Not sure

[Ron Pantucci]

I'm not sure that I'm am completely sold on the PRS. I do like the feel of it but not sure about the sound. I won't give up completely on it. But I must say that it doesn't compare to the feel or sound of my EVH special. I am a little disappointed at the moment

 

[veinbuster]

Turn some knobs.
Keep in mind it isn’t supposed to sound like your EVH.
Try to find one of its sounds that suits you.
I always try to let a new guitar tell me what it was meant to be, then if I don’t like it, so be it.

 

[SinSir]

Agreed, its not supposed to be a wolfie.

What year is it? The reason I ask is I'd think you'd get along with the older HFS/VBs and the 85/15s are a good modern sound.

Its no secret I go into a prs with Korean pickups planning on replacing the pickups and electronics. They are adequate pickups but miss the mark to my ears. The simplest and most economical solution that I like is a SD JB/jazz swap. The JB will get you the tone you like and the jazz is a fantastic neck pickup. Over the past year I've become a firm believer in full electonics swap with or without pickup change. This alone may do it for you too.

I can say that once I swapped all of the electronics in my 30th the sound truly rivals my core, and I've always felt my 30th plays every bit as good as a core. It is the best playing SE I've picked up. When I swapped just the pickups to a JB/jazz it sounded great and was close to the sound quality of my core but now fully upgraded its arguably better in certain situations. I have tomahawks in there now to compliment the floyd.

When you consider how cheap a JB/jazz set can be had and as easy as it is to swap its a no brainer to give it a shot to me. I can change the sound of a guitar a heck of a lot easier than I can change the guitar.

Good luck!

 

[László]

I'm not sure that I'm am completely sold on the PRS. I do like the feel of it but not sure about the sound. I won't give up completely on it. But I must say that it doesn't compare to the feel or sound of my EVH special. I am a little disappointed at the moment

I'm curious why folks buy a guitar that they've either never played, or haven't listened to in some sort of recording or video clip?

 

[Ron Pantucci]

I do love the jb pickups I have a jb in my Lynch skull guitar.

 

[Ron Pantucci]

I'm curious why folks buy a guitar that they've either never played, or haven't listened to in some sort of recording or video clip?

I did play a prs custom se 24 zebrawood. And I did watch a lot of YouTube videos and I did like the sound. I still have to try it with different effects and tones. But my initial thought of the sound was disappointing. I didn't think there would be a huge difference in sound. From what I have heard.

 

[aphantomvaper]

I'm curious why folks buy a guitar that they've either never played, or haven't listened to in some sort of recording or video clip?

Because I'm a chance taker on it being a heartbreaker. Go ahead...mess around with me

 

[László]

I did play a prs custom se 24 zebrawood. And I did watch a lot of YouTube videos and I did like the sound. I still have to try it with different effects and tones. But my initial thought of the sound was disappointing. I didn't think there would be a huge difference in sound. From what I have heard.

If it doesn't float your boat pretty soon, maybe you can return it?

I figure if it's necessary to change pickups and screw around with a guitar in order to like it, it's not for me. I figure if I'm not in love, don't get married.

I'd return it.

 

[László]

Because I'm a chance taker on it being a heartbreaker. Go ahead...mess around me

I get that. I've special ordered Core PRS guitars many times and even PS. But I've been playing PRS for 30 years, and have enough experience with them to know what I'm getting into, and to accept the result.

I don't think I'd blind-order my first guitar of a given brand, but that's just me.

I'd be especially unlikely to take a chance on an SE. The Core models are consistently great, in my experience, perhaps less of a risk.

 

[CandidPicker]

EQ pedal, and a 2nd cup of coffee.

 

[bodia]

I get that. I've special ordered Core PRS guitars many times and even PS. But I've been playing PRS for 30 years, and have enough experience with them to know what I'm getting into, and to accept the result.

I don't think I'd blind-order my first guitar of a given brand, but that's just me.

I'd be especially unlikely to take a chance on an SE. The Core models are consistently great, in my experience, perhaps less of a risk.

Imam completely in this camp, as well.

 

[RallyFanatic]

It’s difficult to properly gauge how a guitar sounds without duplicating your exact circumstances. You can get an idea in a store or by listening to videos, but until you plug it into your amp(s) and pedals where you normally play, and spend an hour or so with it, you never know if it’s right.

If you love the feel, which is my top priority, then try different pickups. Or just return it and enjoy your EVH while you take your time finding something else. There no shortage of great guitars out there, we are spoilt for choice these days.

 

[SinSir]

If it doesn't float your boat pretty soon, maybe you can return it?

I figure if it's necessary to change pickups and screw around with a guitar in order to like it, it's not for me. I figure if I'm not in love, don't get married.

I'd return it.

Love and marriage takes work, sometimes the pretty ones are worth it!

I used to feel that way on guitars, but now I really enjoy my bench time. It's an easy way to expand the hobby and quite interesting to the kid that used to take anything apart he could get his hands on. Taking it apart was easy but putting it back together was another story. I'll still never forget how upset my Mom was over that answering machine! lol

 

[László]

Love and marriage takes work, sometimes the pretty ones are worth it!

I used to feel that way on guitars, but now I really enjoy my bench time. It's an easy way to expand the hobby and quite interesting to the kid that used to take anything apart he could get his hands on. Taking it apart was easy but putting it back together was another story. I'll still never forget how upset my Mom was over that answering machine! lol

Haha!

I'm told that after 40 years, my marriage seems to be working,..

On the other hand, I need my guitars to work well right out of the box because I use them in the studio professionally!

 

[SinSir]

Haha!

I'm told that after 40 years, my marriage seems to be working,..

On the other hand, I need my guitars to work well right out of the box because I use them in the studio professionally!

Congrats on 40 years.. That's impressive!

That's the major difference. It's purely a hobby for me and part of it is my mad scientist experiments. If I was a pro in a studio I could see having a totally different view, but honestly the closest I'll be to pro and guitars is the roadie so I better get tinkering!

 

[dogrocketp]

I did play a prs custom se 24 zebrawood. And I did watch a lot of YouTube videos and I did like the sound. I still have to try it with different effects and tones. But my initial thought of the sound was disappointing. I didn't think there would be a huge difference in sound. From what I have heard.

I hope you changed your amp settings from what you used for the EVH. Also remember, some guitars like certain amps. My DC3 sounds best through my 2 SE channel 30.

 

[aphantomvaper]

I played a SE Custom 24 and then bought it. Then I bought a Santana SE and the Custom 24 turned into a cheap feeling guitar so I returned it. Love the Santana (2017), and the 4 other PRS I bought in 2020.

Turns out they all have Wide/Fat necks so I chalked it up to the Wide/Thin being what I didn't jibe with.

Spent 2 months with the Custom 24 wanting it to be enjoyable. It was the only one I played before I bought it!

I guess I'm saying don't give up Ron!

 

[Ron Pantucci]

I'm not giving up. I guess that I am really use to the EVH. The neck is different than the PRS. Not a bad thing. I do like the feel of it I think the difference might be the neck radius. The neck shapes are also different. The strings are very low at the top and are higher on the bottom on of the PRS . Which also can be fixed. Since it was used. I'm not sure if the setup could be different from the one I did play. I can work with the sound. It could also be the strings that made a difference. The one I played was brand new so whatever strings they put on it from the factory. I'm not sure what strings are on mine.

 

[Miketar]

It often seems like folks expect their new PRS to sound like a Gibson or Fender or other brand name guitar and are disappointed when they do not. I don't believe that Paul intended them to sound like other guitars. I believe he wanted them to have their own voices. Not saying this is the case for the OP, just an observation from reading threads on various forums about PRS guitars. To me, if you want a guitar that sounds like an LP (substitute other guitar), buy an LP.

 

[Ron Pantucci]

Maybe I should have bought a Mark Tremonti so I would be able to sound and play just like him. lol. I do like a heavy metal or distortion sound. I think the sound is a little to bright I have to mess around with it a lot more.