE Custom 24 as my first PRS and now after using it as my daily driver for a solid couple months I’ve came to appreciate it. I play a solid state Marshall MG100Fx ( usually always on clean channel ) through a 1960A 4x12 and I get plenty of higher end creaminess however it seems to lack sonically on the the mid to lower ends. Also, Throw away the floating trem bridge and make it a hard tail. If you want more mid to low growl your gonna have to drop a set of pearlies or something in it
LOL!
Cool! You like dad pickups. I'm agree, the SE and S2 factory pickups need to be upgraded
Sharp looking guitar! I have the Zach Meyers prs, I think I going to change the pickups down the road
Hi Colton, just saw this video today. Thanks for showing up the whole process. I would like to ask, have you consider, or someone else, having P90s on the PRS? Due to the cavities size, we need to go for a P90s humbuckers size correct? i read people say they don't sound that well as the normal size, but would love to hear opinions. Cheers
on pickups, i think the stock pickups sounds more harsh to the point that i lowered it, but still harsh, might need to lower it again. so I definitely agree with him. and im planning to change it soon too
Locking Tuners: keep the back screws from your old tuners and use them. My PRS SE Locking tuners came with screws that are too small for the holes in the back of the head stock. The screws don't bite and will fall out if turned upside down.
And many people have commented and several TH-camrs have noticed it as well, so it's not unusual.
After viewing loads of PRS SE and core models, and not hearing a major difference between them. I came across a 2013 Korean made Custom 24 in charcoal grey with the birds on the neck. As it had three holes screwed into it for a GK3 Synth pickup (idiot, use the sticky pads) I got it at a steal, at least $200 less than other ones I'd seen. It also had a hard case so I done the deal. I filled the holes, colored and drop filled them, sanding them smooth. I felt the fingerboard edges a bit too abrupt so I rounded them off, perfect. after playing Les Pauls and Strats for many, many years, I wanted to see what this guitar could bring to the table.
Firstly humbuckers, It's a good bit brighter than my Les Pauls, possibly because of the treble bleed capacitor fitted, not the same tone quality, missing the Gibson quack, really a bit generic. Think more Schecter, Ibanez etc! Split coils fare a good bit better, getting a reasonable Strat tone out of each and a nice Tele middle position. Where it falls down of course is Strat positions 2 and 4, everyone's favorites! Maybe a three humbucking pickup version with a five way switch and extra coil split would be the ultimate PRS. I do find it play easier than both, thanks to the extended access cutaways and the 24 frets. Check my video ;0)
Great video! Love PRS guitars 🎸.
If you hold on to it, it’s a great idea. If you want to resell it though it’s not worth it.
Hieronymus excellent point and one I should have covered in the video. It is totally not worth doing the mods if you want to re-sell. It being my gigging guitar I’m planning on holding onto it for a while personally but if you ever want to re-sell no one is going to pay you extra for modifying
Great video! I currently own a CE model and I love it. I’m waiting on a single cut 245 SE to arrive that’s on back order. When it comes in I’m gunna do a review and a shootout between a couple different SE and American models like the CE.
I have a Custom 24 SE as well. I replaced the tuners with Grover Locking tuners and the pickups with a DiMarzio Norton/Air Norton set. It still has had tuning issues, and I'm experimenting with Big Bends' Nut Sauce to see if it works better. If not I'm probably going to replaced the nut with a brass one. I agree with you on Cores. I love Cores as is. I also think the stock pups in Cores are a LOT better than the junk they pop into SEs.
Same problem with tuning, locking tuners didn't help. Next step is replacing the nut.
@@robertturtle I had a tech grind down the nut and it stays in tune a little better. The nut matters far more than locking tuners. I have since replaced the DiMarzios with a Duncan Nazgul and Jazz and it sounds way way way better. The Nazgul has so much power, bite, clarity and definition all around. The Jazz is a better neck pickup than the DiMarzio Norton. More alive sounding. A PRS Core will also have tuning issues even though they tend to use really high quality tusq nuts. The only thing you can really do with a non-locking trem to make it stay in tune better is have a brass or rolling nut.
i bought my 24 fret prs se custom becuz it just felt so good to play, but i've always felt underwhelmed by the sound.. some rly good tips in this video thanks
I have the 35th Anniversary model with the TCI pickups. Heard a criticism if the PRS pickup but never TCI's. Have you tried them? I will NOT be changing mine, only upgrading the tuners.
Right there with you I’ve had all the way up to a core McCarty and the pickups are always bland to my ear. The S2 has the same pickups as the SE.
I was also thinking about Seymour Duncan's Black Winter Sets, too pushed?
When using the SD wiring diagram and you spit the SD humbuckers which coils will be working and which will be off? Slugs? Screws?
Just got a PRS Se. I change the bridge pickup and the small micro doesn't the string position. The string position are too large for the seymour duncan distortion. Do you have any suggestion of pickup that are larger than normal.
Can trembucker pickups fit?
I have an S2 Custom 24. American made guitar with the same pickups in the SE. The pick ups suck. I put a set of USA made PRS Tremonti pick ups. Life Changed. I just got a S2 Custom 22 a week ago. Once again, foreign pick ups suck. Putting 59/09 PRS pick ups in asap. I have an S2 McCarty 594. Stock pick up better, but still sucked. Put in a set of PRS 57/08. Now it Roars! I now have 3 fully USA made PRS guitars for 1/2 the price of the Core models. LOVE PRS! I also have the PRS Silver Sky, Fender American Professional Strat and Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s that I love just as much and left stock.
The S2 uses the same pickups and electronics as the SE line. I recently purchased a McCarty 594 SE and seriously entertained buying an McCarty S2. The S2 doesn't even have binding like the SE and they share the same hardware and pickups for 1000$ more.
Nice video and that’s a great guitar, been looking at a PRS, nice man!
I have a Core and the 85/15s absolutely scream!
the pickups on mine were awful as well. couple of SD's later....wonderful!
Jazz and a 59 I dig it. The tone is clean. I have thought about that set up also. I have a Schecter Tempest Cutom that I want to change them out. Thought about the Billy Gibbons Pearly Gates models. You've given me good ideas for the Custom 24 I just ordered. Maybe the Pearlys in the Schecter and the Jazz and 59 in the PRS. Thanks good video.
Great vid and funny too. Great job. Subbed!
I came here on a quest to see if it's worth upgrading the pickups of my PRS SE Custom 24, I also have the charcoal grey model. Love the guitar but I also don't like the stock pickups. Also bought the PRS locking tuners for mine .Thanks for the video!
Same, PRS pickups are trying really hard to have both the humbucker and single coil sound in one pickup. This comes with trade offs. PRS pickups, especially core ones lack a lot of mid to low mids, that is why they sound really sterile compared to say gibson or fenders which sound lush and sweet. The S2 and SE pickups actually sound fuller than the core pickups. So they basically have a humbucker that doesn’t quite sound like one and a single coil that also doesn’t quite sound like one. It is a unique sound and it is new. Some people like the sterile sound, but for most guitarist who grew up listening to classic rock and metal from the past century, it isn’t appealing. The problem is, no one has yet made this tone iconic. It isn’t a bad tone, just different.
You do not need strap locks, the guitar comes with mushroom-head strap buttons, they secure the strap in place.
Thanks for your informative video! I had a few questions:
1. Did you get the JB in trembucker spacing (TB-4) or standard spacing (SH-4)? I thought the bridge humbucker of SE's are in trembucker spacing.
2. How is the balance when playing seated without wearing a strap? Does it tend to dive towards the body side?
3. Does the gloss neck finish bother you?
4. Do you have you any problems with the stock output jack?
5. Toggle switches or blade switches? Do you have a preference?
6. Is the cavity shielded?
7. Is the stock nut bad quality?
8. Have you tried alternative tunings with the floating bridge?
9. What string gauge are you using?
10. Does the body dig into your forearm?
Me, I don't think I would get an SE...if I really loved, say, a Majesty and had the real deal, I'd just get an import Majesty if I was leary of gigging with my USA one...not one of the older ones; I'd want to find the newest one that has Dimarzio's in it with the Ebony fretboard. But say I did really love SE necks, and that's what did it for me, I would take the guts out of my JTV 69 and turn it into a Variax, because I gig with Variax / Helix set up because of the versatility of that set up, being able to switch from one rig, including amp, effects, virtual guitar, virtual tuning, pickup selection starting point, etc. on the fly with a push of a footswitch. Love the versatility of that, but the guitar itself, the feel, etc...not so much.
although it's difficult for novices....recommend a bone nut as well. not for the faint of heart. I'd do that before changing the tuners.
How would you compare the bone to the engineered options like graph tech Tusq. ? I think prs is using graph tech or they make a similar graphite impregnated delrin or ? material In house.. most all my guitars have graph tech nuts... I just finished a fat strat build on a yamaha pacifica chassis and made my 1st bone nut from a blank..it turned out almost perfect but my string slots are a bit too wide on the smaller strings. I get a lil ping when bending the g-b strings I'm sure the string is moving around too much at the base of the wide nut slot.. if I can cut it deeper and keep the strings high enuff, I'm good.. if not I may try the baking soda/super glue method to rebuild and recut before I pop it off and make a new one...
Mine too came from Sweetwater with old strings. I asked and they sent me a new set free of charge. And I replaced the knobs as I found the stock ones too slippery.
mcarrera77 hey good advice! I never thought to ask them!
I have an S2 and am thinking of switching out the pickups for some vintage Gibson humbuckers I've had since the 80s. any thoughts?
How different do your S2 pickups sound from the Gibsons? As far as I know, the PRS pickups are meant to have a similar sound to vintage humbuckers
@@CoryA2503 yes, they have a smaller sound and that is my problem. they can cut through a mix easily but they have no "presence" on stage. I love PRS craftsmanship and their sound but sometimes it leaves me feeling like I "brought a knife to a gun fight".
Gibsons wouldn't be far off from that, they're naturally meant to be warm and a bit mellow. If you're opting for more "cut" to your sound, I'd recommend new pickups. An overwound PAF style may be what you're looking for, since they can clean up like vintage-style humbuckers but also have more punch at 10. I don't think you'd see that same change going between stock S2 pickups and Vintage Gibson pickups
@@CoryA2503 good stuff. thanks, my brother, have a good one.
8:45 soldering iron specs
Really helpful and simple!
Hi Brian thanks for the tip I bought a set of these I put them in my usa prs standard they sound great!! Pick your brain if I may I have a pes se dgt model the mids cut through in a live application but no low end do you think 🤔 they would improve the tone & warmth of that guitar I use a pedal platform in front of clean amps thanks any perspective would be welcome
Wow, didn't know PRS SE has a burst color...nice!
Their fire red burst is sexy too. The way the black blends into the red burst is so good
I have the red fade. Looking to upgrade pups.