Which singlecut? Here's my criteria...

[Intentionally Blank]

Hey everyone! I have a 2008 DGT. It's a great guitar in many ways and I've enjoyed owning it for the past couple years, but I'm thinking of flipping it for something else. I've always been a fan of brighter tones and the DGT leans a bit to the dark/hot side.

What I'm really after is a neck through, two humbucker singlecut design that's voiced on the bright side. Best way to describe it is that I'm looking for those elusive "Tele on steroids" tones that some humbucker guitars can do. And yes, I'm aware that Grissom has described the DGT in those exact terms. I don't really hear that in mine. The bridge in particular has a bit more honk than I'd like, and the neck is dark as is typical on a lot of humbucker guitars and DGTs. I think I read somewhere that there were incremental changes to the DGT pickups over the years, so I'm wondering if my first-year model has hotter pickups than later years.

I'm not that familiar with the PRS line and some of the discontinued models. The Stripped 58 singlecut caught my eye but I'm not familiar with how its pickups are voiced. What I'm not looking for is the mid-focused classic rock crunch...and I already have an older Les Paul that will cover those bases (my first "good" guitar that I've owned since I was 13!). Interestingly, that LP isn't as hot/honky as my DGT.

To finally get to the main point of my post - do any of you have recommendations for other PRS models I can look into that would meet my criteria? I do prefer the more understated designs, and I also tend to prefer hardtail designs. The DGT trem is actually really good, but I just don't use trem a lot in my playing style.

Thanks, but I'm not looking for tips on dialing in my DGT, i.e., backing off the volume, running in split mode with boost, lowering pickup heights, etc. While appreciated, I'm aware of all these things and I've tried them. I'm a long time player, very experienced, have owned lots of guitars, amps, countless gigs, etc. I"m really just looking to tap into the experiences of those here who know the PRS line better than I do.

Thanks!

 

[MakerDP]

A set of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates pickups breathed brand new life into my O.G. Singlecut which very much leaned towards the "dark side" with its #7 pups from the factory.

But it's kind of hard to make a recommendation... "brighter" and "not mid-focused classic rock crunch" still leaves a wide range of sounds you could be looking for, there is always the tried-and-true recommendation of Seth Lovers/Antiquities which will cover anything from clean jazz/funk, singing blues and then all the way up to just shy of high-gain metal. A common complaint about SLs is some find them too bright so they also might be just what you are looking for.

PGs: Great Texas blues tones, will brighten any guitar, a little on the hotter side - but not by much.
SLs: Just a great all-around pickup that IMHO is just about the best pickup out there at any price.

 

[RickP]

I don't know of any neck-thru PRS guitars. If that's a deal-breaker you'll need other means of reaching the goal.

I know you didn't want "fix the DGT" suggestions, but if you really like the DGT's playability, perhaps some lower turn pickups like the 58/15LT would give you what you're looking for. More 50s/60s PAF clear than Tele-on-steroids, but they have a pleasing brightness to them. They are also standard in the 594 Singlecut, a Les Paulish variant that is an excellent guitar.

Alternately, and more to your description, perhaps a Studio might be your panacea. The narrow field pickups get a very unique and powerful tone with the amp set right, and they are available with a stop tail bridge. The NF53 and Myles Kennedy signature might also be worth your perusal, though they are bolt-neck models.

 

[Intentionally Blank]

I don't know of any neck-thru PRS guitars. If that's a deal-breaker you'll need other means of reaching the goal.

I know you didn't want "fix the DGT" suggestions, but if you really like the DGT's playability, perhaps some lower turn pickups like the 58/15LT would give you what you're looking for. More 50s/60s PAF clear than Tele-on-steroids, but they have a pleasing brightness to them. They are also standard in the 594 Singlecut, a Les Paulish variant that is an excellent guitar.

Alternately, and more to your description, perhaps a Studio might be your panacea. The narrow field pickups get a very unique and powerful tone with the amp set right, and they are available with a stop tail bridge. The NF53 and Myles Kennedy signature might also be worth your perusal, though they are bolt-neck models.

I did mean to say "set neck". Not enough coffee earlier when I made this post

Thanks for the response. I've thought about a pickup swap but as we all know, that can be a rabbit hole. The DGT is a good guitar, but I feel like I can take it or leave it since I'm not a big trem user. Might be easier in the long run for me to move to a guitar that's better suited for me overall.

I'll check into the Studio model, good to know.

 

[Paz]

Maybe try the Tremonti stoptail version?! It’s a beast of a guitar! Although mine is the trem version.

 

[bodia]

I thought I was able to get Tele-close on a Double Cut 594 with taps and knob fiddling.

 

[Gtrbldr]

Since this is the PRS forum, some PRS flavoured ideas
- Ever tried a Vela? Might be worth to try.
- For tele on steroids a McSoapy is a different flavour, just make sure you give em some low output P90s
- and last but not least: try a Starla. I characterise mine as bright and a little as tele on steroids.

Good luck!

 

[intothevoid]

Sounds like the Myles Kennedy sig might suit your needs best - can certainly be described as a Tele on steroids

Other than that a Tremonti hard tail as mentioned above too. The stripped 58 and the other singlecuts are all more of on the darker and beefier end of the spectrum I think

Also the Vela - now with the US pickups and wiring could be worth a look. The bridge gives it a tele-like tone and the narrower body width plus Starla pickup in the bridge makes it brighter. The Narrowfield in the neck position is a wonderful pickup too (arguably the D style single coil they used to have in the neck is even better but that’s debatable)

 

[MakerDP]

I dunno... don't get me wrong I've owned three PRSs (2001 Singlecut, 2002 McCarty Standard, SE Zach Myers) - still own two (moved the McCarty along) - but if you want something that sounds like a Tele the only way to scratch that itch is to get a Tele (or a pretty faithful knock-off.) A great "Tele on steroids" is the American Pro II. The VMOD II pups can get you pretty close to classic twang but can also get you some more modern "Tele grind." Not my sound so I replaced them in mine with the Fender Pure Vintage 65s and... ooo laa laaa... now we're talkin' Tele tones!

Like I said, I love PRS but ain't no way I'm trading my Tele for one that attempts to do the same thing.

 

[direwolf08]

Vela. It can do the Tele spank thing, and the tappable humbucker in the bridge adds some nice fatness.

 

[Prina]

Sounds like the Myles Kennedy sig might suit your needs best - can certainly be described as a Tele on steroids

I'd agree with this. But there are lots of options to get the Tele on steroids sound. If that's exactly what you want then a Tele with hot pickups maybe the way to go. My ash Tele with Texas Specials rocks. I'd describe it as a Tele on moderate steroids.

Of my hardtail set-neck singlecuts with 'buckers, the ones that have some the steroid enhanced Tele feel, each while doing their own great grind, are the mini-hum LP Deluxe and the two PRS SE245's: one with a vintage Gibson P-90 bridge pickup and the other with a Wolftone Marshallhead bridge with Alnico IV magnets. All three are bright guitars.

Going for the the classic LP sound are the P245 with 85/15's and the Stripped 58 with 57/08's which is a tad darker than the P245.

 

[SinSir]

Maybe try the Tremonti stoptail version?! It’s a beast of a guitar! Although mine is the trem version.

Always made little sense to me not go trem on a Tremonti. One of the single best features about it is the uproute. Wish all PRS had that. Beast!

 

[Intentionally Blank]

I dunno... don't get me wrong I've owned three PRSs (2001 Singlecut, 2002 McCarty Standard, SE Zach Myers) - still own two (moved the McCarty along) - but if you want something that sounds like a Tele the only way to scratch that itch is to get a Tele (or a pretty faithful knock-off.) A great "Tele on steroids" is the American Pro II. The VMOD II pups can get you pretty close to classic twang but can also get you some more modern "Tele grind." Not my sound so I replaced them in mine with the Fender Pure Vintage 65s and... ooo laa laaa... now we're talkin' Tele tones!

Like I said, I love PRS but ain't no way I'm trading my Tele for one that attempts to do the same thing.

I have a K-Line and a Fender 52 RI

 

[Intentionally Blank]

Great responses everyone, thanks. Was unaware of the Tremonti model. Owned a Vela for a couple of months back around 2017 and I didn't bond with it at all. It was certainly unique but not in the way that I wanted. Starla has been way off my radar but maybe I'll look there as well.

I'm solid in the "actual" Tele department, have two of them. Not really looking for a Tele substitute but rather a 2-humbucker guitar that nods in that direction. I think many of us have played or heard humbucker guitars that do that thing. I once played a 335 that had it, and I had a friend who had a LP Custom (of all things) that sort of did it.

 

[László]

Hey everyone! I have a 2008 DGT. It's a great guitar in many ways and I've enjoyed owning it for the past couple years, but I'm thinking of flipping it for something else. I've always been a fan of brighter tones and the DGT leans a bit to the dark/hot side.

There's no rhyme or reason to this subjectivity stuff when it comes to putting tone descriptions into words instead of sound clip examples.

Recently a poster started a thread that the pickups on his DGT were too bright. Mine's bright (2023), but that's how I like it. I guess one person's 'too bright' is another person's 'too dark'.

I have to set my amps up for the DGT in-between the way I'd dial them in for a Telecaster and the way I'd set them up for a typical humbucker model like my Singlecut: By dialing the treble and presence down a bit, setting the mids a bit lower, and increasing the amplitude of the bass.

Anyway, I'd think twice before flipping the DGT for a PRS Singlecut - at the very least play one before taking the plunge - they're a bit warmer/darker than the DGT (I have one and have had about 6-7 others over the years, it's one of my favorite PRS models). I wouldn't call them bright sounding guitars, certainly not as bright as my DGT.

You might consider testing out a Paul's Guitar or Custom 24/08. The narrowfield humbuckers are closer in brightness to a single coil pickup, and are a nice 'between and betwixt' point of reference. The pickup senses a narrower part of the oscillating string, so it behaves differently.

Also you might be able to find a Wood library or Artist Package PRS model with a maple neck, and/or an Ebony or Brazilian Rosewood fretboard. You'd probably find them to be brighter because they accentuate more of the pick attack, which gives the guitar a brighter overall vibe. I've had a few over the years, and usually find them closer to what you're looking for.

 

[Paz]

Always made little sense to me not go trem on a Tremonti. One of the single best features about it is the uproute. Wish all PRS had that. Beast!

Well that feature is wasted on me because I don’t use it!

 

[Paz]

Great responses everyone, thanks. Was unaware of the Tremonti model. Owned a Vela for a couple of months back around 2017 and I didn't bond with it at all. It was certainly unique but not in the way that I wanted. Starla has been way off my radar but maybe I'll look there as well.

I'm solid in the "actual" Tele department, have two of them. Not really looking for a Tele substitute but rather a 2-humbucker guitar that nods in that direction. I think many of us have played or heard humbucker guitars that do that thing. I once played a 335 that had it, and I had a friend who had a LP Custom (of all things) that sort of did it.

The bridge pickup is hot on the Tremonti, but stays clear as well, that’s why I like it. I love the neck profile as well. Nice and slim.

 

[Geo408]

My main axe for stage is a 2013 PRS 408. It gets the “Tele on steroids” tones, as well as so many others..at least for my ears. Also, maybe a Paul’s guitar, or a Custom 22 semi hollow. All of these guitars use coil taps that work great, and give you an amazing array of tones..without hum, and easily navigated. Good luck on the tone quest!