Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

[SJ318]

Hi,
Well, one of my prized guitars broke (long story) and I found the Zach Meyer Semi-Hollow body for $580.00, normally around $689.00 or so, a store demo, with a dent
that is almost unseeable. The top flame maple is a beautiful: almost violin finish, kind of honey-tea burst, just great. 6 lbs. 10 ounces, good for my back.
All the research I did had nothing but praise for PRS, from cheap to the most expensive, all the reviews are very good, not one negative. So, my Question ( I have already bought it-be here in a week) is about the pickups. They are SE 245's. Are they thought of as bad, OK,, good, or great. I have no idea. I suppose I could change them out, but for playing around my condo, are they nice and clean at low volume? My interest is mainly the bridge p'up.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I assume I can swap them for one of my Seth Lovers if needed. Thanks for any input.
Steve Buffington

 

[Mincer]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

Dunno. But live with them for a few weeks before you decide on if/when the pickups need changing. Don't set your mind on a particular pickup to change to until you are really familiar with the guitar...it may have some EQ issues you have to solve that your 'go to' pickups might not be able to.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

I always thought PRS was the only company that was really good at making their own pickups in-house. I've never tried that particular set before, but I had the other SE semi-hollow PRS makes, and it had a pretty nice bridge pickup. I can't speak for the neck because it was switched with a Screamin Demon, but the bridge I never felt the need to change. I did change it eventually, just because the zebra SD neck, nickel covered bridge was bothering me, but that wasn't for tonal reasons.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

Just a small question about these single cut PRS semi hollows...has anyone compared them to a 335? Or are they just more like an airy LP?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

Whatever stock PU's come with that SE may be decent, and may be above-average in that guitar's price range, but are unlikely to be on a par with Duncans.

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

Just a small question about these single cut PRS semi hollows...has anyone compared them to a 335? Or are they just more like an airy LP?

I would say like a more airy Les Paul tone.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

Thanks, guys,
If it is solid on the knob side, it would most certainly be an "airy Les Paul" if hollow on both sides with only one F hole,
it would be like a 335. It is already paid for, ships tomorrow I hope, and goes to my sister in Seattle (long story) then get it on Tuesday of next week. I will let you know.
Thanks again,
Steve Buffington

 

[jalguitarman]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

Thanks, guys,
If it is solid on the knob side, it would most certainly be an "airy Les Paul" if hollow on both sides with only one F hole,
it would be like a 335. It is already paid for, ships tomorrow I hope, and goes to my sister in Seattle (long story) then get it on Tuesday of next week. I will let you know.
Thanks again,
Steve Buffington

For what it's worth I really like mine. The stock pickups aren't bad. I am likely going to change them out but they aren't a bad starting point.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

I saw a guy on YouTube - a self proclaimed know it all,
He gave everything a bad warning, won't stay in tune, weak p'ups, bad tuners, he played it and demonstrated.
He had a follow up and took it all back and played it with a heavier set of strings, from a 8 or 9 to a 10 set, and all the issues went away, it stayed in tune, tuners worked fine, pickups sounded great, said he was wrong and he now proclaimed it "Awesome" or some such word. I had to agree.
My set up is far more clean sounding than his, so unless going on stage should be great aroun the house. I'd try it out loud before going on stage, and if funky go for a Seth w/RCA4, or UOA5. Hope it can swap out easy!! If needed.
Steve Buffington

 

[jeremy]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

any one that goes from "everything sucks" to awesome from changing from 9's to 10's gets written off as someone who doesnt know what they are talking about in my book. looking forward to hearing what you think of the guitar

 

[Discharged]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

any one that goes from "everything sucks" to awesome from changing from 9's to 10's gets written off as someone who doesnt know what they are talking about in my book.

+1.

/Peter

 

[SJ318]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

jeremy and Peter -
I agree completely.
Steve Buffington

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

I put a set of Custom 5/59 pickups in my Zach Myers and love it.

 

[SJ318]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

T-Bone-BBQ,
I read that the SE Zach Meyer has 24.5 scale length (newer models) if yours is a 24.5 does it feel like a Gibson?
I called PRS and confirmed this, although there was a lengthy conversation over this on the Duncan forum - an older post, I don't remember the year.
Steve Buffington

 

[Mincer]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

That is a really pretty guitar. I have no idea why they had to wait for a guy to specify that as a signature model- they should have come up with it on their own. Really cool!

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Zach Meyer Semi -Hollow pickups SE 245

T-Bone-BBQ,
I read that the SE Zach Meyer has 24.5 scale length (newer models) if yours is a 24.5 does it feel like a Gibson?
I called PRS and confirmed this, although there was a lengthy conversation over this on the Duncan forum - an older post, I don't remember the year.
Steve Buffington

It feels similar to a Gibson, but not exactly the same. This guitar has a thicker neck profile than any of the other PRS SE guitars. It does have the 24.5" scale.