NGD: PRS SE DGT (was: Suitable Locking Tuners for PRS SE)

You won't believe it (because I actually can't believe it): I just had the switch go silent in bridge pickup position. Might be a one time affair. Might as well not...

Almost seems as if I'm a destroyer of all things - but seriously, I own several guitars (of all price categories) since decades, I'm switching on them like mad ever since - and of course, sometimes a switch becomes a little wobbly, so it needs replacement (or some work to bend the contacts back into shape, especially on standard Fender type blade switches). But I didn't even just *once* had an issue with switches just after few days. And as you may remember, the switch on the first DGT was not working properly already, either.

Seriously, I just don't get it. Likely won't be able to send the thing back anymore, because I've altered too many things. And I actually don't want to send it back because I absolutely love how the thing plays and sounds, but now it's again on me to fork out some money, take the thing apart and solder in a new switch? After - what? - a week?!?

I can't remember of having ever bought *any* other piece of musical equipment showing this amount of utterly crappy quality control. I'd take a bet that the cheapest and cheesiest Harley Benton guitar would mop the floor with this PRS in terms of QA.
And no, it's not about the thing being made in Indonesia at all. I have a Pacifica Mike Stern that I bought for €200 - and while I had to modify it like mad (which I knew at the moment I purchased it), the setup and quality of all parts was just excellent. Even more true for the indonesian made Schecter Nick Johnston. Yes, I also had to modify it - but again, it wasn't because of a lack of quality, simply because that's not been an issue. And it's been my daily driver for around 2 years by now.
I also have a cheap ass Epiphone LP (got that kinda accidentally), not that I'm playing it much, but the toggle switch and all other components work absolutely flawlessly since well over a decade already. That one might've been around 350 bucks when I got it (didn't have to pay for it, been a prize).

Needless to say that on all more expensive these things aren't an issue at all anyway.
And nothing comparable ever happened to any other piece of musical equipment I bought new.

As said, in terms of assembly quality assurance, these two DGTs are the worst pieces of utter shit I ever had to deal with. Absolutely no way around that.
No idea why there's no mentioning of it on the web, so maybe only the latest branch is infected, but I'm very certainly not making this up!
 
Fwiw, PRS Europe (or rather the german dude, but he cc'ed some PRS Europe guys) mailed back.

It is very unfortunate that you are dissatisfied with the delivered SE DGT guitars. Of course, the guitars should reach our customers in perfect condition and free of defects. For this reason, a quality inspection is carried out before delivery to the respective dealer. This QC check takes approximately 30 minutes. Each SE guitar therefore receives a so-called hangtag to ensure that all points have been checked and are fully functional. We place great importance on this,
Click to expand...

IOW, in their opinion they simply did everything right. Yeah, they're oh so sorry I wasn't happy but it's not their fault. Right.

OK. Let's talk about how important that really is to them. A quality inspection including corrective measures can't be done in half an hour. Both guitars I received perfectly prove that. But it doesn't seem to be of more worth to them.
So let's see. Average hourly wage in Indonesia is somewhere between 15k and 30k rupies. Now let's even assume PRS is paying them very well and up that to 50k.
So, 50k indonesian rupies convert to around €2.50. Half an hour hence comes down to €1.25.
This is what a quality check is worth to PRS. Not even 2 Euros.

Also explains why their locking tuners are of abysmal quality. Nobody ever checks them for quality issues, you can bet on that.

And fwiw, I was dumb enough to grab the PRS gigbag for the xmas holidays. It's pretty tidy and there won't be any critical situations, so I thought I could just do that. I instantly noticed that the strap design is an epic fail. They just cut into your neck at the bag joint and there's no way to adjust anything.
But as if that wasn't bad enough, the guitar is completely out of tune every time. Which is to be expected. I mean, it's an angled headstock - but the gigbag is way wobbly, offers zero neck support and the guitar (headstock included) sits in there pretty tight. Safest way to guarantee it comes out completely out of tune.

I'm now trying to contact their main headquarters.
Seriously, so far, all of this is as if they were delivering the cheapest pieces of material and work and then charge you way too much. As said, there's plenty of other companies doing way better at way lower prices.
Yes, I will keep the DGT, but I'll try to give PRS a hard time as good as possible.
 
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Sascha Franck said:
Current mantra:

"No Sascha, this doesn't need to become yet another experimental guitar after just one day! Yes, you should give that switch position a few more testrides! Mr. Grissom is much more of a player than you, he certainly had good reasons for the switch to be moved to that awkward position, just trust him!"

Let's hope it works at least for a while.
I really start to love this guitar but I hate the switch position. Exchanging it with a pot wouldn't help, either, that's what I know already. I want the switch where it is on my strat-ish guitars. And I want a 3-way blade switch.
I hope I manage to check things out some more, but I'm afraid I'll have to talk to my guitar guy somewhen early next year to make him prepare his chainsaw arsenal.

And I defenitely want a master volume (which obviously isn't a big deal).
Click to expand...
PRS make some odd electronics decisions as it is. Like the bridge volume on my SC245 Core is on the neck tone position (as in Les Paul wiring)
 
la szum said:
Oh man, I love independent volumes.... and Les Pauls.
:LOL:

Fun going from a cranked Bridge PU to a rolled back Neck PU tone.
:chef

Cool how we are all different and want things how we want them.
:beer
Click to expand...
There with you. The middle position with seperate volumes is where I live.
 
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E1 strings keep breaking. Apparently there's some sharp edges inside the tuning holes as well. Wasted yet another set.
Toggle switch started to crackle and occasionally not work in bridge position - just as on the first one.
What an incredible POS. Too bad I can't send all that stuff back as I did some modifications on both the guitar and the tuners already. Would shove it up whomevers <take-a-wild-guess>.

This is very defenitely gonna be the first and last PRS product I'll ever own.

And yes, now I am in fact getting grumpy. To put it very carefully.
 
Sascha Franck said:
E1 strings keep breaking. Apparently there's some sharp edges inside the tuning holes as well. Wasted yet another set.
Toggle switch started to crackle and occasionally not work in bridge position - just as on the first one.
What an incredible POS. Too bad I can't send all that stuff back as I did some modifications on both the guitar and the tuners already. Would shove it up whomevers <take-a-wild-guess>.

This is very defenitely gonna be the first and last PRS product I'll ever own.

And yes, now I am in fact getting grumpy. To put it very carefully.
Click to expand...
So what your saying you don’t like it then 🤣😂
 
Dave Lewis said:
So what your saying you don’t like it then 🤣😂
Click to expand...

I still absolutely like the guitar. As in neck, pickups and vibrato system (ok, the color too). The rest is shit.
At least regarding their cheaper offerings, PRS seems to rest on their laurels.
Sure, I could've just been a victim of some coincidences, but seriously, 2 guitars and a set of tuners all being delivered in abysmally bad shape doesn't look like coincidence anymore. And I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt once already.
 
Yeah I get where you’re coming from with this.
I have had 4 excellent quality PRS guitars for years.
Always fancied a Silver Sky and when Andertons had a purple in there sale last year for a great price I grabbed one.
Pickup didn’t work so back it went Replacement had bad frets when it was checked two days after it was meant to have been dispatched .They didn’t have any more so I said refund me .
That whole replacement collection and refund took over 3 weeks to sort out 😡
So gave up until I spotted one on gear4music a month later at a great price and grabbed it .
It was excellent straight out of the box all singing and dancing Lovely guitar👌🍺
Then I had the locking tuner fiasco which was sorted after a few weeks George at Andertons was brilliant can’t fault his customer service .👍👌
So fast forward to December 1st last year I saw this at Andertons for £449.00 and thought Should I ?
It would make a good mod project ??
1767475701772.jpeg


I pulled the trigger and glad I did 👍
It’s a brilliant guitar that doesn’t need any modification's unless one really wants too?
What’s got me wondering now is the Trem version on sale at guitar guitar for £349.00 in Gold & Silver 😳
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/241002430454020--prs-se-ce24-standard-satin-metallic-gold
1767476717661.jpeg

1767476928381.jpeg
 
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Fwiw, finally played the first gig with the DGT. Went pretty well. Will replace the individual volume pot for the neck pickup with a bass cut and it should then be a fine guitar.
Oh, and I need a new master volume pot, too. Way too much friction.
However, this is my first and last PRS adventure (unless I stumble over some great 2nd hand offer, but even then, I'd rather get something else).

And fwiw, while I can get used to the switch position, this might be subject to change as well. I absolutely don't get it how anyone would want a switch in that location when there's strat-alike switch locations that are just soo much better.
 
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