Astonishing Trem!

[Gyakuto]

Being a Vai/Van Halen aficionado, I use the bar a lot in my playing and LOVE the Floyd Rose trem because of it’s complete, guaranteed tuning stability. It’s never let me down. So it was with some trepidation that I decided to try out the tremolo system on my new CUSTOM 24 because I wanted to delay any disappointment, and was expecting it to go out of tune. It hasn’t! It’s bang in tune after a few tentative dips and pull ups and then I dive bombed the trem (whilst demonically flicking my tongue around, of course) and lo and behold....still in tune. I can’t believe it....I’m so happy It’s also easily as smooth as a Floyd Rose with an equally positive response.

My fingertips are so sore I won’t be able to play for the rest of today....scale practice only for me... but with a warm feeling in my heart....

Is it OK to say I love Paul Reed Smith?

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Seriously, the trem was the number one reason I switched to PRS in 1993.

Allen wrenches are for IKEA furniture now.

 

[Gyakuto]

Allen wrenches are for IKEA furniture now.

Ha ha ha!

I might’ve told a small lie in a previous post (due to a poor memory) about the Custom 24 being my first PRS. I do actually have a custom 22 SE (or something) in whale blue that I gave to my brother a few years ago and forgot all about. It just never stayed in tune which is why I gave it to him to learn upon. This is why I had trepidation in trying the trem of my custom 24.

 

[Tony M.]

The "cheap" ones on the S2 models work well too.

My first trem equipped PRS was an S2 CU22 SH.
I liked the guitar and was planning to block the
"tremolo" so the guitar would stay in tune.

Nope.

I now have three S2s with VIBRATO arms on them.
I am not gentle with the arms in any way.
The guitars stay in tune very well.
It was a very pleasant surprise.

 

[Gyakuto]

S2’s are American made, aren’t they?

 

[Tony M.]

Yes they are.

 

[Gyakuto]

Thus they’re crafted by true artisans. I wonder if my Korean £500 SE just doesn’t have the best manufacturing/hardware.

 

[veinbuster]

It just never stayed in tune which is why I gave it to him to learn upon.

I’ve always tried to get something in people’s hands that would minimize their frustration in trying to learn guitar. I don’t want them to get frustrated and give up because they are fighting the gear too hard: action too high, terrible tuning stability...

I keep a couple of old guitars just to use as loaners for people wanting to learn. If they never come back, that’s fine with me.

 

[Gyakuto]

I’ve always tried to get something in people’s hands that would minimize their frustration in trying to learn guitar. I don’t want them to get frustrated and give up because they are fighting the gear too hard: action too high, terrible tuning stability...

I keep a couple of old guitars just to use as loaners for people wanting to learn. If they never come back, that’s fine with me.

My SE is a fine guitar as long as the trem isn’t touched, but I agree...along those years struggling with guitars with egg-slicer actions and rubbish pick ups. If I had my time again I’d buy an Anniversary Custom 24 from the very start!

 

[Iceman101]

Core nut and locking tuners will make an SE solid as a rock

 

[Ovibos]

Thus they’re crafted by true artisans. I wonder if my Korean £500 SE just doesn’t have the best manufacturing/hardware.

S2s use the same bridge as SEs, IIRC. Tuning keys and nuts are slightly upgraded tho.

 

[Gyakuto]

Core nut and locking tuners will make an SE solid as a rock

So the hardware is the ‘issue’?

 

[Gyakuto]

S2s use the same bridge as SEs, IIRC. Tuning keys and nuts are slightly upgraded tho.

More specifically, it’s the nut snd tuners that are the ‘issue’ ?

 

[Gyakuto]

Many of my mates have guitars that simply don’t stay in tune...cheap, old, poor designs and they seem to live with it. I wonder if I’m being a princess hoping/expecting my guitar stay in tune during normal playing! Anyway the point is, it’s bloody spot on...I love it!

 

[bodia]

Seriously, the trem was the number one reason I switched to PRS in 1993.

Allen wrenches are for IKEA furniture now.

Glad you chimed in. Thought I was going to have to post "that" video again.

 

[Iceman101]

Glad you chimed in. Thought I was going to have to post "that" video again.

I like that video

 

[Iceman101]

So the hardware is the ‘issue’?

It;s a combo of both but the SE nut is the main offender.

 

[Gyakuto]

Glad you chimed in. Thought I was going to have to post "that" video again.

What is this 'video', of which you speak?

 

[bodia]

What is this 'video', of which you speak?

I’m not tellin’

 

[dogrocketp]

Suffice it to say Sergio would have scared many a Hollywood director with his ability.