MikeChandler
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2015
- Messages
- 84
Sparing every expense, and raiding my parts bin at a frenzied level, I present you the Bernie Marsden SE fully modded (finally).
I bought this guitar from ProAudiostar.com; they have a good deal on the black ones. I figured at their price point I should give it a go. Immediately right out of the box I bonded with the neck - it's the singular best PRS neck carve I've played on, and I've owned a few. Really it was the Anderton's review of the neck and interview with BM himself that made me pull the trigger on this one. But I specifically wanted the black one as I ascertained that no maple veneer (another glued layer) would be muting the maple cap on the mahogany. Kudos to proaudiostar for the rapid shipping!
I had some spare parts handy:
And I bought a couple things too:
The Slash pickups are " very good". Definitely better than the SC245, with more of a woody sound. I'll probably try a set of SD Antiquity or the Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAFs. Clean the Slash's are a tad dull - rounded and somewhat darker pickups. With adjustments of the amp, and cranked they do deliver the goods with very impressive crunch tones. Solos open up with the hotter PAF scream. They are definitely very good, but I'd hesitate to cal them great.
The Klusons did not live up to my expectations. One of them was bent, but I might have done that years ago which could be why they were in the parts bin. Luckily the Gibson Deluxe tuners (by schaller) were the same size with just a tad longer sleeve; they mounted perfectly. Tuning and tuning stabililty were both immproved.
I have the guitar setup with 10s, and it plays very fast. The neck is a super treat - and I like the black/bound look. It was a bit of a pain to intonate the bridge with the locking studs, but I did get it, and it's very good (i have never had back luck with a usa stop tail and ernie ball 10-46).
Overall I am extremely satisfied with this guitar; I feel I got it at a steal, put some spare parts to very good use, and have a guitar I am not worried about chips/dings/etc - but a solid player with a great tone. I only wish I had a couple of these back in the 80s when I actually played full-time. But I'm happy for the BM now, even nearing retirement.
The obligatory pics:
I bought this guitar from ProAudiostar.com; they have a good deal on the black ones. I figured at their price point I should give it a go. Immediately right out of the box I bonded with the neck - it's the singular best PRS neck carve I've played on, and I've owned a few. Really it was the Anderton's review of the neck and interview with BM himself that made me pull the trigger on this one. But I specifically wanted the black one as I ascertained that no maple veneer (another glued layer) would be muting the maple cap on the mahogany. Kudos to proaudiostar for the rapid shipping!
I had some spare parts handy:
- Set of SD Alnico Pro II Slash signature pickups.
- Grovers, Klusons, and Gibson Deluxe (schaller) tuners
- Schaller strap locks.
And I bought a couple things too:
- USA Stop Tail (pull from an S2 singlecut)
- Tonepros locking USA studs
- Pigtail steel (long) insert bushings.
- PRS b stock singlecut case (shipping to me still)
The Slash pickups are " very good". Definitely better than the SC245, with more of a woody sound. I'll probably try a set of SD Antiquity or the Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAFs. Clean the Slash's are a tad dull - rounded and somewhat darker pickups. With adjustments of the amp, and cranked they do deliver the goods with very impressive crunch tones. Solos open up with the hotter PAF scream. They are definitely very good, but I'd hesitate to cal them great.
The Klusons did not live up to my expectations. One of them was bent, but I might have done that years ago which could be why they were in the parts bin. Luckily the Gibson Deluxe tuners (by schaller) were the same size with just a tad longer sleeve; they mounted perfectly. Tuning and tuning stabililty were both immproved.
I have the guitar setup with 10s, and it plays very fast. The neck is a super treat - and I like the black/bound look. It was a bit of a pain to intonate the bridge with the locking studs, but I did get it, and it's very good (i have never had back luck with a usa stop tail and ernie ball 10-46).
Overall I am extremely satisfied with this guitar; I feel I got it at a steal, put some spare parts to very good use, and have a guitar I am not worried about chips/dings/etc - but a solid player with a great tone. I only wish I had a couple of these back in the 80s when I actually played full-time. But I'm happy for the BM now, even nearing retirement.
The obligatory pics:
