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

 

[philhf]

Why is the NF3 bridge pickup wired differently than the others? I read something about it being single coil tapped. Anyone tried re-wiring it like the others? I would think you'd want more of a full sound on that pickup.

 

[Broseph]

Why is the NF3 bridge pickup wired differently than the others? I read something about it being single coil tapped. Anyone tried re-wiring it like the others? I would think you'd want more of a full sound on that pickup.

where did you read that out of curiosity?

 

[philhf]

Sorry, I can't remember (where I read about the bridge pickup).

 

[intothevoid]

Don’t understand why the treble bleed doesn’t come stock on the NF3

 

[d2g]

Update: Not dead yet… Taking my time on this - still working through the guitars in a band context - had a bit of a holidays break, fewer shows. My day job interferes with my hobbies so this will take some time.

Amp choices are Katana Artist, Katana 100, revoiced Sonzera 20 (gen 1), DGT 15, Helix.

NF3 works great live. Needs a treble bleed and maybe a different volume pot taper to increase the sonic range - Will install and see. Love the neck profile. Not a huge contrast to traditional PRS necks - but a nice flatter (bit) thinner upper end for the higher octaves. What I like is getting the wide-thin neck in a 22 fret axe so my brain isn’t adapting between scales.

ME V remains the chosen one for now, partly due to the range of textures within the pickup switching combinations but also (very much) the ability to roll back knobs for subtle changes. It is a stellar guitar.

SS SE haven’t played in a gig yet. Amazing pickups and pots for an SE - neck is definitely fatter and different for me. Not worse or better, different - and I play it differently as a result.

DC3 is a known animal - absolutely excellent; ME V can do all that DC3 does. Very similar timbres in single coil - DC3 has more character to me; it’s bright but not harsh. Great backup guitar, since it’s rare I don’t need to risk it. Not expensive rare, but important to me. Like home to me every time it’s hanging on the strap.

Downstream, I’m considering more comparos -

Custom 22 vs ZM vs ME V - with a twist. ;-)

HB II SE vs HB II PS vs…

 

[d2g]

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

Umm can’t remember LOL. I definitely remember that it came back better…

 

[d2g]

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

Hit it with some contact cleaner?

 

[Broseph]

Hit it with some contact cleaner?

I did. It didn’t help. Probably swapping to a superior 5 way when I get around to it.

 

[d2g]

I did. It didn’t help. Probably swapping to a superior 5 way when I get around to it.

Bet there will be pre-wired upgrades available soon if not already. Pretty sure I’ll upgrade the pots and switching in mine also -

Upgraded one of my two ZMs with pickups and full wiring/pots/switching. No question it was a big positive difference in the harmonic structure, versatility and overall voicing. Went with a 59 and JB since they’re so well-known. Also modified the pot locations to volumes top and bottom to the left.

 

[d2g]

Update: Not dead yet… Taking my time on this - still working through the guitars in a band context - had a bit of a holidays break, fewer shows. My day job interferes with my hobbies so this will take some time.

Amp choices are Katana Artist, Katana 100, revoiced Sonzera 20 (gen 1), DGT 15, Helix.

NF3 works great live. Needs a treble bleed and maybe a different volume pot taper to increase the sonic range - Will install and see. Love the neck profile. Not a huge contrast to traditional PRS necks - but a nice flatter (bit) thinner upper end for the higher octaves. What I like is getting the wide-thin neck in a 22 fret axe so my brain isn’t adapting between scales.

ME V remains the chosen one for now, partly due to the range of textures within the pickup switching combinations but also (very much) the ability to roll back knobs for subtle changes. It is a stellar guitar.

SS SE haven’t played in a gig yet. Amazing pickups and pots for an SE - neck is definitely fatter and different for me. Not worse or better, different - and I play it differently as a result.

DC3 is a known animal - absolutely excellent; ME V can do all that DC3 does. Very similar timbres in single coil - DC3 has more character to me; it’s bright but not harsh. Great backup guitar, since it’s rare I don’t need to risk it. Not expensive rare, but important to me. Like home to me every time it’s hanging on the strap.

Downstream, I’m considering more comparos -

Custom 22 vs ZM vs ME V - with a twist. ;-)

HB II SE vs HB II PS vs…

Here’s where I’m at - the ME V has so much versatility that it covers almost all the ground on its own. I can and have played it all night in 4 hour shows many times over and not felt lost. It’s not a perfect match every song - but that’s where the amp rig and pedals come in. Huge impact on end result. I can always get it into shape.

I struggle to identify a voice the ME V can’t find - except maybe the true Les Paul classic rock styles. The ME V is more surgical/articulate vs the thicker tubular LP voicings - it’s in the family but not dead nuts. Don’t get me wrong - we do plenty of LP heavy songs and the ME V works. Just have to tweak the gain structures.

For strat replacement - no brainer. ME V no problem. AC/DC too. Just toggle back to humbucker.

For high gain (say Gary Clark Jr Come Together) - the NF3 is most phenomenal. I love the thickness and the hairy bite it finds while still in the strat family of tones - same for Queen tones. I dig the NF3 neck for leads - and for Mr. Britghtside vs the pattern neck. Not a huge difference just a bit more agility. The NF3 definitely needs pots upgrades.

None of them get into Tele territory for the unique sounds it can produce at moderate gains.

When the gain goes way up, things get a lot less easy to compare - as the gain structure takes over the voicing. The ME V is fabulous for slide which I use on quite a few tunes. But not at crazy high gain.

Here’s some context:

By high gain I mean maybe OCD into Tube Screamer into higher gain amp settings both in modest drive. I tend to stack or unstack various pedal combos and now use the Helix on stage using the same idea - settled on an approach where I build presets around specific amps as opposed to being lost in the tonal jungle. I do also use an HX One for specific effects on the fly.

Funny, I haven’t said squat about the SS SE, only because I haven’t integrated it into our shows yet. Its day will come. I dig it. Different animal - not as versatile as what I need for the ground we cover.

So… I’m still tied to my ME V - but the NF3 has a definite role to play in our shows; I’d also add that the ZM may get reintegrated - I’m wondering if I can swap between ZM and NF3 to cover the same bases vs ME V - our Red Hot Chili Peppers covers will be a tougher transition there.

I did play the HB II SE at a gig. As much as I love that guitar, it became clear that it breaks up much lower gains than the others especially when blending a touch of the piezo into things for fatness - which I love. So it’s a harder one to just pick up mid-set and keep rolling. Didn’t have feedback issues really; but it just didn’t clean up as easily via small volume knob rolls. Will take some messing to sort it out - as man I do love the HB II.

I got here because I found a CE24 core that I just didn’t bond with either sonically or by feelz. Returned it and decided to get both SS SE and NF3 SE to compare. Glad I did.

Conclusions? I’m lucky to have all these voices to compare and it sure is fun! Any and all limits are totally and obviously in my playing which continues to grow in part through the inspiration these amazing tools provide.