Recommendations for PRS SE

[Kiongku]

Hi TGP Folks,
I'm looking into a guitar in the PRS line, more specifically in the budget SE range since I cannot really pay that much for the USA ones.
I heard a lot of different stories on the build quality though most people seems to be quite happy for its price range..

The music style I play is mainly rock / pop style.. no blues, jazz or hard metal shredding..

I'm looking for a light weight, double cut with tremolo.
It will be mainly my practice guitar for solos...

The PRS SE Orianthi seems to fit the deal...
I'm planning to replace the tuners with mini schaller locking tuners and get a USA PRS nut or graph tech nut for 9s gauge as an initial upgrade.
I might get better pickups later on.

Will it be worth the effort and money? Or are there better deals?

Thanks guys.

[THebert]

How much will all that cost? Would you be better of buying a clean but used CE that needed no upgrades? Just a thought-

[whitewave]

Build quality is excellent in that price range.
I've just bought a Tremonti Se (had one in the past) as a backup for my USA made McCarty.
The only part that really, really need to be upgraded is the nut. The stock one was awful in my SE.
A tusq model # 6643 is a direct replacement, costs few bucks, and make the guitar to stay in tune and to ring much better. Now, I'm enjoying it a lot.

[Kiongku]

How much will all that cost? Would you be better of buying a clean but used CE that needed no upgrades? Just a thought-

Musician Friend has a decently good used one listed for $530 (+$100 for shipping to Australia), mini schallers are around $80 or less including shipping from ebay, and i'm expecting to pay around $30 for the nut..
So I guess the grand total is $740?

I did not really find any CEs under $1000.. less I'm blind xP

[gag halfrunt]

Hi TGP Folks,
I'm looking into a guitar in the PRS line, more specifically in the budget SE range since I cannot really pay that much for the USA ones.
I heard a lot of different stories on the build quality though most people seems to be quite happy for its price range..

The music style I play is mainly rock / pop style.. no blues, jazz or hard metal shredding..

I'm looking for a light weight, double cut with tremolo.
It will be mainly my practice guitar for solos...

The PRS SE Orianthi seems to fit the deal...
I'm planning to replace the tuners with mini schaller locking tuners and get a USA PRS nut or graph tech nut for 9s gauge as an initial upgrade.
I might get better pickups later on.

Will it be worth the effort and money? Or are there better deals?

Thanks guys.

The SE line is the best there is in that price range. Change out the pickups and tuners, and you'll have a VERY good instrument.

FYI - the Grover mini locking tuners are drop in replacements for the PRS SE tuners, so no modifications necessary.

[rabbuhl]

I had a PRS SE Singlecut Trem. I put in JB/Jazz pups, Schaller locking tuners, and replaced all of the pots, etc. It was a great sounding guitar but it was really heavy and I did not like the neck so much. It got replaced by a G0.

I have a PRS SE Singlecut Soap. It has Fralin HC P-90 pups, Schaller locking tuners, and pots replaced, etc. It sounding sounds great but I prefer the feel of the neck on my Gibson 1950's Les Paul Tribute. I am thinking of selling it but it is a great travel guitar.

So, the PRS SE line are nice guitars which sound great after you replace the pups, tuners, and pots. I just don't like the way the necks feel.

[scolfax]

I've tried a few in stores unplugged and they didn't impress me much EXCEPT for the Korina ones. Those felt great for some reason.

[Chicago Slim]

I have three rather plain and less expensive American PRSi, that are my main guitars. However, for teaching and outdoor shows, I use an SE Custom 24, with tremelo. I like it because it stays in tune, going from air-conditioning, to heat and humidity. It has the standard, non-locking tuners and nut. The only thing that I do, is use a little graphite on the nut. The maple neck seems to help it, stay in tune. The only thing that I changed, were the pickups.

http://pic70.picturetrail.com:80/VOL1887/11966943/21271517/388878691.jpg

[Kiongku]

I had a PRS SE Singlecut Trem. I put in JB/Jazz pups, Schaller locking tuners, and replaced all of the pots, etc. It was a great sounding guitar but it was really heavy and I did not like the neck so much. It got replaced by a G0.

I have a PRS SE Singlecut Soap. It has Fralin HC P-90 pups, Schaller locking tuners, and pots replaced, etc. It sounding sounds great but I prefer the feel of the neck on my Gibson 1950's Les Paul Tribute. I am thinking of selling it but it is a great travel guitar.

So, the PRS SE line are nice guitars which sound great after you replace the pups, tuners, and pots. I just don't like the way the necks feel.

I am wondering, where did you get your pots?
Also, is there a guide somewhere on how to replace them or do I need to bring it to a shop.
I'm not scared of putting my hands in though if there are instructions somewhere..