I have sinned against PRS again - NGD

Aahzz said:
I've been looking into snagging a new Lester for the past couple weeks. Was waffling around between the various Standards - a nice Bourbon Burst, a Bourbon Burst plain top, a Faded, Pelham Blue, maybe Inverness Green...really wanted a Tobacco Burst, but I much prefer the 60s slim taper neck, and tobacco wasn't an option. Was almost ready to pull the trigger on an Inverness Green when the new Standard Double Trouble became available. Within 15 minutes of seeing the announcement, I had one on the way from Sweetwater. Got my Vintage Tobacco Burst, and I love the double white pickups look! They had one in stock with some chaos in the top, which I prefer to neatly striped flames. Just under 9 pounds, too - which I love for a non-weight relieved model (8 pounds 15 ounces, so can round up and call it 9 if you'd like :) ).

Sweetwater being close enough to KY, it arrived this morning. Unpacked and opened the case to the lovely vanilla smell of Gibson nitro, and a top that exceeded my expectations even though I'd seen pics of the exact guitar. Looks to be a one piece back as well.

Plugged in, tuned up...and was initially less than ecstatic. Sounded bright and thin. So, spent some time raising the action, since it was super low, and adjusting the pickup height, and then I found sonic bliss. Played for a bit more, and yeah, it'll be sticking around.

I will say the fret nibs/binding could have been done cleaner - will include a pic. If I didn't like the top and back as much as I do, I'd consider sending it back on principle, but I'm not going to. I am going to sit with it for a day or so and then might contact my Sweetwater dude to see about some compensation for it.

On to the pics!
abigail1.jpg

abigail2.jpg

abigail3.jpg

abigail4.jpg

abigail5.jpg


Pic from Sweetwater:
abigail6.jpg


The aforementioned binding:
abigail7.jpg
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Beautiful guitar. I have a lip standard ‘50s in tobacco burst and a ‘60s in cherry burst. When I play out I get more complements on the tobacco burst. In fact I get offers from patrons wanting to buy then. My answer is two parts. 1- NO and 2- go to your local music shop
 
Hey Aahzz sweet score! I also picked up an LP recently, '60s LP Dirty Lemon and didn't have the balls to share, perhaps I could now.

That's gorgeous! One thing I'd keep in mind is the nitro on the headstock neck will show where its been resting on the wall hanger after a while. I learned this with an SG.

Aahzz has that gorgeous Emerald CU24, he can also have an LP and share it, even though it'll never be a PRS.

Thanks for sharing this axe with us!
 
Senor Verde said:
Congratulations! That is a beauty. You could knock about 3lbs off by putting different tuners on it. :)
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While I know you're kidding to some degree here, I'm interested in hearing from you what are some lighter weight tuners on the market that you are aware of? I've previously gone as far as trying the minimalist Gotoh Stealth tuners that are now discontinued, to achieve weight relief on some of my guitars, and I was not happy with their performance.
 
Floyd_Argus said:
While I know you're kidding to some degree here, I'm interested in hearing from you what are some lighter weight tuners on the market that you are aware of? I've previously gone as far as trying the minimalist Gotoh Stealth tuners that are now discontinued, to achieve weight relief on some of my guitars, and I was not happy with their performance.
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I replace Rotomatics with Grover 135 tuners. They have the Kluson look, with screw on bushings (or whatever they're called) and they stay in tune very well. I don't drill the upper hole for the screw, just use the bottom screw hole the Rotomatic used and snug down the nut/bushing. I've used these tuners on my former SC58 and both my current ES-335's.

As a matter of fact, both my '335 guitars had a dead note on the G string, 12th fret. Putting the 135 tuners on fixed the problem.
 
Senor Verde said:
I replace Rotomatics with Grover 135 tuners. They have the Kluson look, with screw on bushings (or whatever they're called) and they stay in tune very well. I don't drill the upper hole for the screw, just use the bottom screw hole the Rotomatic used and snug down the nut/bushing. I've used these tuners on my former SC58 and both my current ES-335's.

As a matter of fact, both my '335 guitars had a dead note on the G string, 12th fret. Putting the 135 tuners on fixed the problem.
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from what I find online, the 135s weigh about 6.6 oz, which is almost a 3 oz weight savings compared to the average weight of other Grovers at 9.5 oz. Does that reported weight 6.6 oz for the 135s match your experience?

Also, I'm not a big fan of the vintage "tulip" button shape. Do these 135s support use of alternative button shapes?
 
Floyd_Argus said:
from what I find online, the 135s weigh about 6.6 oz, which is almost a 3 oz weight savings compared to the average weight of other Grovers at 9.5 oz. Does that reported weight 6.6 oz for the 135s match your experience?

Also, I'm not a big fan of the vintage "tulip" button shape. Do these 135s support use of alternative button shapes?
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I have weighed them in the past, but don't remember what either weigh or the difference. I do remember that when the guitar is in the playing position, the decrease in weight was noticeable to me. Might not be as noticeable to someone younger and more in shape than me.

Unfortunately, the buttons are not removable and I don't think there are purchasable options.
 
Seeing that binding reminds me how amazing it is that PRS has better build quality on a $700 SE than Gibson had on my fully loaded CS Brazilian R9.

But you can't deny how cool Les Pauls look... not 594 territory, but definitely cool and nostalgic for the days you want to spend tuning your guitar a lot. 😇 (this forum needs a duck behind the couch emoji, lol)

Great looking top though, and I dig the natural back on it rather than the typical red.
 
That is a rather purdy machine I must say. There are times when one just has to defy convention and flip the bird at the rules (be they written or just inferred) to be at peace with oneself and our inner need for personal expression. For this and more flowery complimentary praises on your boldness PM me for my email addy and you can transfer me $50 worth of $1000 bills to add to my private go fund the guitar acquisition fund...USD or CND is no worries at all, I'm equal opportunity broke so.😁
I suppose this would be a place I could release my inner desires and admit I find myself dreaming of a cherry red SG being added to my meager but growing arsenal...(shut up outside voice!)😱
Oh laws yes, I's weak...😢
 
Daryl Jones said:
That is a rather purdy machine I must say. There are times when one just has to defy convention and flip the bird at the rules (be they written or just inferred) to be at peace with oneself and our inner need for personal expression. For this and more flowery complimentary praises on your boldness PM me for my email addy and you can transfer me $50 worth of $1000 bills to add to my private go fund the guitar acquisition fund...USD or CND is no worries at all, I'm equal opportunity broke so.😁
I suppose this would be a place I could release my inner desires and admit I find myself dreaming of a cherry red SG being added to my meager but growing arsenal...(shut up outside voice!)😱
Oh laws yes, I's weak...😢
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I keep eying a silverburst SG. But part of me thinks a thinline could cover the same territory. I am torn.
 
Broseph said:
I keep eying a silverburst SG. But part of me thinks a thinline could cover the same territory. I am torn.
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I have a Thinline and it's beyond great. But it's NOT an SG....And of course it isn't going to turn me into a phenom like Grace Bowers (even if I was a young pretty lady) but it's one of those intangible wants that doesn't seem to go away. I don't care that I don't own a LP or an American Strat, they actually do nothing for me or pull at my heart strings that way. But the SG does somehow...very similar to what the PRS does when I see one that just makes me weak in the knees.
Which is how I ended up in this place to start with.:rolleyes:😂
 
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