Maple Neck with Ebony Fingerboard, really short sustain

[dogrocketp]

There’s something amiss, and I’d look to the nut first. I’m very much a sustain guy, and I wouldn’t put it on the wood combination. Also check the tuners and make sure they haven’t somehow come loose. That’s been known to happen. I mostly play trem guitars, and I don’t believe blocking the trem will make a sustain difference. If the trem block has somehow come loose, that could cause the notes to die. There has to be a loose part somewhere sucking the vibrations. I’d check the tightness of every screw. And if you sort it out, let the factory know.

 

[Rod/]

Apparently @László and I think alike sometimes
I've had the same experience with the Mahogany body/maple neck/Ebony fingerboard combination..
Sorry …..

 

[László]

Apparently @László and I think alike sometimes

Probably more than sometimes!

 

[Geo408]

Maple & Ebony just don’t work together..even Gibson figured figured that out..finally. two very dense/hard woods interacting at a high frequency wind up cancelling each other out, thereby killing sustain. ( that’s just the short version)

 

[jl789]

Well I've been playing my Ibanez AZ and I realized that some notes have short sustain too, though it's bolt on. I think Gibson LP Custom has the same woods, and ESP also has a lot models using this combo. Anyways, like I said I played my LP right before I played my PRS, so that might magnify the issue.

I think I'll just keep playing it, and keep an eye on a Custom 24 with mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. Still can't let it go, for the moment. Oh, maybe I should post a pic. Not my favorite color but that maple top did catch my eyes.

 

[Stephen J.]

That is an amazing looking guitar. My guess is it will provide you with something your other guitars don’t. After a while it’s uniqueness might grow on you.

 

[bodia]

Well I've been playing my Ibanez AZ and I realized that some notes have short sustain too, though it's bolt on. I think Gibson LP Custom has the same woods, and ESP also has a lot models using this combo. Anyways, like I said I played my LP right before I played my PRS, so that might magnify the issue.

I think I'll just keep playing it, and keep an eye on a Custom 24 with mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard. Still can't let it go, for the moment. Oh, maybe I should post a pic. Not my favorite color but that maple top did catch my eyes.

Man, that's a smokin' hot guitar

 

[Chef T]

Not sure of your model so here are some general questions/comments.
Is it a bolt on neck? Make sure the screws are tight.
Is there a tremolo? Make sure all screws are tight.
Have you checked the tuning pegs? Make sure they are tight.
Is the action lower than spec? Try raising the action a small amount
That’s all I got. I would definitely call PRS. They would definitely have the most insight.

 

[aphantomvaper]

Man, that's a smokin' hot guitar

Seconded!

 

[Rider1260]

Sometime guitars need time to come alive in my experience and new PRS ( for me ) can be that way.
Did you oil the fretboard when you changed strings ?? ( I would )
There is also a device that vibrates the guitar , said to open ( loosen ) them up.
I had a friend that used to put his new guitars in front of his 4x12 and played loud on a different guitar swore is made them come alive.
I think if you play the guitar a bunch it will get better.

 

[SinSir]

Sometime guitars need time to come alive
There is also a device that vibrates the guitar , said to open ( loosen ) them up.

This is a new service I'm offering. The most popular option is the 12 month plan. PM for a prepaid shipping label. Thanks for checking out PRS comes alive.com!

*Guaranteed to receive a broken in well played guitar back in 12 months or return your guitar to us free!

 

[jl789]

Yes it does look really really good. I love that it's more obvious it's a one piece top but still looks beautiful. I was hesitated to buy it because of the wood combo, but the more I looked at the photo, the more I appreciated how beautiful the top it is, so I had to pull the trigger.

I did notice maybe most guitars need time to open up, or need to be played to open up. It also happened to my Ibanez AZ. When I first got it, I compared it to my a few year old Tom Anderson, and it really didn't sound like how it sounds now, but I've been playing it every day and the difference between the two is negligible.

 

[GuitarJammin]

That guitar is smokin' hot!! Love it!

 

[Erebus]

My Custom 24 is a Limited Edition with specs same as your PRS, mahogany body, quilted maple cap, flame maple neck (not roasted) with ebony fretboard and I haven't noticed any sustain issues, I have it 2 years now.

The top on your PRS is to die for!