So my Vela arrived....

[Russ73]

OK got my Vela this afternoon from Vegas GC....INCREDIBLE guitar and ill post pic when I get home...few observations...
1 the guitar is like brand new...zero wear....
2 the guitar is Satin....the kid at GC said it had a finish??
3 the bridge pup was replaced with some kind of creme bucker....looks killer i assume a dimarzio..
4 the tone nob was replaced i think and it neither pull up nor does it change the tone when I move it back and forth?? Just static...

 

[Ovibos]

2. When in doubt, GC is wrong.

4. Since it’s used and has a replaced pickup, the wiring is aftermarket and suspect. Make GC “fix” it (at least as much as they are capable) or give you some $$ back.

 

[RickP]

Great that it’s in good shape. Satin is a finish option, one preferred by many players. I’m no Vela expert, but I’d venture that it’s a factory finish. You may have to pull the pickup to determine its origin, many models come in cream finishes. But if you like the sound, I wouldn’t worry over that, just rock it as is.

On the tone pot, check the wiring. It was probably botched in the pickup install and may be a simple solder fix. At any rate, even GC can change a pot.

Enjoy your PRS!

 

[Russ73]

2. When in doubt, GC is wrong.

4. Since it’s used and has a replaced pickup, the wiring is aftermarket and suspect. Make GC “fix” it (at least as much as they are capable) or give you some $$ back.

I'm going to call tomm thats a great idea....I got a standard deal for what GC is selling the satin semihollow for used....also
6 when did they change the gig bags?? This guitar is a 21 and came with a completely different PRS gigbag than my other S2s....lol

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Congratulations, hope you get the pot fixed.

 

[dmatthews]

Congrats! Fix a couple of niggles and you have a rock machine!

 

[Ovibos]

I’m no Vela expert, but I’d venture that it’s a factory finish. You may have to pull the pickup to determine its origin, many models come in cream finishes.

Yep, satin is an option for Velas.

If it’s double-creme then it’s a DiMarzio. They convinced the USPTO to give them a trademark in the ‘80s.

 

[RickP]

Yep, satin is an option for Velas.

If it’s double-creme then it’s a DiMarzio. They convinced the USPTO to give them a trademark in the ‘80s.

I didn’t know that on the pickups. Other companies have them, though. Just saw a set of SD Antiquities in double cream. Maybe the lock-out expired.

 

[Russ73]

I'll post a picture when I get home...the double creme on the sunburst with black guard actually look killer!!

 

[Bill SAS 513]

Yep, satin is an option for Velas.

If it’s double-creme then it’s a DiMarzio. They convinced the USPTO to give them a trademark in the ‘80s.

Wow...I never knew this...but not surprised...First thing I think of is an old Dean Z with double creams...

 

[SinSir]

Great that it’s in good shape. Satin is a finish option, one preferred by many players. I’m no Vela expert, but I’d venture that it’s a factory finish. You may have to pull the pickup to determine its origin, many models come in cream finishes. But if you like the sound, I wouldn’t worry over that, just rock it as is.

On the tone pot, check the wiring. It was probably botched in the pickup install and may be a simple solder fix. At any rate, even GC can change a pot.

Enjoy your PRS!

GC changing a pot is like PTC doing a full refin!

 

[SinSir]

Congrats on joining the club! My Satin SH Vela is one of my favorite guitars and that's saying a lot!

 

[Aahzz]

Definitely need pics! Congrats on the Vela

Definitely sounds like someone killed/replace the tone pot when they replaced the pickup, and hopefully GC will give you a few bucks back for that. I'd say hopefully they'll fix it, but GC techs are rather hit-and-miss, so unless you know your local GC tech is one of the good ones, I'd either do it myself or take it to someone trusted.

Did they include the original bridge pickup? If they did, it's worth installing if you feel like tinkering, it's an excellent pickup regardless of country of origin. David Barber, owner of Barber Electronics, has stated numerous times over on TGP that it's one of his favorite bridge pickups, and he picks them up aftermarket to install in other guitars, he prefers it to most boutique pickups. The man makes great pedals and obviously knows tone. If not, and you like the (probably) DiMarzio, then rock the heck out of it as is. If you decide to replace the DiMarzio, consider finding an original if you didn't get it.

Last, show us a pic of the gig bag - my S2s range from '14 (CU22) to a '21 Vela, and the gig bags are the same.