Markcarl
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 19, 2023
- Messages
- 227
Here’s a follow up to my previous incoming NF53 thread: https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/incoming-ngd-nf53.58492/page-2#post-874250 after having several weeks of playing time on the NF53 and opportunities to compare it to the Studio.
These are very different guitars. They are more dissimilar than alike. The NF53 is very light at 7 lbs 2 oz. It has a bright / chimey sound when played acoustically and plugged in. This is probably due to its swamp ash body, bolt on maple neck, and steel bridge with large brass saddles.
The Studio weighs 7 lbs 10 oz. The Studio is a darker sounding guitar with more bass response than the NS53. I think this is probably due to the mahogany body and set mahogany neck.
I originally thought I would be able to describe the tonal differences between the pickups on the NF53 with the pickups on the Studio. I realize now I can just compare / contrast the sounds of the two guitars. I don’t know how much of the difference in tone is due to the pickups, woods used, neck construction, bridge, etc…
I played the neck pickup on the NF53 and Studio back to back through the Real Time Analyzer block of my Axe-FX 3 to compare the frequency response curves. The real time analyzer confirmed what my ears hear. The studio has more output below 200 hz than the NF53. If I cut frequencies at / below 200 hz by 2-3 dB with an equalizer the frequency response of the Studio looked closer to the frequency response of the NF53 and the guitars sounded more similar.
The tone from the NF53 bridge pickup has an aggressive bark to it. It doesn’t sound thin or ice pickey. To my ears the tone from the Studio bridge humbucker has a fuller sound than the NF53. When coil tapped, I think the Studio bridge pickup has a thinner sound than the NF53 bridge pick up. I haven’t compared the frequency response curves for each guitar’s bridge pickup using the real time analyzer yet.
The NF53 has a very simple control layout with a 3 way switch and a single volume and tone control. The Studio has a 5 way switch similar to a Stratocaster and a volume and tone control. The tone control has a pull switch to coil tap the bridge humbucking pickup. There are lots more variations available with the studio.
I really like the neck on the NF53. It’s thicker than the pattern neck on the Studio but still comfortable to play. The NF53 neck feels like a cross between the 594 pattern vintage neck and the DGT neck.
Overall Impressions:
I’m blown away by the NF53. It has a brighter sound than my Studio, DGTs, or 594. I’ve never heard the NF53 sound muddy. I think it compliments my other guitars really well.
Here’s a link to the first recording I made with the NF53. It’s a single track using the neck pickup of the NF53 going into a Fractal FM-9. I didn’t use any EQ but did use a liberal amount of reverb and delay!
These are very different guitars. They are more dissimilar than alike. The NF53 is very light at 7 lbs 2 oz. It has a bright / chimey sound when played acoustically and plugged in. This is probably due to its swamp ash body, bolt on maple neck, and steel bridge with large brass saddles.
The Studio weighs 7 lbs 10 oz. The Studio is a darker sounding guitar with more bass response than the NS53. I think this is probably due to the mahogany body and set mahogany neck.
I originally thought I would be able to describe the tonal differences between the pickups on the NF53 with the pickups on the Studio. I realize now I can just compare / contrast the sounds of the two guitars. I don’t know how much of the difference in tone is due to the pickups, woods used, neck construction, bridge, etc…
I played the neck pickup on the NF53 and Studio back to back through the Real Time Analyzer block of my Axe-FX 3 to compare the frequency response curves. The real time analyzer confirmed what my ears hear. The studio has more output below 200 hz than the NF53. If I cut frequencies at / below 200 hz by 2-3 dB with an equalizer the frequency response of the Studio looked closer to the frequency response of the NF53 and the guitars sounded more similar.
The tone from the NF53 bridge pickup has an aggressive bark to it. It doesn’t sound thin or ice pickey. To my ears the tone from the Studio bridge humbucker has a fuller sound than the NF53. When coil tapped, I think the Studio bridge pickup has a thinner sound than the NF53 bridge pick up. I haven’t compared the frequency response curves for each guitar’s bridge pickup using the real time analyzer yet.
The NF53 has a very simple control layout with a 3 way switch and a single volume and tone control. The Studio has a 5 way switch similar to a Stratocaster and a volume and tone control. The tone control has a pull switch to coil tap the bridge humbucking pickup. There are lots more variations available with the studio.
I really like the neck on the NF53. It’s thicker than the pattern neck on the Studio but still comfortable to play. The NF53 neck feels like a cross between the 594 pattern vintage neck and the DGT neck.
Overall Impressions:
I’m blown away by the NF53. It has a brighter sound than my Studio, DGTs, or 594. I’ve never heard the NF53 sound muddy. I think it compliments my other guitars really well.
Here’s a link to the first recording I made with the NF53. It’s a single track using the neck pickup of the NF53 going into a Fractal FM-9. I didn’t use any EQ but did use a liberal amount of reverb and delay!
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