Given the prices of core models, no customer should be receiving an otherwise beautiful & meticulously crafted guitar w/ white, plastic t-buttons 😒

[Gtrbldr]

The look of these tuner buttons doesn’t bother me. I don’t think they look any better or worse, but they do feel better in my little fingers when tuning.

And that - feeling better - is what itnis about

 

[Prina]

For those that hate the cheap white plastic new buttons, consider an alternative: hollow natural color (black) carbon-fiber buttons: extremely low weight, not white, not plastic and definitely not cheap.

 

[SinSir]

Do we need to call a manager and fire someone?!? By the way it's Paul's design. How I remember it is him saying it was an idea he's had in his sketch book for a long time. I'm not one bit upset for PRS trying something that's easily swapable by turning a few screws. No wonder F&G have such a hard time trying something new.

 

[alantig]

No wonder F&G have such a hard time trying something new.

Exactly what Paul has said for years. When Neal Schon's sig model was announced, it was different woods than the one Neal played. Someone asked Paul why, and he said, "Because it's not mahogany and rosewood and maple, so you won't buy them. I think Neal happens to have a pretty good idea about good tone, but if it's not mahogany, you won't buy it."

For every one of us that says we want to find something new, there are 20 people out there who just want the sound/appearance of a Les Paul or a Strat, and if a guitar looks the least bit different than one of those, it's a hard sell. Look at some of the complaints about the Silver Sky - "the headstock looks wrong", "it's not six on a side tuners". Hell, one of the biggest complaints amongst detractors of this here brand that we like is that the guitars look "too pretty" - WTF even is that? I mean, I get it - you're going to be pulled towards guitars you find attractive, but ultimately it's the sound.

 

[Maertl513]

The look of those buttons is comparable to Duesenberg's three step design, which appears to be a reminiscence to Art Deco.

Paul (or any other responsible person in the management) decided, that design and material need to be introduced. As long it is stable and persistant...

 

[Alnus Rubra]

The look of those buttons is comparable to Duesenberg's three step design, which appears to be a reminiscence to Art Deco.

Paul (or any other responsible person in the management) decided, that design and material need to be introduced. As long it is stable and persistant...

If you’re answering @veinbuster ’s post, I don’t think it’s a PRS.

Peter will be able to give you a definitive reply.

 

[Maertl513]

My dear @Alnus Rubra, who am I without your attention? Thank you for the worthwhile hint.

I made the mistake to confuse veinbuster's depicted pegs with PRS' actual ones.
By design the new ones fit to the overall oitlook of PRSi.

 

[Greywolf]

Easy mod, no reason for anyone to get their panties in a wad about.

 

[Stephen J.]

I'm confident that Paul relies on sales figures, as any sane businessman would, not internet threads dedicated to picayune bullsh!t like this.

Picayune - Had to look that one up.

I was going to say that I have not been able to see the tuners first hand, but realized that I did try the new NF53, which has them. Can’t say that I really noticed. Are my observation skills picayune?

 

[László]

Picayune - Had to look that one up.

I was going to say that I have not been able to see the tuners first hand, but realized that I did try the new NF53, which has them. Can’t say that I really noticed. Are my observation skills picayune?

They're fine if you ask me.

 

[Bogner]

How does that matter? People had their complaints, and raised hell.

Sorry, this kind of thing is internet chicken-sh!t that by and large doesn't affect sales at all.

Example: The complaining about bindings on the McCarty and 594 models. They're still there, and the models sell very well. Cheap-looking, people said. Meanwhile, they have to buy the materials, cut them, and it takes extra time to put them in, so it costs the company MORE.

Example: The complaining about freaking plastic pickup rings a few years back - PRS has used them since the beginning - and even complaints that they were 'too cream colored'. Meanwhile, they can't build the Core models fast enough and there's a two year backlog.

Example: The complaining about 'cheap' this or that, and meantime in the 2010s PRS started using inlaid-logo rosewood headstock veneers on most of its Core models -- formerly only available on the extra cost Artist Package option or PS. It takes extra time to build, costs more than a decal or sticker, and something very few guitar makers do on electric guitars at any price. Yet PRS does it because that's what Paul likes.

No one seems to notice the stuff that costs PRS more, and I will bet these tuning buttons cost more because they're custom OEM parts instead of generic.

Like Paul's decision to add brass inserts to the aluminum one piece bridge to improve tone - think that's cheaping out?

Did you know it costs PRS more to have exposed brass on the tuning machines instead of plating it? Paul has spoken about that.

Or instead of just drilling holes in a two piece bridge's stop tail, having it made with slots that make stringing it so much easier, a brilliant design when no one complained about the old fashioned stuff on other guitars.

Example: Working on the pickups, tuning machines, things like Gen III bridges and other parts to improve them when in fact they didn't have to, the guitars were selling well and people didn't seem to care.

The idea that PRS cheaps out on anything is complete crap.

People have complained here about knobs, about the dang wing tuners, about not having wing tuners, about the finishes whether nitro or poly - and by the way, the nitro is actually more expensive to shoot than poly due to environmental concerns - about black backs, about wrap finishes vs the fake bindings. Some didn't like the teardrop bursts on Singlecuts, some did.

There have been people complaining because they don't like having the molded ends on trem arms. Seriously. WTF, so take them off.

You name it, someone is going to b!tch about it. Someone is going to get out the torches and pitchforks and exhort people to storm the castle over this nonsense.

There's a tempest in a teapot over every single change or thing PRS does, and usually it's not about the tone, the playability or other things that truly matter to serious players. It's about bits and bobs and cosmetic stuff that a tiny minority give a rat's ass about.

The first post in this thread purports to speak for all of us. That's simply not true.

You Crack Me Up Les... Don't Get So Worked Up...LOL.

You Were The One That Brought Up Metrics/Sales Figures, Not Me So You Would Have To Ask Yourself "How Does That Matter"?

While I Can Appreciate And In Many Cases Agree With Your Above Rant I Am Not Your Enemy Here...LOL.

If A Thread Is That Annoying Simply Click Away And Don't Engage.

Additionally, I Didn't Get The Idea That The OP Was Speaking For All Of Us. I Felt The OP Was Simply Sharing Their Opinion/Perspective/Experience Just Like We All Do On Every Thread We Engage With Here. No Different. We May Not Like It Or Agree, However, Who Fully Agrees At All Times With Anything Anyway? None Of Us Do.

While I Can Appreciate Your Zeal For The Bottom Line In Guitar Manufacturing (Tone And Playability) Maybe Some Other People Are Just As Passionate About Cosmetics? You Can't Fault Them For That, Even If You Disagree With Them.

Everybody Has A Hill They Are Willing To Die On...Don't Forget That In The End We All Die.

 

[Ovibos]

I don’t like them, but they’re miles better than the snot-colored tulips on many guitars.

 

[László]

You Crack Me Up Les... Don't Get So Worked Up...LOL.

Hey, I like ranting, it's fun!

You Were The One That Brought Up Metrics/Sales Figures, Not Me So You Would Have To Ask Yourself "How Does That Matter"?

Fergodsakes, I'm not angry with you, or anyone else. Perhaps I didn't understand the drift of your comment.

If A Thread Is That Annoying Simply Click Away And Don't Engage.

Where's the fun in that?

While I Can Appreciate Your Zeal For The Bottom Line In Guitar Manufacturing (Tone And Playability) Maybe Some Other People Are Just As Passionate About Cosmetics? You Can't Fault Them For That, Even If You Disagree With Them.

I think it's fine that folks are that way. I'm that way. I love the look of the darn things, and though it's somewhat secondary, I think of it as artistic.

A PRS guitar is in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. There are ample reasons why Paul's design was chosen by the curators to put on permanent display.

It's partly because, among other things, Paul Smith is an artist. He's spent his life improving - including beautifying - the guitars he designed.

The realization of the artist's intention distinguishes art from mere "product". Imagine what a generic piece of crap a PRS would be if a PRS guitar was designed by a committee of internet yahoos instead of by Paul Smith.

When the public dictates to the artist, the artist is constrained to make the same thing over and over, never change it, and the artistic freedom that made the design great in the first place is lost.

So in my book, Paul R. Smith has every right to do whatever the f#ck he wants with HIS design. Just as we, the public, have every right to walk away, but not dictate the choices.

I should add, however, that changing out tuner buttons is without doubt the easiest mod a tuner button wonk can make to a guitar other than changing the truss rod cover.

Everybody Has A Hill They Are Willing To Die On...Don't Forget That In The End We All Die.

Because I'm immortal I make it a point to attack every hill.

 

[JMintzer]

My dear @Alnus Rubra, who am I without your attention? Thank you for the worthwhile hint.

I made the mistake to confuse veinbuster's depicted pegs with PRS' actual ones.
By design the new ones fit to the overall oitlook of PRSi.

To me, those are MUCH better looking that the "snot green" plastic buttons on the old McCartys...

The same ones Gibson has used for 70 years...

 

[JMintzer]

Yes, we're all thinking it. They're ugly, they're cheap looking. They don't match or go along with the otherwise well thought-out construction of a PRS guitar, especially given its the "core" series. What on earth was PRS thinking? So many positive steps forward over the recent years and then woops!!...face plant. I'm sorry but there is nothing to write home about regarding these tuner buttons.

Any supposed benefits due to weight reduction is IMO far too minimal to make up for the visual dissapointment of having to look at them while admiring your guitar. I actually just purchased a new wood library SSH myself, but was relieved that it was apparently constructed just prior to the change, and had the gold buttons that actually matched the rest of the hardware. Yes, we can purchase chrome, gold, smoked, or any other variation of tuning buttons for not a particularly considerable price if we desire. But should we have to even make that decision, given what we all would otherwise pay for a guitar in this price range?

No, we're not ALL thinking that. I'd wager the vast majority are NOT thinking that...

There are some who like to find fault in everything... It must be tiring...

 

[Gtrbldr]

To me, those are MUCH better looking that the "snot green" plastic buttons on the old McCartys...

The same ones Gibson has used for 70 years...

I would like a pair of the black ones for my opaque black McSoapy and cream for my smokeburst Nitro McC if you please?

 

[DarkskyZ]

To me : my PRS Core SSH metal buttons > my Fiore vintage style buttons > my Silver Sky plastic buttons and appearance wise I would place the new core buttons at the same place as the Silver Sky. I don't really like them but if that is what comes with the guitar I like, I either buy the guitar for other reasons or I just don't buy it.
We are not making those guitars so we choose to give PRS our money (or not) according to what we like.
My car also has plenty of quirks I could live without but it also probably is the best car I have had to date. Nothing made in series is ever perfectly matching our wishes or extremely rarely so if we are lucky. To get the perfect config you go custom order and customize yourself afterwards.

Just my 2 cents here...

 

[RickP]

I’m putting bass tuners on mine.

 

[László]

The same ones Gibson has used for 70 years...

Speaking of old Gibsons and cream colored plastic tuner buttons (and plastic body bindings - horrors!), here's a 1930 Gibson L1 with both. Let the haters hate!

The thing sounds wonderful.

I like the way Paul Smith picks up on some of the traditional concepts, brings them up to date, and incorporates them into his designs.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

When I got the first iteration of that tuner design ten years ago I thought “Oh, these are different” and then put them on a guitar.

https://imgur.com/a/xGaEHhA