SE NF3?!

[bodia]

I was fortunate to walk into the store today and trade in gear. I got to see and feel first hand the new SEs. I loved the orange metallic but it was a tad too loud (cosmetically) for me personally. I wanted to like the white more but didn’t love it

I left with gunmetal. I will swap the guard to black when they create pickguards

I wanted to love the rosewood more. But it kinda looked like cheaper laurel rosewood (I know it’s not). There is a significant difference between USA quality rosewood and SEs. I left with the maple fretboard version. I think the metallic gray and the dark abalone (or pearl?) birds on the maple look great.

It did require some time touching up. I kind of chalk this up to standard on most SEs nowadays: some frets were a tinge high. Not bad at all. Playable. But I leveled them more and rounded the ends a tad more since they felt sharp. Now I can get that action core level low. I also sanded the side of the nut. Mine was sticking out a touch.

I did some mods like locking tuners. MannMade bridge. My preference. Nothing on the guitar

But I was surprised at the QC of them. Some at the store didn’t even have first bird centered correctly. Or fret ends felt like they would cut me

I’m glad I spent the 2 hours properly setting it up. I absolutely love it now. And I’m not knocking these guitars. I don’t know of any $800 guitar that doesn’t need some work. I’m very particular in my set ups and generally do them myself. I do look forward to now settling in with it. Seems like a keeper to me. I’m a huge narrow field fan.

It does have me wondering if adding the ability to add a push pull to add the neck pickup in any position would work. That’s how I set up my strats. I don’t know if things would be in phase like that?

Sweet! Congrats!

 

[IRG]

I suspect it’s much easier to add capacity or shift production between models in Indonesia than it is to do either in Maryland. It would seem Maryland is at capacity. At that point, a new model either has to bring in more revenue per production slot or solve some supply chain problem. Ash is harder to find than it used to be—I just cut down the last ash tree at my home, due to the Emerald Ash Borer.

My last ash tree in my yard is getting cut down next week. I wonder if the base of it, is thick enough to be sliced into guitar blanks...hmmm. It's a shame though, the tree seemed pretty healthy until suddenly it wasn't. And all of the others are gone now too.

 

[veinbuster]

My last ash tree in my yard is getting cut down next week. I wonder if the base of it, is thick enough to be sliced into guitar blanks...hmmm. It's a shame though, the tree seemed pretty healthy until suddenly it wasn't. And all of the others are gone now too.

Most of mine have tipped over. There are about five more waiting for a strong wind. The wood inside is in decent shape. The bores worked just under the bark gobbling all the nutrients before they could get to the branches.

 

[jamjam1]

I was fortunate to walk into the store today and trade in gear. I got to see and feel first hand the new SEs. I loved the orange metallic but it was a tad too loud (cosmetically) for me personally. I wanted to like the white more but didn’t love it

I left with gunmetal. I will swap the guard to black when they create pickguards

I wanted to love the rosewood more. But it kinda looked like cheaper laurel rosewood (I know it’s not). There is a significant difference between USA quality rosewood and SEs. I left with the maple fretboard version. I think the metallic gray and the dark abalone (or pearl?) birds on the maple look great.

It did require some time touching up. I kind of chalk this up to standard on most SEs nowadays: some frets were a tinge high. Not bad at all. Playable. But I leveled them more and rounded the ends a tad more since they felt sharp. Now I can get that action core level low. I also sanded the side of the nut. Mine was sticking out a touch.

I did some mods like locking tuners. MannMade bridge. My preference. Nothing on the guitar

But I was surprised at the QC of them. Some at the store didn’t even have first bird centered correctly. Or fret ends felt like they would cut me

I’m glad I spent the 2 hours properly setting it up. I absolutely love it now. And I’m not knocking these guitars. I don’t know of any $800 guitar that doesn’t need some work. I’m very particular in my set ups and generally do them myself. I do look forward to now settling in with it. Seems like a keeper to me. I’m a huge narrow field fan.

It does have me wondering if adding the ability to add a push pull to add the neck pickup in any position would work. That’s how I set up my strats. I don’t know if things would be in phase like that?

I feel like my expectations need adjustment when it comes to guitars. I totally expect a cheaper guitar to sound worse than a better one...but that's not the case, it's that the cheaper one needs work like you've described and then will sound on par or nearly to a good one. Very different than other products, which when cheaper are just worse, they don't need work to make them better.

 

[Broseph]

I feel like my expectations need adjustment when it comes to guitars. I totally expect a cheaper guitar to sound worse than a better one...but that's not the case, it's that the cheaper one needs work like you've described and then will sound on par or nearly to a good one. Very different than other products, which when cheaper are just worse, they don't need work to make them better.

It’s worth the time touching up the ends that can be fixed. My comfort level doing this has grown exponentially in a few years from picking things up on this forum and few YouTube vids. A year or 2 ago I would have never touched frets or filed a nut. Now it’s simple for me.

 

[MarshallMike]

I got the Ice Blue Metallic with rosewood board in today from Sweetwater.
I picked the darkest board of the 4 they had showing.
My first impressions (from a guy who owns 4 S2 models- 2 594 SC, 594 DC, Standard 24). I also own 3 Am pro Strats and a MIM Strat.
For starters this is with the stock 9 gauge strings- which I hate! Needs 10s! I absolutely hate 9 gauge strings on any guitar.
The acoustic tone ringing is not very nice. Not a very resonant sounding guitar. Maybe because the 9 gauge strings?
I can really hear the trem springs ring. Not the case on my Strats or S2 Standard.
The pickups do sound interesting. Some adjustment will be needed to get them to be more even in volume.
The neck feels nice and has no fret sprout. It could definitely use some rolled edges though. Not nearly as bad as the SAS model I sent back a few months ago. This is why I went for the rosewood board. If I need to roll the edges, I can do it myself.
The pickup switch is in a much better position than my S2 Standard - (under the bar). Ah, but the volume knob is a bit too close to the trem arm though. This could probably be remedied with a top hat style knob like on the S2 models. It's a bit tricky to get your pinky on the knob fast without hitting the bar.
Oh, PSA: if you like your trem arm to set higher off the body, a Fender Am Pro pop in bar will do the trick and fit perfectly.
Tuning stability out of the box is horrible. Granted, I didn't stretch the strings because I will be replacing with a set of 10s.
I will report back after a string change this weekend. Hopefully that will cure some of the things I don't like.

 

[HANGAR18]

Paul needs to give the SE line a rest. It’s getting to be a joke!

Why? That's what keeps the entire guitar company afloat.

 

[Monahan]

What a great addition to the SE line!

 

[PRSGLover]

Let's just comment the whole - " Paul needs to give a rest to SE line ".
Let's just say that there will be no mid tier society in future. Only super rich and poor people.
So logical step would be to pump money into SE line. No brainer there.
Super rich people don't care about guitars.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Super rich people don't care about guitars.

Jim Irsay though.

 

[Broseph]

The acoustic tone ringing is not very nice. Not a very resonant sounding guitar. Maybe because the 9 gauge strings?
I can really hear the trem springs ring. Not the case on my Strats or S2 Standard.

I installed a MannMade upgrade kit and installed nyxl strings. This thing rings like no tomorrow now. I went for his steel tremolo block. I felt that was the most traditional for a bolt on neck.

 

[ESPImperium]

I am interested in this model.

I am just wondering how an upgrade package would do, a 59/09 at the bridge and two other pickups that will fit, with a MannMade bridge upgrade and a set of Gotoh Locking Tuners. A white HSS Pickguard would top the white pearl one off for me.

 

[SinSir]

I am interested in this model.

I am just wondering how an upgrade package would do, a 59/09 at the bridge and two other pickups that will fit, with a MannMade bridge upgrade and a set of Gotoh Locking Tuners. A white HSS Pickguard would top the white pearl one off for me.

There's a route for three humbuckers under that pickguard. Mod away! That's what a se is really about. Make your own and have fun!

 

[Broseph]

Very true. This could be converted to a “studio” setup of HSS style.

PRS SE locking tuners are more than good enough of an upgrade.

Oddly enough I did see the tuners are being labeled as light weight now. I don’t recall this in the past. And the tuning buttons are NOT compatible with older SE buttons. They felt lighter than my locker buttons. I tried swapping the buttons but it was not compatible. The shafts were different sizes.

I applaud PRS on doing this across all their lines. Nobody likes neck dive

 

[Russ73]

I just ordered the gun metal with rosewood from GC online...coming ftom the warehouse...I saw some videos of guys ripping on them which is my style...will be here next week hope I dig it!!

 

[MarshallMike]

Well, I put a set of NYXL 10s on it and set it up.
It seemed to help a bit. A slight improvement, I guess.
The acoustic resonance did improve with the 10s on it.
The trem springs still ring.
My final verdict: I think both Fender and Epiphone have better options for a non-USA made guitar.
I will probably keep it and maybe do some mods or just give it to a relative.
Me and PRS SE models just don't gel. I love my S2 models!

 

[Broseph]

I’d say most of my fender imports have been horrific out of the box. Practically unplayable unless my action was 50% higher than my PRS. But certainly decent once a lot of work was done with the frets

 

[d^rren]

Oh, PSA: if you like your trem arm to set higher off the body, a Fender Am Pro pop in bar will do the trick and fit perfectly.

That's good to know, actually. I find the bar on my Tremonti SE a little too close to the body, so I might pick one of those up.

 

[SinSir]

My final verdict: I think both Fender and Epiphone have better options for a non-USA made guitar.

It saddens me but I couldn't agree more. Out the box anyway. I was just having this conversation with a friend earlier today.

The se didn't used to be this way and honestly a guitar in this price range with PRS on the headstock should be better. Just because many of us can do the work, doesn't mean we should have to. The brand has built its reputation on consistent quality control and playability.

Oh well... Hello S2! They rock! And the smokin deals on the used market make it a no brainer.

 

[Broseph]

I finally settled in and played mine plugged in:
She is certainly mid focused. I had to use my amp EQs to account for that.
The lack of hum is great!
Is it a super strat? Kinda-ish?! I prob wouldn’t advise to grab it for downtuning. I suspect the pickups would sound too muddy when going down in the dungeons.
Would it replace my regular strats: no, nothing can replace that sweet jangly single coil tone. but this NF3 is much more versatile!
I realize after playing that I don’t feel the need to mod the electronics like I had originally anticipated. You get a lot of versatility with the standard 5 way.
What impresses me the most: I don’t feel like it’s an SE at all. It can hold its own easily with 2024 s2 and recent CEs. It plays so smooth. For sure a keeper for me. The value is off the charts.