PRS SE Custom 24...a few questions

[uto998]

Hello, PRS forum board. I recently purchased a PRS SE Custom 24 from Guitar Center. I had done lots of research to make sure it was the right guitar, and I never could've been more right. However, I have a few questions:

1. The whammy bar - I got the guitar and a little while later the whammy bar. I put it in but noticed it's a little different from the whammy bars I've seen before: it doesn't have a screwable end on it and doesn't like to stay in the hole in which it goes. I noticed a small screw on the bridge under the hole, but was unsure if I should tighten it or not.

2. Tuning issues - I had watched a video where a guy used the whammy bar pretty liberally and the guitar fabulously upheld its tuning. I try to bend the string up one whole step and it flies out of tune. Is this just a common issue?

Thanks! (By the way, this was my first post)

 

[andy474x]

Hi uto, welcome to the forum and congrats on the new axe!

The trem arm is held in strictly by friction, you just push it in and pull it out, no screwing action required. If it seems loose, that screw on the back of the trem that you noticed is for adjusting how tightly it's held in. Sounds like yours needs to be tightened up a bit.

The nuts on SE guitars are common problem areas for tuning. If you use strings larger than a 9-42 set, the nut slots aren't large enough and the strings will stick with changes in string tension (bends, trem use, etc). So if you're still using 9's, get yourself some nut lubricant or graphite powder, which will keep things running a bit smoother, and if you've moved to 10's or larger, have a tech file the nut to accept the bigger strings.

Also, this reply was laden with unavoidable sexual double entendres, and for that I apologize. Sort of.

 

[uto998]

Thanks for the advice. One question: how do I tighten the screw? It's so small I had trouble getting my fingers on it.

 

[andy474x]

You'll need a hex type allen key for that screw, which you can get at a hardware store, etc. I don't know the size, sorry!

You should have been given an allen key for that screw and a truss rod wrench with your guitar when you bought it, although I'm not surprised you didn't get those items, GC is notorious for not giving customers everything they should get with their SE's (don't even get us started about the gig bag debacle...) I would call the GC where you bought the guitar, tell them you didn't get the tools and see if you can get them. If that doesn't work, I would contact PRS customer service, they'll help you out one way or another.

 

[FennRx]

pics or it's an Agile:hello:

 

[uto998]

Thanks, Andy! It's kind of unfortunate to hear that about GC...I actually quite a dealie myself.

 

[uto998]

I don't have time to post pics...to busy playin' bro.

 

[DHW]

You'll need a hex type allen key for that screw, which you can get at a hardware store, etc. I don't know the size, sorry!

You should have been given an allen key for that screw and a truss rod wrench with your guitar when you bought it, although I'm not surprised you didn't get those items, GC is notorious for not giving customers everything they should get with their SE's (don't even get us started about the gig bag debacle...) I would call the GC where you bought the guitar, tell them you didn't get the tools and see if you can get them. If that doesn't work, I would contact PRS customer service, they'll help you out one way or another.

Whoa wait a second... I bought 2 se's from 2 different GC stores in the last month... I was supposed to get a truss rod wrench? One was a NOS 2010 se single cut korina and the other was a 2013 se 245. I was told there was nothing but the guitar... No gig bag, no wrench, nothing but the instrument.

 

[uto998]

Whoa wait a second... I bought 2 se's from 2 different GC stores in the last month... I was supposed to get a truss rod wrench? One was a NOS 2010 se single cut korina and the other was a 2013 se 245. I was told there was nothing but the guitar... No gig bag, no wrench, nothing but the instrument.

Yeah, you only get a gig bag with certain qualifying guitars, and neither of yours qualify (it would be one of the pictures on sweetwater.com, but there is no picture of the bag, so it doesn't come with it. I think it's only the $1,000+ retail guitars that get it). But, yes, I suppose you were supposed to get the wrench.

 

[DHW]

Yeah, you only get a gig bag with certain qualifying guitars, and neither of yours qualify (it would be one of the pictures on sweetwater.com, but there is no picture of the bag, so it doesn't come with it. I think it's only the $1,000+ retail guitars that get it). But, yes, I suppose you were supposed to get the wrench.

I tell ya what... I decided a while ago that I would only shop at guitar center when I am in the mood to run someone through the wringer... I sure don't feel bad for negotiating them to death on these instruments. I just wish there were some decent PRS dealers up here in the frozen tundra of the Twin Cities. One is open essentially the same hours I work and the other stocks nothing. That only leaves GC...

 

[uto998]

Yes, I agree that either GC needs to be more honest with their PRS's or another PRS dealer should set up shop in more places.

 

[ElrytNamrogo]

Welcome, uto and congrats on the new ax!!!! By the way, I really dig the avatar...Venom is one bad SOB.

 

[uto998]

Thanks, bro! Clever username.