Bernie SE Upgrades

ParanoidAndroid91 said:
Are the US PRS bridges good candidates for an alternative?
Click to expand...

Personally, I would go for the MannMade 2300. The Benie has metric studs and wells. John will send the tools necessary to change them, and the US wells. They come out like butter, and it takes less time to do them than it does to change a set of strings. I'm not sure if the PRS bridges come with studs and wells.
 
I just put a 2300 on my Bernie. It was too tall for my liking with the studs (even the stock ones) all the way down, so I deepened the holes enough so the wells could sit below the surface a couple 32nds, then used a rat-tail file to enlarge the tops of the holes. This way the stud pedestal can sit in the recessed area & the bridge can essentially rest on the face of the guitar. Problem solved.

I guess it should be noted that the factory wells protruded from the face about 2/32". The brass replacements are little taller and have less taper on the bottom. Installed in the stock holes they probably stuck up 4/32 or so. Anyone else experience this?

Anyways the surgery was really easy & I love the sound of this thing.
 
bodinski said:
I just put a 2300 on my Bernie. It was too tall for my liking with the studs (even the stock ones) all the way down, so I deepened the holes enough so the wells could sit below the surface a couple 32nds, then used a rat-tail file to enlarge the tops of the holes. This way the stud pedestal can sit in the recessed area & the bridge can essentially rest on the face of the guitar. Problem solved.

I guess it should be noted that the factory wells protruded from the face about 2/32". The brass replacements are little taller and have less taper on the bottom. Installed in the stock holes they probably stuck up 4/32 or so. Anyone else experience this?

Anyways the surgery was really easy & I love the sound of this thing.
Click to expand...

I put a 2300 on my Bernie as well. Stock studs were flush, as are the new ones. However, I have my SE One on the work bench now. New studs protrude 1/32. Guess I'll pull them back out and bust out the drill.
 
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For those of you who have installed the MannMade bridge, a quick question. They offer the metric model as well as the US...I assume that the metric is the direct drop-in for the Bernie. Is that what y'all have used?

By the way...I'm on my second Bernie. Sold the first for some reason...probably the three knobs rather than my preferred four knob setup. But after a number of other guitars since then...including a couple Gibson Les Pauls and several PRS core models (have a Grissom right now...also three knob)...I realized that the Bernie was probably one of my all time favorites, so I picked up another. Yep...still is! The guitar in my avatar was my first core model...a Ted McCarty DC 245. Don't have it anymore, so I may have to change that.
 
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guitargeezer said:
For those of you who have installed the MannMade bridge, a quick question. They offer the metric model as well as the US...I assume that the metric is the direct drop-in for the Bernie. Is that what y'all have used?.
Click to expand...

The metric version is made for the SE's. That is what you'd want on the Bernie.
 
This is AMAZING! What a sexy guitar!

Stoptail22 said:
full
Click to expand...
 
Mick Ronson Played a 68 Model turned everything up full blast with a cry baby wha and let rip, uncovered pickups as you stated. As for Bernie modsI was lucky with help and advice and to be honest copied Bodia's beauty i/e phase 3 locking tuners, core nut, BKP Abraxas pups, 2300 manmade bridge, push pull and core strap buttons. Plays very nicely indeed, a great guitar. shown this so many times BWTF I
20161018_114450.jpg
like it!!!!
 
bodia said:
The metric version is made for the SE's. That is what you'd want on the Bernie.
Click to expand...
I know the MannMade website asks whether you're ordering for a US or Core/SE model, but I suspect the bridge is the same.
I had a US stock bridge on my Bernie for a while & it's dimensions are virtually the same as the import model (just a more precise finish). Why would there be a need for two different Mann 2300s?
 
bodinski said:
I know the MannMade website asks whether you're ordering for a US or Core/SE model, but I suspect the bridge is the same.
I had a US stock bridge on my Bernie for a while & it's dimensions are virtually the same as the import model (just a more precise finish). Why would there be a need for two different Mann 2300s?
Click to expand...

The studs on the SEs are metric.
 
Yes, the threads of the SE studs are metric, but the US bridges will still mount on them, as does the Mann 2300.
Back to my point & disregarding the studs, I believe there is only one 2300 bridge for PRS guitars, US or import.
 
bodinski said:
Yes, the threads of the SE studs are metric, but the US bridges will still mount on them, as does the Mann 2300.
Back to my point & disregarding the studs, I believe there is only one 2300 bridge for PRS guitars, US or import.
Click to expand...

You are correct. Same bridge.
 
Alan Manning said:
Mick Ronson Played a 68 Model turned everything up full blast with a cry baby wha and let rip, uncovered pickups as you stated. As for Bernie modsI was lucky with help and advice and to be honest copied Bodia's beauty i/e phase 3 locking tuners, core nut, BKP Abraxas pups, 2300 manmade bridge, push pull and core strap buttons. Plays very nicely indeed, a great guitar. shown this so many times BWTF I
20161018_114450.jpg
like it!!!!
Click to expand...
That is a stunning guitar, How are you finding the Abraxas set ? I have them in my Bernie.
 
Thanks for all your posts since my last visit - some great pics and advice! I wasn't notified of the new posts, so I apologise if I appeared rude (since I asked for advice).

Lately, I've seen the Seymour Duncan 'Whole Lotta Humbucker' pickups and thought they may be a great addition, given the guitar that the Bernie is largely based on. Users report more pronounced mids and 'that' Led Zeppelin tone being easy to attain... I'm going to look into them as well. Ultimately, I'm taking my time but will definitely be happy with the results at least! I'll keep my eye out for any new replies here, too.
 
[URL=http://s1172.photobucket.com/user/tyfu20/media/bernie_zps1wq3mdnl.jpg.html][/URL]
a>
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ParanoidAndroid91 said:
Thanks for all your posts since my last visit - some great pics and advice! I wasn't notified of the new posts, so I apologise if I appeared rude (since I asked for advice).

Lately, I've seen the Seymour Duncan 'Whole Lotta Humbucker' pickups and thought they may be a great addition, given the guitar that the Bernie is largely based on. Users report more pronounced mids and 'that' Led Zeppelin tone being easy to attain... I'm going to look into them as well. Ultimately, I'm taking my time but will definitely be happy with the results at least! I'll keep my eye out for any new replies here, too.
Click to expand...

I have the Whole Lotta Humbuckers' in mine, coil split and they sound great. Enjoy it!

bernie_zps1wq3mdnl.jpg~original
bernie_zps1wq3mdnl.jpg~original
 
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