Inspector Tom is back with another setup video. This time on the bench Tom has a beautiful example of an SE Zach Myers model. DROOL! prsguitars.com/...
I just said this on another video comment (review of the Zach model) but it bears repeating and Ill expand a little on it. I think its obvious that PRS is not only a great designer and builder, but he isn't in this guitar selling gig strictly to make a buck. He is passionate about progressing the instrument and delivering quality and he ensures that happens from the top down... meaning that when you buy a PRS you are getting a great playing guitar regardless of price, $6000.00 or $600.00. These are probably among the best guitar value on the planet.
Agreed. I have two Zach Myers SEs, both of which have received upgraded tuners and pickups, but the build quality of the guitars themselves is remarkable. With the aforementioned upgrades they are the best guitars I've ever played, hands down.
Great video! I've worked at guitar stores and done guitar tech/luthier work for years. We carried all the MAJOR brands and as part of our process for selling ANY guitar, whether $69 or $6999, we setup every instrument that was sold. My hats off to PRS on the SE series. Without a doubt, the most consistent setup, finishes, overall workmanship, etc right out of the box than ANY other guitar brand and model (hate to say it, but even a little better than the non-SE PRS's models when it comes to setup specifically). I understand that in shipping and different climates that guitar parts can and do move around, but these SE's were exceptional--hats off to PRS on this series and the guys like Tom that do such a great Job. On the flip side, Gibsons (pick a model) were on the opposite side of the spectrum. You pay $4000 for a guitar that hasn't had the head stock sanded well, over spray where it shouldn't be or bubbles n runs in the finish, messy joints and bingdings, dead spots on the neck, and the intonation was....well...often an adjustment just wouldn't do it...it wasn't going to have good intonation no matter how much adjusting you did. From a dealership perspective, PRS has always been so easy to work with, as were most of the manufacturers, again Gibson always being the odd man out--they were EXTREMELY difficult to work with in EVERY aspect of the relationship. I figure you have to buy a Gibson for the Americana of them--kinda like the Harley Davidsons of the 80's. I've owned both Gibsons and PRS's and both have their place, but nice to see the behind the scenes work that PRS puts into this SE line. They could have charged double what they do and they would still be a good deal. Thank heavens they didn't take the Gibson route and move their MSRP prices up to sell more guitars like Gibson did as sales drooped (you can find tons of marketing info on blogs if you are interested--there's even a Forbes article on it). Gibson tried to make a comeback buy cutting corners and lowering prices as their sales drooped for years (in the mid to late 80's, pre-grunge, you couldn't give away a Les Paul--I sold two, a Heritage 80 Elite and a Kalamazoo, took two years to sell them, one for $350 and the other for $400, and I felt guilty like I had ripped the sellers off at the time) so Gibson moved the prices up and at least in part due to the public's mindset of "if it costs more, it must be better", coupled with a new love for all things retro pertaining to guitars, Gibson sales actually went up! Thx PRS for selling a great product at a price it is worth and then some, being easy to work with and not adopting an attitude that you are the ONLY REAL guitar manufacturer on the planet!!! Ok Gibson lovers, flame away!!
I think this should shut up, all the people who bitch around that the SE's aren't ''real'' PRS's or that they're ''cheap''.I actually bought a SE Tremonti Custom(ltd.edition with the quilted maple veneer) last year, from a big online music store,that ships all over Europe.The guitar played great,right out of the box,no set-up needed( I actually brought it to a friend who is a tech/pro musician/instructor,to check it out and he said it's already been set-up) ,no fret buzz,nothing to complain about.That's what I like about this company,they put the same quality standards,they apply on their high-end models,on their ''budget'' instruments as well.
***** Absolutely,even though I modded the hell out of this baby. :) The friend of mine,I mentionend, has 2 SE's( a 2012 Bernie Marsden & a 2013 Orianthi model).He upgraded them (pickups,nuts,tuners) and is using them all the time for gigs,his classes etc. and this guy owns a bunch of high-end american & japanese guitars.This shows how good these ''cheap'' guitars are.
***** Respectfully disagree. I have 4 USA Tremonti's, a USA Singlcut, and a Tremonti SE. The SE's are high quality and affordable guitars, but they are a bit of a stretch from "just like" the USA models.
you should know by now that guitar players,especially in the U.S,are the most judgmental group of people on the planet. Ironic enough back in the days of Fender Japan for example I remember all the Fender purist chastising everyone for buying MiJ Fender guitars...now everyone thinks they are some of the best Fenders made and they now fetch good money. It's like that with everything guitar so don't be surprised when this happens.
gscgold Google "Asian guitar plant/factory working conditions and pay"; for me, that alone is reason to buy American, without even getting to the quality issues (which, admittedly, have improved remarkably in recent years). It's NOT about being a snob, it's about being a morally responsible person. Know what you're implicitly supporting when you buy foreign-made.
ever worked in a factory in the United States? and I mean...on the production line..year in year out..not a day or a week or a summer job...I mean...do it for a living long term
Tom, thank you for your attention to detail on these SE set-ups, especially in making sure the nut slots are cut correctly. I'm really thinking of getting one of these Zach Myers models and it's good to know they go through your workbench before getting to us consumers! (I do a lot of my own guitar adjustments, but I currently do not have a set of nut files. I guess I should go ahead and invest in some.) Anyway, good job!
This is AWESOME. I've got a PRS SE 245 coming and this gives me the knowledge to know that it is set up correctly. Thanks Paul Reed Smith and Inspector Tom !!
mine was shipped to me in Canada, and it came out of the box, shipping material ...in tune! and intonated...it was bang on!! Killer Guitar, with an amazing singing tone....smooth pots and sustains real purdy.
You guys are fuck'n awesome. I love your guitars: The way they look, they way they feel, and play. You guys pay some much attention to the details and this video illustrates this pretty well. This is what makes you stand out of the crowd. Love you... peace.
Great job Tom on the Zach Myers model. I have had a PRS SAS for 20 years and I love it. This is my next guitar. It is very gratifying to know that the SE models are inspected and tweaked in Maryland by experts like you. This is a testament to PRS himself and his attention to details. We can buy one without any worries about quality and just worry about being a better guitar player and creating music instead.
My SE definitely was NOT inspected and tweaked in Maryland. Smith is bullshitting about that. If you want a Myers SE, I'm looking to get rid of mine; too many problems with it for a new guitar.
Anybody know what gauge of string these are shipped with? PRS site says all SE models are 9-42, but then goes on to say all non-piezo hollowbodys are shipped with 10-46?
I bought into the hype and got a Myers SE. When it arrived the pots were scratchy and noisy, and the pickup selector didn't work. I fixed the problems myself; I wish I'd sent it back; the neck is like a log and the pickups aren't the best. A few months later I bought a MIM Tele; it arrived in perfect condition, ready to gig, and it was €300 cheaper. I won't be buying another PRS. The QC is atrocious, and fancy wood is not the be-all and end-all of a good guitar.
well since there seems to be someone from PRS replying on this thread, I'd like to ax (teehee) a question. I have a 1988 studio model. It has two fender RI '69 pickups in the middle and neck. (I love HSS guitars btw). The only problem is that the low end is very loose and boomy in the neck position. great in the middle oddly. I wanna be able to rock out with the JB humbucker (which is awesome) and then be able to quickly switch to a good SRV tone in the neck position. Since pickups react very differently with a highly resonant mahogany body than say alder etc, do you have any suggestions for a pickup that has a tight low end in the neck of my PRS? I wonder if maybe the mahogony just doesnt absorb some of the lower frequencies like other woods? (I base this guess on multiple videos I've seen on tone woods that suggest that wood doesnt add tone but rather subtracts some frequencies - but I'm far from an expert). So, SRV type tone in my neck pickup? I would mow your lawn and wash your car if you could fix this issue for me! : )
mine came with all the strings shifted to the right it seems, high E is way too far in the fretboard and the low E is too far off near the edge of the fret board, weird
I just took to plastic off of the back cavities on my PRS SE about 20 minutes ago. Also, the intonation is way off on the B and G strings of mine. So, my guitar must've went through the hands of another inspector lol.
I recently ordered one of these used in mint condition from musiciansfriend.com Are used guitars such as this one set up before shipping? or is it only brand new ones that are set up?
In short, no. At one point in time, (*when your guitar was new*) your guitar came through our Maryland factory and was inspected and setup by one of our technicians. Considering that you bought your guitar second-hand from Musicians Friend, the only setup and inspection your guitar may have received (after it was returned to Musicians Friend) would have been conducted by the Musicians Friend staff. Is there and issue with the setup of your guitar?
Now, if your guitar was returned by it's first owner due to a flaw, malfunction, or a repair need, Musicians Friend would send the guitar back to our tech center for repair and reinspection. Our techs then fix the issue, and send it back to Musicians Friend. Hope this information helps!
Looked at 4 different SE models in a local store last week---all of the Korean models had very obvious flaws (finish, nuts, etc.) The 1 model made in Indonesia (SE Standard 24) was flawless.
2017 logo is awesome, pickups are better, the sustain is ridiculous it needs a knob to reduce It feels like the expensive ones but the veneer is just ok. by the way the honey looks safe the green is not for all unless u want something different. You can INTONATE it Tks prs. Sorry but now I own one that feels better guitar than my Gibson. Super quality except the veneer imho Amen.
I know who he is, and I don't care. I'm not a signature guitar man myself, but once I started playing it, I knew I had to have it. After almost 20 years it's probably the most fun, comfortable, and inspiring guitar I've played, and I have played more than my fair share. Mentally I ignored the SE logo and Zach Myers' name and got back to the simple joy of just playing a fine guitar, just losing myself in the music, despite how cliche that sounds.
