SE Holcomb SVN Overhaul Questions

[Avening]

Hey guys,

First post, but figured you lads would be the ones to help.

I own a 2022 model SE Holcomb SVN 7-String (Alpha Omega pickups) and am gearing up to do an overhaul on it. I have been debating on whether or not to bother based on the laundry list of mods I want to do, but I love the way it looks and plays and know it can be more suited to my needs with a bit of help.

I'm very much in the target market for this specific PRS and listen to a ton of modern progressive metal. This guitar needs to cover a lot of ground for me - anything from brutal chugs to glassy cleans and everything in between, which it does quite well already (absolutely adore the pickups), but I need it to be unshakable with tuning, and I'd like to shake off a little of the "SE'ness" of the hardware.

Proposed mod list (so far):
1) Evertune F7 in Black (have a local luthier here that is an Evertune preferred installer for these bridges)
2) Graphtech TUSQ XL in black
3) Schaller M6 135 in black (3x3 19mm set plus a single 21mm post for the low string for a total of 7)
4) Hipshot O Ring Knobs in black

Also want to gut the electronics. New volume and tone pots, a better quality blade switch and maybe even a nicer input jack? What do you guys recommend for this? Looking for very linear and smooth pots with a very positive and heavy feel to it (tone needs to be a push/pull or push/push for coil split) and I'll need a cap for the tone as well I'm guessing.

Any suggestions? Thoughts? Am I crazy? Cheers and jeers welcome!

 

[DISTORT6]

Everything you mentioned sounds great.
Addressing the tuning and electronics are exactly the areas that can use the upgrades.
Love the Evertune idea.

 

[Prs Mods too]

DO IT!

 

[Maertl513]

Impressive action item list, @Avening!

Post in thread 'NGD - 2017 PRS Mark Holcomb SE is in da house!'

Jan 14, 2017

Convertion accomplished:

- Recently installed Schaller M6 with ebony tuner buttons:

Backside of the headstock. The color of the tuners isn´t chrome, but ruthenium (which is nearly similar to black chrome).

Yesterday I had an appointment with my...

• Maertl513

Talking about the six-string version, my mods were not as macro invasive than yours.
I didn't change the bridge nor the pots, jack, switch and everything else on cables. They were alright.
I switched the non locking tuners to locking ones (Schaller M6, Ruthenium, back lock), PRS US nut, Hipshot O-Rings, ebony pickup rings and ebony switch tip.

Some relevant recommendations.
M6 tuners. At the time I decided for the Schallers, only back lock tuners were available, they are comparable to Sperzel. Nowadays Schaller has got top locking tuners aswell (you don't need a tool to loosen or tight the lock), but you need to be careful not to loose those caps.
But more relevant are the buttons. You need to choose mini tuner buttons, and wooden ones, because the curve of the headstock could be for some tuner button too narrow to turn without boundaries 360°.
It's rather easier to rasp wood than metal.

 

[Avening]

Impressive action item list, @Avening!

Talking about the six-string version, my mods were not as macro invasive than yours.
I didn't change the bridge nor the pots, jack, switch and everything else on cables. They were alright.
I switched the non locking tuners to locking ones (Schaller M6, Ruthenium, back lock), PRS US nut, Hipshot O-Rings, ebony pickup rings and ebony switch tip.

Some relevant recommendations.
M6 tuners. At the time I decided for the Schallers, only back lock tuners were available, they are comparable to Sperzel. Nowadays Schaller has got top locking tuners aswell (you don't need a tool to loosen or tight the lock), but you need to be careful not to loose those caps.
But more relevant are the buttons. You need to choose mini tuner buttons, and wooden ones, because the curve of the headstock could be for some tuner button too narrow to turn without boundaries 360°.
It's rather easier to rasp wood than metal.

Nice! Looks great. Never really thought of the pickup rings but they definitely add a touch of class.

Really appreciate the info on the tuner buttons. Would have never thought of that on my own. I did see on the Schaller site that they had the option of the big or small - good to know that the small is the way to go. I think the black ones with ebony buttons would look great on mine. Could also grab a matching ebony truss rod cover to get some consistency.

Everything you mentioned sounds great.
Addressing the tuning and electronics are exactly the areas that can use the upgrades.
Love the Evertune idea.

Thanks!

Have really wanted to jump on the Evertune train for some time now. This particular guitar is a recording workhorse for me and I'd love to not have to retune after every take. The one and only downside I can think of is the added weight (it's already a pretty beefy guitar) but maybe it's a wash considering how much material they need to remove from the body.

Any recco's on electronics? Do PRS make their own (custom spec CTS or something)?

DO IT!

WORKING ON IT! Lol

 

[dogrocketp]

Graphtech nut? No. I’m firmly in the PRS CORE camp when it comes to the nut. That’ll take care of most of your tuning problems. Other than that, have at it. Make it yours.

 

[Maertl513]

@Avening, I chose the small one, but some weren't small enough

 

[deathworlder]

Nice! Looks great. Never really thought of the pickup rings but they definitely add a touch of class.

Really appreciate the info on the tuner buttons. Would have never thought of that on my own. I did see on the Schaller site that they had the option of the big or small - good to know that the small is the way to go. I think the black ones with ebony buttons would look great on mine. Could also grab a matching ebony truss rod cover to get some consistency.

Thanks!

Have really wanted to jump on the Evertune train for some time now. This particular guitar is a recording workhorse for me and I'd love to not have to retune after every take. The one and only downside I can think of is the added weight (it's already a pretty beefy guitar) but maybe it's a wash considering how much material they need to remove from the body.

Any recco's on electronics? Do PRS make their own (custom spec CTS or something)?


WORKING ON IT! Lol

The consensus is the non-push/pull pots are CTS spec'd. Seen them advertised a few places as such...

What those specs are...? Never seen it advertised or measured....

In general, you'll find two types of CTS audio taper pots; 10% taper(most common, run of the mill) and 20% taper(usually billed by their sellers as custom spec/taper).

Most all are +/- 10 tolerance; some sellers advertise +/- 5-8%... I don't think they're necessarily manufactured to that; rather, they're in-house QA controlled.

 

[vhalen50]

I did the hipshot 7 string bridge on mine, graphtech nut and SE locking tuners. Electronics were fine to me until the pots fail. I did replace the output jack with a switchcraft becasue it was so flimsy feeling and cut in and out.

 

[Avening]

The consensus is the non-push/pull pots are CTS spec'd. Seen them advertised a few places as such...

What those specs are...? Never seen it advertised or measured....

In general, you'll find two types of CTS audio taper pots; 10% taper(most common, run of the mill) and 20% taper(usually billed by their sellers as custom spec/taper).

Most all are +/- 10 tolerance; some sellers advertise +/- 5-8%... I don't think they're necessarily manufactured to that; rather, they're in-house QA controlled.

Ah, ok fair enough. End of the day I'm sure any quality CTS pot will do the job. Just want something that is a good match for the pickups and provides a nice linear and heavy turn. I find the ones that came with the guitar a) come loose all the time, and 2) don't have the rotational angle that I'd prefer (although I'm not entirely versed on what is available) - I'd rather a pot that takes a full 360d turn lock to lock than one that takes 270d, allowing me to be more precise. Probably overthinking it, but the heart wants what the heart wants.

@Avening, I chose the small one, but some weren't small enough

Good to know! Thank you.

Graphtech nut? No. I’m firmly in the PRS CORE camp when it comes to the nut. That’ll take care of most of your tuning problems. Other than that, have at it. Make it yours.

Do you know if PRS makes a replacement for a 7-String? Open to other brands of course (Graphtech just comes first to mind).

 

[Avening]

I did the hipshot 7 string bridge on mine, graphtech nut and SE locking tuners. Electronics were fine to me until the pots fail. I did replace the output jack with a switchcraft becasue it was so flimsy feeling and cut in and out.

I feel you on the input jack. Mine comes loose all the time. Definitely want it replaced!

The electronics for me is more of a tactile feel play then anything. I elaborated a bit more on my reply ^^^

How's the hipshot bridge?

 

[vhalen50]

I feel you on the input jack. Mine comes loose all the time. Definitely want it replaced!

The electronics for me is more of a tactile feel play then anything. I elaborated a bit more on my reply ^^^

How's the hipshot bridge?

Its great. I honestly did most for aesthetics admittedly. I had my local luthier do an evertune on a mahog cheap ibanez for me yeaaaaars ago. The system is great but its so permanent lol. But on a holcomb its not that far fetched from the market of whod want that.

 

[dogrocketp]

I couldn’t find a PRS nut for you. How about having your luthier cut a bone one?

 

[deathworlder]

Ah, ok fair enough. End of the day I'm sure any quality CTS pot will do the job. Just want something that is a good match for the pickups and provides a nice linear and heavy turn. I find the ones that came with the guitar a) come loose all the time, and 2) don't have the rotational angle that I'd prefer (although I'm not entirely versed on what is available) - I'd rather a pot that takes a full 360d turn lock to lock than one that takes 270d, allowing me to be more precise. Probably overthinking it, but the heart wants what the heart wants.


Good to know! Thank you.


Do you know if PRS makes a replacement for a 7-String? Open to other brands of course (Graphtech just comes first to mind).

They're 300-degree sweep.
Sounds like you might like a 20% or even 30% taper, if you're after a more linear taper...without actually going linear taper.

 

[Avening]

They're 300-degree sweep.
Sounds like you might like a 20% or even 30% taper, if you're after a more linear taper...without actually going linear taper.

May be a good idea on my part to investigate that. Especially with very high gain tones, I find having the ability to accurately back off at the pot to be invaluable. Helps me find the note distinction / gain sweet spot easier. I've used pots in the past that sound identical for 320-degrees and then suddenly dip so low that my gate slams shut (I have a BK Ragnarok bridge on a Charvel DK24 with the 500k EVH Bourns that is famous for this). Not exactly ideal for tone building or recall.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up. Will do some investigating.

I couldn’t find a PRS nut for you. How about having your luthier cut a bone one?

I could certainly ask!

 

[deathworlder]

May be a good idea on my part to investigate that. Especially with very high gain tones, I find having the ability to accurately back off at the pot to be invaluable. Helps me find the note distinction / gain sweet spot easier. I've used pots in the past that sound identical for 320-degrees and then suddenly dip so low that my gate slams shut (I have a BK Ragnarok bridge on a Charvel DK24 with the 500k EVH Bourns that is famous for this). Not exactly ideal for tone building or recall.

Anyway, thanks for the heads up. Will do some investigating.


I could certainly ask!

You are more than likely accustomed to 10% taper; compare it to the 20-30% taper in the video....