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As a Gibson Fanboy...lets just say that PRS are growing on me

new pickups definitely sound better, less muddy, better output, clarity, and low end

you could probably test the pickups by just tapping on them with something metal, that way you don't need to wait for it to be strung

there is not an H on the end of "height". Why do so many people say "heighth"?

Nice job! By the way, your list shows the link to the tuners TWICE. The link for the nut is actually the locking tuners.

WAY too much glue on the nut. Never use that much glue ppl. 1 tiny drop at each end at most. That’s a great looking guitars. Love the color. Also the upgrades are perfect. Was way better intimated after you did the work than before it.

I have an SE Custom 22 that I want to do this to. Locking tuners, put some 85/15 in will a coil tap tuning pot, and the lampshades. Have a CE24 in gray that sounds great.

SEs come with high quaility nuts now, there's really no need to change it as it wont be an upgrade, just different. Especially considering you chose a graphtech nut instead of a Core nut...

The key improvement here was the acetone. Get it? Ace TONE !!

I also made some upgrades on my PSR SE 24 CE. Thanks for the video! I watched it before

Huge difference in sound!

Nice video... I just got a 245 and I'm doing the same

Which cooling system did you get? Looks like on their website they offer a liquid cooling system.

If you contact John or Andy at John Manns Guitar Vault Bedford NH he will buy those stock tuners off you for 25.00. Put them in the box you have for the locking tuners and send them to him.

Hi, I really liked your upgrade, thank you. What color of Winmax wood marker do you recommend to darken a Pao Ferro touch like Rosewood?

The SE models have softer fret wire than the core models. Just something to keep in mind.

1:39 Yep. I got the chance to own and try many PRS, from the SE, to US Core and even Private Stock (not mine). And believe it or not, they’re all worth their price tag. I know, it seems crazy, but it is… however, it’s a law of diminishing returns. Meaning that the higher we get the more expensive it gets on an exponential scale. So yes a US Core or even Private Stock will be better than your SE or S2. No doubt about that… but how much better? 15%, 10%, 5%,… would it be worth $2k, $5k or $10k more? Maybe, maybe not, it will all depend on your priorities and your budget you can afford to spend on a new guitar. I have an US Core Signature (PRS Brent Mason), as well as SE (Singlecut 245) and I’m planing to buy more PRS… which includes SE Silver Sky, SE NF3, a S2 594SC and a PRS Special. And yes, the PRS Special is $5k… ouch, it hurts the wallet, but I really want it as my “dream guitar”. So I’m gonna save for quite a long time to be able to afford it… and in the mean time, I’m gonna get some SE such the Silver Sky and NF3. Why? Because I even prefer the SE version to the US versions. The only thing I regret on SEs (generally), is the lack of Locking Tuners…. But it’s not a big deal we can easily upgrade them. And then pickups could be changed anyway. A friend of mine at the studio has a Private Stock Santana II, and he changed the pup for some SD P-Rails… And we know that pickups are probably contributing to 80 to 90% of the tone (some people would even claim 100%, but that’s another debate). So what really matters is to pick a guitar that feels great, feels comfortable, easy to play… the rest could be changed or fixed. So it’s not crazy to buy a SE and upgrade it. For instance, I’m gonna get my SE 245SC modified to have two 4-positions switches and two P-Rails (I know I could use the Triple Shot mount to avoid the selectors, but I really like to have a selector dedicated to the pup settings: Rail, P90, Parallel, Series…. Something like the old PRS 513 that we had at the studio). Long story short: cheaper PRS could even be a good opportunity if you want to mod them, to build “your own”. So it’s not a bad choice at all… buying a SE could even be because it’s a better choice (like Silver Sky with 8.5” radius instead of 7.25”), or even the fact they don’t have US version anymore (such the new NF3). So it’s absolutely not just for people that “can’t afford the real guitar”… only people that have no knowledge about PRS SE quality would think so. My 2¢

I think ill take it down the road to a guy i trust! I dont trust myslef! Im doing the upgrades though.

The clear cables has copper in it the green could be patina

The Ring pickups in American Tremonti PRS are in cream color.

Its taken away the brightness straight off

Good job stevie and nice video...i have modded and upgradet all of my guitars, with new hardware, pickups, cts potis and new wiring, knobs and now even the nut (graphtech)...well worth it, and sounds are much better....feels good to achieve this by doing it oneself too....cheers mate from germany......and they look better too...haha...

As a pro level pickups made a big difference rounder warmer meaty low end😊❤

Do you still have those old original knobs?

I like what you've done. I only hesitate at the common phrase "UP-grade" I have altered a few of my guitars, but I know my CHANGES were for me. Would Fender consider the changes an upgrade in a manner that can be tested? I like your changes but knowing Mr. Smith and how he pays attention to detail, Would he say you made changes / alterations or would he see them as UPGRADES?? I am a teacher and former debate team member, So choice of words matter. ie, your only girl may not like knowing you refer to her as your Number 1 girl.

Sincerely, the original pick-ups sounded warmer than the new, that in my opinion penalized somehow the sustain and the overall reachness of the sound. Anyway the new ones are good too.

Great job! I actually own a Tremonti Core model and this same PRS SE guitar you upgraded. I think I may do the same with it. The only difference I’ll probably notice is the Tremonti has a 25” neck scale and the 245 is roughly 24 1/2” so I will probably notice a difference on string tension but other than that it’ll be worth it.

one tip, when you want to highlight the difference in sound, do quick A/B of a few seconds so you can really compare instantly. good job

I've got my eye and the same guitar and plan on doing similar modifications to it so this video really scratches an itch for me 🤤

Super job. That fretboard looks sweet!

Nice! It looks great. I'm surprised at how well the neck stained

please add a Floyd Rose FRX Whammy Unit and show us how it it, I thikn it would look good!

Money well spent!

The full on clarity and tightness cannot be mistaken to the upgraded Tremonti set. They have such a huge round and full open sound but with a tightness and clarity beyond the stock pickups. Highly worth the great effort and work you did to this SE. Much respect in taking this dive into making an SE “Something Extra” “Special Edition” “Super Elegant “ you get it…. SE…. Sweet

6:54 upgrading the nut was the best part

you can't put lipstick on a pig...

I did the same thing to a custom 24 and Santana Se yes sounds much better. New pickups and tuners and prs bridge brass tremelo costing $300 usd. So 600 dollar guitar plus 300 dollar upgrades equal $900

awesome video ! Makes you really think how easy it is to get a great instrument for a fraction of the price of Made in USA. Maybe get the frets polished by a luthier and this guitar is easily on par if not better than its USA-counterpart. Well done !

Stain marker looks like a pain in the ass

Just ordered the Rev X - can't wait to get them

Nice job! Anyway, I can't hear any difference between before and after, because of the compressed and lossy sound of RUclips. Even using top DAC and headphones. I'm wondering if, one year later, you are still happy of your mods.

Why isn’t there a “quick connect” inside the pickup area? Then you can switch out the pickups as desired.

Sounds and looks tons better

Good job😊

Well done Stevie. The pickups did really made a big differens. And it sure must be nice to have locking tuners. Im gonna fix my 245 as soon as possible. Thank you for all inspiration. 🥇

I did something similar with a PRS S2 Custom 24 "special run" I bought from Chicago Music Exchange (the special runs have a Quilt Top and an Ebony Fretboard). I bought the guitar as Demo about 2 weeks ago ~3/1/2024, so I got it for $1570 before sales tax, retail is $2099. After I received the guitar and gave it a couple of hours play time, I polished it with Gibson Pump Polish and could not find a blemish anywhere, I can't believe CME sold the guitar for $600 below retail in such great condition. Anyway, I swapped the OEM 85/15 S pickups with a set of TCI 85/15 Pickups I was able to get brand new as a pair for $350 on Reverb. The pickup swap alone was a huge improvement, but then I added a Mann Made solid brass Bridge Block (Custom 24 has a Tremolo and String-Thru configuration as many of you probably know). The Mann Made brass Bridge Block kit also included a set of 6 Nickle plated brass saddles as well. The guitar is a Rock & Roll machine now! I can't believe how much the guitar has improved, especially considering how good it was to begin with. I need to replace the nut (only thing I haven't done, the S2 came with locking tuners so saw no need to replace those). Definitely thinking about ordering a TUSQ nut for my S2 Custom 24 now!!

Have you ever heard of the saying about putting lipstick on a pig😂. Not that the PRS is a pig btw. I love PRS.

What size/type of nut was that, Stevie? (I need one to fit a PRS SE Standard 24-8) and did you have to file down the nut slots after installation?

Yes I think it sounded better with the American pickups. I just got a PRS Zach Myers. I ordered the locking tuners already. I am doing the exact same thing. Didn't think of staining the fretboard that is great. I love it. The day I buy a 5k guitar is how I get divorced! Great job man! Totally worth it.

The clarity of the new pick ups sounded so much better, nice work!