Which Singlecut?

[cmedcoff]

I bought a Zack Meyer this past summer. Really liked the big fat tone, the feel of a short scale guitar, the fixed bridge. Yesterday I sold it. After changing from 9 to 10's, upgrading to locking tuners, it's ability to hold a tuning in comparison to my Core Custom 24, my Torero, even my old EG2, just was not meeting my expectations. Also, the hollow body tended to feedback too much (in a bad way) for the volume and gain levels I play at. Not a bad guitar mind you, I just had different expectations. I'm shopping for a replacement.

I did find and try an S2 hollow body. Was terrific, but again I think a solid body would be a better fit.

No one locally (Metro Detroit) carries single cuts; McCarty's, 245's, Tremonti's, etc. I'm considering them all. Can anyone give some advice? I'm looking for big/fat LP type of tone, but a reasonable body weight, and a wide/thin type of neck. I see that the neck on the Tremonti is wide/thin, but I heard it's heavy. I can't seem to find the weights of all of the varies single cuts that PRS makes.

I'd really like to play these first rather than buying online. Maybe a road trip is in order. Anyone know any brick and mortor's that typically stock all of these? I'm continuing to look around. Appreciate any insight.

 

[garrettb]

If you require a thin neck, I think the Tremonti is your only Core Singlecut option.

From what I've seen, maple topped Singlecuts are usually in the upper 8 lb weight range. There are the occasional 9+ pounders and low 8 light(ish) weights.

 

[bodia]

If you require a thin neck, I think the Tremonti is your only Core Singlecut option.

From what I've seen, maple topped Singlecuts are usually in the upper 8 lb weight range. There are the occasional 9+ pounders and low 8 light(ish) weights.

I'm going to concur with this. Maybe a road trip to Fort Wayne?

 

[garrettb]

I'm going to concur with this. Maybe a road trip to Fort Wayne?

ROAD TRIP!!!

However, my stalking of the Sweetwater site reveals a low stock of Singlecuts at present. Maybe give them a call first to see if they have any goodies that aren't online yet.

 

[gwilliamson]

My 09 Tremonti weighs less than my 07 Singlecut Trem. I haven't "officially" weighed them, but it's a difference you can tell instantly by picking them up.

 

[cmedcoff]

My 09 Tremonti weighs less than my 07 Singlecut Trem. I haven't "officially" weighed them, but it's a difference you can tell instantly by picking them up.

This is good to know. I was under the impression that the Tremonti was even heavier than other SC's.

 

[garrettb]

This is good to know. I was under the impression that the Tremonti was even heavier than other SC's.

Keep in mind that the nature of wood leads to a degree of variation in weight. The SC Trem body is thinner than a Tremonti, but if you start with a significantly heavier body blank it will still weigh more.

Singlecut solid bodies are generally pretty heavy as a rule, simply due to the amount of wood present.

 

[elvis]

My 2011 Tremonti is VERY heavy. Love it, though.

Not a ton of difference between neck profiles, so I recommend you check out SC245. They are just awesome. A little fatter neck, but the additional stability and tone that come with that as well.

 

[cmedcoff]

I'd really prefer a core, but open to thoughts suggestions on an SE or an S2. Comparison of quality tone? An S2 single cut a bit less pricey. A local shop has a Tremonti SE signed by Mark and an S2 single cut.

 

[grausch]

Remember that tone can be changed via pickup swaps. I played a SC245 with 57/08s a while back and that thing rocked like crazy, but the neck profile may be fatter than you are looking for...

 

[ReptilianNosewood]

I bought my SC245 having been used to a Wide thin, the neck profile is wider than i had been used to but i acclimated pretty quick. Id say it was worth it as it is maybe 8 pounds if not a hair over, never weighed it. For a singlecut guitar that is excellent, i can stand all night and barely feel it which is more than i can say for the G-word guitar i have that feels like a piece of driftwood.

 

[elvis]

I bought my SC245 having been used to a Wide thin, the neck profile is wider than i had been used to but i acclimated pretty quick. Id say it was worth it as it is maybe 8 pounds if not a hair over, never weighed it. For a singlecut guitar that is excellent, i can stand all night and barely feel it which is more than i can say for the G-word guitar i have that feels like a piece of driftwood.

+1

Personally I hate the 245 pickups. Too meek for me. But there are SO MANY pickups out there, and they are not terribly expensive. Plus people flip them all the time, so they are all over the used market. I found pickups that absolutely kill with the SC, and have a set in each of mine. No reason you couldn't do the same with an SE or S2.

I think you would probably not like the tremonti pickups.

I suggest you look at the 3 bridge styles. Fixed, adjustable and 2-piece. I really liked the fixed one-piece on my SC245. Though I put an adjustable on my SC just to see, and I haven't got any complaints. I'm not sure if the difference is the bridge or the scale difference (the SC is 25"). I have a 2-piece SC 594 on the way, and a Tremonti trem. So soon I'll have all the possible bridge options.

 

[ReptilianNosewood]

+1

Personally I hate the 245 pickups. Too meek for me. But there are SO MANY pickups out there, and they are not terribly expensive. Plus people flip them all the time, so they are all over the used market. I found pickups that absolutely kill with the SC, and have a set in each of mine. No reason you couldn't do the same with an SE or S2.

I think you would probably not like the tremonti pickups.

I suggest you look at the 3 bridge styles. Fixed, adjustable and 2-piece. I really liked the fixed one-piece on my SC245. Though I put an adjustable on my SC just to see, and I haven't got any complaints. I'm not sure if the difference is the bridge or the scale difference (the SC is 25"). I have a 2-piece SC 594 on the way, and a Tremonti trem. So soon I'll have all the possible bridge options.

Got the 58/15's in mine and ive never been happier with a guitar. Love the 2-piece bridge more than any one ive triedas well. Between the way you can load the strings in the tailpiece, and the locking tuners, i can restring and stretch in under 10 minutes easy.

 

[You-S4-It]

My 09 Tremonti weighs less than my 07 Singlecut Trem. I haven't "officially" weighed them, but it's a difference you can tell instantly by picking them up.

My Tremonti weighs in at 8 lbs 15oz and my thinner body Singlecut trem @ 8lbs 11oz. The 'hog is a little denser on the SC trem I reckon!

 

[Artjr]

There are sc245 wide thins. Myles Kennedy plays one.

 

[Lee B.]

There is also that SC 250 model that was discontinued a few years back. A few dealers online still have NOS, and you see them once in a while on Reverb. Looked at a tobacco sunburst SC 250 over the weekend but that particular example just didn't give me the feels. It's 25" scale like the Tremonti, Pattern neck, adjustable wraparound, locking Phase III tuners, but hot ceramic buckers that kind of reminded me of a JB or Super Distortion kind of vibe. I also really like the wide thin/Pattern thin profile, thinking about holding out for a light(ish) hardtail Tremonti and then just swapping the Tremonti pups for 59/09s or maybe some Wolfetones or Lollars.

 

[JMintzer]

Don't forget the run of SC 245 57/08s... They released those at Experience 2008...

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Seventeen posts and nobody has said to buy 'em all yet?!?

You guys are slipping.

 

[CatStrangler]

Seventeen posts and nobody has said to buy 'em all yet?!?

You guys are slipping.

I heartily endorse buying all the singlecuts as long as they come in a doublecut shape and have a vibrato bridge.

 

[bodia]

Don't forget the run of SC 245 57/08s... They released those at Experience 2008...

Then there's always the Single Cut Ted while we're at it.