PRS Santana Core model

[NDogg]

Hey all,

Ive been told by a couple people that because the Santana is 24 frets, the neck pickup is moved slightly further from the neck than the other 22 feet models. However, looking at the Santana guitar it looks like the neck is in the same location relative to other models (looks like the neck comes out from the body/shorter tail piece at the 2nd fret. If anything the last 2 frets on the Santana are closer together so less of the Santana neck would be on the body).

So is it true that the neck pickup is shifted to the right (righty guitar) on the Santana and the bridge is shifted to the left?

Thanks all!

 

[DHW]

The bridge pickup is not moved at all. The neck pickup is scooted back to make room for the extra couple frets.

 

[AP515]

The bridge pickup is not moved at all. The neck pickup is scooted back to make room for the extra couple frets.

Yep, the distance between the bridge and neck pickups is smaller and the only thing that moves is the neck pickup.

 

[NDogg]

Thanks guys... You would never know by looking at the pictures.

the bridge/tremolo is also moved slightly to the left. Does this feel weird (as your picking hand rests slightly in front of the bridge)?

Is it a very dark sounding guitar? I'm all about the mids (not the bass)... Too much lows is too dark for me and too much highs is just unpleasant.

 

[DHW]

Thanks guys... You would never know by looking at the pictures.

the bridge/tremolo is also moved slightly to the left. Does this feel weird (as your picking hand rests slightly in front of the bridge)?

Is it a very dark sounding guitar? I'm all about the mids (not the bass)... Too much lows is too dark for me and too much highs is just unpleasant.

The bridge isn't moved or the scale length wouldn't be right. The Santana just has a big butt which gives you the illusion that things are shifted around.

 

[NDogg]

Look at a pic of it... The bridge is right next to the bridge pickup... No space Inbetween... So either the pickup was moved or the bridge... It's a 24.5" scale length!

 

[DHW]

Look at a pic of it... The bridge is right next to the bridge pickup... No space Inbetween... So either the pickup was moved or the bridge... It's a 24.5" scale length!

Look where the saddles are though

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I'm all about the mids

Check out a West St. LTD or a KL33 then.

 

[NDogg]

Thanks guys...just checked out west st and kl33 on YouTube and they are just terrible lol... Very bright and screechy... Unworthy of the PRS name.

The Santana saddles are slightly further back but not that much? Is that a special bridge?

 

[AaeCee]

The Santana saddles are slightly further back but not that much? Is that a special bridge?

The Santana bridge is the very same you see on all core model term equipped guitars. As for tone, it's certainly not excessively bright nor dark, I'd refer to it as thick and punchy with great balance and harmonic overtones. Punchy like a sledge hammer.

 

[John Mann]

The bridges on all PRS core models are the same, regardless of string scale length. Where they are positioned is determined by scale length. The same is true for pickup location.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Thanks guys...just checked out west st and kl33 on YouTube and they are just terrible lol... Very bright and screechy... Unworthy of the PRS name.

I doubt you'd like a Santana then, since it's basically the same guitar with a maple top which theoretically should be even brighter.

 

[ViperDoc]

Hey all,

Ive been told by a couple people that because the Santana is 24 frets, the neck pickup is moved slightly further from the neck than the other 22 feet models. However, looking at the Santana guitar it looks like the neck is in the same location relative to other models (looks like the neck comes out from the body/shorter tail piece at the 2nd fret. If anything the last 2 frets on the Santana are closer together so less of the Santana neck would be on the body).

So is it true that the neck pickup is shifted to the right (righty guitar) on the Santana and the bridge is shifted to the left?

Thanks all!

If you look at a CU22 and a CU24 side-by-side, you'll notice that both guitars are the same body shape, and both of their fretboards have 2 frets over the top of the body. Therefore, the scale length on the 24 fret guitar is "moved" towards the headstock to enable the same playability at the neck joint. Also therefore, the bridge position on the 24 fret guitar
(given the same scale length) will ALSO be moved towards the headstock. If you look at a CU22 trem and a CU24 trem, their bridges are in different positions. The neck pickup position relative to the body outline on both CU22 and CU24 guitars is identical. So contrary to what some have said, the scale ends are moving.

That said, the Santana model has always. to my knowledge, been a 24 fret guitar, and because it has a unique design, cannot very well be compared to other guitars. What you might feel when comparing how either plays is a whole 'nuther story!

 

[László]

Thanks guys...just checked out west st and kl33 on YouTube and they are just terrible lol... Very bright and screechy... Unworthy of the PRS name. ?

Any guitar can be made to sound good or bad by the associated gear settings, that is, amps, pedals, speakers, etc., and by the player.

It's absurd to reach that conclusion based on some YouTube videos without even playing the things yourself.

 

[Tag]

The tonal difference in the 24 freters will really be noticed on the neck pup. Its location is nearer the bridge, so it picks up different overtones compared to a neck pup on the same model 22 fret. I live on the neck pup, and I like the deeper tones the 22 fret location gives. Jazz guitar players are noted for wanting the neck pup right up against the neck for that very reason. The old DeArmond floating pups let you slide the pup around to where you wanted it, and with very few exceptions, you will see them right up against the neck. (Farther away from the bridge) Deeper, richer tones. Another great example is on the beautiful old Guild Artist Awards that came with the DeArmond floaters, but they were slightly away from the neck.

So many of those guitars now have the pick guard cut or replaced so that the pup can be slid flush to the neck.

Example, but with a replaced pick guard.

Stock:

Modified.

 

[NDogg]

If you look at a CU22 and a CU24 side-by-side, you'll notice that both guitars are the same body shape, and both of their fretboards have 2 frets over the top of the body. Therefore, the scale length on the 24 fret guitar is "moved" towards the headstock to enable the same playability at the neck joint. Also therefore, the bridge position on the 24 fret guitar
(given the same scale length) will ALSO be moved towards the headstock. If you look at a CU22 trem and a CU24 trem, their bridges are in different positions. The neck pickup position relative to the body outline on both CU22 and CU24 guitars is identical. So contrary to what some have said, the scale ends are moving.

That said, the Santana model has always. to my knowledge, been a 24 fret guitar, and because it has a unique design, cannot very well be compared to other guitars. What you might feel when comparing how either plays is a whole 'nuther story!

I see what you're saying but PRS himself says that the bass pickup is moved closer to the bridge pickup in his musicstorelive custom 24 youtube video...

 

[rugerpc]

Which came first -the neck pup or the 2 extra frets on a 24 fret guitar?

It doesn't matter-the end result is that the neck pup looses some bass response AND the guitar looses a pinch harmonic location.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I'd love to do some sound clips and challenge someone to hear the difference between a neck pup on a 22 and a 24 fret PRS (of the same scale). I'd even be willing to move the same pickup from guitar to guitar. Who knows, maybe the difference is dramatic.

 

[rugerpc]

It would be pretty hard to set up and eliminate all the variables.

A sliding pup in one guitar like a Tag shows above would be best.

 

[Orange Tiger]

Which came first -the neck pup or the 2 extra frets on a 24 fret guitar?

It doesn't matter-the end result is that the neck pup looses some bass response AND the guitar looses a pinch harmonic location.

cool graphics! They illustrate this very well.