What is the most likely scenario for (2) DGT SE's sounding different?

[Jerrydpi]

Please forgive this newbie question

I'm demoing two 2022 DGT SE's in Tobacco Sunburst, and one of them sound brighter/tighter, which I like.

One of them weighs 6 lbs 14 oz (it's the brighter one), and the other one weighs 7 lbs 11 oz.

I do know enough to know that it's the totality of the guitar (things like wood density, differences in the wiring components, pickup height {both the same), etc.) that contributes to the sound of a guitar, but I have found out that the brighter sounding one has new D'Addario NYXL 9's on it (that's what I was told, but they feel/look like 10's), and the heavier one has the original PRS strings on it.


So here'a the dumb question....................................................................................


In this case, is the "most likely" culprit in the difference in sound due to the strings?

 

[Prs Mods too]

I believe the NYXLs are very bright strings. Either way the guitars should be compared with the same type of strings and wear time on the strings.

 

[Stephen J.]

Could be a naturally brighter guitar, but the strings are a good guess. Just get the one that looks better and adjust accordingly.

 

[Jerrydpi]

Could be a naturally brighter guitar, but the strings are a good guess. Just get the one that looks better and adjust accordingly.

I'm not very good when it comes to getting "the one that looks better" Stephen

I did just put a new set of XL 10's on it (not NYXL's), and the lighter weight one still sounds better/tighter than the heavier one which seems to ring more when plucking a string (it's not as tight sounding).

Again, I'm not sure if the ringing on the heavier one is due to the difference between the XL's and the NYXL's, or from the NYXL actually having 9's.

 

[dogrocketp]

It’s a combination of things. Don’t get lost in the weeds, get the one you like the sound of better.

 

[SinSir]

Pickup height

 

[Maertl513]

The urban legend for electric guitars is, that body wood, neck materiel, neck joints and other parts are influencing the tone of a guitar (keeping amp, cab and speaker, guitar cables out of the influencial item list).
Yes, the stiffer they are, the less they resonate with the strings, the lower are interferences, the longer is the desired sustain - for all non-jazzers.

According to scientific research results most relevant are strings, their age/wear, their gauge, the action, the pickups with their relative height to the the strings, their inductivity and area of the magnetic field, the cable capacity (and lengths in the guitar) and the capacity of the guitar cable.

Without further adjustment of any of your guitar, you could connect your brighter sounding guitar to a cable with higher capacity and it will sound less bright.

Your observation is very normal, @Jerrydpi!

 

[Mentalo87]

Are we talking amplified or just the acoustic sound of the two guitars by themselves? Under electro-acoustic aspects strings, pickups and wiring have the biggest effect on the amplified sound.

 

[RC Mike]

Do you have permission from whomever owns the guitars to change the strings? There’s no better way to answer your question than to put new strings on both guitars. Seems very simple and straightforward.

 

[Jerrydpi]

Are we talking amplified or just the acoustic sound of the two guitars by themselves? Under electro-acoustic aspects strings, pickups and wiring have the biggest effect on the amplified sound.

Amplified Mentalo87.

 

[Greywolf]

the weight difference alone accounts for some of the difference . Density effects a number of areas .. I concur with the apples to apples as well. Set them up the same with new strings if you want an accurate comparison. As a Luthier my perspective is ...if it doesn't sound good to your ear unplugged , anything else is rather moot.

 

[andy474x]

I've usually found lighter guitars to be brighter sounding and more immediate in their note attack - it's not a hard and fast rule, but the general trend I've noticed. Personally, I tend toward the heavier ones for a rounder bloom to the note.

The PRS Classics strings that come on SE’s are a bit warmer sounding than NYXL’s or the PRS Signatures.

 

[AP515]

There are a dozen reasons why one guitar will sound brighter than another. Strings, pickup height, wood type and density, tone pot values, and a host of other lesser things. Pick the one that sounds better to you and be careful when changing things, to do them one at a time, so you know which made the most difference and can get back to original if you lose the magic.

 

[tdroid]

My guess would be the height of the pickups differ on each guitar. It could also be the different strings.