NGD - 2014 Bernie Marsden

[Bahnzo]

My second PRS (I had a Zach Myers that I flipped to help fund this one). Bought online from Guitar Center. I was promised it came with a hard shell gator case, but they shipped it naked without one. That's being resolved, but I'm a little salty about that right now.

But...I sat down and gave it proper play tonight, and I'm really impressed right now. IMO, you don't need to play an electric guitar thru an amp to try it out. A good guitar just resonates when you play it, and this Bernie does that. It feels good in my hands and it sounds good thru my rig. It's a real keeper.

Some pics below, but I'm wondering if someone can point me to some quality tuners (but not $100+) that I can drop in? The stocks ones are not great and one feels a little loose when I turn it.

Overall, I'm one of those guy's who wasn't really impressed with PRS for whatever reason. But that's changed. I have a nothing but respect for the way Paul runs the business and the guitars they produce. I can't wait to take this guitar to to rehearsal next week.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Sweet looking Bernie, Congratulations.

Glad for you that GC are getting it sorted.

 

[Mark Ray]

Very nice! Looks much like the Bernie I scored a couple of years ago. Same scenario, used from GC. It was up in New Jersey, mint with the SE gig bag. I'm also wanting to change out the tuners to lockers. I'm waiting for John Mann to get them back in stock. They're versions like the phase III's, with the same buttons as on the guitar. He's waiting to get more, as they are currently out of stock.

 

[Alan Manning]

Bernie's are great. Congrats.

 

[Fullmoon 1971]

Beautiful guitar, congrats and glad its getting sorted, you cant go wrong with a Bernie.

as for the replacement tuners. I use Gotoh SD90's they come in a couple of variations and are a direct match for the ones fitted on the Bernies.They are also a ncer colour

standard no frills version
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124556137826?hash=item1d001fd562:g:vscAAOSwUCBeXpys

Locking version
https://www.ebay.com/itm/292786414876?epid=663810524&hash=item442b6e251c:g:1lYAAOSwlltcerIf

Height adjustable posts (non locking but you can get perfect string height and tension across the nut) my personal choice
https://g-gotoh.com/product/sd90/?lang=en
https://www.woodtoworks.com/Gotoh-S...ess-days-see-listing-description_p_13074.html

I've also used the Wilkinson WJ44 EZ-Lok tuners on a couple of my guitar, these lock using holes drilled at 90 degrees.

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https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121177563440?hash=item1c36bee130:g:yZEAAOSwqUBct0Km

Here's my two Bernie's - both fitted with the Gotoh SD90 HAP Tuners

The only other suggestion I'd make is this. The stock pickups are great but if you decide to change them try a sinple magnet swap first.

I found a Alnico 3 in the neck really brings it to life, it imparts a beautiful bell like tone (Almost P90ish) I I pair this with a Unoriented Alnico 5 in the bridge (this has the power of the 5 but the sweetness of a Alnico 2). it's super cheap and easy to try and totally reversable.

Congrats once again, she's a beauty.

 

[Tonart]

IMO, you don't need to play an electric guitar thru an amp to try it out.

Totally agree with that. You can gauge the inherent tone of an electric guitar by hearing it played acoustically. What comes through acoustically, will come out through the amp. It’s all to do with how the strings vibrate on that guitar.

 

[DISTORT6]

Damn fine looking Bernie, Bahnzo.
Congrats!

 

[bodia]

Bernies rock! Great grab.

 

[toothace]

Nice score! I'd say give John Mann a call for the tuners.

Sweet top!

 

[WEDGE]

My Bernie was a badass and so fun to do mods too.

 

[NBW]

Very nice! Looks much like the Bernie I scored a couple of years ago. Same scenario, used from GC. It was up in New Jersey, mint with the SE gig bag. I'm also wanting to change out the tuners to lockers. I'm waiting for John Mann to get them back in stock. They're versions like the phase III's, with the same buttons as on the guitar. He's waiting to get more, as they are currently out of stock.

If you have some SE tuners lying around (as I do) you can ship them to the Guitar Vault and they’ll covert them for you. With shipping it might save you $25 off the price of Mann’s in house or PRS brand.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Hot!

 

[ScottR]

Killer score my man! Congrats!

 

[dmatthews]

Awesome!

 

[Bahnzo]

Beautiful guitar, congrats and glad its getting sorted, you cant go wrong with a Bernie.

as for the replacement tuners. I use Gotoh SD90's they come in a couple of variations and are a direct match for the ones fitted on the Bernies.They are also a ncer colour

standard no frills version
https://www.ebay.com/itm/124556137826?hash=item1d001fd562:g:vscAAOSwUCBeXpys

Locking version
https://www.ebay.com/itm/292786414876?epid=663810524&hash=item442b6e251c:g:1lYAAOSwlltcerIf

Height adjustable posts (non locking but you can get perfect string height and tension across the nut) my personal choice
https://g-gotoh.com/product/sd90/?lang=en
https://www.woodtoworks.com/Gotoh-S...ess-days-see-listing-description_p_13074.html

Thanks! I'll have a look at those. Do these just drop right in, or is there a need to do any drilling?

 

[markd21]

Congrats!! The Bernie's KILL. Im half on the lookout for another. I have nothing but fond memories of the one I owned before. Enjoy that beast!!

 

[Bahnzo]

My Bernie was a badass and so fun to do mods too.

Yeah, I'm going down the rabbit hole here reading threads of what people have done to theirs. Some interesting stuff.

 

[Davey]

Congrats! Great top on that one.

 

[Fullmoon 1971]

Thanks! I'll have a look at those. Do these just drop right in, or is there a need to do any drilling?

All the gotoh SD90 series are direct drop in, no messing involved.

 

[shimmilou]

Not sure how I missed this one
Awesome guitar, looks great! Congrats