Disappointing NGD 1986 Pre-Standard

[RC Mike]

I'm torn on this one. It's a Black Pearl 1986 pre-Standard, with a SN under 500. I got it for $2,500. Described as being in great condition, which externally it is. It's Black Pearl, which is a really cool finish. It changes under light and I can see blue, purple, black, and everything in between in it. No big nicks, frets look largely unplayed, and just a little rash on the headstock in the usual spots. Some tiny spots on the body around the edges.

But inside, it's been routed out in the pickup cavities to fit a different set of PUs in it. Where the sweet switch had been it's been chiseled shallower to put in a toggle switch. The rotary was replaced with a tone knob.

The pickups were supposedly T&B, but they're a Bare Knuckles set. Bare Knuckles doesn't label their pickups, so it's a bit tough to tell what they actually are. They do sound nice.

One of the tuners has had its thumb screw break off inside the tuner shaft. That's likely fixable, but probably not by me.

Anyway, I've only played it a little. Nice guitar, but not what I was hoping for.

 

[RobRiggs]

Damn…poor thing’s been butchered. Doesn’t seem to be a bad price even with the “alterations.”

 

[SinSir]

Black pearl is a great finish and the other stuff.. wouldn't bother me but get it being an 86.

 

[gush]

2500.00 for a 1986 prs should have sent red flags every direction.

I understand your disappointment but a simple reverb or ebay search would have clued you in on what they go for in the wild.

Not looking to beat you up over it but what do you expect?

Regardless, I'd still love to see pics.

 

[Floyd_Argus]

Not ok that the seller did not disclose those alterations. If you went through a moderated market place like Ebay or Reverb, etc. you have good grounds to appeal and be able to return it as Not As Described. Even if you decide that you want to keep it, I personally would still register a complaint w the Reverb/Ebay etc mods that the seller is not doing their due diligence in describing the item condition accurately. Just my opinion.

 

[RC Mike]

It's a Guitar Center find. GC is like a grab-bag when it comes to used stuff. I've found they don't know how to price things that are a bit uncommon.

I've got a couple of days to see if it'll stay or go back. I'd bought it because, well, it's a low SN 1986 for $2,500. I figured that I'd enjoy it for a time until it appreciates a bit. I don't know that it'll appreciate too much.

It turns out the G-string tuner is slipping, too. I cleaned it up and it's holding. We'll see if that's a momentary thing.

Here's some photos.

 

[Floyd_Argus]

It's a Guitar Center find. GC is like a grab-bag when it comes to used stuff. I've found they don't know how to price things that are a bit uncommon.

I've got a couple of days to see if it'll stay or go back. I'd bought it because, well, it's a low SN 1986 for $2,500. I figured that I'd enjoy it for a time until it appreciates a bit. I don't know that it'll appreciate too much.

It turns out the G-string tuner is slipping, too. I cleaned it up and it's holding. We'll see if that's a momentary thing.

Here's some photos.

with Guitar Center being the seller, they allow returns for any reason as long as it's within 30 days so you're OK there.

 

[RC Mike]

with Guitar Center being the seller, they allow returns for any reason as long as it's within 30 days so you're OK there.

It's three days for something they class as Vintage, which this is. 45 days for everything else.

I did find some fun things in the case. The T on the treble pickup is rotated 90 degrees.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

This is part one of putting it back to its former glory, if that’s your thing.

 

[RC Mike]

This is part one of putting it back to its former glory, if that’s your thing.

I'm thinking about it. I could find someone to extract the broken screw from the tuner. Could pretty easily put the pickups in and find a wafer rotary. I'm thinking the sweet switch might be the hardest part to find, along with then having a sweet switch washer. Is that a thing? Probably before my time.

I've been playing it since I created the post, and it's growing on me. I did a quick string change when I opened it up to look inside, but it needs a setup. The trem is decked. It is neat to see a one-piece trem. Maybe I'll do a setup tomorrow night.

 

[DISTORT6]

It's beautiful. You can play the crap out of it and enjoy it.
I'd rather have this than some museum piece that you have to wear white gloves to handle.

 

[deathworlder]

It's a Guitar Center find. GC is like a grab-bag when it comes to used stuff. I've found they don't know how to price things that are a bit uncommon.

I've got a couple of days to see if it'll stay or go back. I'd bought it because, well, it's a low SN 1986 for $2,500. I figured that I'd enjoy it for a time until it appreciates a bit. I don't know that it'll appreciate too much.

It turns out the G-string tuner is slipping, too. I cleaned it up and it's holding. We'll see if that's a momentary thing.

Here's some photos.

Yeesh...
The compromised neck joint would be a no-go for me.

 

[bodia]

Tough call. Sucks that it turned out to be kind of a Frankenstein. Love Black Pearl

 

[gush]

I didn't realize you had the T and B pickups with it.

With the butchering its had done it will never be a valuable vintage prs but you could put the stock pickups back in and have a cool vintage prs that you could gig with.

I think John Mann still sells blue wafer rotary switch but they are expensive.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Looks like yours (rotary switch) is for sale on the ‘verb -

https://reverb.com/item/84934351-4-1986-prs-5-way-rotary-switch-custom-24-1987-1988-1985-sweet-paul-reed-smith?utm_source=rev-ios-app&utm_medium=ios-share&utm_campaign=listing&utm_content=84934351

 

[RC Mike]

Yeesh...
The compromised neck joint would be a no-go for me.

Yeah, I’m not sure how much wood is left there.

I think what I’ll do is see if I can take it to Willie’s American Guitars and have them take a look at it. They’d be able to tell me if that can be filled/repaired and if it’s a problem.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Yeah, I’m not sure how much wood is left there.

I think what I’ll do is see if I can take it to Willie’s American Guitars and have them take a look at it. They’d be able to tell me if that can be filled/repaired and if it’s a problem.

Some careful routing, wood fillet and dowels would be the repair that I’d go with, maybe using a hardwood similar to the neck to give structural integrity.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Wow! Did they cut that trough just for the pole piece screws instead of ya know, just putting some shorter ones in there?

 

[deathworlder]

Just noticed...
Is it a refinish?

 

[RC Mike]

Wow! Did they cut that trough just for the pole piece screws instead of ya know, just putting some shorter ones in there?

The length of the pickup legs. Rather than modify the pickups, they went for the wood. The channel by the neck looks like they wanted the wiring to run through it. They made it far deeper than it would have to be, too.

It looks like it was recently done, as the pickups look very new. Not a bit of wear or tarnish. It does look like the T&Bs had been taken out previously and put back in, as the bridge pickup has had a new lead attached to it. That leads me to think it had been pulled and then reinstalled at some point.

My guess is that someone inherited it or came into the guitar cheap enough to have no clue what they had. It’s a bit baffling, as it wouldn’t have been more than a moment’s research to find out a ballpark value.