MA Pete
Pattern Thin Convert!
(I will circle back and respond to many on the post above soon, but I need to get my thoughts out from the day before they disappear! )
Let me clarify what I think is a very important point (IMO) for you guys to consider. The magic from the 2020s in my strong opinion comes from TWO THINGS - the new Nitro finish, and the new TCI 5815 LT pickups (at least 95% percent of it).
With regards to the tuners - I have to call BS on that one, maybe just a little bit. I have the utmost respect for Paul and his non-stop tinkering, what he has accomplished in improving the PRS Short Scale guitars in the 11 years I have been obsessing about the Short Scale PRS Guitars is miraculous! Perhaps there is a slight tone difference on these new tuners. But IMO it is less significant than the fundamental variation of how each instrument comes out. Yesterday we sampled 5 DC 594s with the 2020 spec of Nitro and the TCI pickups. 3 had the new tuners, 2 had Phase III's, Bodia's Orange Tiger and my new "594Fest Mystery Unboxing" (man was that fun!) Yellow Tiger. All 5 were awesome, and you certainly couldn't pick out anything uniquely different about the 2 with the Phase IIIs. I played my three a lot this morning in decompressing from and processing the day yesterday (along with the 2 SCs), and I am realizing that the Yellow Tiger with the Phase IIIs may be the best sounding of the 3.
The PRS team may have discovered that they prefer the tone of the vintage tuners, but it also may be just as much the principal of the matter with regards to (1) Paul's sharp skills and beliefs on principles of tone, which he is a master of, and (2) a philosophical point on the product line segmentation between the vintage voiced 25" McCarty and McCarty 594s, along with the "return to the roots" thinking of the 2020 changes. Both of which I fully respect and have no issues with.
So my advice to you all out there - go for a 2020 with Nitro and TCI pickups to grab some of this 2020 magic yourselves. Do not worry whether or not if it has the new tuners or not. In fact, if you prefer locking tuners, seek out one that has those! Many are still coming in with the Phase IIIs, per Shawn if they were specially spec'ed that way, they will continue to ship that way. And I am sure that for the many WL runs dealers do, they will be able to spec them that way.
The magic IMO is the finish and the pickups, and whatever super secret magic changes Paul and the team have come up with, to make these the best 594s and the best Short Scale PRS Core guitars ever.
With regards to the tuners, I personally don't have a preference for either, I will select any future purchases based upon finish and top, and decide whether keep them or not when they arrive based solely on tone and how they make me feel.
I have actually come to prefer the look of the vintage tuners, I think they suit the vintage look and vibe of the guitar. For practicality's sake, I prefer the functionality of the Phase IIIs for ease of string changes. The true test for me will be when I spec a Private Stock (which I plan to do sometime soon in 2020, I have a special formula in mind for one...), which one will I pick? Right now I am leaning towards the new vintage ones for the vintage vibe, and also just to be sure with regards to going all-in for best tone, trusting there may be at least a LITTLE something behind the change.
My 2 cents on that topic, since a lot of you have been asking and talking about it.
I feel obligated to post a pic to support this post:
Yup, the new ones make me happy visually with regards to vibe.
(Man, the Yellow Tiger really needs Ivory Knobs!! Those will go on today.)
Let me clarify what I think is a very important point (IMO) for you guys to consider. The magic from the 2020s in my strong opinion comes from TWO THINGS - the new Nitro finish, and the new TCI 5815 LT pickups (at least 95% percent of it).
With regards to the tuners - I have to call BS on that one, maybe just a little bit. I have the utmost respect for Paul and his non-stop tinkering, what he has accomplished in improving the PRS Short Scale guitars in the 11 years I have been obsessing about the Short Scale PRS Guitars is miraculous! Perhaps there is a slight tone difference on these new tuners. But IMO it is less significant than the fundamental variation of how each instrument comes out. Yesterday we sampled 5 DC 594s with the 2020 spec of Nitro and the TCI pickups. 3 had the new tuners, 2 had Phase III's, Bodia's Orange Tiger and my new "594Fest Mystery Unboxing" (man was that fun!) Yellow Tiger. All 5 were awesome, and you certainly couldn't pick out anything uniquely different about the 2 with the Phase IIIs. I played my three a lot this morning in decompressing from and processing the day yesterday (along with the 2 SCs), and I am realizing that the Yellow Tiger with the Phase IIIs may be the best sounding of the 3.
The PRS team may have discovered that they prefer the tone of the vintage tuners, but it also may be just as much the principal of the matter with regards to (1) Paul's sharp skills and beliefs on principles of tone, which he is a master of, and (2) a philosophical point on the product line segmentation between the vintage voiced 25" McCarty and McCarty 594s, along with the "return to the roots" thinking of the 2020 changes. Both of which I fully respect and have no issues with.
So my advice to you all out there - go for a 2020 with Nitro and TCI pickups to grab some of this 2020 magic yourselves. Do not worry whether or not if it has the new tuners or not. In fact, if you prefer locking tuners, seek out one that has those! Many are still coming in with the Phase IIIs, per Shawn if they were specially spec'ed that way, they will continue to ship that way. And I am sure that for the many WL runs dealers do, they will be able to spec them that way.
The magic IMO is the finish and the pickups, and whatever super secret magic changes Paul and the team have come up with, to make these the best 594s and the best Short Scale PRS Core guitars ever.
With regards to the tuners, I personally don't have a preference for either, I will select any future purchases based upon finish and top, and decide whether keep them or not when they arrive based solely on tone and how they make me feel.
I have actually come to prefer the look of the vintage tuners, I think they suit the vintage look and vibe of the guitar. For practicality's sake, I prefer the functionality of the Phase IIIs for ease of string changes. The true test for me will be when I spec a Private Stock (which I plan to do sometime soon in 2020, I have a special formula in mind for one...), which one will I pick? Right now I am leaning towards the new vintage ones for the vintage vibe, and also just to be sure with regards to going all-in for best tone, trusting there may be at least a LITTLE something behind the change.
My 2 cents on that topic, since a lot of you have been asking and talking about it.
I feel obligated to post a pic to support this post:
Yup, the new ones make me happy visually with regards to vibe.
(Man, the Yellow Tiger really needs Ivory Knobs!! Those will go on today.)