How would you compare / contrast the DGT and Studio?

[Markcarl]

I’m pretty new to PRS guitars. My 1st PRS was an SE DGT. At first I wasn’t used to the big frets. Now I wish all my guitars had the jumbo frets. That SE was the gateway drug for me. I was so impressed with it I ended up getting a core DGT and then another core DGT. Some things that I really like about the DGT are:

- The tonal versatility of the guitar. I can get traditional humbucker sounds and more chimey tones with the split coils.

- The simplicity of the controls. There’s only one pull switch to go into coil split mode and one tone control. But, there’s a separate volume for each pickup. I really like this configuration!

- The split coil sounds - especially with both neck and bridge pickup enabled. I can get a lot of different sounds by varying the ratio of the neck volume control and bridge volume control. Right now I’m playing in split coil mode around 90% of the time.

- The PRS tremolo is so much nicer than what I have on my Stratocaster. I don’t really notice a difference between the SE and core tremolo. I know the PRS tremolo isn’t unique to the DGT.

I recently played a PRS Studio model at a local guitar shop and was blown away with the tone of the guitar. The shop has a lot of good guitars and that one was my favorite. I really liked the tone of the narrowfield pickups. I may actually prefer their tone to the split coil sounds on the DGT. I wish I would’ve had a DGT on hand so I could compare them side by side. I went on the PRS website to look at the specs for the Studio guitar. I see now that there is only one volume on the guitar. I kind of wish there was a separate volume for each pickup. I know that’s something I like a lot about the DGT. If the Studio only had two pickups I think having separate volume controls for each pickup would be ideal. Since the Studio has 3 pickups, it may be too messy / cumbersome to have a separate volume control for each pickup?

I know I’m rambling here. Have any of you played the DGT and Studio? If so, how would you compare / contrast these guitars?

If the music store in Rapid City still has the Studio, I plan to go back with a DGT to do a side by side comparison.

 

[JasonE]

I can let you know next week. My Studio is showing up here today. I have had a DGT for over a decade and like that guitar quite a bit. I decided to take a chance on the Studio after reading and watching a bunch of videos. I have typically stayed away from the narrowfield pickups just because I can't change them if I don't like them. However, I have read a number of posts where people say they are actually nice and have a nice chime to them and work well in this guitar. I heard a few videos where they were on the neck pickup and I liked that tone a lot. I decided to pull the trigger and see for myself.

 

[Markcarl]

Awesome! Thanks @JasonE!

 

[kermit mayer]

The DGT offers tonal versatility with humbucker and split coil sounds, while the Studio boasts unique narrowfield pickups. The DGT has simpler controls with separate volume knobs for each pickup, while the Studio has only one volume control. The writer prefers the DGT's split coil sounds, but is impressed with the Studio's tone and wishes for separate volume controls for a more ideal configuration.

 

[László]

I can't speak for anyone else's taste, but I really like the Narrowfields in the neck and middle position. I don't have a Studio, but I have a PS with a Narrowfield in the middle and two Paul's Guitar pickups at the neck and bridge.

I've played the Studio and like it a lot. I also have a DGT. If you're considering the Studio, you might want to hang onto the DGT anyway, because they're different enough that both guitars would be a killer one-two punch.

I have guitars with two volume controls and with one volume control. I'm good either way.

 

[Markcarl]

I can't speak for anyone else's taste, but I really like the Narrowfields in the neck and middle position. I don't have a Studio, but I have a PS with a Narrowfield in the middle and two Paul's Guitar pickups at the neck and bridge.

I've played the Studio and like it a lot. I also have a DGT. If you're considering the Studio, you might want to hang onto the DGT anyway, because they're different enough that both guitars would be a killer one-two punch.

I have guitars with two volume controls and with one volume control. I'm good either way.

Yes, I really like the narrowfields - especially with clean tones. I’m about to pull the trigger on a Studio and will be keeping the DGTs. I’ve grown to like the larger frets on the DGT and I love the tones I can get out of them. The sound of the Studio’s narrowfield neck and middle pickups is a lot different than the split coil tones from the DGT. They both sound great. I think the Studio narrowfield pickups have more of a strat like sound. I’ve got an old Stratocaster and Les Paul. The Les Paul weighs 11 pounds! I enjoy playing the PRS guitars more and think the DGT and Studio can get similar sounds to these guitars.