SE Mods

[slev]

What have you guys done to your favorite SE? I've got Dragon IIs in my SE Custom Semi-hollow that may be coming out for some Starla pickups, not sure yet. Anyone upgraded their tuners? What type?

[Danerada]

I have a PRS US nut on my PRS SE EG as well as Starla pups in her. I have Phase II locking tuners on it as well.

I have put a Tusq nut on my BMSE an will be experimenting with RP pups, then a 5909 in the bridge...fun fun fun.

[Will Chen]

Still experimenting with pups, but I've got the neck pretty much nailed down to a custom wind I had done for me. I pulled the tone pot and substituted in a 9-Way rotary switch for the tone control with a full bypass option. Its been kinda cool, but I find myself really only using 3 positions so will probably swap it out at some point. really want to get my hands on an SE One and mod it into an SE Three! You can read about the tone control mod here: http://forum.frugalguitarist.com/yaf_po ... hread.aspx (http://forum.frugalguitarist.com/yaf_postst914_Tone-control-alternative--PRS-SE-Mod-Thread.aspx)

[slev]

[quote="Danerada"]I have a PRS US nut on my PRS SE EG as well as Starla pups in her. I have Phase II locking tuners on it as well.

How do you like the Starla pups? How do they compare to Dragon IIs?

[fatb0y]

Swapped out the pickups for TV Jones Classics and changed out the pots, cap and wiring with a RS Kit in my Bigsby equipped Silver Sparkle Semi Hollow SE.

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_Mod.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_TRC.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Back.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Outside.jpg

[dmatthews]

Super turbo SE ONE!
:o
:ugeek:

[Dan-d-1985]

Hans, that looks cool as hell!

Don't suppose you could point out what some of the changes were such as what the new bridge is?

[slev]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_Mod.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_TRC.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Back.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Outside.jpg

Now that's an SE Mod! Love the neck and did you move the tone and volume pots?

[Danerada]

I have a PRS US nut on my PRS SE EG as well as Starla pups in her. I have Phase II locking tuners on it as well.

How do you like the Starla pups? How do they compare to Dragon IIs?

they are completely different animals than Dragon II's. I think they are some of the best pups PRS makes. They do sweet cleans, chime, and serious rock. I absolutely love these pickups....

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

Now that's an SE Mod! Love the neck and did you move the tone and volume pots?I did. In fact if you look at both pics of the top you'll notice that I moved them twice. In the first iteration, the two pots were too close to one another.

The pickup is the legendary (at least in my head) PRS Deep Dish 2.

The bridge is a 2Tek. Zilmo LOVES to build gold 2Teks; just ask him. ;) A link to more 2Tek info can be found on VR. Here's a link:

http://www.vintagerocker.com/forum/foru ... Tek-Bridge (http://www.vintagerocker.com/forum/forumdisplay.html?31-2Tek-Bridge)

[MichaelSaulnier]

Of the 4 PRS SE guitars in my hands... two have mods... both new pups.

On the Tremonti SE I have a set of McCarty pups. This was a huge change in this guitar... it's now much more of a blues/rock machine rather than a rock machine. That's good for the material I'm doing now. The clean neck pup is so sweet, the other members of my jazz combo complain when I don't bring it... even over my DGT.

I also picked up a used SE Custom Semi-hollow soapbar that was modified by the previous owner. He put in a set of Fralin noiseless P-90 pups and that guitar really SINGS! It's become another favorite and competes for playing time with my US PRS and other guitars.

I have two "un-modded" PRS SE's... a singlecut trem, and a singlecut soapbar. Neither one is really crying out for a mod... both are very fun as is... and still great sounding.

M

[John Beef]

If I'm buying a less expensive guitar like a PRS SE I'm basically thinking about the mods I'm going to do to it the moment I pay for it.

But I have to say this, my 03 Santana SE, I returned to stock in order to sell it to fund another purchase. Nobody bought it. I'm really happy nobody bought it, because factory stock, with the exception of a replacement volume pot, it's just a great guitar all around. It plays amazingly. If you blindfolded me and put the neck of my favorite guitar ever, my 05 Custom 22 in my left hand, then put this Santana SE in my left hand, and asked me based on feel which was which, I honestly couldn't tell you. The neck carves and low action are virtually identical. The stock pickups are clear and have the right amount of output for my tastes. It's super light weight and I like the neck binding and pickguard.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/dmills122/Schroeder%20Adjustable%20Stoptail%20bridge/IMG_2743.jpg
SE 245:
US PRS nut
Schaller locking tuners
DiMarzio 36th Anny pups
Schroeder Adjustable Stoptail - TonePros metric locking studs
Switchcratf jack and 3-way switch
10% CTS pots and PIO caps
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/dmills122/IMG_2528.jpg
SE Standard:
bone nut
Schaller locking tuners
Bare Knuckle matched set "The Mule"
Tremel-no
Switchcraft jack and 3-way switch
RS Guitar Works Super pots PIO cap (two volume one master tone)
two mini toggles on/on/on for series-humbucker/split-coil/parallel-humbucker

[slev]

Looks like a lot of you replaced the nut. I've been relatively happy with the stock nut on the SEs that I've owned. What was the the driver for changing the nut?

Also, have a chance to put McCarty's in my Semi-hollow. Any thoughts on the potential tone that would give me?

[gag halfrunt]

Locking tuners, petrified woolly mammoth tusk nut, TRC.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7206/6811129496_4322493ae2_b.jpg

[gag halfrunt]

Clear/Black lampshades, Anderson H1/H3 pickups, coil taps.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7184/6811128738_6694396523_b.jpg

[Hopeful Sinner]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/40066608/a_n_a.jpg

2011 Santana SE
PRS McCarty P'ups
PRS McCarty Switching Upgrade
Amber Lampshade Knobs
PRS U.S. Nut
Brazzy TRC
Phase II Tuners

[MykeWright]

As my buddy Evil Mike is not a member over here yet, I'll post this one that I whacked for him.

Before:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/mykewright/Guitars/WULUK2/P1080045.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/mykewright/Guitars/WULUK2/P1080046.jpg

After:

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/mykewright/Guitars/WULUK2/P1080170.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/mykewright/Guitars/WULUK2/P1080167.jpg

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f256/mykewright/Guitars/WULUK2/P1080165.jpg

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

Nicely done, Mike!

[Danerada]

Very cool mod indeed.....

[MykeWright]

Thanks guys. My Tremonti SE is awaiting the same treatment, and possibly a new set of pickups 8-)

[ReigningGlory]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Outside.jpg
That is BAD to the BONE!!!

[John Beef]

My modded SE Baritone.

Bridge pickup: PRS HFS with an Alnico 5 magnet.
Neck pickup: Fralin, measures roughly 8K.
Volume and tone pots are CTS
Switch is a superswitch, 5 way, HFS splits on the 2 position, Fralin splits on the 4, both pickups full on in parallel on the 3 (pretty standard switching for this setup).
Knobs are Fender black witch hats, look way better than the small chrome dome knobs IMHO.
Tuners are Planet Waves locking auto trim.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/CurrentGuitars/IMG_3118.jpg

And of course, my favorite mod to this instrument. Can you spot it?
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/CurrentGuitars/IMG_3121.jpg

[olioli]

Where's Art when you need him?

I just had the nut done on mine, the rest is all gravy as the Catanese comes with EMGs & Tonepros stoptail.

[Shawn@PRS]

Here is my SE mod. Actually it was my son's 5th birthday present, so technically it doesn't belong to me. Paul Miles, Director of Private Stock and bad mofo with a paint gun, did all the work!

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f1-1.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f2-1.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f3.jpg

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

Always a pleasure to see that one, Shawn! Isn't that genuine Ferrari paint?

[Danerada]

I just did a volume mod on my Bernie SE. It really made the neck volume clear and full all the way through the volume sweep...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uDnhMM7blno/T5w7G_EY6JI/AAAAAAAAEDg/VX5F_izklR0/s912/IMG_00022.jpg

[Mikegarveyblues]

Replaced the nut on mine to a Tusq one. Had to be done!

Tuners and bridge work perfectly well... Stay in tune and well intonated so no need to change them.

Will probably change the pups to Seymour Duncan 59's... Nickel covered. The zebra look is nice on this guitar but i've always preffered covered pups.

[ArtG]

Super turbo SE ONE!
:o
:ugeek:
Yup!
Cool mods Hans!

[Zilla]

I have two SE's (so far)

SE 245 is completely stock. The only thing that i'm tempted to do is swap the pickups (or install covers on the stock ones) but I love how it sounds now that I don't want to mess with it.

SE Torero in dark cherry. I added a Tremel-no to it to tame the floyd when changing tunings. Absolutely love it. The only thing that would make this better is if it came with the split-able EMG pups. i really miss the coil tapped sound on this pup.

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

Super turbo SE ONE!
:o
:ugeek:
Yup!
Cool mods Hans!Thanks, Art! I'd offer to send it your way to check out but not sure I'd send any guitar across borders right now.

[Zilmo]

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_Mod.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_TRC.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Back.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Outside.jpg


I absolutely LOVE that guitar!

[ArtG]

Here is my SE mod. Actually it was my son's 5th birthday present, so technically it doesn't belong to me. Paul Miles, Director of Private Stock and bad mofo with a paint gun, did all the work!

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f2-1.jpg


Crazy cool paint job on this one! 8-)

[Dan-d-1985]

I think Art needs to chime in here with his Tremonti SE re-build.... :P

[revelation22_5]

SE SingleCut
Mods are USA Tremonti Pickups, Tusq nut, Gotoh locking tuners.

[ArtG]

Super turbo SE ONE!
:o
:ugeek:
Yup!
Cool mods Hans!Thanks, Art! I'd offer to send it your way to check out but not sure I'd send any guitar across borders right now.
Perhaps one day we'll have a chance to try our SEs ;) :D

[ArtG]

Ok guys.
Here's my prank.
2007 Tremonti SE.

Before
http://i577.photobucket.com/albums/ss219/artgasik/TremontiSEblack.jpg

After
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3518451739_29b5a5d3bd_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3519256090_7160025b15_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3518451399_3f3c08aba4.jpg

Specs:
Mahogany body with curly maple top (Tremonti SE carve) with natural curly maple binding.
IRW headstock veneer.
High gloss nitro finish on body.
Satin finish on the neck (neck is mahogany but stained to match fingerboard & headstock color).
ME headstock inlay, bird inlays & side dots hand made of abalam & paua abalone.
PS eagle TRC (I'm not sure if it fits here)
PRS RP pickups with coil tapping (LP controls layout).
Hardware (kind of) mixed, mostly gold.
Amber speed knobs.
PRS phase II tuners with ebony pegheads.
Tone Pros adjustable stoptail with locking studs
Tusq nut.
Frets are original, carefully removed from old and re-set to the new fretboard.
Stringed with 10's.

[ArtG]

Some more pics

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3518454005_bb7c21bd75.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/3519263450_6dc9d990e5.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3519262916_1cdc180bbe.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3649/3519262346_2c96c92810.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3518451993_48e192da51.jpg

[ArtG]

In the making

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3650/3518446623_0661596d57.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3518447091_0ee8bfa4e4.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3570/3518447981_c604ddfbe4.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3519258818_f24d4cb894.jpg

[ArtG]

...and even more

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3518450267_3a5117cf5a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/3518450663_b8af6dd78a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3519260940_4e6c9c44d9.jpg


This project took me 2 years...

[Zilla]

:shock:

[gag halfrunt]

...and even more

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3518450267_3a5117cf5a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/3518450663_b8af6dd78a.jpg

This project took me 2 years...
Wow, very nice work.

Did you cut the inlays yourself?

[slev]

Wish I had the patience, and the skill, for a project like that. Beautiful job.

[Hopeful Sinner]

That Tremonti SE is a thing of beauty! Almost a PS SE...

[ArtG]

Did you cut the inlays yourself?

Yes sir :D

[John Beef]

Ok guys.
Here's my prank.
2007 Tremonti SE.

Specs:
Mahogany body with curly maple top (Tremonti SE carve) with natural curly maple binding.
IRW headstock veneer.
High gloss nitro finish on body.
Satin finish on the neck (neck is mahogany but stained to match fingerboard & headstock color).
ME headstock inlay, bird inlays & side dots hand made of abalam & paua abalone.
PS eagle TRC (I'm not sure if it fits here)
PRS RP pickups with coil tapping (LP controls layout).
Hardware (kind of) mixed, mostly gold.
Amber speed knobs.
PRS phase II tuners with ebony pegheads.
Tone Pros adjustable stoptail with locking studs
Tusq nut.
Frets are original, carefully removed from old and re-set to the new fretboard.
Stringed with 10's.
I'm sorry, am I understanding this correctly? You took an SE, removed the fingerboard and installed a new one, and planed down the body and re-topped it?

EDIT: Oh, wait. I just saw your signature: (Modded beyond the point of sanity) :lol:

[andy474x]

I have a SE CU22 with a Dimarzio Air Norton in the bridge, and push/pull pots on the volume and tone to split each humbucker independently. Right is a 25th Anniversary SE CU24 with the stock pickups, same coil split setup, Grover locking tuners. Would love to find a set of 57/08's for the CU22, but the $500 price tag for a pair on ebay is a bit steep for me. Thinking of switching the tone on the 24 over to a 250K from 500K, did the same on my HSS strat and it really smoothed out the tone.

PS - can someone tell me how to post images on here? Just switched over to this forum and all of my attempts to link from a flickr account have been in vain!

[John Beef]

I have a SE CU22 with a Dimarzio Air Norton in the bridge, and push/pull pots on the volume and tone to split each humbucker independently. Right is a 25th Anniversary SE CU24 with the stock pickups, same coil split setup, Grover locking tuners. Would love to find a set of 57/08's for the CU22, but the $500 price tag for a pair on ebay is a bit steep for me. Thinking of switching the tone on the 24 over to a 250K from 500K, did the same on my HSS strat and it really smoothed out the tone.

PS - can someone tell me how to post images on here? Just switched over to this forum and all of my attempts to link from a flickr account have been in vain!
I think I saw some 5708s on Vintage Rocker for way less than $500. This whole setup with the new forum, I don't know what's appropriate as far as linking to that sort of thing.

Air Norton, eh? How is the output on that one, sort of low-ish? I've been thinking about picking up an Air Zone for my SE Santana, or maybe just a regular Norton.

[andy474x]

I think the Air Norton is just a tiny bit lower in output than the stock pickup was. Not much. Definitely hotter than a vintage style hb, but overall a decent choice, as I didn't really want to change the output much, just get a little different tone. It was kinda hard to guesstimate what would have a matching output at the time. If you wanted to stay the same or go up a little bit the Norton or Air Zone would probably be great choices!

[Mikegarveyblues]

I have a SE CU22 with a Dimarzio Air Norton in the bridge, and push/pull pots on the volume and tone to split each humbucker independently. Right is a 25th Anniversary SE CU24 with the stock pickups, same coil split setup, Grover locking tuners. Would love to find a set of 57/08's for the CU22, but the $500 price tag for a pair on ebay is a bit steep for me. Thinking of switching the tone on the 24 over to a 250K from 500K, did the same on my HSS strat and it really smoothed out the tone.

PS - can someone tell me how to post images on here? Just switched over to this forum and all of my attempts to link from a flickr account have been in vain!

Assuming you use IE, right click on your Flickr image (after choosing the size), click 'properties' and copy the 'address'. Paste this between the Img tags. Sliughtly different in Firefox but easy enough to figure out. Not sure about other browsers and Flickr.

It's looking like i'm going to be putting a cover on the neck pup of my Bernie and swapping out the bridge. Not entirely sure what pup... Quite like the sound of the Seymour Duncan Sh-16 59/Custom Hybrid, but we'll see...

[The Ratchet]

Here is my SE mod. Actually it was my son's 5th birthday present, so technically it doesn't belong to me. Paul Miles, Director of Private Stock and bad mofo with a paint gun, did all the work!

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f1-1.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f2-1.jpg


That is BAD-ASS!! And especially attention to detail, like the carbon fiber-esque finish on the pickups :)

[andy474x]

I have a SE CU22 with a Dimarzio Air Norton in the bridge, and push/pull pots on the volume and tone to split each humbucker independently. Right is a 25th Anniversary SE CU24 with the stock pickups, same coil split setup, Grover locking tuners. Would love to find a set of 57/08's for the CU22, but the $500 price tag for a pair on ebay is a bit steep for me. Thinking of switching the tone on the 24 over to a 250K from 500K, did the same on my HSS strat and it really smoothed out the tone.

PS - can someone tell me how to post images on here? Just switched over to this forum and all of my attempts to link from a flickr account have been in vain!

Assuming you use IE, right click on your Flickr image (after choosing the size), click 'properties' and copy the 'address'. Paste this between the Img tags. Sliughtly different in Firefox but easy enough to figure out. Not sure about other browsers and Flickr.

It's looking like i'm going to be putting a cover on the neck pup of my Bernie and swapping out the bridge. Not entirely sure what pup... Quite like the sound of the Seymour Duncan Sh-16 59/Custom Hybrid, but we'll see...

Thanks Mike!

[Shawn@PRS]

[quote="Shawn@PRS":tzkyrzf1]Here is my SE mod. Actually it was my son's 5th birthday present, so technically it doesn't belong to me. Paul Miles, Director of Private Stock and bad mofo with a paint gun, did all the work!

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f1-1.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i68/gitfukintar/f2-1.jpg


That is BAD-ASS!! And especially attention to detail, like the carbon fiber-esque finish on the pickups :)[/quote:tzkyrzf1]


Thanks man, this one is a keeper!

[John Beef]

...and even more

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3518450267_3a5117cf5a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/3518450663_b8af6dd78a.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3519260940_4e6c9c44d9.jpg


This project took me 2 years...
Did you finish this one?

[ArtG]

Sure.
There are more pics of finished gtr earlier in this thread.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3312/3518451739_29b5a5d3bd_o.jpg

[Mikegarveyblues]

Finally got round to replacing the pickups in the Bernie...

I've said before on this and other forums and my demo vid that I thought the SE 245 pickups where good and I still stand by that. The neck pup is fantastic but my feeling was the bridge pup just lacked something.

My initial thoughts where to replace the bridge pup and put a cover on the neck but I was concerned that may not work out too well. In the end I went for a set of Bare Knuckle Mules. Quite expensive but worth every penny IMHO. The bridge now has the character I was after and balances beautifully with the neck pup. Would loved to have tried some 59/09's but... Maybe one day! ;)

I'll get round to doing a vid so you cn hear it but you'll just have to trust me when I say the guitar sounds incredible!!!

I'm going to try and pick up an older SE singlecut later in the year and fit the 245 pups to that. They're too good just to leave in a cupboard.

Here's the babe!!!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7316837624_8cb37e3dd8_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7242/7316845778_7ab2ed33d7_b.jpg

And a couple more...

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/7316851298_084ff49cda_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7085/7316856474_5dbc668420_b.jpg

The nut was replaced a few months ago with a Tusq nut.

Replaced the cap with an Orange Drop .022k but have kept the Alpha pots which work perfectly well.

If you're intrested... The Se 245 pups where 8.4k Neck 11k Bridge. The spacing was 50mm Neck and 52mm Bridge but I just went with 50mm Neck and Bridge for the new pups. Lines up just fine.

[John Beef]

Finally got round to replacing the pickups in the Bernie...

I've said before on this and other forums and my demo vid that I thought the SE 245 pickups where good and I still stand by that. The neck pup is fantastic but my feeling was the bridge pup just lacked something.
If you're intrested... The Se 245 pups where 8.4k Neck 11k Bridge. The spacing was 50mm Neck and 52mm Bridge but I just went with 50mm Neck and Bridge for the new pups. Lines up just fine.
Beautiful! The covered pickups add soooo much.

I replaced the magnet in my SE bridge pickup with unoriented Alnico 5, and it made a difference. A $3 and about 15-minute investment got rid of the somewhat congested nasal midrange, and opened up the top end a bit, and added some clarity. Time will tell, but it sounds really good to my ears.

I recently purchased some nickel covers for a set of SE pickups I have kicking around, and the only 52mm nickel cover I could find was in Gibson-branded packaging. There are plenty of chrome covers out there in 52mm but not nickel. 53mm, which I think is the standard for F spaced, seem to be way easier to find.

[Nahguavkire]

Hey folks, new here...

I've got a Santana SE1 in tobacco sunburst, nothing too crazy on mods, just a nickel cover on the neck pickup and a headstock shave and Kluson locking tuners. Sounds epic as is otherwise.

Also got a Tremonti SE a couple of years ago and while it feels awesome it has the weakest sound and depth I've ever experienced in a guitar so I swapped the pickups for a SD '59 neck and a SD dimebucker bridge... Still didn't do it for me so I decided to make some more changes... Taking out the PRS stoptail bridge and anchors, filling holes and adding a tunomatic bridge and a Bigsby, I'm hoping all that extra metal will increase the sustain, then I'm adding a set of GFS Mean 90 P90 pickups, I was planning to get some Mullinax P90s but I'm getting the GFS so cheap I figure they're worth a shot! Shaved headstock and Kluson locking tuners and it should be set! I'll post some pictures up soon as possible for you guys!

[John Beef]

My $11 ebay SE pickup came in Saturday so I brought my soldering iron into work for some lunchtime pickup modifications. Unfortunately I forgot my decent camera and my multimeter... d'oh. Not to mention I'm sick with acute bronchitis and on meds and wondering why the hell I'm at work int he 1st place.


Here's the pickup, plus the 2nd unoriented Alnico 5 magnet I got a while back as part of the 2 magnet set from ebay ($6 total).


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_124634.jpg


Open it up, swap the magnet... easy, done.


There's a black wire running to one coil, a white wire running to other other, and a red wire connecting the two. I cut the red wire and stripped the ends.


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_125456.jpg


Then I took another wire (white wire 2) (yes I should have used a different color like green or something), stripped the ends of white wire 2, and solder the 3 together. This is tough because there's hardly any slack on the red wires. Kinda ugly but it should work.


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_132226.jpg?t=1340656427


Then taped it off, gently stuffed it in the crevice between the pickup coils, and fed the other end of white wire 2 through the hole in the baseplate.


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_132754.jpg


Et Voila! coil split wire for a previously unsplittable pickup. If only I had my multimeter with me I could make sure all the connections are solid and working. I hope to make it past a radio shack for a 2.2K resistor to wire in the circuit so the coil isn't canceled out entirely (like PRS is doing now (http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/2012/dgt_2012.pdf) on some guitars)

[John Beef]

The pickup checks out good with the multimeter. 10.35K overall, 5.25 on the screw coil and 5.10 on the slug coil. Now... gotta find the time to install it.

[Chris of Arabia]

My SE Korina now sports a Seymour Duncan 'Whole Lotta Humbucker' set, along with a push-push pot under the tone pot to split the HB's, and also has an orange drop in there too.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6629980263_b7b76c9a05_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris-of-arabia/6629980263/)

[MisterE]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w24/edisal/P2020322.jpg

Installed Grover mini rotomatic locking tuners, replaced pickups with Seymour Duncan JB/Jazz set and installed the pickups in the SD triple shot mounting rings.

[MisterE]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/dmills122/Schroeder%20Adjustable%20Stoptail%20bridge/IMG_2743.jpg
SE 245:
US PRS nut
Schaller locking tuners
DiMarzio 36th Anny pups
Schroeder Adjustable Stoptail - TonePros metric locking studs
Switchcratf jack and 3-way switch
10% CTS pots and PIO caps
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/dmills122/IMG_2528.jpg
SE Standard:
bone nut
Schaller locking tuners
Bare Knuckle matched set "The Mule"
Tremel-no
Switchcraft jack and 3-way switch
RS Guitar Works Super pots PIO cap (two volume one master tone)
two mini toggles on/on/on for series-humbucker/split-coil/parallel-humbucker

A few months ago I was thinking of installing the Schroeder bridge in my SE SC but I read somewhere that you might need to buy new mounting studs so I decided against it. Did you get the tonepro's because of this or could you use the existing mounts.

Your guitars look sharp BTW.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

A few months ago I was thinking of installing the Schroeder bridge in my SE SC but I read somewhere that you might need to buy new mounting studs so I decided against it. Did you get the tonepro's because of this or could you use the existing mounts.

Your guitars look sharp BTW.
The Schroeder bridge should work fine with the stock studs. I use the Tone Pros locking studs to get rid of any forward tilt on the wraparound bridge, and once you get everything adjusted properly your bridge is locked into place you can take all of the strings off and the bridge won't fall off and the studs won't get bumped or turned.

[Mikegarveyblues]

I've got the Tonepros locking studs on my Bernie. No more forward tilt (And it does seem to give a little more sustain) but there's side to side play (Until locked down with string tension) as the Tonepros post is not as wide as on the SE studs. Does the Schroeder bridge eliminate that? If so, it may be next on my list of upgrades.

[swede71]

Mikegarveyblues and Chris of Arabia,i love the looks of your guitars.Very cool!

[CharlieFoxtrot]

I've got the Tonepros locking studs on my Bernie. No more forward tilt (And it does seem to give a little more sustain) but there's side to side play (Until locked down with string tension) as the Tonepros post is not as wide as on the SE studs. Does the Schroeder bridge eliminate that? If so, it may be next on my list of upgrades.

With the metric Tone Pros studs there is a little side to side play on the posts (non threaded side) with the Schroeder bridge as well.

[Mikegarveyblues]

Ah well... Not a biggie once it's al locked down. Do quite like the look of the Schroeder bridge though. Did you have to file the slots to match the PRS radius?

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Ah well... Not a biggie once it's al locked down. Do quite like the look of the Schroeder bridge though. Did you have to file the slots to match the PRS radius?
The default radius on the Schroeder bridge is 11" and it comes without notches. They will notch it for you to the correct radius for a 5$ fee or you can do it yourself if you are so inclined. For me it was worth the extra 5$ to have them do it. :cool:

[MisterE]

The default radius on the Schroeder bridge is 11" and it comes without notches. They will notch it for you to the correct radius for a 5$ fee or you can do it yourself if you are so inclined. For me it was worth the extra 5$ to have them do it. :cool:
Thanks for the reply. Right now I'm saving for a tube amp but I really like the Schroeder bridge. Aesthetically though on mine it could make my guitar look like an Italian watercraft.

[siore]

My $11 ebay SE pickup came in Saturday so I brought my soldering iron into work for some lunchtime pickup modifications. Unfortunately I forgot my decent camera and my multimeter... d'oh. Not to mention I'm sick with acute bronchitis and on meds and wondering why the hell I'm at work int he 1st place.


Here's the pickup, plus the 2nd unoriented Alnico 5 magnet I got a while back as part of the 2 magnet set from ebay ($6 total).


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_124634.jpg


Open it up, swap the magnet... easy, done.


There's a black wire running to one coil, a white wire running to other other, and a red wire connecting the two. I cut the red wire and stripped the ends.


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_125456.jpg


Then I took another wire (white wire 2) (yes I should have used a different color like green or something), stripped the ends of white wire 2, and solder the 3 together. This is tough because there's hardly any slack on the red wires. Kinda ugly but it should work.


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_132226.jpg?t=1340656427


Then taped it off, gently stuffed it in the crevice between the pickup coils, and fed the other end of white wire 2 through the hole in the baseplate.


http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/IMG_20120625_132754.jpg


Et Voila! coil split wire for a previously unsplittable pickup. If only I had my multimeter with me I could make sure all the connections are solid and working. I hope to make it past a radio shack for a 2.2K resistor to wire in the circuit so the coil isn't canceled out entirely (like PRS is doing now (http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/2012/dgt_2012.pdf) on some guitars)

This is hella cool! Been thinking about doing this to my stock pickups, which I'm really fond of. I've read about shunting through a resistor instead of grounding out 1/2 of the humbucker; is this the coil split arrangement of the Sig Ltd's? The owners don't seem to complain about any volume loss going to split mode.

[andy474x]

This is hella cool! Been thinking about doing this to my stock pickups, which I'm really fond of. I've read about shunting through a resistor instead of grounding out 1/2 of the humbucker; is this the coil split arrangement of the Sig Ltd's? The owners don't seem to complain about any volume loss going to split mode.

I think the sig ltd's actually split the pickup, and then add additional windings to the active side. But I could be wrong, and the resistor thing is a cool idea!

[John Beef]

I don't know about resistors inside the pickup itself, but I did wire this up similarly to the 2012 DGT (http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/2012/dgt_2012.pdf) where there's a resistor between the white split wire and the ground. This way the 2nd coil isn't turned off completely. I dig it, it sounds really good. Since this was in my Baritone with a 5 way blade switch, this is how I wired it up:

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/GBPickupMods/ResistorWiring.jpg

[andy474x]

Thanks for posting that John, thinking about grabbing another SE and doing something funky with it, that sounds like a good mod!

[Mikegarveyblues]

Final mod pics..

BKP The Mule Neck pup
Suhr Doug Aldrich Bridge pup
BKP Custom Audio Taper CTS pots (550k)
New Amber Knobs
Tonepros Locking Studs
Graphtec Tusq Nut
Sprague Orange Drop Cap

Stock:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7153/6665568745_4bfe91f03a_b.jpg
Mules:
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7093/7316837624_8cb37e3dd8_b.jpg
Mules + Aldrich and the other mods. Hopefully finished!!!
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8423/7770885574_f04980a1d4_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8424/7770888422_5e8a4ff402_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7256/7770881768_29d2246b85_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8438/7770892502_d207c0f044_b.jpg

[garrett]

On my SE Soapbar II, I've done...

Grover mini locking tuners
Bone nut
CTS pots
Switchcraft jack
Tonepros studs
Schaller straplocks
Pickup swaps: first to Vintage Vibe P-90's, then to DiMarzio VP-90/DLX-90, now seriously considering swapping to mini hums

I also bought a USA bridge for it years ago, but probably won't ever bother to put it on.

[Mikegarveyblues]

On my SE Soapbar II, I've done...

Grover mini locking tuners
Bone nut
CTS pots
Switchcraft jack
Tonepros studs
Schaller straplocks
Pickup swaps: first to Vintage Vibe P-90's, then to DiMarzio VP-90/DLX-90, now seriously considering swapping to mini hums

I also bought a USA bridge for it years ago, but probably won't ever bother to put it on.

Nice! I had a Soapbar II a few years ago. Real nice guitar and another one of those "Why did I sell that?!"

What do you think of the Tonepros locking studs? I've got them but honestly, had I been able to try them first I would have stuck with the stock ones.

[garrett]

Nice! I had a Soapbar II a few years ago. Real nice guitar and another one of those "Why did I sell that?!"

What do you think of the Tonepros locking studs? I've got them but honestly, had I been able to try them first I would have stuck with the stock ones.

I was really excited when they came out with the SE Soapbar II. It's just a stripped down, basic, rockin' machine!

The Tonepros seem to make the guitar acoustically louder and more lively. I don't know that it really translates into any advantage through the amp, but at least the setup won't drift and the bridge won't fall off. ;) Only thing I don't like is the set I have (several years old now) has a very bright chrome finish, so it doesn't match the bridge. But that's nit-picking a little. One of many things PRS got right with the SE series is the soft, nickel-like look of the plating.

I think I could've done without the Tonepros and the bone nut. Those SE nuts are just a hard plastic, unlike the soft "unobtainum" USA nuts. Don't feel like I got much out of that change.

Not going to bother with the bridge swap because the SE and USA bridges look very similar. to the point where I could almost forget which is which. The weights are identical, which leads me to think they're made of similar material and would sound the same.

[SE Playa 13]

I just added an EMG Afterburner to my SE Torero and it has made a big difference. It was really easy to install.

For my SE Custom 24 I am going to swap out the pick ups and replace them with Seymour Duncan Hot Rodded Set (JB & Jazz).

I already swapped out the pickups on my SE 245 with Seymour Duncan Distortions and it sounds great. For both the SE Custom 24 and the SE 245, I am also adding a Graphtech Black Tusq XL Nut and Grover 406c Rotomatics locking tuners.

For the SE Custom 24 and the Torero, I am thinking about adding a Super Vee Mag-lok to both of them, especially since the price on those is a lot less expensive now.

[overdriver]

Wow lots of nice Se guitars and mods I picked up a SE EG thats a little road worn but plays good etc/ i am going to swap out the pups and stuff soon as I figure what to use . I will start with the SC 's I have a set of Fender Robert Cray pups so I may put the neck and middle in. Wondering if i shoulod go with 250K instead of the stock 500 !
It is missing a bass side stock tuner so i was womdering if any of you peoploe that changed yours out would like to sell the stock tuners.

[mad monk]

On my 1st year SE Singlecut, I put Artist Pickups and McCarty wiring in it. The tuners are just fine. I only had to widen the nut slots a little, which solved what most people think is a tuner problem. The PRS SE line is the best value line guitar.

[gjrp18]

Such a beautiful guitar..

I have a korina one, is it posibblen to install humbucker justnlike yours? Thanks!


-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©;8606']http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_Mod.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_TRC.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Back.jpg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE_One_2Tek_Outside.jpg

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

Definitely! Send it to the PRS Tech Center.

Here's a more recent photo.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE1_Starla.jpg

[prscat33511]

Hi Mike
I wanted to ask you if you replaced that tusq nut yourself?
If so was it easy and howd you do it?
If not then, what did it cost to have someone do it
Thanks

[Mikegarveyblues]

Hi bud,

I had my guitar tech do it... It cost me £35 for the nut, fitting and new strings. He had it done in a couple of hours and it's perfect with the string spacing exacly how I wanted it.

It's not too hard to replace a nut yourself considering you can get pre-slotted ones made to fit the SE's and other makes.

Personally I didn't want to take the risk of f'ing up a new guitar and I new my tech would do it perfect first time and quickly to boot! £35 is a good price for peace of mind.

I'd say if you're not comfortable doing it on your own get a reputable tech to do it. Shouldn't cost much.

Definately worth upgrading to a Tusq (Or US PRS Nut) though over the stock SE ones!

[prscat33511]

I almost ALWAYS replace a nut on anything I get
I do have a qualified luthier in Tampa that can do it for me
Thanks


Hi bud,

I had my guitar tech do it... It cost me £35 for the nut, fitting and new strings. He had it done in a couple of hours and it's perfect with the string spacing exacly how I wanted it.

It's not too hard to replace a nut yourself considering you can get pre-slotted ones made to fit the SE's and other makes.

Personally I didn't want to take the risk of f'ing up a new guitar and I new my tech would do it perfect first time and quickly to boot! £35 is a good price for peace of mind.

I'd say if you're not comfortable doing it on your own get a reputable tech to do it. Shouldn't cost much.

Definately worth upgrading to a Tusq (Or US PRS Nut) though over the stock SE ones!

[loversmoon]

when you guys replace the pickups does it need a F spaced or a Regular spaced pickup for pole pieces to fall directly under the strings.

[andy474x]

I had to get an F spaced for the bridge of my SECU22 a while back.

[prscat33511]

I'm guessing either teh nut or the fact you blacked out the name
Or the tuners?
Am I right ?
What did I win ?
:hello:

My modded SE Baritone.

Bridge pickup: PRS HFS with an Alnico 5 magnet.
Neck pickup: Fralin, measures roughly 8K.
Volume and tone pots are CTS
Switch is a superswitch, 5 way, HFS splits on the 2 position, Fralin splits on the 4, both pickups full on in parallel on the 3 (pretty standard switching for this setup).
Knobs are Fender black witch hats, look way better than the small chrome dome knobs IMHO.
Tuners are Planet Waves locking auto trim.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/CurrentGuitars/IMG_3118.jpg

And of course, my favorite mod to this instrument. Can you spot it?
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee251/johnmfer/CurrentGuitars/IMG_3121.jpg

[John Scrip]

I'm going with the piece of electrical tape. I did the same thing on the power switches on my racks.

[John Beef]

Ding ding ding! It's the electrical tape over the metal dude's name. I haven't met either guy in person, but if you watch you tube interviews of Mushok vs say Grissom, it's pretty obvious who's the nice guy and who's the total douche!

[John Scrip]

Ah - 'Splains it. I did it because I have clients in that occasionally have gear-gasms over the stuff in the racks and once someone said "Does that switch panel say American DJ?" and it really wrecked the moment... :laugh:

[prscat33511]

What did I win? LOL !!!

My Newly nutted SE custom 24 is ready for me to shred out on
and I put gold speed knobs on in place of the amber ones


Ding ding ding! It's the electrical tape over the metal dude's name. I haven't met either guy in person, but if you watch you tube interviews of Mushok vs say Grissom, it's pretty obvious who's the nice guy and who's the total douche!

[gjrp18]

-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©;30486']Definitely! Send it to the PRS Tech Center.

Here's a more recent photo.

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd272/hansomatic/Collection/SE_One/SE1_Starla.jpg

Hi,i have a korina se one, is it posible to put humbucker pickups on it? Im thinking getting a humbucker instead of p90s.

[prscat33511]

The new nut makes the guitar sing when not plugged in !

Does anyone know of a pickup for the neck pos in my Se custom 24 to make it sound more 'tubular'?

[]-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©]

Hi,i have a korina se one, is it posible to put humbucker pickups on it? Im thinking getting a humbucker instead of p90s.
Yes. It's super easy. Any competent guitar repair shop can do it but if you want to do it in style, send it in to the PRS Tech Center and get the nut and pots upgraded while it's there.

[prscat33511]

What pots are in my se custom 24
what pots would you recommend ?

[Mikegarveyblues]

Almost certainly Alpha.

I honestly wouldn't bother replacing the pots unless you:

A: Want to experiment with values
B: Have an issue with the ones installed

I changed mine to CTS Audio Taper as I didn't like the taper on one of the pots but the first set of CTS I got where junk.

In the end I ordered some Bare Knuckle CTS pots. Audio Taper 550k.

I also had to ream the holes, although it wasn't too hard.

Having said that, if you sent it to PTC as Hans suggested then it's probably worthwhile having the 'leccies and nut upgraded. Otherwise wait until you need to.

[godoy.rafa]

My mods:
DiMarzio jack, pots, pickup switch
Seymour Duncan JB & Jazz
Graphtech Black TUSQ nut and saddles (G, B and E only)
Volume where Tone was, pickup switch where Volume was, nothing where pickup switch was, no Tone

[mookyshoots]

I have one of the red SE245's and so far, I've swapped out the pickups and caps for a set of DiMarzio 36th Annivesary PAFs and Mojotone paper-in-oil caps. I still need to go back in and do a volume mod on both volume pots. I'll eventually get around to a new nut and some locking tuners.

Overall, these are great guitars.

[gjrp18]

-[ @ n $ 0 |v| a T ! ©;31616']Yes. It's super easy. Any competent guitar repair shop can do it but if you want to do it in style, send it in to the PRS Tech Center and get the nut and pots upgraded while it's there.

No need to do some routing on the body? Im thinking changing the pickups to humbucker. I want to put dimarzio pafpro on it. Do i need F spaced pickup?

[ESPImperium]

PRS Mike Mushok SE Baritone

Mods List:
Schaller M6 lockint Tuners
Di Marzio Air Norton DP193 (Bridge)/Di Marzio 36th Anniversary Bridge DP223 (Neck) (Ibanez style wiring)
CTS Pots
5 Way Allparts Superswitch
ESP LTD F-50 Black Metal Knobs

Pics:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/ImperiumThroughTheAshes/My%20Guitars/DSC00569.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/ImperiumThroughTheAshes/My%20Guitars/DSC00570.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v66/ImperiumThroughTheAshes/My%20Guitars/DSC00571.jpg

[Harw00d]

Heres my SE245 mods...

-Planet Waves locking and auto-trim tuners
- Jim Dunlop Strap Locks
-Warman Guitars wrap around bridge with individual adjustable saddles
-Warman Guitars HB-P90 in the neck
-Warman Guitars Destroyer Humbucker in the bridge
-Bridge pick-up wired for series / coil tap / parallel & phase reversal using two micro switches.

sorry for the poor quality of the picture,

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i76/harw00d/IMG_20121129_182926.jpg
http://sphotos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/533945_443334942394111_1893901238_n.jpg

[John Beef]

Heres my SE245 mods...
-Warman Guitars wrap around bridge with individual adjustable saddles

Is that the same one from Stew-Mac?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Adjustable_Wraparound_Bridge.html?tab=Details

[Harw00d]

Is that the same one from Stew-Mac?

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bridges,_tailpieces/Electric_guitar,_non-trem_bridges/Adjustable_Wraparound_Bridge.html?tab=Details

Could be, they do look pretty much the same.
Brilliant mod either way, my standard bridge kept getting chewed up by my strings and the A string would snap nearly weekly. The guys at PRS sent me a new one out but the same happened again!

[Bainesbucker]

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/dmills122/Schroeder%20Adjustable%20Stoptail%20bridge/IMG_2743.jpg
SE 245:
US PRS nut
Schaller locking tuners
DiMarzio 36th Anny pups
Schroeder Adjustable Stoptail - TonePros metric locking studs
Switchcratf jack and 3-way switch
10% CTS pots and PIO caps
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii243/dmills122/IMG_2528.jpg
SE Standard:
bone nut
Schaller locking tuners
Bare Knuckle matched set "The Mule"
Tremel-no
Switchcraft jack and 3-way switch
RS Guitar Works Super pots PIO cap (two volume one master tone)
two mini toggles on/on/on for series-humbucker/split-coil/parallel-humbucker

Love this stuff :congrats:, was thinking of doing a similar thing to my SE Tremonti UK Custom as your SE Standard.
What kind of Tremel-No did you use on it?:dontknow::dontknow:
How easy are the Schallers to put in?:dontknow:
Can you coil tap all Bareknuckle humbuckers?:dontknow:
Would you recommend replacing all pots, jacks and switches?:dontknow:
Thanks!!:cheers:

[Mikegarveyblues]

Love this stuff :congrats:, was thinking of doing a similar thing to my SE Tremonti UK Custom as your SE Standard.
What kind of Tremel-No did you use on it?:dontknow::dontknow:
How easy are the Schallers to put in?:dontknow:
Can you coil tap all Bareknuckle humbuckers?:dontknow:
Would you recommend replacing all pots, jacks and switches?:dontknow:
Thanks!!:cheers:

For the BKP pups you'd need to order them with 4 conducter wiring. I'd also recommend short legs. For the SE's a bridge pup with either 50mm or 53mm spacing will be fine.

[Bainesbucker]

For the BKP pups you'd need to order them with 4 conducter wiring. I'd also recommend short legs. For the SE's a bridge pup with either 50mm or 53mm spacing will be fine.

I see you used switches for coil tap and phase reverse, but what pot would you recommend for a push/pull coil tap? Was thinking the PRS USA one (500k), also how easy is the Tremol-No to put in (any pictures of the process)?
Thanks:beer:

[prsrocker1988]

http://i47.tinypic.com/2agr9jp.jpg

SE on the left got a new nut, locking tuners, Seymour Duncan Jazz/JB pickups, and new electronics.

[Saruman]

I've got a PRS SE Santana II, 2003 I think (D serial):
http://www.saruman.biz/images/santana.jpg

Beautiful sound, except for the low/open frets of the G string. Hence a trip to the guitar tech, and in came the following stuff:
* Gibson Classic '57 P'ups
* Orange Drop
* Gibson pots
* new wiring and jack
* Gibson straplocks
(take one guess which type of guitars my tech usually services :p ). Quite happy with the sound now - no need for further mods until I learn to play better than I do now :o

[jbloggs]

upgraded with Chrome covered hand-wound vintage paf style pickups and out-of-phase pull-push tone knob

http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o731/jbloggs01/tremonti-small_zps7e65482a.jpg

[oceantracks]

Hey guys, I picked up PRS SE Standard a few years ago at Sam Ash. I would like to put locking tuners on it, and perhaps figure out a way to do a coil tap.

First off, could someone point me to what locking tuners FIT this guitar, and where I get them? Is this a simple matter of unscrewing what is on there and just putting on the new ones or is something a tech has to do?

Thanks!
Tom

[Mikegarveyblues]

Hey guys, I picked up PRS SE Standard a few years ago at Sam Ash. I would like to put locking tuners on it, and perhaps figure out a way to do a coil tap.

First off, could someone point me to what locking tuners FIT this guitar, and where I get them? Is this a simple matter of unscrewing what is on there and just putting on the new ones or is something a tech has to do?

Thanks!
Tom

There are drop in replacement tuners. Someone else will be able to name the exact models, but I know they're available.

Coil tap may be more problematic if you have the stock pups or pups with two conducter wiring.

[andy474x]

There are drop in replacement tuners. Someone else will be able to name the exact models, but I know they're available.

Coil tap may be more problematic if you have the stock pups or pups with two conducter wiring.

Grover 406c's are the drop in replacements that PRS recommends, but I think there may be one or two other models that drop in also, just surf back through older threads to see what others have used. I like the 406c's fine though. But quite honestly, I would recommend a new nut before new tuners. For coil taps, if you have the original pickups, you'll have to go in and add a wire lead to the wire that connects the coils. Not a bad job if you're familiar with how a tapped pickup works and you know how to solder, but if not I'd leave it to a tech.

[Mikegarveyblues]

But quite honestly, I would recommend a new nut before new tuners. .

+1

[prsrocker1988]

Definitely fix the nut first. You might not need the locking tuners (depending if yours is a trem model). I made the mistake of getting tuners first. Still wouldn't hold tune. Got a new nut put in and voila.

[John Beef]

+3. The tuners work great IMHO. I had some Gotoh magnum locking tuners (a direct fit) on my SE Santana for a long time and they were fine. I took them off and put the original tuners back on and have had no trouble.

Also, I have added a coil split wire to a SE humbucker in the past. It's really not too hard to do provided you have experience soldering and stuff.

[garrett]

I did new tuners because I didn't like the feel of the stock ones. I got the locking Grover minis. Great tuners. A good tech could tweak the nut if the strings are hanging up. I just swapped mine out for bone.

[prsrocker1988]

I did new tuners because I didn't like the feel of the stock ones. I got the locking Grover minis. Great tuners. A good tech could tweak the nut if the strings are hanging up. I just swapped mine out for bone.

Unfortunately mine had to be replaced (nut). He couldn't get them to not stick so he just put in a new nut and voila. He's a PRS dealer too, great guy. Does all of my guitar/amp repairs.

[Bryan Gunsher]

I've modded my SE SOAP SC with winged tuners, PRS adjustable wraparound bridge, CTS pots, sprague caps and BG Pups P90s.
I'll try and upload a photo or two.

[CharlieFoxtrot]

Love this stuff :congrats:, was thinking of doing a similar thing to my SE Tremonti UK Custom as your SE Standard.
What kind of Tremel-No did you use on it?:dontknow::dontknow:
How easy are the Schallers to put in?:dontknow:
Can you coil tap all Bareknuckle humbuckers?:dontknow:
Would you recommend replacing all pots, jacks and switches?:dontknow:
Thanks!!:cheers:

I used the pin type tremel-no, but at the time is was the only option available. Now I would get the large clamp type. I had to enlarge the spring hole with a drill bit to use the pin type.
The 3X3 Locking Schaller tuners are drop in replacement for the SE tuners. No drilling and the screw holes line right up.
I'm not sure if all Bare Knuckle humbuckers cat be coil tapped. As long as you get the 4 wire sets you should be fine.
Personally I would replace the pots, jack, caps, and switch. I have owned several SE's as well as some other imports and those things tend to start acting up over time. Import 3 way switches seem to want to fail on me after a few months use. If you are going to rewire for new pickups and add new caps and such, you might as well gut all of the electronics while you are at it.

[Bainesbucker]

I used the pin type tremel-no, but at the time is was the only option available. Now I would get the large clamp type. I had to enlarge the spring hole with a drill bit to use the pin type.
The 3X3 Locking Schaller tuners are drop in replacement for the SE tuners. No drilling and the screw holes line right up.
I'm not sure if all Bare Knuckle humbuckers cat be coil tapped. As long as you get the 4 wire sets you should be fine.
Personally I would replace the pots, jack, caps, and switch. I have owned several SE's as well as some other imports and those things tend to start acting up over time. Import 3 way switches seem to want to fail on me after a few months use. If you are going to rewire for new pickups and add new caps and such, you might as well gut all of the electronics while you are at it.

Thanks a bunch! I did some looking into the BKPs and the Nailbomb (the one I'm looking at as I want to put an H sized P90 in the neck, the Stockholm if you're interested.) in the bridge can be coil-tapped with the 4 way wires!
Will put some pictures up when i'm done, but I've got a Head and Cab project first in the queue!

[maxtuna26]

Hey guys, I'm new here. My SE Custom 24 is a 2009 model in Black Cherry, and I absolutely love it to death, it's the only electric guitar that own.

At first, I wanted to do some costless mods, so I experimented with wirings. Firstly, there's the out of phase middle position, which I flipped the magnet, but then it became somewhat neglected due to the reason i don't play peter green stuff, and so I rewired it backwards. I did notice a bit more clarity (or was it just me?) in the neck humbucker after doing so. Secondly, I also tried doing a permanent coil split thing as I am pretty fond of the telecaster's neck pickup sound for strumming. Had to solder an extra wire from the pickup to the selector switch. But then after some time, I found out that I actually missed the neck humbucker tone, and so I rewired it back. Some crazy stuff that I do LOL.

I must say, although the stock bridge was quite decent, it just doesn't cut it for me. Not enough clarity in heavy distortion, mild overdrive classic stuff was okay, maybe a little bit lacking in the higher frequencies for me. And so, I was very much into heavy rock and metal at that time, so I dropped a Dimarzio D Activator in the bridge position. So, it nails pretty much all my favourite tones from modern rock ranging from Alter Bridge to *ducks from rotten tomato* Nickelback stuff. The neck humbucker stays as I can't find any reasons to replace it yet, it's got a really sweet and smooth leads tone, at least for me. Rolling down the tone control actually gives me a nice jazzy or "woman" tone a la Clapton or Santana.

I also did the budget Tremsetter thing, which i installed a 50mm door latch in the trem cavity (no guitars were hurt in the process) and then tried to balance the trem springs in an unorthodox way. Pretty useful when I'm playing in drop tunings.

Lastly the easiest mod that I had done, was to flip the truss rod cover. I had thought of that when I adjusted the truss rod once, while I was changing strings. It helps to get rid of the "cramped up" look at the headstock.

Sorry, still figuring out how to post pictures here, can anyone shed some light for me? :dontknow:

edit: forgot to add that I had lightly sanded the gloss finish on the neck (inspired by Mikael Akerfeldt's signature model), it played like butter ever since then.

[MGDB]

Putting a Seymour Duncan Custom P90 in my SE Korina One, and changing the wiring harness

[azatru]

On my PRS SE Santana, I replaced the volume and tone knobs with the Seymour Duncan blackouts modular preamp. sounds really amazing with the stock zebra pickups. I also split the humbucker's coil wiring because it was wired in a series with only 2 leads coming off of each humbucker. I split the coils to make 4 leads and wired each coil to its own terminal on the BMP preamp. This really made a difference in the sound of playing with the 3-way set in the middle, both humbuckers, it is really super quiet at high gain levels.

[John Beef]

At first, I wanted to do some costless mods, so I experimented with wirings. Firstly, there's the out of phase middle position, which I flipped the magnet, but then it became somewhat neglected due to the reason i don't play peter green stuff, and so I rewired it backwards. I did notice a bit more clarity (or was it just me?) in the neck humbucker after doing so. Secondly, I also tried doing a permanent coil split thing as I am pretty fond of the telecaster's neck pickup sound for strumming. Had to solder an extra wire from the pickup to the selector switch. But then after some time, I found out that I actually missed the neck humbucker tone, and so I rewired it back. Some crazy stuff that I do LOL.

I must say, although the stock bridge was quite decent, it just doesn't cut it for me. Not enough clarity in heavy distortion, mild overdrive classic stuff was okay, maybe a little bit lacking in the higher frequencies for me. And so, I was very much into heavy rock and metal at that time, so I dropped a Dimarzio D Activator in the bridge position. So, it nails pretty much all my favourite tones from modern rock ranging from Alter Bridge to *ducks from rotten tomato* Nickelback stuff. The neck humbucker stays as I can't find any reasons to replace it yet, it's got a really sweet and smooth leads tone, at least for me. Rolling down the tone control actually gives me a nice jazzy or "woman" tone a la Clapton or Santana.

Sorry, still figuring out how to post pictures here, can anyone shed some light for me? :dontknow:

For the neck pickup, when you go in and cut that wire, just add a 3rd wire to it for the coil splits and wire it to a push/pull tone pot. Push/pulls are like $10 or something... near costless, but then you get the best of both worlds.

And while the bridge pickup will never be a D-activator, clarity and definition can be greatly improved with a magnet swap. I don't know which alnico comes standard in there, but a rough cast unoriented Alnico 5 magnet does wonders for that pickup. Once again, not costless but just afew bucks on ebay.

For pics, upload the image to a hosting provider, there are so many it's impossible to count. Imageshack, Photobucket, Google+ Facebook flickr, heck even your ISP might provide space for that sort of thing. Then, copy the URL of the image and paste into the thread using the picture thingy.

http://www.prsguitars.com/forum_img/uploads/uploadphotobutton.jpg

[WEDGE]

I have a 2007 Tremonti SE incoming, supposed to be clean and original save for a Tusq nut. I grabbed a new 59/09 squabbin this morning for it and have a couple of volume pots from an American PRS to throw at it; don't imagine i will be spinning the tone knobs on this one much so i will leave them alone. Looking for a covered neck pup to give it the proper Tremonti look.

What are some other 'must do' mods you can suggest? I am thinking locking tuners and a USA bridge maybe.

[John Beef]

Why not add a cover to the stock neck pickup? Look for a 50mm pole piece nickel cover. I really like the stock neck pickups in SEs as do many other folks. It's easy to do and there's a bunch of info on the net about how to do it.

As for the rest, why not play it for a bit before doing the mods. I had a Tremonti SE recently, and while there was nothing wrong with it, I played it for a few days and at a band practice and decided to return it to GC rather than do my planned upgrades. The guitar was fine, it just didn't speak to me the ways others have.

[jbloggs]

Moderators - how about making this thread "Sticky"

Posters - how about including parts details when listing/showing modifications?

I fitted Grover Mini Locking Rotomatic tuners to my SE Custom Semi-Hollow - straight swap, no drilling.

[Chris528]

Can anyone that has installed Phase II locking tuners on their SE post a pic of the back of the neck? I have a set and can't decide if I want to have holes in the back of my Santana. Leaning more towards my Custom 24 as its older.

[_pete_]

Can anyone that has installed Phase II locking tuners on their SE post a pic of the back of the neck? I have a set and can't decide if I want to have holes in the back of my Santana. Leaning more towards my Custom 24 as its older.


No problem.
I had an old Santana SE that I gave the full USA treatment to.
Here it is with Phase II tuners:

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/pete2112/DSCN2476.jpg
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h247/pete2112/DSCN2470.jpg

[Chris528]

Thanks Pete, I think I will install them on my custom. Lot more dive bombing with that anyway. Also have the tusq nut to install with the tuners.

[Chris528]

I'm thinking of putting a set of Seymour Duncans in my Custom 24. I have a dumb question, do I need to get the trembucker because of the tremolo? Looking at the JB and 59 model as a set and want to make sure I get the right ones.

[maxtuna26]

I'm thinking of putting a set of Seymour Duncans in my Custom 24. I have a dumb question, do I need to get the trembucker because of the tremolo? Looking at the JB and 59 model as a set and want to make sure I get the right ones.

yup, you need trembuckers for the bridge, the neck position will be normal spacing though. When i was replacing my bridge pickup, i used a f-spaced one, the pole spacing is accurate, all strings were right above the pole screws. Then for my neck pickup, i used normal spacing, also perfectly aligned.

I yanked out my "budget tremsetter" already, wasn't doing much help at all, and I finally got over the "drop-tuning for METUHHHLZ" period in my life. The original trem's working but I think the saddles have coarse or sharp surfaces. I had snapped 3 strings in a month! Two high E string, and a D string, which would be impossible for me to break it by bending (no way, seriously.) And I impulse-purchased another new neck pickup for her, a D-activator neck. I gotta say, that pickups works as more than just a metal pickup. I tweaked it for a couple of hours and it gave me some really sweet and smooth neck tone, not bright at all. I think it definitely nailed the tone that sounds like a mix of John Petrucci and Slash. The high notes down the neck have a really nice vibe with these pickups on. I have no idea why but the middle position sounds like singlecoils when you back down the volume. Not stratty, but very singlecoil sounding. And the best part of it? It's CREAM!!

http://img829.imageshack.us/img829/4417/img1881e.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/829/img1881e.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

edit: sorry for the bad lighting here, the real thing definitely looks sexy with the flame veneer under black cherry finish :D shame it's an older flat-top model from 2009.

edit again: oh and thanks for the tips on posting pics John Beef :D

[maxtuna26]

I have a 2007 Tremonti SE incoming, supposed to be clean and original save for a Tusq nut. I grabbed a new 59/09 squabbin this morning for it and have a couple of volume pots from an American PRS to throw at it; don't imagine i will be spinning the tone knobs on this one much so i will leave them alone. Looking for a covered neck pup to give it the proper Tremonti look.

What are some other 'must do' mods you can suggest? I am thinking locking tuners and a USA bridge maybe.

why do you not use the tone knobs? you can get pretty fantastic sounds from it! :D

Now, it's just a suggestion and I can't guarantee that it'll work for you but, since you don't use the tone pots, why not pull out the tone pots? (or just remove the wires connecting to the tone pot) It will scream, seriously. I've done it for my bro's telecaster, and it definitely transformed into a beast.

[sergiodeblanc]

That's a sharp looking guitar maxtuna!

[Chris528]

yup, you need trembuckers for the bridge, the neck position will be normal spacing though. When i was replacing my bridge pickup, i used a f-spaced one, the pole spacing is accurate, all strings were right above the pole screws. Then for my neck pickup, i used normal spacing, also perfectly aligned.

Cool thanks, so I will get the TB-4 JB & the SH-1 '59

[jbird]

I have some Duncan Invaders I've been contemplating for my 25th SE Custom 24! Otherwise, at this point is completely stock!

[maxtuna26]

hey guys, i was curious about how you guys got the headstock done with the eagle/signature-on-rosewood veneer/decal? Where'd you guys get that stuff? I guess my SE's headstock's looking pretty fine now, but damn, that PRS signature on my headstock will be like a dream come true for me! :cheers:

[dbonanno]

hey guys, i was curious about how you guys got the headstock done with the eagle/signature-on-rosewood veneer/decal? Where'd you guys get that stuff? I guess my SE's headstock's looking pretty fine now, but damn, that PRS signature on my headstock will be like a dream come true for me! :cheers:

I found a couple gold vinyl signature logos on the internet and refinished the headstocks on my Tremonti SE Custom and SE245. After prepping the headstocks really good, I taped them up and sprayed black acrylic urethane, applied the vinyl decals and buried them with a 2k acrylic urethane clearcoat. Then I wet sanded using a sanding block and buffed them out to a nice factory finish. I think they turned out really good. :)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/DinoBonanno/DSC09182_zpsb940949e.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/DinoBonanno/PRSTremontiSECustom_zps24e9016b.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/DinoBonanno/PRSSE245_zpsf66b25b5.jpg

[Chris528]

Does anyone happen to have a black cap off 3 way toggle switch? PRS store has them, but you get whatever color they send. Have a cream one now and need a black one.

[lgk1208]

Does anyone happen to have a black cap off 3 way toggle switch? PRS store has them, but you get whatever color they send. Have a cream one now and need a black one.
Reads on PRS store that for $6 you get one of each.

[Chris528]

Those are forth the us ones which I though were different.

[maxtuna26]

I found a couple gold vinyl signature logos on the internet and refinished the headstocks on my Tremonti SE Custom and SE245. After prepping the headstocks really good, I taped them up and sprayed black acrylic urethane, applied the vinyl decals and buried them with a 2k acrylic urethane clearcoat. Then I wet sanded using a sanding block and buffed them out to a nice factory finish. I think they turned out really good. :)

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/DinoBonanno/DSC09182_zpsb940949e.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/DinoBonanno/PRSTremontiSECustom_zps24e9016b.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/DinoBonanno/PRSSE245_zpsf66b25b5.jpg

wow man, that's some great stuff and lots of work! did you refinish the front and side of the headstock only or the whole thing? If you've done the back as well, what happens to the neck colour? do you just spray the whole neck as well or keep the original colour? How much did you pay for the headstock decals?

[maxtuna26]

Does anyone happen to have a black cap off 3 way toggle switch? PRS store has them, but you get whatever color they send. Have a cream one now and need a black one.

how bout you spray it black by yourself? :P anyway, i thought they will send you the black ones or cream ones as per your order?

[CoreyT]

http://www.plastidip.com/home_solutions/Plasti_Dip


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSk6XViPQ3E

[Norseman]

Where do you guys order these pre-slotted PRS US nuts or TUSQ ones? How much should I expect to pay? I've watched some videos on YouTube on how to replace a nut. I'm pretty handy and I enjoy doing my mods/work on my guitars myself ...makes me feel like I'm more a part of the guitar and vice/versa, so I want to try replacing the nut myself.

I don't have files, though, so you're sure I can get one pre-slotted for my PRS SE Custom 24? Can I get one slotted for 10's? The factory nut is slotted for 9's, and that is the problem I have with it.

[maxtuna26]

Where do you guys order these pre-slotted PRS US nuts or TUSQ ones? How much should I expect to pay? I've watched some videos on YouTube on how to replace a nut. I'm pretty handy and I enjoy doing my mods/work on my guitars myself ...makes me feel like I'm more a part of the guitar and vice/versa, so I want to try replacing the nut myself.

I don't have files, though, so you're sure I can get one pre-slotted for my PRS SE Custom 24? Can I get one slotted for 10's? The factory nut is slotted for 9's, and that is the problem I have with it.

yeah stock ones are slotted for 9's but i still put 10's on it, let it naturally wear down itself i guess, though it might not be ideal to do so. Some time ago i'd even put on 11-54 and 12-56 gauge strings! Since then, i've never encountered any major problems from the nut. I left it stock and went back to 46-10's and it played smoothly, only having minor nut binding that is only noticeable when i pick up my guitar for the first time every day. The thing never stays in perfect tune for more than a day, but i've learnt to live with it.

[Norseman]

My low E string is like sticking out of the nut - it's that tight. And I can't even look at the trem arm before the guitar goes out of tune. I don't know ...I was expecting more out of this guitar. I was hoping if I modify this nut for 10's it would stay in tune and I could be happy with it lol

[maxtuna26]

is it a 10-52 gauge or 10-46? I'd be surprised if it were the latter, mine fits in the nut snugly. you could use the fatter gauges for a couple months and after it wears down the nut wider, it'll fit nicely. the stock nut's materials aren't too stiff and solid so i'd say you could try it that way. could someone chime in on this? I'm not sure if it's an appropriate way to do so :/

[Norseman]

No they are 10-46. When I get home I can snap a pic of it and post it for you. I'm going to call Guitar Center and see how much their luthier would charge to just file the slots out to 10's for me.

[Victek]

I'm thinking of swapping out the cream colored pickup mounting rings on my SE Custom 24 (zebra HFS?) for black ones. Can someone give me a link? Thanks! By the way are these standard so any humbucker mounting ring set would work?

[maxtuna26]

No they are 10-46. When I get home I can snap a pic of it and post it for you. I'm going to call Guitar Center and see how much their luthier would charge to just file the slots out to 10's for me.

i see...well good luck with it anyways :D i do agree that the nut was pretty troublesome to me too at first.

[maxtuna26]

I'm thinking of swapping out the cream colored pickup mounting rings on my SE Custom 24 (zebra HFS?) for black ones. Can someone give me a link? Thanks!

not sure what link are you talking about, but oh well :dontknow:

if you mean the links to black pickup mounting rings, there are plenty of retailers out there, most popular choice would be GC, Musician's Friend and Allparts.

http://www.guitarcenter.com
http://www.musiciansfriend.com
http://www.allparts.com

if you're talking about links to pics of how it'll look like:

http://www.dawsons.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/926291.jpg
http://smg.beta.photobucket.com/user/smorgdonkey/media/ESP/IMGP0096-1.jpg.html
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-judGpPVTjrs/TiXQz0wDoVI/AAAAAAAABLs/BKoKoHfAs60/s1600/photo-734339.JPG
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Qs2R0csC4wc/T_FkUAY10iI/AAAAAAAAGEE/33Q7JOQcMAs/s1600/decfmtbz.jpg

i'm only judging from your display pic that your guitar's in cherry sunburst, so I looked up for the sunburst ones, which are closest to that colour :/

[Victek]

"if you mean the links to black pickup mounting rings, there are plenty of retailers out there, most popular choice would be GC, Musician's Friend and Allparts."

It looks like they are a standard size so I'll probably be able to get them off the shelf at my local GC, thanks.

[maxtuna26]

It looks like they are a standard size so I'll probably be able to get them off the shelf at my local GC, thanks.

The standard generic ones will work, but the bridge pickup mounting rings need to be a thicker one. But mostly they come in a set unless you buy them individually.

[Norseman]

Here's a pic of my nut showing how the 10's are too big:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/norseman2/3241FAAD-E226-48AA-A1E4-15FFCC46D1A0-59051-0000067687B86446_zps3d9b727d.jpg

[maxtuna26]

Here's a pic of my nut showing how the 10's are too big:
http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj313/norseman2/3241FAAD-E226-48AA-A1E4-15FFCC46D1A0-59051-0000067687B86446_zps3d9b727d.jpg

i see it's only the low e string, how bout some diy work? you could try nut files or even sandpaper. Use the rougher grit paper (maybe 600 grit) sparingly, until the string slips in nice, use the finer grit ones (1000 grit) to smoothen the string channel.

[Norseman]

The other strings fit down in the nut grooves, but they are tight or something because if I even think of using the trem arm, they go out of tune. I was looking into nut files, but it looks like I'd end up spending around $70 on set. I called Guitar Center and one other Luthier I know and they want around $65 for this!!???

I really want to do it myself, but I don't feel comfortable doing it with like sandpaper or something. I guess I'd have to shell out the money for the files because I'm not giving a Luthier that kind of money for what should be an extremely easy job for them.

[Chris528]

You can get the tusq nut for under $10. I'm having one and Phase II tuners that I'm putting only Custom 24. I'm getting them done as soon as I get some new pickups and rings.

[dbonanno]

wow man, that's some great stuff and lots of work! did you refinish the front and side of the headstock only or the whole thing? If you've done the back as well, what happens to the neck colour? do you just spray the whole neck as well or keep the original colour? How much did you pay for the headstock decals?

Thanks!
I just refinished the face of the headstocks, not the sides or backside (or neck).
If you look closely at the SE245, you can see the tortoishell color on the sides of the headstock.
I actually like the "look" better than the Tremonti SE Custom, which is all black.

Once it's cleared, wet sanded and buffed out, it all blends really nicely and looks like it came that way from the factory. The decals were a little pricey ... they were around $25ea., if I remember correctly.
Worth it in the end, IMO.

[maxtuna26]

Thanks!
I just refinished the face of the headstocks, not the sides or backside (or neck).
If you look closely at the SE245, you can see the tortoishell color on the sides of the headstock.
I actually like the "look" better than the Tremonti SE Custom, which is all black.

Once it's cleared, wet sanded and buffed out, it all blends really nicely and looks like it came that way from the factory. The decals were a little pricey ... they were around $25ea., if I remember correctly.
Worth it in the end, IMO.

$25 for the decals :eek: i see, i didnt notice the SE245's headstock, thanks for pointing out :D might want to try a natural coloured headstock one day, hmm...is the acrylic urethane you used same as the stock poly finish?

[maxtuna26]

I've been wanting a set of tuners for my SE Custom 24, but then there's virtually no one stocking on good tuners in my place. Gosh, some place i live in! (it's not UK nor USA) Hell, we don't even have TUSQ nuts here. Imagine that. Might have to go to another city to hunt for them :/ but then I can't just walk away from college.

[dbonanno]

$25 for the decals :eek: i see, i didnt notice the SE245's headstock, thanks for pointing out :D might want to try a natural coloured headstock one day, hmm...is the acrylic urethane you used same as the stock poly finish?

To the best of my knowledge, the SE's are finished in the same acrylic urethane, not poly.

[maxtuna26]

To the best of my knowledge, the SE's are finished in the same acrylic urethane, not poly.

ohh i see, thanks man! New things to learn every day! :laugh:

[mookyshoots]

Ok, I'm finally getting around to upgrading my SE245. I've already got pickups, electronics and a Tusq XL nut but am now looking for the following.

TonePros locking posts (large head)
PRS USA wraparound bridge
Locking tuners
PRS lampshade knobs (black w/ clear)

Will the Schaller M6 locking tuners be a direct drop-in or must it be the mini's? Also, where can I get a reasonable deal on the PRS USA parts?
If anyone has these parts to sell, drop me a line.

Thanks

[carpincowboy]

Can you get the lampshade knobs anywhere else or just from prs. I think they are a bit pricey but would look a whole lot better than the speed knobs on my se245

[lgk1208]

Can you get the lampshade knobs anywhere else or just from prs. I think they are a bit pricey but would look a whole lot better than the speed knobs on my se245
Check E-bay thats where I got my knobs. some PRS dealers post listings on E-bay.

[mookyshoots]

Check E-bay thats where I got my knobs. some PRS dealers post listings on E-bay.

I've looked there but just can't pay out $60 + shipping for four plastic knobs.

[Mikegarveyblues]

Just remember to get knobs to fit metric pots if you're still have the original pots in.

[carpincowboy]

they do these http://www.prsaccessories.com/collections/se-parts/products/se-knob-lampshade-style but they dont ship outside of the u.s. would love some of the american made style ones but at $30 a pair that is steep.

just found a selley on fleabay selling 2 se lampshade knobs at$25. there only $2 each on the prs website.

[mookyshoots]

Just remember to get knobs to fit metric pots if you're still have the original pots in.

I have a set of CTS 550K pots delivering today that will be replacing the stock Alphas.

[lgk1208]

I've looked there but just can't pay out $60 + shipping for four plastic knobs.
Yah, I paid $30 for two(same price as PRS store) but it was worth it to me. I put the amber USA lampshades on my SE CU24. I really like the look better than the stock ones.

[Mikegarveyblues]

I have a set of CTS 550K pots delivering today that will be replacing the stock Alphas.

Nice. I got some 550k pots for my Bernie from Bare Knuckle Pickups. Good pots!

[mookyshoots]

Nice. I got some 550k pots for my Bernie from Bare Knuckle Pickups. Good pots!

And there 's the rub about the cost of the knobs. I got four new 550K pots for $30.

[sergiodeblanc]

And there 's the rub about the cost of the knobs. I got four new 550K pots for $30.

Yeah, but those pots are not the sexiest thing that has ever happened to guitar knobs.... I lucked into my first set of lampshades, and they are worth every penny.

[mookyshoots]

Yeah, but those pots are not the sexiest thing that has ever happened to guitar knobs.... I lucked into my first set of lampshades, and they are worth every penny.

Maybe I'll give in at some point. I'm prone to moments of weakness.

[Victek]

Yeah, but those pots are not the sexiest thing that has ever happened to guitar knobs.... I lucked into my first set of lampshades, and they are worth every penny. The lampshade knobs look nice, but is it just a style choice or do they "play" better?

[Bubbalou]

I put Schaller 3x3 Locking tuners and Seymour Duncan VINTAGE BLUES Humbucker Pickup Set SH-1 '59 Neck & Bridge on my SE Santana. The tone is now even across all strings and no overbearing lows as before. Next I am putting a PRS wide/fat wide/thin nut on it and some .010 set of strings. The quality of the stock electronics along with the professional manner they were installed and soldered put a smile on my face. I love this guitar! Something else I noticed about this guitar when it first arrived is the un-amplified tone and sustain is amazing.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200882331538?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

[sergiodeblanc]

The lampshade knobs look nice, but is it just a style choice or do they "play" better?

Both. They have a nice feel to them, and don't seem to get as slippery.

[Chris528]

Just got my Custom24 back from my tech. Had Phase II tuners (thanks "gush"), Dragon II neck pickup (thanks "Boogeyman") and a Dimebucker installed in the bridge. Also replaced the pickup rings and selector switch cap from cream to black.

My new "Metal Monster"
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy7/SteelCurtain1974/null-2.jpg
http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy7/SteelCurtain1974/null-3.jpg

[dogrocketp]

Do you notice sustain or tone difference with the Schroeder and the tone pros?

[dogrocketp]

Gag, What kind of locking tuners did you use? That's the other mod I'm considering.

[carpincowboy]

Heres my se 245 with new knobs. Not a fan of speed knobs so i got these off ebay for 99 pence including postage.https://imageshack.us/a/img607/5431/optimg20130508134918.jpg

[Victek]

Heres my se 245 with new knobs. Not a fan of speed knobs so i got these off ebay for 99 pence including postage.

Nice lampshade knobs. Can you say more specifically who you got them from? I did a search on eBay and couldn't find the same ones. And by the way, will any generic lampshade guitar knob fit the SE pots?

[Danerada]

My Bernie with 53/10's and Tone Pros bridge

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OlJCGbiI74k/UYpDrnBohLI/AAAAAAAAE7U/Eu7xN-drUfA/s800/IMG_00106.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VoTdy-TuXzw/UYpDyR5oyjI/AAAAAAAAE7k/-8CPmUbLT5I/s800/IMG_00108.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MkwKTYWq06c/UYpEH3NangI/AAAAAAAAE7s/55saOZLuY0A/s800/IMG_00109.jpg

[carpincowboy]

Nice lampshade knobs. Can you say more specifically who you got them from? I did a search on eBay and couldn't find the same ones. And by the way, will any generic lampshade guitar knob fit the SE pots?

I will pm you the ebay sellers name. As far as i know any generic knob should fit. I did have to open the splice a tiny little bit because they were loose. These came from hong kong btw

[Victek]

I will pm you the ebay sellers name. As far as i know any generic knob should fit. I did have to open the splice a tiny little bit because they were loose. These came from hong kong btw

Thanks, I was able to find a set of four. Free shipping too - amazing.

[carpincowboy]

Thanks, I was able to find a set of four. Free shipping too - amazing.
I like them. Cheap as chips, seem like good quality and look just like the official se lampshade knobs.

[sergiodeblanc]

My Bernie with 53/10's and Tone Pros bridge

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-OlJCGbiI74k/UYpDrnBohLI/AAAAAAAAE7U/Eu7xN-drUfA/s800/IMG_00106.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-VoTdy-TuXzw/UYpDyR5oyjI/AAAAAAAAE7k/-8CPmUbLT5I/s800/IMG_00108.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-MkwKTYWq06c/UYpEH3NangI/AAAAAAAAE7s/55saOZLuY0A/s800/IMG_00109.jpg

This looks like a million bucks!

[leeasam]

ok this is my boys guitar and he is still learning basically but I have always wanted to try doing a mod like this as it would be alot less expensive than a custom order USA guitar.

Well it started with a stock 2012 PRS SE singlecut. Scarlet red with the exposed maple binding look. So I am thinking ok what if it had USA electronics and pick ups. The knobs are WAY smoother on USA parts verses the stiff korean knobs etc. I also really like the feel of the lamp shade knobs. So I got a NEW HFS/Vintage pick up set Off Ebay from a dealer and then from PRS a Drop in 3 way w/ push - pull controls so I could coil split. I had already installed Gotoh Locking tuners on it.

So I got the pick ups in and ready to stick in the controls and the USA right angle toggle will not work as the threads are not long enough to go through an SE body. AND on top of this needed to strip pick up lead back quite a ways to get things wired to proper points in the electronics. I had not ever worked with pick ups with the braided outer shielding and did not know how to strip that back properly so I called my shop and told them what was up.

So I had the guitar restrung-- pick ups installed- and set up all that was needed was solder in the controls. So Went to Dave`s Guitar shop and instead of routing the body to clear the right angle toggle they installed a short Switch Craft toggle and worked perfectly( not to mention Switchcraft quality) They soldered it up and I got to try it out. NICE!! the Lamp shade knobs are nice too. the coil split adds more versatility to the guitar now too. Kind of a poor mans McCarty.
So Guitar $600 Tuners- $80 Pickup set- $195 Drop in Electronics $80 Shop to solder everything up and add a switch craft toggle $30 and Hard shell PRS Mulit fit case $129 So in all with case included under $1,100.
so here is the guitar
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc348/leeasam/prssinglecut_zps20d49424.jpg (http://s526.photobucket.com/user/leeasam/media/prssinglecut_zps20d49424.jpg.html)

[Mikegarveyblues]

Hey Dane what do you Think of the Tonepros bridge?

I'm thinking about trying an adjustable stoptail on my Bernie.

[Danerada]

Hey Dane what do you Think of the Tonepros bridge?

I'm thinking about trying an adjustable stoptail on my Bernie.

I love it man....love it.

[_pete_]

Hey Dane what do you Think of the Tonepros bridge?

I'm thinking about trying an adjustable stoptail on my Bernie.

I'll chime in here too.
I have that same bridge on my Bernie. It's ok. The saddles slots needed to be cut a bit deeper on mine. Bending the B and high E would pop the strings out of their slots. The Tone Pros stud inserts are too small to replace the SE inserts but (if you get the metric studs) the Tone Pros studs have the same threads as the stock inserts.
My only other quip is that it can be difficult to get the strings through it when restringing.
Other than that it's good quality and intonates well. If it didn't come with the guitar when I bought it, I would have just kept the stock bridge though. I never had an issue with them and like the feel of them when playing.

[Danerada]

I'll chime in here too.
The saddles slots needed to be cut a bit deeper on mine.
My only other quip is that it can be difficult to get the strings through it when restringing.
.

These are my only issues, but I find them fairly minor. I like the bridge though....I dig an adjustable bridge.

[Hopeful Sinner]

Hey Dane what do you Think of the Tonepros bridge?

I'm thinking about trying an adjustable stoptail on my Bernie.

I have one I never got around to putting on my SE One which got traded recently. You are welcome to it... PM me and we will work out the shipping details...

[Danerada]

I have one I never got around to putting on my SE One which got traded recently. You are welcome to it... PM me and we will work out the shipping details...

That's whats up...

[Mikegarveyblues]

I have one I never got around to putting on my SE One which got traded recently. You are welcome to it... PM me and we will work out the shipping details...

Arghhhh!

The offer is much appreciated and i'd have jumped at it, but....

I bit the bullet earlier and ordered the Schroeder stoptail and metric locking studs! :(

I'll be giving away the Tonepros (Chrome) metric studs (And spanner thingy) once they arrive in 2 -4 weeks so if anyone wants them let me know!

[Chris528]

I'll be giving away the Tonepros (Chrome) metric studs (And spanner thingy) once they arrive in 2 -4 weeks so if anyone wants them let me know!

Pm sent Mike

[Hopeful Sinner]

Chris,

It's yours braddah! Send me your addy....

[Hopeful Sinner]

Arghhhh!

The offer is much appreciated and i'd have jumped at it, but....

I bit the bullet earlier and ordered the Schroeder stoptail and metric locking studs! :(

I'll be giving away the Tonepros (Chrome) metric studs (And spanner thingy) once they arrive in 2 -4 weeks so if anyone wants them let me know!

That just sucks Mike, "pay it forward" is good!!!

Well, looks like the bridge will have a new home with Chris528...can't wait to see pics...

[Chris528]

Well, looks like the bridge will have a new home with Chris528...can't wait to see pics...

Thanks Jon!

This is the greatest forum ever!

[Mikegarveyblues]

That just sucks Mike, "pay it forward" is good!!!

Well, looks like the bridge will have a new home with Chris528...can't wait to see pics...

I'm still kicking myself!!! :)

TP locking studs on their way to Chris528 in a few weeks!

[mookyshoots]

Hey guys,

I finished my mods over the weekend and thought I'd share. My SE245 received the following:

Schaller locking tuners
Graphtech Tusq XL nut
Tonepros metric PRS locking studs
Martin Six String Customs Les Paul wiring harness (CTS 550k pots, Russian PIO caps, Switchcraft jack & switch)
Gibson speed knobs (black)

I already had a set of DiMarzio 36th anniversary pickups installed, so this now represents the end product. I decided to bypass the PRS lampshade knobs for now until I can find a better deal on them. She plays and sounds great, so it's money well spent. I am noticing a bit more sustain, which I can only assume is due to the locking studs creating better contact. Also, Matt's wiring harness is top notch, both in parts and workmanship. Top notch!