Should PRS move the toggle switch out of the way from the whammy bar

[Revelation]

There has been some discussion about this, but I did not realized the issue until I purchased a Custom 24. I mean the whammy bar is obstructing access to the toggle switch. I had to push the whammy bar to the rear of the guitar so I can access to toggle switch. It seems perhaps the volume and toggle switch could be put in a better position. Anyone else feel this way or are you have with where it is?

 

[Dirty_Boogie]

Yes. I got rid of my 2018 Custom because of this, and replaced it with a 2006. I raised this same issue in another post a few years - let me see if I can find it.

Thread 'Custom 22/24 Blade Switches'

Dec 9, 2021

Can I just say for the record... for an otherwise perfect instrument, I can't think of a worse place for the blade switch location on modern generation Custom 22 and 24's. If you use a trem, or even if you don't use it and rotate it away, switching pickups is not intuitive or easy mid-song. The switch is directly behind the trem - both physically and line-of-sight - that you really have to consciously look and reach around the trem bar to switch pups. For the life of me I cannot see why they would have placed it there. Might be time to trade for a Custom Wood Library or 24-08, where...

• Dirty_Boogie
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Electric Instruments

• 

 

[aphantomvaper]

Not a helpful comment I fear, perhaps this is why I like my 2002 CU24 with rotary so much.

Your axe looks sweet, nonetheless!

 

[dogrocketp]

I had that problem on one of my guitars, I can’t remember which one. I had the trem arm bent up, which took care of the problem. I never had a problem with any other guitar.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Makes as much sense as putting the gear shift of a car under the gas pedal.

It’s a stupid idea that has been killing my desire for certain PRS guitars since 2013.

 

[Johnny Rigs]

Yes, the blade switch is poorly placed in almost every current model with a trem, except for the Silver Sky and Fiore.

 

[Revelation]

Yes, the blade switch is poorly placed in almost every current model with a trem, except for the Silver Sky and Fiore.

You would think Paul who tinkers with this guitars all the time, would have moved in more forward like a Silver Sky. Even Ibanez has some nice guitars where the blade is more forward and out of the way. https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/az2407f_00_01.html

 

[Fro]

It’s designed to look good.

 

[Johnny Rigs]

You would think Paul who tinkers with this guitars all the time, would have moved in more forward like a Silver Sky. Even Ibanez has some nice guitars where the blade is more forward and out of the way. https://www.ibanez.com/usa/products/detail/az2407f_00_01.html

Well the Paul’s Guitar has a fixed bridge and toggle switch. So he may not have noticed.

 

[Black Plaid]

Well the Paul’s Guitar has a fixed bridge and toggle switch. So he may not have noticed.

You mean that guitar they very recently discontinued much to my chagrin?

 

[watelessness]

i mean, one could just move the wang bar out of the way. it does rotate 360°

 

[Dirty_Boogie]

i mean, one could just move the wang bar out of the way. it does rotate 360°

Nope. It’s still in the way.

 

[watelessness]

Nope. It’s still in the way.

i've never had a problem with either. maybe because i stay on one pickup and never grab my wang

 

[DISTORT6]

i mean, one could just move the wang bar out of the way. it does rotate 360°

EDIT - TWSS

 

[ElrytNamrogo]

I really disliked it when it came out and fought it for a while. But my love for the actual guitar pushed me to keep it. Now, I'm very used to it and have absolutely zero issue switching pickups in live and practice scenarios.

 

[JasonE]

I have 3 PRS guitars with a trem and the 5 way blade switch. One of them is in a good spot and the other two are not great. The one that they put it in the right spot is my P22 Trem. They moved it more forward and down. That is where they should put all of them. Another good place would be to put it in a similar area to where Suhr puts them. I have had my SAS for a pretty long time so I got used to it on that guitar and makes the Studio okay to play for me. I would definitely like them better where the put it on my P22 Trem.

 

[garrettb]

I was fine with the bar rotated to point away from the headstock. I do that anyway since I tend to use bar like that.

I did always feel like it was too far away for a blade, though. I'd miss it when reaching blindly at a gig. That was a main factor in me selling the guitar and telling myself not to buy any more with that layout.

Wanna talk about the bar being in the way of the controls, that's the DGT for me.

 

[JeffsRealm]

Totally agree 100%. You do not realize how truly bad this design is until you spend some times playing on a Petrucci Majesty guitar, it doesn't look as good as a PRS but is probably the most effortless guitar I have to play. I own many PRS and have owned many over the years. Also, Les Paul, Charvel, Ibanez. In terms of access to the the controls fast effortlessly and on demand PRS is probably the worst. Fender Strat would be the worst but because of the pick guard you can modify it.

Don't get me wrong I do love my PRS guitars but I never play them live ever because if this. When your playing live there is way too much going on to have to add in trying to find your switches or controls in the dark or fast on demand or trying to look down when you miss a control and figuring out what you did. If your playing fast and need to switch fast. The position of the 5 blade is an issue. The 3 way is ok, you just got to remember to go up and then reach for it if your sustaining something or you will hit the trem bar. However, it you also have the little metal switches, those hurt hurt like heck. Never understood those. It is like Thumb bleeders on vintage les pauls. Lets put metal sharp corners where you hands are moving really fast and your not looking. Even push pull because if the recessed knobs can throw you. A push push would be much better and faster here.

I would love to see a total redesign of a lot of the controls.

 

[Spudman]

I love my guitar, but yes the switch should be moved.

 

[mixmkr]

What about in a les paul area?