NGD PRS SE245

[MrDowntown]

And what to reasonably expect?

Reading the "budget guitar" thread got me geeked...so i bought a PRS Se 245... you guys are hell on a GAS pain.

Ships out from Nv on Monday, over to Ca...on its way to NC; go figure that shit out why don't you. Anyways.

From Cali to Tejas, Tejas to Missipp, Missipp to Al. Leaves AL this morning...From Al, i can only imagine its headed to NC, but who-the-F-knows...per UPS, supposed to land Monday.

Is it reasonable to expect this guitar to NOT need a setup, at a minimum when it arrives? Assuming UPS doesn't beat the shit out of it on one of the many stops along the way. The temp drops/variations bother me, other than the aforementioned (potential) UPS drop kicks.

Don't usually sweat this kind of stuff...but typically, deliveries aren't this drawn out. and guitars don't typically like unconditioned and varied temp/humidity swings for periods of time; ex. the temp in NC went from about 80 yesterday to about 40 over night...

 

[tonesfoyobones]

I expect to do a set up on ever guitar I purchase. Rarely do I ever find a guitar that is set up to my personal likes in relief and action. Most times it's a slight tweak here or there.
As far as the shipping woes and temp shifting I usually don't have many issues with electric guitars. It's acoustics that seem to react very quickly to changing environments. Electric's are a little more stable but with extended off conditions they will move on you.

 

[MrDowntown]

i too will tweak stuff to my liking... to clarify, i'm thinking/concerned more about the neck doing a dance before i get it that requires futzing with the t-rod, which i never touch.

but i understand what you're saying

 

[MetalHeadMike]

i too will tweak stuff to my liking... to clarify, i'm thinking/concerned more about the neck doing a dance before i get it that requires futzing with the t-rod, which i never touch.

but i understand what you're saying

You should learn how to adjust the truss rod. It's as simple as turning and allen wrench; absolutely no voodoo involved and nothing to worry about as long as you go in small increments and don't force it if it seems to no want to turn. Plenty of you tube videos that'll walk you right through it.

 

[napalmdeath]

Action will undoubtedly be high.

 

[MrDowntown]

Yea..I'll be boning up on how set this guitar up. Never owned one with a bridge like it.

Guitar finally made it to NC today...but will Likely sit on a tractor trailer til Monday sometime.

Hoping for the best, but planning on a mess...

 

[napalmdeath]

Yea..I'll be boning up on how set this guitar up. Never owned one with a bridge like it.

Guitar finally made it to NC today...but will Likely sit on a tractor trailer til Monday sometime.

Hoping for the best, but planning on a mess...

I'm sure it'll be fine. They're typically solid guitars. Throw some locking tuners on it, and change the pickups/upgrade electronics, and you'll probably be amazed how nice they are.

I picked up an ESP LTD Alex Skolnick model myself, with case. It'll arrive Monday!

 

[MrDowntown]

Nice looking LTD you got coming. I dig the head stock on those.

Did you ever sell that Schecter II Custom? That too was s stunner...

 

[napalmdeath]

Nice looking LTD you got coming. I dig the head stock on those.

Did you ever sell that Schecter II Custom? That too was s stunner...

Yeah, sold it awhile back. It was a nice guitar, but I wished it was full thickness, and the neck was a bit narrow. Pickups were killer, as was the top!

 

[ClintN667]

Yea..I'll be boning up on how set this guitar up. Never owned one with a bridge like it.

Guitar finally made it to NC today...but will Likely sit on a tractor trailer til Monday sometime.

Hoping for the best, but planning on a mess...

Ah yeah a fellow tarheel I almost always take my guitars to get setup once they are delivered. My Solar guitars all arrived in great shaped as did my LTD Sparrowhawk. The Jackson's and Ibanez before those were unplayable out of the box.

I hate UPS. I always use them though. My Solar had import duties on it that I paid a week before it was delivered. But for some reason they didnt see it and tried to charge me twice. I tried to show the driver the receipt and correspondence from UPS and he was like I cant accept that and no I cant deliver it until you pay and all I accept is checks. I almost flipped the fuck out. I called UPS and bitched an they met me a few blocks down.

 

[mooncobra]

Yea..I'll be boning up on how set this guitar up. Never owned one with a bridge like it.

Guitar finally made it to NC today...but will Likely sit on a tractor trailer til Monday sometime.

Hoping for the best, but planning on a mess...

I'm sure it'll be fine. They're typically solid guitars. Throw some locking tuners on it, and change the pickups/upgrade electronics, and you'll probably be amazed how nice they are.

I picked up an ESP LTD Alex Skolnick model myself, with case. It'll arrive Monday!

looks nice, how much are those?

 

[napalmdeath]

Yea..I'll be boning up on how set this guitar up. Never owned one with a bridge like it.

Guitar finally made it to NC today...but will Likely sit on a tractor trailer til Monday sometime.

Hoping for the best, but planning on a mess...

I'm sure it'll be fine. They're typically solid guitars. Throw some locking tuners on it, and change the pickups/upgrade electronics, and you'll probably be amazed how nice they are.

I picked up an ESP LTD Alex Skolnick model myself, with case. It'll arrive Monday!

looks nice, how much are those?

They're $1149 new, $599 - $700 or so, used.

 

[MrDowntown]

picked her up from the UPS center this morning...didn't want it to spend another day on a truck.

all looks ok at this point... got it just hanging out by my desk, acclimating....

it had pulled a little sharp during it's journey, about 1/2 step. action looks ok, but i'll check it for sure a little later.

strings are rusted, couple of the frets show some as well... not a huge deal. looks to be in great shape for an 8 y.o. guitar. i'll plug her up tonight and see what happens!

 

[MrDowntown]

so i fiddled with it a bit during lunch... sounds and plays good.... except the high e gets buzzy/pingy at about 17. i suppose the action is a little low... the neck appears straight; disclaimer, i've not laid a straight edge on it...only my eye, but i see not bow nor belly in it

A couple of things...

1) i need a string gage (don't i ) never owned one before... what is a good/decent gage?

2) want a small turn of the bridge screw raise the string height enough that 17-22 don't ping out? or, do i really need to putz with the neck/truss rod? the high E is the only string that is giving me fits.

 

[MrDowntown]

so i fiddled with it a bit during lunch... sounds and plays good.... except the high e gets buzzy/pingy at about 17. i suppose the action is a little low... the neck appears straight; disclaimer, i've not laid a straight edge on it...only my eye, but i see not bow nor belly in it

A couple of things...

1) i need a string gage (don't i ) never owned one before... what is a good/decent gage?

2) want a small turn of the bridge screw raise the string height enough that 17-22 don't ping out? or, do i really need to putz with the neck/truss rod? the high E is the only string that is giving me fits.

Meh...the PUPS were SO high...the baby E was hitting the top of the dang pole.

Got to tell ya boys...its a bitch getting older... my eyes didn't even see that initially, until i put on readers, and hit it with a flashlight.

 

[MrDowntown]

Alright so playing this thing off and on past few days...

It plays very nicely..smooth and fairly fast. Frets are dressed very well...no rough edges or ends. Fit and finish are quite nice Also. I'm not keen on the placement of the volume knob...but not a huge deal.

The PUPs....theyre ok...not spectacular imo. A little dull and lifeless to my ear. What would be spme recommendations if I decide to swap'em?

Thanks

 

[napalmdeath]

Alright so playing this thing off and on past few days...

It plays very nicely..smooth and fairly fast. Frets are dressed very well...no rough edges or ends. Fit and finish are quite nice Also. I'm not keen on the placement of the volume knob...but not a huge deal.

The PUPs....theyre ok...not spectacular imo. A little dull and lifeless to my ear. What would be spme recommendations if I decide to swap'em?

Thanks

I put a Duncan Custom/'59 in my PRS. Sounds pretty damn good.

The PRS pickups are bland, to say the least.

 

[Red_Label]

I've got an SE Tremonti and like most other imports, it doesn't give much up to American stuff these days. I've owned American PRS Customs and the SE holds up well. Same goes with the ESPs versus Ltds that I've owned. I'm not saying that imports are 100% as good, but they're pretty damn good! And the fact that I can even stand to play imports after owned numerous PRS, ESP, Anderson, Gibson, MusicMan, etc flagship brands... says it all. I sure couldn't go back to cheap amps! Guitar dollars go much further these days than amp dollars. That's because the amp and pickups matter more... especially for gain tones. I'm also currently playing a sweet Epiphone '56 candy apple red limited edition LP that's as fun to play as my current Gibby (LP Classic).

 

[MrDowntown]

I've got an SE Tremonti and like most other imports, it doesn't give much up to American stuff these days. I've owned American PRS Customs and the SE holds up well. Same goes with the ESPs versus Ltds that I've owned. I'm not saying that imports are 100% as good, but they're pretty damn good! And the fact that I can even stand to play imports after owned numerous PRS, ESP, Anderson, Gibson, MusicMan, etc flagship brands... says it all. I sure couldn't go back to cheap amps! Guitar dollars go much further these days than amp dollars. That's because the amp and pickups matter more... especially for gain tones. I'm also currently playing a sweet Epiphone '56 candy apple red limited edition LP that's as fun to play as my current Gibby (LP Classic).

yea... it feels really good. typically, for me, it's a fret wire thing (when they're all snaggy and sharp), but this one isn' that way at all. Very well dressed. the fret board shined and darkened up like a champ. never owned, nor played much, a single cut/LP style...it's taking me some getting used to, but nice guitar for the scratch, no doubt.

 

[MrDowntown]

been thinking of maybe picking up some Jalen Pups... a PAF vibe-pup. the Jalen 78 has a PAF vibe to it... about 9 output, a2 magnet.

The Duncan, mentioned above,... doesn't it have a PAF, but hotter feel?