NF3 SE vs SS SE vs DC3 vs ME V vs…

[d2g]

Conducting a fun experiment. I’ve always thought guitar reviews in a vacuum were less helpful. Kind of like dumping crayons on the table.

So I’m gonna try my own way using guitars I bought with my own money, on my own terms.

Comparing the guitars in the subject line vs my ME V which is my main guitar for gigs.

Have one of each now. Might add a Core SS if I can find the right used one. Don’t have a Special or a 513/508 - otherwise…

Have owned the DC3 for 12 years. PTC did some secret sauce stuff to it a couple years ago. Lovely.

Just bought the NF3 SE and SS SE. Returned a core CE 24. Didn’t bond. Got these instead.

Lucky to have an ME V which is my gold standard guitar - amazingly flexible and character all night. Very little it can’t cover sonically. Killer.

Will post pics and such soon. Figuring out how to do this in an interesting way.

Will set up all the same - my preferred strings, height, etc.

Goal is to maximize each and compare applications - they’re different for sure. For me it’s about a versatile guitar that’s got an interesting voice. The necks are different, pickups, and also pickup locations. Not seeking better - exploring palettes. Horse for course.

The connection is the triple pickups and five way switch. (Single coil capable)

Will do another thread comparing my two ZMs - one of which recently upgraded pups and pots.

This could take a bit. I’ll keep updating here.

Might do a YT video if there’s enough interest and I can produce to a high standard.

Amps will be explored in context also. Mod’ed Sonzera 20 (12AY7 drive), Katana Artist, Katana 100 mk II. Haven’t figured that part out yet.

 

[d2g]

Ok first potential issue. The NF3 SE tone pot seems like it doesn’t work. Will test that and resolve. NF3 is definitely much more easily into overdrive and less touch sensitive. I’ll see if the tone pot issue is to blame. Same volume issue otherwise noted - lots of treble dumped as you roll back the volume pot.

I wanna give the NF3 a fair shake so I’ll get that sorted.

 

[frankencat]

Any update?

 

[SinSir]

MEV > DC3 > seNF3 > seSS

 

[d2g]

Any update?

Just received fhe replacement NF3. Haven’t opened the box yet to check it.

SSSE = S3E

So far - I’ll say the guitars are each their own; in a band context with other guitars, definitely some differences. The DC3 is ahead of the S3E for pickups, neck feel (frets). Havent played the NF3 in the band yet - sent it back due to wiring issues.

Physically, the necks are all different / and the frets. Our band is swapping the guitars across 3 guitarists to get a cross section of views - all of us play PRS plus other brands on stage. I’m the most PRS-centric. I’m a 22 fret guy, pattern regular.

Initial reactions to the S3E by the other 2 players who’d never seen a SS: “the neck feels like raw wood” and “wow the neck is bigger than I expected” - for context their main squeezes are an SG and a CE24 Dusty Waring (Floyd).

One player has a very good Mexican strat also; the other has an epi LP.

I will do a minor setup on the S3E to match the action to my taste - slightly lower than factory which I believe is around 2.2m at 12th bass side. The saddle screws are not my favorites on the SE bridge.

The NF3 has a 6-point trem vs the SE having a 2-point - factory setups different on both.

The S3E knobs and pots are fantastic to me. Very musical roll-off etc. The DC3 has more clarity and bite. It’s like a strat on steroids vs S3E which is a strat’s strat all the way.

Sent some initial recordings to a test group of friendly players - definitely not a unanimous preference across the four guitars.

Once I get the replacement NF3 dialed and the S3E set up, I’ll do some recording to share here.

No extra charge for mistakes of course…

Stay tuned!

 

[d2g]

One last comment for now: playing these in a band context vs solo makes a huge difference - also matters what other instruments you’re working with - we have up to four guitarists and a keyboard player - we develop layered parts to stay out of each others way and have a contest to play the least but still add value. So character trumps density in our context. We’re not a wall of mud sonically.

Song choices run a wide palette - classic rock to modern pop with some grunge and even a few unusual but popular tunes. So the guitars definitely get played across a wide spectrum.

Amps are PRS MT15 via Torpedo, and Katana 100s; also a Sonzera 20 via Torpedo.

 

[Broseph]

Toss on a treble bleed on the nf3 se. Stupid cheap mod that takes a few mins but made the volume knob much better for me.

 

[d2g]

Toss on a treble bleed on the nf3 se. Stupid cheap mod that takes a few mins but made the volume knob much better for me.

Had the same thought thanks for confirming - Likely to swap out pots etc - always seems to improve the tone and also the range of sonic color.

 

[intothevoid]

What did PTC do to your DC3? Mine’s stock and has been my main guitar for nearly a decade now.

 

[Broseph]

Had the same thought thanks for confirming - Likely to swap out pots etc - always seems to improve the tone and also the range of sonic color.

When in doubt replace the pots (1 meg volume, 500k tone) and the 5 way. My 5 way is scratchy