Purchased a new/old Bernie Marsden -

[Naquat]

Hello everyone - First time poster here.

I just purchased a 2011 Bernie Marsden. At least from what I've read the 2011 S/N starts with an "L".

I don't know if the tuners are original or not as they are all black with small knobs.

The guitar is in very nice shape with no major dings…perhaps a few minor scuffs that's it.

I actually don't have it yet as I purchased it from a local GC and have to wait a few more days before the "Hold in case it's stolen" period ends.

The strings are light gauge, I'm guessing 9's. The upper frets may need dressing but I'll have to do a setup first with a new set up strings 10-46.

I've done some reading on the guitar and will most likely change the nut. The bridge? Maybe. Every guitar is different so I'll have to see if I can get the intonation, open and fretted, to where I want it.

I like that it has a tummy cut because I wear my guitar rather high. I also don't think the weight is too bad at all. The 3 knob configuration should be fine as I don't use tone controls that much anyway and I like the different look.

Is there anything not in the older threads that I should check into? Anything I should know about my year?

Thanks….I'm looking forward to playing this guitar !

 

[veinbuster]

Good choice for your first.
Welcome to the forum.

 

[Naquat]

Thanks veinbuster

 

[dogrocketp]

Congratulations. CHange the nut, and play it for several weeks before you do anything other than setting it up.

 

[Naquat]

Yeah, I hear you. Although the guitar does have a lot of attributes I like. The cutaway access, acceptable weight, nice top and binding so I'll address the setup, play it and if it needs more than I can do and the guitar "feels right" then I'll go forward.

 

[Naquat]

This guitar doesn't have a case or gig bag. I typically use a Mono case when I take a guitar gigging but for storage…..how is the PRS case that usually comes with this guitar or would a Gibson gig bag be a better choice? Also, does anyone know if a Gretsch Pro Jet hard case will work with the Bernie?

 

[AP515]

The Bernie comes with a very good PRS gig bag. Nicer than most gig bags. A Mono is a level higher. The PRS gig bag is still very good.

Welcome to the Bernie club!

 

[grausch]

Congrats on the Bernie. They are great playing guitars.

The tuners don't sound original, but if they are locking it is definitely an upgrade.

My nut did not need replacing, it just looked a little lower quality than the rest of the guitar. If you are playing 10s, the stock nut may just need to be filed a little.

I have never considered a Gretsch case. My online research indicated that a Gibson LP case would not work, but an Epiphone LP case and the SKB-56 would. I ordered the SKB-56, but you need to put a cloth under the body of the guitar for it to properly fit. I also tried a Gator LP case in store and it had the same issue. The angle of the neck means that the guitar does not lie quite flat and pressing down on the headstock will raise the back of the body. The cloth eliminates that.

I have not tried the Epiphone case, so if you pick up the guitar at GC, please try that and let us know. I have a second Bernie needing a case, and I can't try one locally.

 

[bodia]

Congrats on the Bernie, and welcome to the Forum. The Bernie is a great guitar stock, and also an awesome platform for mods. BTW, the Bernie came with vintage Kluson style tuners.

 

[Naquat]

Thanks for the input . I've read that some have upgraded the bridge. I tend to be a bit picky on intonation and wonder how the Bernie or other similar bridges can be so accurate with minimal adjustments but I'm open to proving myself wrong. That being the case would a McCarty Bridge be a direct replacement and be an upgrade to the SE original on the Bernie?

Will do on the case grausch. I tend to purchase used gear a lot but I may check the Epi case. I have a Gretsch Pro Jet so I'll check the Bernie in that as well.

 

[Naquat]

Reading all this info about the Bernie is killing me. I have to wait until mid week to pick up the guitar…..and I want to play it. LOL

 

[Boogie]

A Bernie is a great start! Don't be worried about the bridge; it's very well designed and accurate. PRS fixed bridge is found on many models WAY more expensive than an SE and they all intonate beautifully. I changed the fixed bridge on my SE One as an experiment (the USA and SE model bridges are made of different material) but it wasn't for intonation.

 

[Naquat]

I picked up the "Bernie" a few hours ago. It's in really nice shape. I haven't' seen any pics of one with Black Kluson Deluxe tuners but perhaps its was ordered that way. The tuner screws don't look beat up at all. Someone did mess with the electronics though. Probably had other pups in it because I took off the control cavity cover and found some black tape on two connections. It's not as obvious in the picture but the S/N is in gold.

The pups read 8.26K Neck and 10.43K Bridge. I actually haven't listened to it yet. I was more concerned with how it looked, played, and sounded acoustically first. I originally thought the guitar may have had 9's on it but on second look they're probably 10's (I was playing a bit of acoustic that day).

Well contrary to what I've read the intonation on this sucker is spot on. I checked it both with my snark and with a Peterson iStrobe tuner on my phone. I'm impressed with how accurate the bridge is. It's as good, and with some guitars, better than what I could have done by carefully adjusting saddles by hand.

The top veneer looks to be about 1/16" with some nice shading. I believe I got a good deal on this guitar. It's used but in great shape. OK, so if I do this correctly I'll post some pics.

 

[Naquat]

 

[Naquat]

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[Naquat]

 

[Naquat]

What looks like marks on the back are just glare and shadows.


Graush --- I did look at cases when I picked the guitar up at GC but they did not have any Epi Les Paul cases. None of the Road Runner ABS/Metal trim cases would fit properly because the body is too thick and the neck sits above the rest. Same with my Gretsch Pro Jet Case.

OK, all of you "Bernie" experts…anything look out of place to you?

 

[Stoptail22]

Congrats! Nice finish!

The black tuners are for sure not original. As the nut on my 2016 Bernie is a white one, the black nut on your 2011 Bernie may not be original.

 

[ReptilianNosewood]

If i had a Bernie or any with the vintage style tuners i would grab these ones as a replacement:

https://store.guitarvaultusa.com/mobile/Product.aspx?ProductCode=7025

John Mann makes some slick gear.

 

[Naquat]

Stoptail22, you may be correct. Upon close inspection (black on black tends to blend in) the bushings are not seated properly and the back of the truss rod cover is hanging up on the Nut a bit.