Anyone own a PRS Tremonti SE Custom guitar?

nofearfactor said:

I have been in love with them since I was 14 yrs old but theyre also hard to keep in tune. Ive had someones cheap $300 Epiphone LP stay in tune sometimes better than one of my old expensive Gibsons. But I still love em. My superstrats have Floyds or Kahlers so theyre a little easier to work with, for me. Some guys dont like messing with floating trems, I love em.

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I am an old guy so the Floyds and the Kahlers just never hit it for me. That said, Gibson's G-Force tuning machines don't cut it for me either (while in "theory" I think they are pretty cool).

I do agree with some LPs not staying in tune. I have owned about six or so LPs in my life and had one that the G string would not stay in tune. Solid guitar with amazing tone. The nut, tuner and bridge were fine ... just some bad mojo with me. Met an older guy at a neighborhood party (father of my neighbor) who said he played SO we went back to my house with a bottle of Booker. He plugged in to my Twin and it stayed in tune for him (amazing jazz player that copped "T-Bone Shuffle" perfectly). It was a red flame top Standard with gold hardware that I bought in Houston back in the early 90's and he had to have it and a Hamer FM that I had. I didn't even give him a price and he just through out a stupid number to which I said that was "really high" and he said "cool" and wrote a check. When I asked about the airline and "checking it" he said no worries, he had his own plane. I hear from him from time to time ... still raves about "my" guitars and asks if I want to sell the Tele that Fender built for me when my daughter was born. No chance of that.

MadDogs said:

I do agree with some LPs not staying in tune. I have owned about six or so LPs in my life and had one that the G string would not stay in tune. Solid guitar with amazing tone. The nut, tuner and bridge were fine ... just some bad mojo with me. Met an older guy at a neighborhood party (father of my neighbor) who said he played SO we went back to my house with a bottle of Booker. He plugged in to my Twin and it stayed in tune for him (amazing jazz player that copped "T-Bone Shuffle" perfectly). It was a red flame top Standard with gold hardware that I bought in Houston back in the early 90's and he had to have it and a Hamer FM that I had. I didn't even give him a price and he just through out a stupid number to which I said that was "really high" and he said "cool" and wrote a check. When I asked about the airline and "checking it" he said no worries, he had his own plane. I hear from him from time to time ... still raves about "my" guitars and asks if I want to sell the Tele that Fender built for me when my daughter was born. No chance of that.

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Thats why I dont play em much any more. Out of the 7 or so LPs I have I think really only one actually is exceptional- my silverburst with EMGs- 5 are decent, but one is a total turd and its a newer one anyways which is the problem likely. I have a thing for Standards, do not care for Customs or Studios. A Gibson LP Standard was my very first electric. Pawn shop find, still have it. My buddy hauled me to LA from San Diego to go shopping with saved up money. I came back home with an old az z Standard in a beat up case, a well worn old Marshall JCM800 2205, and an old as shiite 1960A cab that had to stick out the trunk of his Camaro. The neighborhood and my parents were never the same. I had been using a friends Strat plugged into a Peavey Renown and playing shows. My game went up a notch really quick. The friend moved to bass when we decided he sucked at guitar and drums and I gave him one lesson. He gifted me the 60s model Strat. I bought him a P bass in return. I still have the Strat and its one of my fave guitars to play still. Since that first day Ive played both types of guitars back and forth between songs and struck up a relationship with both types. Some songs just call for different guitars. I usually use one of my more modern Schecter, ESP, Jackson, Charvel or Ibanez superstrats with the Floyds/Kahlers- have about 20- and one of my 3 real Strats and then either one of my 7 LPs and one of my 5 ESP Eclipse LP types to play shows. I always have a backup so thats like 4 guitars, 2 of each, I usually put in the truck for a show.

Funny who we deal with on gear isnt it. I bought a couple 5150s years ago from Molly Hatchets guitarist, Bobby Ingram. The band I was in at the time I used 4 5150 heads into 6 Peavey 4x12 cabs, so I was always looking for backups or parts for them. Thats when I ran into Bobby down in Florida. They were touring opening for Van Halen when Ed was working with Peavey to originally build the amp that was more based on a Soldano and not Eds old famous plexi Marshall as has always been thought. Ed already had a proto and Bob played thru it. Loved it. So, when they got em ready for production Ed sent Ingram several. When he sold me mine he told me he had about 10 of them, so I have no idea if I got any of the ones Ed sent him. I have an LP I got from one of Hearts old guitarists from when I lived in Vegas playing there every night- that one was played on some hits he said, no idea which one, the guitar is in a case under my bed- for reals. Sold a Mesa Dual few years ago to Bob Segers touring guitarist who weirdly now lives in Tulsa when not out playing since he moved from Vegas also. He used to own Cowtown Guitars in Vegas. I have some other gear given to me or bought from various other artists over the years. State Farm loves us cause when I get 'new'- whether its brand new or vintage its still 'new' to me- gear in then my coverage on my gear changes, lolll.

Of all the guitars I had that I wish I had back, there are three. One, is my first electric which was a Tobacco Sunburst Gibson L6-S Custom I bought in college. Not that it was such a great guitar, but that it was my first electric. Second was my second electric which was a three p/u Custom with Natural top. Amazing guitar. Third was my Reso. Never should have sold it. May get another.

coolhandluke...........

Don't forget.....youtube is your friend!!!





MadDogs....Unfortunaltely I have sold all my stuff but the three I regret...well 2 I regret selling, one I regret that I didn't get back to the pawn shop quick enough to buy that guitar.


Regrets selling:

Early 1980's Silver Burst LP Custom. When I had it( for a few years) it remained silver and didn't turn green....sweet guitar. I bought it used ............but the one I had...the tuners had little turning pegs built into the tuner that folded in when not in use.



Early 1980's fender Super Champ-Rivera........this was an original and super clean amp.




There were others that I sold.........Ernie Ball/Music Man EVH purple quilt.......some early 70's model Fender Teles......and some amps.


But the one that got away was a Fender Esquire. Probably 2nd run 1951-1969.

It was 1984, waaaay before the internet in Gallup, New Mexico. I had stopped there as I have a friend who owns a pawn shop there and when I'd go to Los Angeles and up to the 4 corners( Cortez, Colorado) I'd stop there and buy turquoise jewelry and some Navajo blankets.


Well I was walking the streets of Gallup and I saw through a window a guitar hanging on the wall of a pawn shop I'd never been in before.

I went in and looked at the Fender.......not knowing exactly what an "Esquire" was. The internet wasn't around then and the salesperson just said that a regular customer had let it go by not paying the loan on pawn so it was up for sale..... I can't remember a couple hundred bucks...less than $500.

It was a clean....no chips or buckle rash but some scuffs and the fret board was clean.

I passed on it. I went on to Los Angeles and some how I made mention to a few relatives about the guitar. They told me to BUY IT when I was going back to Oklahoma.

Driving back to Oklahoma....stopped in at the pawn shop( if I would have remembered the name I would have called them and why I didn't have my buddy who lived in Gallup get it for me I don't know) it was already gone/sold.

Oh well.

My silverburst, loaded with EMGs:
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My girls, my oldest 3:
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Cohiba said:

coolhandluke...........

Don't forget.....youtube is your friend!!!





MadDogs....Unfortunaltely I have sold all my stuff but the three I regret...well 2 I regret selling, one I regret that I didn't get back to the pawn shop quick enough to buy that guitar.


Regrets selling:

Early 1980's Silver Burst LP Custom. When I had it( for a few years) it remained silver and didn't turn green....sweet guitar. I bought it used ............but the one I had...the tuners had little turning pegs built into the tuner that folded in when not in use.

Early 1980's fender Super Champ-Rivera........this was an original and super clean amp.

There were others that I sold.........Ernie Ball/Music Man EVH purple quilt.......some early 70's model Fender Teles......and some amps.


But the one that got away was a Fender Esquire. Probably 2nd run 1951-1969.

It was 1984, waaaay before the internet in Gallup, New Mexico. I had stopped there as I have a friend who owns a pawn shop there and when I'd go to Los Angeles and up to the 4 corners( Cortez, Colorado) I'd stop there and buy turquoise jewelry and some Navajo blankets.


Well I was walking the streets of Gallup and I saw through a window a guitar hanging on the wall of a pawn shop I'd never been in before.

I went in and looked at the Fender.......not knowing exactly what an "Esquire" was. The internet wasn't around then and the salesperson just said that a regular customer had let it go by not paying the loan on pawn so it was up for sale..... I can't remember a couple hundred bucks...less than $500.

It was a clean....no chips or buckle rash but some scuffs and the fret board was clean.

I passed on it. I went on to Los Angeles and some how I made mention to a few relatives about the guitar. They told me to BUY IT when I was going back to Oklahoma.

Driving back to Oklahoma....stopped in at the pawn shop( if I would have remembered the name I would have called them and why I didn't have my buddy who lived in Gallup get it for me I don't know) it was already gone/sold.

Oh well.

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Oh Lord ... missing out on that Esquire might be the saddest story I have heard in quite some time.

I just purchased a SE 245 in the tobacco burst from guitar center (399$) used and I love it. They have a few used Tremonti SE's online around that price range and will ship it to the OKC location for pick up. I bought mine listed as "excellent condition" and it was exactly that. I got burned on a Gibson studio les paul the day before at a pawnshop. the pawn shop lied and hid the fact that the neck had been broken. So to get the SE I am super happy. I would definitely get a 50W amp if you have that option so you can at least jam with friends.

Heres the used link for PRS SE’S

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/PR...profileCountryCode=US&profileCurrencyCode=USD

If you have ever played a Mesa amp and liked the sound, then you would like the Black Star amp. I currently play a classic 50's strat through a Bugera 6262. Great sound for a cheap price!

Just remember bro, its like anything else in life, go cheap and you'll get cheap. Would you rather show up at a shooting comp with a Hi-Point or something better? A beginner just going to the range to blast some targets the Hi-Point is going get the job done no problem prolly, but after they get better at it they will almost always instinctively gravitate to something better. Same as with your guitars and gear.

'Sounding' like another amp is not the same as 'being' that amp. If that was the case you would see alot of cheapie amps on stages trying to mimic the sound of more expensive amps- when you hear them thru the PA thats when you will hear the difference. Being my job Im in everything from small clubs to arenas and I see guitars and gear every day of the week. For entry level or home practice your needs are for sure going to be different than for gigging, obviously, so cheap is ok and you can get by with a knockoff or whatever. But if your goal is to do shows at some point then youre gonna want a much better amp, one that can not only sound good mic'd but be able to withstand alot of abuse. Trust me, Ive been at it over 30 years, and cheap amps do not hold up to the abuse of gigging- even just playing small clubs; and mic'd up thats where you will hear the difference in a real Mesa or a cheap knockoff. Think smooth chunky distortion or a buzz saw attacking your fans ears. What you hear in your bedroom or garage and what you hear mic'd up on stage will be worlds apart.

Most gigging players will almost always have their practice gear and their gigging gear. And right now no offense but just learning to play you dont need a tube amp for rehearsing right at the beginning. Go get yourself a pawn shop solid state like a Crate with a few built in effects or if you just really have to have a new one and you really want a Blackstar then grab a small solid state like their entry level ID series, they have some decent on board effects eliminating the need to start messing with pedals and you will be able to start to learn what effects you want to use with your style without having to invest in a bunch of expensive pedals. Your ear I gaurentee at this point will not be able to hear the difference in a tube or a solidstate amp. I will put money on it. So why buy something you really dont need right at the beginning when you havent even begun to learn?

If youre not ever planning on gigging, just going to be jamming with friends or for just to enjoy playing by yourself, then by all means go out and buy any amp on the planet and a bunch of expensive boutique pedals that you want and take good care of it all and it will last you a lifetime of guitar enjoyment. There are alot of guys out there with small boutique amps and high dollar guitars who basically are hobbyists just enjoying playing music for themselves and their friends, nothing wrong with that at all, but they bought great gear that will always sound great and will hold up for a lifetime. Pedals are the same animal, get a bunch of cheapie pedals and they will just make you sound cheap but then most of the uber expensive custom made boutique pedals on the market now are mainly for hobbyists because they just dont hold up to gigging abuse. Thats why you see most gigging players with a bunch of Boss pedals on their boards. Theyre not the worst and theyre not the absolute best, but theyre tough and road worthy and they sound great without breaking your budget.

(FYI. Guitar Center= the WalMart of the guitar and gear world. WalMart has their manufacturers make products specifically for them. GC does the same thing. Just sayin...).

Check out: www.thegearpage.net

somarsmi said:

I got burned on a Gibson studio les paul the day before at a pawnshop. the pawn shop lied and hid the fact that the neck had been broken.

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Hint hint. Buying gear at pawn shops is always iffy, almost alwways with guitars. Amps, cabs, pedals and other gear you can usually get a decent deal. Now that I know better I would never buy my guitars from pawn shops because I know people in that business. Craigslist people will F you too. Your best buddy might not even know about a neck crack. I know some awesome repairmen who repair broken necks on a regular basis, so its not a throwaway, but no one wants to have something repaired they just bought. New guitars even sometimes come with cracks in the neck. Gotta really look at em close. Take em to your fave tech for an inspection. With new at least you have a warranty of some sort to return them.