Looking for some Singlecut advice

[tonyvenn]

Greetings all.....

Singlecuts....245's...250's...Tremonti's...

So many VARIATIONS....I need just a bit of help here.

I have NO qualms or concerns at all with PRS' build quality or sound....so, basically, I'm trying to decide among aesthetics and the "bell and whistles" available on the SC.

To start, take a look at this article from 2008:

http://www.guitarplayer.com/article...paul-vintage-original-spec-vs-prs-sc-245/8855

What color is this SC? It looks McCarty, but not really. It looks Smokeburst, but not really....

Is there any advantage to the V12 finish over PRS' older finishes?

Is there any advantage to the current 2-piece bridge over the 1-piece? Or, the other way around?

Sound wise: Looking for that 70's era "oh, we can replace pickups in these things?"....like Kiss, Boston, etc...would the 57/08 get me there? The 59? Do something daring like the Dragon or Dragon 2?

From my studying, it appears the recently discontinued SC58 would be the best choice....BUT....the tuners don't look "right"...A SC needs the vintage tuners. I don't know why, they just do....

Could I replace them with theses locking vintage tuners with little or no headstock surgery?

http://www.amazon.com/GOTOH-VINTAGE-STYLE-LOCKING-NICKEL/dp/B0006ZP90A/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt


Was there a "stock" SC58? Everyone I've seen online tends to be "Artist Package"


Thank you for reading my post. I appreciate any advice I can get......I'm looking for a good stop-tail to complement my trem guitars

Tony

P.S. The first person that recommends "why not a McCarty?" gets a kick in the pants for confusing me even more!! LOL

 

[Sekunda]

I have a 2011 Stripped 58 with the 2 piece bridge (57/08's). I had a 25th Anniversary Singlecut with the wraparound bridge as well... The 2 piece bridge seems to be a little more woody sounding to me, but that might be the 57/08 pups. I wish I could compare them side-by-side. Any singlecut should have a little more body/wood sound just because its a thicker piece of lumber, I would think.

I have had no problems with the finish on either guitar, I believe both being V12. The 25th having been gone for a few years now it's hard to remember the specs on it.

The Stripped 58 through my HX/DA sounds very 70's classic rock... i.e.- Nugent, Trower, Lifeson, Santana, Skynyrd... all the sounds are there, you just need to find the sound you want.

It also has a very modern sound through a Mesa with high-gain. Great sounding axe overall!

Wish I could help more...

 

[Sekunda]

Here are some examples of the Stripped 58 through a Mesa Roadster:

https://soundcloud.com/divinesorrow

The second guitar is a LP through a Mesa Trem-O-Verb

 

[Egads]

I had an SC250 and loved everything, but the pickups. They were just a little too hot for my style/tastes. If I could get it back, I would!

I'm partial to the non-adjustable wrap-around bridges, but like all three (four, if you count the trem). I think you can get in the right ballpark with 57/08s, 59/09s, or 245s.

All that said, go get a Stripper!

 

[Sekunda]

All that said, go get a Stripper!

+1 :cheers:

 

[justmund]

+1 on the Stripper. A nice one just popped on eBay too.

Don't worry about the tuners, Phase IIIs kill over vintage style in every respect. Once you use them, feel them, and find out how well they work, you won't worry about the aesthetics. They look "right" on a modern SC like a Stripper/SC-58/SC-245.

 

[aristotle]

Definitely agree with justmund.... the tuner look perfect with the headstock on a PRS. If you don't think so now, I'll bet you do within a few days of looking at it.

I prefer the SC-58 to the stripper though....or any other PRS SC other than an SC Ted. Here's a completely stock one...they're definitely around. Weren't offered in many colors, but I loved the colors that were offered...

Mine is as "vintage" sounding as any Les Paul I have...to my ears at least.

 

[cwhenke]

I have played several singlecuts, and, to me, I prefer the shorter scale in a singlecut. I also prefer a stop tail, so that takes it down to the SC245, the SC58 and the Stripped 58. I loved \my first SC245 with 5708s (much better than the stock pups). When the new SC58 and Strippers were announced, I was excited at first, but I was concerned about the two-piece bridge and the tuners. After actually playing some, the two-piece bridge was actually more comfortable...in my first review, I commented about how much lower the action felt even though it was actually slightly higher. Between the Stripped and the SC58, I went with the Stripped because I didn't like the binding on the SC58.

If I'm not reading in too much, I get the feeling you'll like the vibe of a shorter scale, too. I'm also seeing that looks are not that important, so I'd drop the SC58. Finally, if the turners are that big, so with a used SC245 and find some pups you like...if they aren't, the Stripper may be the way to go.

 

[11top]

24.5

 

[helmi]

I love my satin singlecut. but, since they were only made for a year, and I think only a handful of us own one, you really cant find any love for them, and good luck finding a used one, anything i tell you will be pointless! but all that makes me love mine even MORE!!! (lol)

 

[László]

I've had several nice Singlecuts over the years, and my belief is that the 24.5 inch scale and 2 piece bridge are absolutely the way to go. It's not just the 57/08 pickups, either; the one I had with 53/10s also sounded woody and amazing. But the 57/08s are an equal match in terms of great tone. The Stripper I had was the best SC style guitar in terms of the kinds of vintage tones I like that I have ever owned.

 

[tonyvenn]

ATTENTION: Aristotle...... Are you referring to the McCarty 245 at Willcutts? I saw those....and was impressed...BUT....I can't wrap my head around the Santana headstock. I prefer the instantly recognizable PRS shape. I know...picky picky....Are the Willcutt editions that much better????

 

[aristotle]

Hi Tony,

I don't think that the "Ted's" (McCarty's with 24.5" scale length) were exclusive to Willcutts. It was a limited run to my understanding, but lots of shops got them. Willcutts did do a "Wood Library" run (from which mine came, second or third hand) with fancier tops, but there were straight up Ted's as well (they were officially titled "Ted McCarty DC245" or "Ted McCarty SC245" I think...some of the experts here can let straighten me out if I'm wrong).

I've never tried one of the non-Willcutt Wood Library Teds, but both my SC and DC Ted's are really as good as a guitar can get in my opinion. I don't necessarily attribute it to the scale length, or anything else for that matter....but for my tastes, they just are more engaging and tuneful guitars than standard McCarty's. Like with the tuner issue, you might find that you get pretty used to the headstock after a bit of looking at it to the point that the standard headstock just doesn't do it for you. All a matter of taste of course.

Anyway, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!!! Here's the SC Ted for reference....

 

[helmi]

what a fine looking guitar!

 

[Ape Factory]

Out of curiosity, which of the SC models had the thickest body? Anyone know which model/years are weight relieved? Any come stock with 59/09's?

 

[Rider1260]

Being of simple mind and limited coordination I needed a Single Cut Trem
( rosewood neck was a plus also )

 

[vchizzle]

Original post - I'd look for a Stripped 58 or the current SC245 http://www.prsguitars.com/sc245/specs.php
If you can't live with the locking tuners, you would need to go to an older SC 245 in the 2007/2008ish era. Both nice guitars, but IMHO the 2 piece bridge gets you much closer to the tone you're after. I say "get over it" with the look of the Kluson style tuners and go for what will give you the tone...it's just more important than the look of the tuners on the headstock. Besides, those locking tuners blow away the functionality of Kluson style. I'm not sure the post size of the Gotoh locking kluson is the same or whether the bushing fits the headstock hole? Maybe, you might ask in the PTC section of the forum whether you could put Gotoh locking Klusons as a replacement for phase III PRS tuners.

Out of curiosity, which of the SC models had the thickest body? Anyone know which model/years are weight relieved? Any come stock with 59/09's?

The only SC models with thinner bodies are the SC trems(not including the Tremonti which is thick). As far as I know, weight relieved SCs began after the lawsuit when they first introduced the 245 and 250 and went until the SC/stripped 58's began. Can't guarantee that all those guitars are weight relieved, but that is the time period at least. I don't think any of the Ted's were relieved. Don't think any SC's were stock with 59/09s(except Ted's) unless it was a special run of some sort.

 

[jfb]

I have seen, what I felt to be at least, great deals on SC's with tremolos. I have a really hard time passing them up, but have managed to do so thus far. I doubt I can continue this streak. I want one.

 

[mcbprs]

if you want a trem modern eagle 1,
if hard tail is your thing single cut limited Brazilian from 2001 ( only 250) takes some beating IMHO

 

[Whitecat]

I've had several nice Singlecuts over the years, and my belief is that the 24.5 inch scale and 2 piece bridge are absolutely the way to go. It's not just the 57/08 pickups, either; the one I had with 53/10s also sounded woody and amazing. But the 57/08s are an equal match in terms of great tone. The Stripper I had was the best SC style guitar in terms of the kinds of vintage tones I like that I have ever owned.

+1 to all of this. If you want that 'classic vintage singlecut' sound then the short-scale + 2 piece are what deliver it. The 57/08s are perfectly great. Go for a Stripper or if you want new/"current" then go for the 2013 SC245 and leave off whatever options you don't need.

To answer one of OPs other questions more specifically - the SC58 automatically had an 'Artist' grade top as stock.

There are some GREAT tops on Strippers though! Not 10 or Artist or whatever, just tonnes of character...