Hi, Paul Allender SE or Customer 24 SE?

I see you've made your decision and I think it's a tough call between the PA and CU24. I've always liked the idea of the PA but personally, I would (and did) go the other way. There are a number of reasons for this.

1) Pickup selector. The new Custom 24's have the switch in a far more natural position while the PA still has it behind the bridge like the old CU24 models. Having the toggle switch behind the bridge was one of the very few things I REALLY didn't like about the old model. It was awkward to get to, felt unnatural, it was easier to find yourself on the wrong pickup and was just generally silly. The new blade switch on the new CU24 models is far better. For me, this is a big reason for preferring the CU24.

2) Pickups. Personally, I just really don't like active pickups. They tend to be sterile, don't let the natural tone of the guitar come through, lack versatility and generally have no soul. Passive pickups are more dynamic, have more warmth and more depth to the tone. What's more, the stock pups in a CU24 are actually quite good, though I still replace them with Bare Knuckles, which are vastly superior to any other pickup I've ever tried.

3) Bats/Birds. This is a really tough one because I really like the bats myself but I'd prefer birds simply because it's less obviously 'Metal'. I've no real issue with the bats though; they look cool.

Bottom line though is that they're both lovely guitars and I'm sure you'll love it :beer:

I don't have the chops to delve into it that far, but I appreciate the input. A $200.00 Schecter is probably my speed. But I've always owned guitars beyond my capacity to understand how good they are. Can't hurt, other than the wallet.

My playing when I do create things is pretty sterile and hard edged almost choppy to a fault, so I think the quiet and deadspaces the EMGs might create could be good for what I do. We'll find out soon enough. I've had it with TV, working on the house (just one major project left), I've turned away from PC gaming in the last year, no more Facebook and other internet social things. They were fun while I did them but too much of anything can get old. I'm finding myself wanting to fill some of my free time with something else. something creative and of value. I've always been a decent musician and love music. When I did have my other guitars I didn't appreciate what I had and really wasn't in the mindset to put the effort into it. I'm going to get some recording software, clear out a section in the basement and spend some time just being creative and working on become a better player. Perhaps even some lessons for the first time in 25 years. Be them internet videos or actual face to face lessons. I have an acquaintance who graduated from Berkley (not Cal, but the music school in Boston), he's young, and always looking for cash, he's a hell of a guitarist too.

As far as the looks go, yeah the bats are a bit much, but that's more my attitude (inside anyway). On the outside I'm an upstanding citizen granddad, little do they know what lurks beneath. Perhaps the birds felt too much like I was giving in/up. My wife likes it, and she agreed hanging it in the living room is not a bad idea, it's a work of art. I need one of those porcelain hands to mount on the wall.

Thanks guys......it's never too late to start over.
 
One other thing............

Is there any significance to this guitar being signed by PRS himself? Are they all signed? The dealer informed me as if this isn't the norm. Just curious.
 
signed by PRS? nope, doesn't come standard on the guitars unless Paul himself has been there in the shop and signed it :laugh: you're a lucky man if you get it! people even go on to seal Paul's signature with lacquer or sprays just to preserve it.

Personally the bats are un-PRS, but EMGs are un-PRS as well, so it doesn't really matter in any way haha :laugh: weirdly though, i feel that the bats go well with the EMGs, it gives it a very different look. Though I do have to warn you about active pickups, they don't have much pick dynamics. I once tried it in my nearby store, Marshall in the gain channel, not very expressive "pick-wise" but the clarity was amazing. Might suit your needs but when you start branching into a wider scope, it won't be enough. Much like you, I like the sound of EMGs as well, clear and powerful. That's why I went with Dimarzio D Activators, they're actually passive pickups made to emulate EMGs, running without the battery, and lots more pick dynamics, doesn't have the limiting effect that runs in active pickups and yet, surprisingly it twangs in cleans! Check out John 5's demo and you'll know what I'm talking about ;)
 
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signed by PRS? nope, doesn't come standard on the guitars unless Paul himself has been there in the shop and signed it :laugh: you're a lucky man if you get it! people even go on to seal Paul's signature with lacquer or sprays just to preserve it.
I got it ,paid for in full. It's being UPS'd to the NH branch of Guitar Center. Got a tracking number today.

I may do just that (seal it). Makes it a bit more interesting and I wouldn't doubt it helps the resale value . Any recommendations for how to go about that?

I'll post in a different forum perhaps.

Thanks....
 
i guess any spray-on lacquer or clear-coat will do ;) anyone else who has done it, can you chime in on that?
 
As I posted previously, I have a 2008 Allender with passives pups. I just finished the final adjustments on a bone nut. I installed a Mannmade NOS2000 Bridge about 2 months ago. I also just finished a real good setup. The guitar sounds great and I couldn't be happier with it. In earlier posts I mentioned I play mostly jazz and blues and I think it now works pretty good for both styles.

I'm going to replace the pots and caps but I will probably leave the pups for at least a year...it sounds that good.

Now I need to work on my SE Custom 24. I'm not real pleased with it's sounds but I think it has great potential.
 
I got it ,paid for in full. It's being UPS'd to the NH branch of Guitar Center. Got a tracking number today.

I may do just that (seal it). Makes it a bit more interesting and I wouldn't doubt it helps the resale value . Any recommendations for how to go about that?

I'll post in a different forum perhaps.

Thanks....

i guess any spray-on lacquer or clear-coat will do ;) anyone else who has done it, can you chime in on that?

Just make sure that your first pass of clear is really light. If you go heavy with it, it can react to the paint pen and smear the signature.
 
Just make sure that your first pass of clear is really light. If you go heavy with it, it can react to the paint pen and smear the signature.

I ended up getting a new plate, and hung the signed one on the wall next to where I hang the Paul Allender when I'm not using it for lengths of time. Just stuck it on the wall with some scotch tape LOL. Wife wants me to frame it, if it's going to be permanent.
 
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