Not liking my new SE Custom 24

[rockymtnguitar]

So I don't like my new PRS...

Last week I ordered the PRS SE Custom 24 "Rosewood" Sweetwater-specific color. I'd been wanting the guitar for a long time based on playing similar ones about a year ago at GC and then reading up on the, too. When it arrived last week I was really excited.

Now - not so much. It's "jangly." I suppose that's a pretty interesting description coming from a "Tele guy" like me regarding a humbuckered guitar, but that's the only word I can come up with. I lowered the high E string sides of the pickups and that sort of helped. I've messed with EQ a bit on the one amp of mine that has it. The pickups also seem muddy, though I've played with their heights a bit. I've played through my two practice amps and my Fender Super Champ X2 and just can't seem to find the sound I want. Played with / without pedals in the Super Champ, too.

Sweetwater, of course, has a 30 return but I'm reluctant to give up on what should be a very good guitar.

Cleans are okay (not great). Driven/distorted sounds are really where I'm disappointed. I've A/B'd it next to my Epiphone Tribute+ and I get much better tones from the Trib+.

Can anyone suggest a change of settings? Radical changes to the pickup heights?

 

[xjbebop]

Set it up to factory specs, run it through a couple of different amps. If you're still not diggin' it after a couple of days, return it.
If you have to fight with it to like it, you'll never be happy with it....

 

[Russ73]

I agree, give it a few turns and if its not speaking to you return it for something else...If your set on PRS there are tons of SE and S2 models that are affordable that I can say from experience will inspire you and sound great...

 

[garrettb]

A couple possible explanations to why it's not lighting your fire:

What you played last year would've had SE HFS/Vintage Bass pickups vs. the new 85/15 S, which are a bit lower output and less mid-heavy.

What you played last year would've had mahogany body with maple top (and maple veneer) vs. the one you bought is mahogany body with rosewood veneer.

 

[bodia]

A couple possible explanations to why it's not lighting your fire:

What you played last year would've had SE HFS/Vintage Bass pickups vs. the new 85/15 S, which are a bit lower output and less mid-heavy.

What you played last year would've had mahogany body with maple top (and maple veneer) vs. the one you bought is mahogany body with rosewood veneer.

These are great points. You really fell in love with something else completely

 

[shinksma]

What you played last year would've had mahogany body with maple top (and maple veneer) vs. the one you bought is mahogany body with rosewood veneer.

A minor quibble perhaps, but:

The rosewood is truly just a veneer. That plain maple cap is still under there. So I suspect there is not a significant tonal difference as a result.

I would say the different pickups are indeed the most-probable root cause.

 

[AP515]

I'm going a different direction. I don't hear jangly in any Cu24. Se, S, or core. I'm thinking you have one with a cold solder joint or a bad capacitor. Something in the wiring. Take it to a GC and A/B it with another one just like it in order to decide.

 

[garrettb]

A minor quibble perhaps, but:

The rosewood is truly just a veneer. That plain maple cap is still under there. So I suspect there is not a significant tonal difference as a result.

I would say the different pickups are indeed the most-probable root cause.

No, there's zero maple in the body. But I do agree the pickups are likely the biggest difference.

Note the difference in the scoop on the Rosewood compared to the regular version.

 

[MichaelS]

I 2nd, 3rd, or whatever count we're up to on the pickups... 85/15 pups are love it or leave it. I got used to US 85/15 pups, but was looking for more.
My SE22 had 85/15'S' and got US HFS/VB pups, and the CE24 got \m/, although the US 85/15 have a very clear tone, I just prefer more output. Sounds fuller to me that way and delivers the right oompf on gain.

I'd say return or replace pups, cuz it does look good in rosewood.

 

[shinksma]

No, there's zero maple in the body. But I do agree the pickups are likely the biggest difference.

Note the difference in the scoop on the Rosewood compared to the regular version.

Interesting! I stand corrected! There are European models that have an exotic wood veneer in place of the maple veneer, but still have the maple cap, so I assumed (!) that this was the same situation, just with rosewood.

Hmm, I wonder if the rosewood is therefore thicker than the usual flamed maple veneer? If so, that could make a significant difference, although either way, with the body primarily being mahogany, this is going to sound a lot like an "SE Standard". So that may also be a contributing factor, along with the pups. A very different beast from the "standard issue" SE CU24 from 2015/2016.

 

[rockymtnguitar]

Thanks folks. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with it. Son played it last night and he sounded good but nothing special. He's a lead player where I'm a rhythm guy so hearing it played with a different style was helpful. It just really didn't excite me though. I will mess with pickup heights a bit more but am exploring my options. I don't really want to go through the hassle right now changing pickups, rewiring, etc. I need plug and play in my life at the moment!

 

[AP515]

Thanks folks. I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do with it. Son played it last night and he sounded good but nothing special. He's a lead player where I'm a rhythm guy so hearing it played with a different style was helpful. It just really didn't excite me though. I will mess with pickup heights a bit more but am exploring my options. I don't really want to go through the hassle right now changing pickups, rewiring, etc. I need plug and play in my life at the moment!

I agree with not messing with it. You can still return it. That's your solution if you don't fall in love with it. I would recommend trying others though.

 

[John Beef]

When did SE CU24s start getting maple necks instead of mahogany? I was surprised to see they were maple. That could be another thing that changed between the time you played one in the store and the one you bought. That would have a pretty significant impact.

 

[Steven Lafferty]

I know exactly the feeling of what your going through. Exactly! I have played Tele's and Strat's for years. And finally, I came to a point in my life that I really started to appreciate the sounds of Humbuckers and I wanted to own one. So, I went to my local GC and played a few. And, I had already came to the conclusion that the new SE Custom 24 Zebrawood was the one I was looking for and it sounded great in the store. I purchased it, brought it home, took it to church to play in our Worship Band and it didn't sound like the same guitar I played in the store. I tried everything to get it like I wanted it to sound and only became more and more frustrated over the course of the next month. So finally, I couldn't take it anymore cause I found myself not playing the beautiful instrument. I gave up took it back and just so happens a guy was making a new purchase and trading in his used SE Custom 24 Rosewood. I took one look at it and asked if I could try it out. Again, this sounded super great in the store but this time I asked them if I could try it using the exact same amp I have at home. They agreed and I loved it. I purchased it and I love this guitar. I think you may be having the same problem I had. There are no two instruments exactly alike. It might have been the difference between Zebrawood and Rosewood for me, or maybe I just messed with it enough that I got confused. Or, sometimes it is just the wrong hands on the right guitar or the right hands on the wrong guitar. But, the bottom line is this: IF YOUR NOT HAPPY WITH A GUITAR FOR WHATEVER REASON, YOU WILL EVENTUALLY STOP PLAYING IT. Don't keep making your blood pressure go through the roof just to hang on to something that is causing your blood pressure to go through the roof. TAKE IT BACK and get you something you enjoy. Life is too short.

 

[shimmilou]

Great advice Steven, but this thread is from over 2 years ago.

 

[Steven Lafferty]

Great advice Steven, but this thread is from over 2 years ago.

Oh dear, my bad.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

I’m guessing that as we last saw the OP over two years ago that he went in a different direction