PRS SE - MOD

[JH.]

Hey,

I recently bought a PRS SE custom 22 on a second hand website and since I modded my Epiphone Firebird, I feel the urge to do the same with this guitar. Since the quality of their sounds is out of comparision.

The Firebird has 3 Lollar pickups now (HSH: minihum - P90 - minihum), a 7-sound mod and a bigsby.
So for the PRS I would want something different.

I want to change both pickups and the tremolo bar.

I was thinking of otherwise a set humbuckers (The Mule, Emerald or a combination of the 2, in the latter case: which would be the neck and which the bridge?) and going for coil-split perhaps.

Or a set HSP90 Supermassives, or a combination of a HSP90 as neck pickup and a humbucker (with coil-split?) as bridge.

 I use mostly a Orange Micro Terror at home through a PPC108. My pedalboard consists atm of: a EHX - Crayon => Z.Vex - Fuzz Factory => TC - Corona Mini => TC - HOF mini => TC - Flashback.

As for the tremolo bar, I don't want a Floyd Rose, it's got to be strings-through though. But something which would increase the tuning stability. And would adding some Grover (locking) tuners as well?

What would you guys think/recommend what option would give the best sound and why? Considering that I mainly play Indie/Shoegaze/Jazz/Metal.

Thanks!

[Dave Sloven]

From my experience - I have locking tuners on all of my guitars  - locking tuners don't do anything but make instruments easier to string up. Avoid the 'auto' type, they can have problems and won't allow large string gauges.  I am replacing the auto ones I have with the thumbwheel type.

Gotoh can probably sort you out with a fixed bridge. Personally I like their version of the Floyd, a very nice bridge, but if that's not your thing they have a lot of very solid fixed bridges

[JH.]

Thank you for the advice! I'm checking their website atm.

[Dave Sloven]

Hipshot and GraphTech also make good bridges,

https://hipshotproducts.com/collections/guitar-bridges/products/fixed-guitar-bridge

[Slartibartfarst42]

An Emerald bridge is too bright for a PRS but a Crawler works well, as does an Abraxas. The Emerald works really well in the neck position.

[gwEm]

Have a look at the Schaller Vintage Tremolo.

It's called that, but it's not actually particularly vintage. I think it may suit you.

[Nolly]

As has been mentioned, locking tuners won't do much for tuning stability, but a well-cut and lubricated nut will do wonders there - invest in some Big Ben's Nut Sauce and enjoy greatly improved stability!
For the bridge, don't overlook the block - a cold-rolled steel or brass block will give a much beefier sound with lots more sustain than a cheap block.

[Dave Sloven]

I have seen a few recommendations for the Gotoh 510 TS in PRS guitars.  The TS has a steel block

+1 on the nut

[stratguy23]

For a trem look at John Mann’s 2000NOS he built the original PRS trems. It is one solid piece of brass. I put one on a PRS SE Tremonti that I nodded for a friend, and it made the guitar really ring and increased sustain. For tuner, I love the Hipshot open gear locking tuners. They are the smoothest tuners I’ve ever used. As others have mentioned, the nut is really important. John Mann sellls USA PRS nuts, getthe wide fat/thin one and that will really help with tuning.