NGD - PRS SE CU24 in Eriza Verde!

[Masta' C]

As I mentioned in my other thread about PRS neck profiles, I recently picked up a Custom 24 SE model on a whim after coming across a shop online that did an exclusive run in my absolute favorite finish..."Eriza Verde" (aka: Trans Lime Green)!

I have to say that this guitar is excellent in almost every way. Fit, finish, and fretwork is easily on par with my USA-made S2 Singlecut, which I now plan on selling. The "Wide Thin" neck profile feels like favorite guitars that I already own and the guitar as a whole is lightweight, well balanced, and very resonant.

The only issue I've run into is questionable tuning stability when using the trem. The nut seems the likely culprit. So, a new nut (Core PRS) and locking tuners are in the short-term plans. Other than that, I added Core series clear knobs and I might add chrome covers and black trim rings to the pickups to modernize the aesthetic a bit more, but this guitar is a definite keeper!

By the way, you can't really tell from the pic, but even the veneer on the headstock is flamed maple!

 

[Artie]

Nice. Love that green. Chrome pup rings might look cool too.

 

[Masta' C]

Nice. Love that green. Chrome pup rings might look cool too.

That was my first thought, too!

But the chrome rings didn't quite look right with either the stock Zebras or even with black covers in place to simulate black pickups.

Black rings with chrome covers had a different vibe, though...a little classier, I suppose. The wife and I both approved of that combo over the others.

Chrome rings with chrome covers was just a bit too much and started to look cheesy, if you know what I mean

 

[jeremy]

cool color. how do the stock pups sound?

 

[GuitarStv]

I really like the colour . . . I think it would look even better with a maple fretboard, but the rosewood isn't a slouch there either.

 

[Masta' C]

cool color. how do the stock pups sound?

Initial impressions are very good. Fairly bright, medium-hot, split nicely. I will be making some adjustments and doing some comparisons over the next week, so I can give more detail after I've spent more time with it. As of right now, I don't have any plans to change them, which says something!

I really like the colour . . . I think it would look even better with a maple fretboard, but the rosewood isn't a slouch there either.

I'm a big fan of maple fretboards on green guitars, also. Still, the rosewood on this one is really nice and adds a bit of contrast. The others from this run weren't nearly as nice (lighter rosewood, less flame in the top, etc), IMO

 

[jeremy]

do they do full splits or partial splits on this model? i think the higher end ones sometimes use partial splits

 

[Masta' C]

do they do full splits or partial splits on this model? i think the higher end ones sometimes use partial splits

Are you referring to coil-splitting vs coil-tapping?

For the most part, SE models just use traditional coil splitting.

The exception appears to be the "35th Anniversary" SE models, which are a bit different and are modeled after the Core series "Paul's Guitar". The 35th Anniversary SE is listed as having "two mini toggle coil-tap switches". If that interests you, I strongly recommend checking them out. They also come with a slightly more beveled/contoured top to even more closely resemble the Core body profile. That said, I'm reasonably satisfied with the rather simple bevels on my CU24 SE.

 

[jeremy]

no. coil splitting is grounding out one coil. partial splits are using a resistor in series to ground on that connection which keeps some of the coil in the circuit. taps are different and usually only found on single coils since it requires a connection part way through the winds of a coil

so are the pups really tapped though? almost no humbuckers are. youd have a start, tap, and finish for each coil if they were. which would be cool, but it is super rare that anyone makes a bucker that way.

 

[ICTGoober]

I don't like green that well, and I dig the color of your PRS.

 

[Masta' C]

no. coil splitting is grounding out one coil. partial splits are using a resistor in series to ground on that connection which keeps some of the coil in the circuit. taps are different and usually only found on single coils since it requires a connection part way through the winds of a coil

so are the pups really tapped though? almost no humbuckers are. youd have a start, tap, and finish for each coil if they were. which would be cool, but it is super rare that anyone makes a bucker that way.

Just making sure. I haven't opened up the back to check.

I'm familiar with what a "tap" is. It's just that the "partial split" thing gets confusing with PRS because, as I understand it, some models do have physical coil-tapping of the humbucker that also leaves the second coil partially split, as opposed to the resistor method (that I believe was also made popular by PRS?)

I'll pop the back off this evening and have a look at the wiring

 

[EmiAba]

Nice guitar indeed. Congrats. I own a custom 24 se too, and I find it damn pretty good. It's very resonant, a bit bright for my tastes but that wide thin pattern neck is really comfortable. I have the same issue on the tuners, the g string and the low e string don't want to stay in tune if I abuse with the tremolo. Is it equipped with 85/15s pickups? What do you think about the bridge pickup? While I think the neck pickup is pretty good, I find the bridge one too thin sounding and a bit shrilly

 

[Masta' C]

Still loving this guitar, but the tuning stability from the factory was downright miserable. It was easy to see why:

PRS apparently upgraded the nut material a couple years back, but they sure didn't show their techs how to cut a nut properly!

Simple fix...a 2-pack of PRS USA "Core" series nuts for $20. Huge difference in finish and quality. Simply sanded the bottom until I had the action I wanted and glued in place. Perfect fit, smoother corners, great factory slots...MUCH better in every regard!

 

[Masta' C]

Is it equipped with 85/15s pickups? What do you think about the bridge pickup?

Yes, 85/15 "S" pickups. I just added chrome covers to the pickups, put on larger strings (.10-.46), a new nut, locking tuners, and did a general setup on it to lower the action. I'll let you know shortly what I think of it now

 

[Masta' C]

By the way, these are the pickups. Looks like PRS recently stopped using G&B for the "S" model pickups based on this and other recent pics I've seen online. These are now coming out of the same factory that makes many of the newer Ibanez pickups, pickups for Sterling by MusicMan, G&L Tribute series, etc.

 

[Masta' C]

And this is the bridge found on the SE, S2 and CE models. The cast saddles leave a bit to be desired from a fit/finish standpoint, but they seem to sound and work fine:

 

[Leon Of Late]

Really nice looking guitar, aside from the nut. Love the color and everything. I personally love the cream rings, but I will be in the minority there I know. Nice acquisition.

 

[Masta' C]

Here she is with the updated hardware. Definitely a little more modern/contemporary, but a part of me sort of misses the contrast of the Cream rings and zebra pickups! Fortunately, it's an easy swap back if I change my mind.

Thoughts???

 

[Mincer]

^I like this one much better, actually.

 

[beaubrummels]

A ha! So someone found a way to do both furniture and hot rod finishes in the same guitar! Well played, sir.

Are the pickups good, bad, mediocre, or what's the verdict? Are the baseplates brass?