Belated NGD PRS SE Tremonti

[Woody_in_MN]

I got this just after the Washburn WI18. I thought it was time to get this out and start playing.

THE GOOD: I got this used from MF when they had their 15% off a few weeks back. I got it for a great price. No signs of wear, or use anywhere - perfect condition. It is light. I love the natural finish. I like the PUP's. I was concerned about this as many people seem to want to swap the PUP's put. They are not typical Les Paul humbuckers. They have a thinner, or treble, more piercing quality. I do like them. It is a good player - the last owner had it setup perfectly. It has body, and neck bindings.

THE NOT SO GOOD: It is not my favorite guitar. The bridge is really bare bones - wrap over. Sometimes I think I hear a buzz on the high e string. This might be a bridge issue or maybe nut no cut properly? But it is bot a biggey for me either way. The neck is some times a bit fatiguing for me - just an ergo thing I guess. I'll have to play it more to see how big an issue this will be.

VERDICT: Overall I am very happy with it. The condition was new - even though I bought it as used. If you are looking for a cheaper single cut that is not just another Les Paul wanna be - the SE may be worth checking out.

Pics...

 

[silverring233]

sweet! HNGD!

 

[diceman1000]

SWEET!!!

 

[ellengtrgrl]

Nice looking guitar Woody!

 

[Kerouac]

Woah, that's a cool top... veneer?

 

[Mark Wein]

Nice! What is the top? How is the intonation with those kind of bridges?

 

[CBHScott]

That is VERY nice.

I still don't know why they are generally cheaper than the other Singlecut SEs since the Tremonti has the 2 vol/2 tone setup and a bound fretboard

The wraparound tailpiece actually intonates very well - the used one I had before (and now Jerry has) came with the intonation spot on - I never had to adjust it. Same with my Mira.

 

[PunkKitty]

Very, very nice, Woody. I'm guessing that is why you are selling the Wilshire?

 

[Saturn]

I like that a lot Woody!

NNGD!

If you ever decide to part with that one let me know first.

 

[RosePickupsKen]

Looks nice man! I changed the bridge on my prs to the same style but with intonation saddles. Big help for me.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

Woah, that's a cool top... veneer?

You know - I'm not sure - but it may not be. But it is light. I suspect it is chambered body.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

Nice! What is the top? How is the intonation with those kind of bridges?

The top is good - slightly curved. I just checked intonation - seems dead on. Which is good. No way to adjust.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

That is VERY nice.

I still don't know why they are generally cheaper than the other Singlecut SEs since the Tremonti has the 2 vol/2 tone setup and a bound fretboard

The wraparound tailpiece actually intonates very well - the used one I had before (and now Jerry has) came with the intonation spot on - I never had to adjust it. Same with my Mira.

Yeah are very similiar. Same PUP's I believe. Go figure.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

Very, very nice, Woody. I'm guessing that is why you are selling the Wilshire?

Indirectly. Just trying to make some space. I try to do a "one in...one out" program.

 

[Woody_in_MN]

Thanks one and all.

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

The top is good - slightly curved. I just checked intonation - seems dead on. Which is good. No way to adjust.

as long as you use 9s or 10s with a plain 3rd, you should never have a problem with that bridge. at worst, there are direct replacements with adjustable saddles available.

 

[jelloman]

That guitar I really dig...I loves me some natural mahogany...even when that mahogany is a prime example of how phiilipine Luan is now considered mahogany...

 

[Help!I'maRock!]

That guitar I really dig...I loves me some natural mahogany...even when that mahogany is a prime example of how phiilipine Luan is now considered mahogany...

can you talk a little more about this? one of the reasons i stay away from imported guitars that claim to be made from mahogany is that i feel you never really know what you're getting, regardless of how good the guitar is. manufacturers tend to simply say "mahogany" instead of being more specific because they feel it will negatively impact sales.

 

[Kerouac]

plain 3rd

 

[jelloman]

OK...I'm gonna give it a try...

REAL Mahogany useful for musical instruments has mainly been grown in central America, specifically Honduras...as the supply dwindled due to de-forestation it has become more and more necessary to find alternate sources...The climate in the Phillipines is also ver good for growing mahogany, and as such has become the primary world supplier for it...

Luan is a wood that has a very similar grain structure to mahogany, but is much lighter in color and doesn't darken with age like mahogany...it also tends to be more brittle, thus splitting and cracking easier, and is lighter in weight...but it grows easily and abundantly all over the wester pacific and asia, and with very little effort cane be made to look just like mahogany at a fraction of the price...

Mahogany tends to be somewhat darker than the wood used in this guitar, and has red and orange undertones, with a much darker grain...while Luan tends to be a more uniform Tan/ brown with much less contrast in the grain and no red/orange undertones...thus leading me to conclude this is Luan...

Be careful in furniture stores, where this is also the case...and even worse when dark-stained Rubberwood is substitued for Cherry...

Edit: I got most of this from a white paper published in Fine Woodworking magazine...there was also a really good white paper in Guitar Player in which the export of sitka spruce was discussed as the primary reason for the shortage of supply and the rising cost of acoustic guitars...if several manufacturers got together they could simply buy 1 or 2 spruce trees, saving them from export and providing enough sitka for domestic guitar production for the next 20 years or so...but they seem determined to allow the supply to go overseas as 2x4s...