@ Duffy: I, too, have bought a 30th anniversary SE CU24, but I let Sweetwater do my modding for me, and a side benefit to me was saving money on every part of the deal. First I asked if they could exchange the stock pickups for 59/09's, and they did. At less than the regular cost. I had an earlier model that I sold on Ebay, so I was familiar with the sound. Though I couldn't fault it, I wanted to make a change and I just decided I didn't like the gray/black or the zebra pups, so I took the plunge after I saw the one I ended up getting. The new 59/09's are much better, IMHO. Anyway, I also wanted black rings to match plus a black switch tip. Well, they forgot that, but made up for it by shipping them later and I made that change myself. Later added a black trem arm tip to foster the illusion (had to use shrink tubing to make it fit 'cause it was real loose, but it's snug now). I had them up the string gauge to 10's (which I found I like better and that's what I have on my Paul's), and do the nut work. They are professionals, after all, so why not? I thought it was a great deal because I saved money on the cost of the guitar, the pickups, the shop labor and the time it would have taken me, by having them do it. The only thing I lost was the satisfaction of doing it myself. And the trem comes back in tune perfectly. Aaaaaah, yes!
So, I also bought a CU22 semi-hollow and changed the rings and switch tip to black. It's in another thread, too. But then I decided to change the fixed bridge on it to black as well. And I found
one here. I wasn't sure it would even work, but it was just $24.89. Though I had to wait for it since it came from Germany, it turned out to be a perfect fit. I didn't have to pull the studs which was good because I was afraid I might damage the top trying to do that. But it was all good. And after adjusting for intonation, it was perfect.
So that's 2 SE's modded to match up with my Paul's (changed the pup rings to black on it also). The Paul's and the CU22 are both McCarty Tobacco Sunburst, and the 30th CU24 is Vintage Sunburst, so it's now all one small but happy family. The only possible thing left that would be nice would be to change the tuners to black locking tuners also, but I haven't found a set yet that I think would fit. If anybody knows of a drop-in for those, I would be grateful to know it. I'm not going to change the tuners on my Paul's because it already has Phase III's on it and they can stay the way they are. All 3 guitars have amber lampshades on them and that's ok because they fit in with their respective color schemes.
So, if anybody knows of a drop-in for SE black locking tuners... ? Hmmm?
Thanks in advance.
Mark