Dilemma - which guitar should I get next?

[Justin1971]

So, I have a 1994 Artist II at the moment and enjoy playing live (and rehearsing). but now looking at a single coil type sound but don't want a Strat or Tele.
I have 2 guitars in mind - SE Custom 24-08 Quilt and a SE NF3 as I believe they could give me the sounds I want with the coils split?

The NF3 is a little cheaper but from looking at reviews, the 24-08 seems to have far more tonal variations with the independent coil split on each humbucker.

I don't mind shelling out the extra for the 24-08 if it will do the job (but I am intrigued by the NF3)

Thought from anyone who has one (or both)?

Thanks

 

[Greywolf]

I'd lean towards the 24-08 for its versatility . Play both and see which one feels better.

 

[Spudman]

I love my SE 24-08 (7lbs 6oz). The neck is wonderful. Wider and not too thick. Way thinner than my SE DGT. The pickups are perhaps the brightest of all my SEs, but the pickup taps do not make it sound like a Strat or Tele, and I have plenty of those for comparisons.

It definitely is a versatile guitar like Greywolf says, but if you want Strat sounds then maybe a Silver Sky? Since I have Strats and Teles, if I had to chose between the Silver Sky and 24-08 I'd get the 24-08, and that is exactly what I did. I had a SS and it didn't do it for me because I didn't like the neck, and it was kind of a dead guitar, and I really like my Strats.

The 24-08 is a really good guitar.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

If you’re primarily looking for single coil tones I’d choose neither.

 

[Prs Mods too]

All of them

 

[RC Mike]

Before assuming that coil splits will get you what you want or that the NFs will, you’d best try before you buy.

Why not just buy something with single coils? There’s a whole world of single coil guitars that aren’t Strats or Teles.

 

[Maertl513]

A used 509 or 513...

 

[Fro]

The correct answer is a NF53.

 

[Stephen J.]

I haven’t tried the SE 24-08, but I did try a SE NF3. It wasn’t bad, but I did think the top end clarity was missing. It sounded like the tone control was rolled back a bit from what I would expect. I think that has been my reaction to most SE guitars. They just don’t seem to have as wide of a frequency response.

 

[Justin1971]

I'd lean towards the 24-08 for its versatility . Play both and see which one feels better.

Easier said than done when there are no PRS stockist near me, will have to be an online purchase unfortunately.

 

[Justin1971]

If you’re primarily looking for single coil tones I’d choose neither.

I only need single coil sound for a couple of songs so coil split should be fine

 

[Justin1971]

Before assuming that coil splits will get you what you want or that the NFs will, you’d best try before you buy.

Why not just buy something with single coils? There’s a whole world of single coil guitars that aren’t Strats or Teles.

Because I need the versatility of using one guitar for my whole set - a couple of songs need that single coil sound but most are humbucker sounds. I can't be swapping and changing between songs - it stops the flow of the show and I can't afford a guitar tech to hand me different guitar lol

 

[Justin1971]

I love my SE 24-08 (7lbs 6oz). The neck is wonderful. Wider and not too thick. Way thinner than my SE DGT. The pickups are perhaps the brightest of all my SEs, but the pickup taps do not make it sound like a Strat or Tele, and I have plenty of those for comparisons.

It definitely is a versatile guitar like Greywolf says, but if you want Strat sounds then maybe a Silver Sky? Since I have Strats and Teles, if I had to chose between the Silver Sky and 24-08 I'd get the 24-08, and that is exactly what I did. I had a SS and it didn't do it for me because I didn't like the neck, and it was kind of a dead guitar, and I really like my Strats.

The 24-08 is a really good guitar.

Silver Sky's don't have noiseless pups - playing in small venues will get me a lot of hum (my lead guitarist used a Strat once at one of my our gigs and the hum was awful).

 

[Justin1971]

Probably looking for the 24-08 then, I'll let you know what I think when it arrives and I've had a chance to play.

 

[dogrocketp]

I haven’t tried the SE 24-08, but I did try a SE NF3. It wasn’t bad, but I did think the top end clarity was missing. It sounded like the tone control was rolled back a bit from what I would expect. I think that has been my reaction to most SE guitars. They just don’t seem to have as wide of a frequency response.

It’s no biggie to replace the pots. I’ve done that a couple of times.

 

[Daryl Jones]

Try the NF3 before you buy, I love mine, but you have to remember that the Narrowfield pickups are more of mini humbuckers and not single coils. They are definitely NOT a Strat sound. At least not in my hands, but I love the sounds I can get out of it.
I could easily see myself swapping out my Custom 24 for a 24-08 given the diversity of tones over the Custom 24 too.
Oops, outside voice, do NOT tell my missus I might want another guitar...

 

[Justin1971]

I finally ordered the 24-08 this morning! Now I have to wait until 30th Nov - Oh well, back to my Artist II for now lol

 

[Daryl Jones]

I finally ordered the 24-08 this morning! Now I have to wait until 30th Nov - Oh well, back to my Artist II for now lol

Isn't lusting for something fun?
I drove right past my favorite store yesterday...and I didn't look twice at the door. I know better than walking in with no direct purpose in mind. That only leads to, em, begging for forgiveness...

 

[László]

Looking for an excuse to buy another one?

You're not alone.

Owning something gets boring quickly. No one knows why. But soon after we get something we really want, we need another hit on the old gear bong.

It isn't the owning that people really love; it's the chase. That is the principle Reverb is taking to the bank.

It's also the principle behind porn sites. You have a significant other, but you still want to look. People are complicated!

"You're saying you never go to porn sites?"

"They invented Private Browsing for a reason."

 

[Justin1971]

OK, so my new SE custom 24-08 quilt will be arriving tomorrow, the first upgrade I will do is locking tuners, can anyone recommend like for like drop in tuners (same screw hoes etc.) - preferably from a UK site. I've seen these, just wondered if they'll fit without any headstock mods (e.g. drilling new holes)

PRS SE Locking Tuners Set of 6, Chrome at Gear4music

PRS SE Locking Tuners Set of 6, Chrome at Gear4music

www.gear4music.com