@@andrefludd I just finished watching this video a second time, I've a quick question. Do you thing the USA Made PRS DGT would be as great a value as this SE? Is it possible the USA Made is that much better? I've a friend who owns an early 2007 DGT, it is a fantastic instrument. Also, the half-moon inlays are a beautifully executed understatement.
I don’t know what evil magic PRS employs on their pickups but they make the best sounding split coil sound. To my ears their higher end humbuckers have a very convincing single coil sound when split. Also Mr. Guitar Dr., I’m so happy for you that your channel is growing. You definitely have created a niche for yourself on the flooded guitar oriented UA-cam channel market.
I know of the DTG core pickups they spent months and months going back and forth with Grissom to nail that coil split and so they were able just bring the specs to the SE pickups but they have lately elevated even those.
Thank you for reviewing this guitar! It does seem to have a lot of hype behind it but it seems like the hype is deserved. I really enjoy and appreciate your approach towards reviewing gear
I grabbed one a few months back. Love it. A real workhorse. Records wonderfully with little need to EQ or chase wild frequencies that happen with LPs. Gets a wide range of tones. Even unplugged, it sounds big.
I played a few PRS guitars and never understood the hype behind them. I do respect the company though and this video just makes me want to try one. The last thing I need is another guitar. 😆
Thanks for the well spoken analytical review of this guitar. I appreciate that your approach to the analysis of this guitar is serous and detailed. Well done.
I have a large zip-loc bag full of truss rod covers, backplates, and screws...lol. I generally only remove them once, and then only replace them if I'm selling the guitar.
I do the exact same thing, but I'm too dumb to keep a zip lock bag, so they hang around in random places, then I lose the screws, and right before selling them, I buy new screws.
PRS sells locking tuners for the SE guitars for about $100. That said I have an SE CU24 and honestly the stock tuners worked really well. I replaced them anyway just because string changes are so much easier. I would also have one of these SE DGTs if I weren't cursed with left-handedness.
Neither of my SEs (594std and 277bari) have tuning issues from their non lockers, and I don't change strings enough to be bothered by the extra ten minutes. High quality all around
I completely agree about the clarity and harmonics. I have the 24 08 and i feel the same. I play Amazing Grace with all harmonics and it sounds so clear, bright and strong on the SE! The guitar is just so resonant. Alot of people say that doesn't matter with an electric but i completely and forcefully disagree. Inspiration makes playing and tones sound better. A guitar that lively and resonant makes you want to play. In my opinion inspiration and connection to an instrument are 75% of great tone. Stevie Ray could play through an 87 Gorilla and it would sound amazing. Inspired playing always sounds great!
I have gone through various PRS phases from "all in" to not wanting to gig with the fancy topped expensive ones for fear of scratching them. At no time have I ever questioned their quality. You mention how nice the bridge is... Paul designed them with John Mann and I've replaced EVERY one of my strat bridges with PRS or Mann Made bridges. I love the comfort contour under the edge of the hand when palm muting, and the 6 knife edges underneath and the slots in the 6 screws instead of sliding around on a smooth post. The 594 and the DGT IMO are among the best guitars ever made (Core, S2, and SE depending on your pricepoint, but are all top notch). I got a good deal on an S2 594 and was planning on flipping it... but it quickly became one of my top 3 guitars and may end up being a forever-keeper. ☮❤🎶
My PRS custom 24 has been able to suppress the urge to buy more guitars for almost 3 years now. Glad to see your satisfaction with their quality as well!
I picked up a GC run with of the custom 24 in trans black with an ebony board. Didn't need it but I added the PRS locking tuners for convenience. Plays better than more expensive guitars.
Many thanks for your first look at the DGT SE. I'm really glad (and relieved) that you seem so genuinely excited by it, because I've had one on order since February and the latest update is that it should arrive in a couple of weeks' time! Like you, I went straight for the Gold Top with its classy and understated half-moon inlays. 😎
I got mine 2 weeks ago and i've been playing every single day for hours. Unfortunately, it's going back to the factory because the nut was not cut properly. It didn't affect playability at all, but it needed to be serviced. PRS has been great in working with me so i have no complaints. Congratulations fellow NJ guitarist!
The DGT (David Grissom Tremelo) is based on his specs. He mostly plays on the bridge pup, and swells with the knobs with his pinky. The core model is the same. As for the minimal fret sprout, that's probably due to weather factors, not factory.
@Cocoa Koifish 錦鯉 from prs? Not likely. I have 6 prs guitars with no fret issues. And I've played well over 20 in my local shop, no fret sprouts. Keep in mind prs unboxes all guitars for examination from overseas.
The volume knobs are so you can dial in each pickup so maybe one is used with a lot of gain and the other is dialed back, like the neck to do clean stuff with in one song.. This is an old trick that lot's of guys used / myself included with a Les Paul.. except it has two tones, but I never use them..
I’m glad you’re enjoying it, I have a core DGT model and the pick ups are just so fantastic. I’m going to pick up an SE version so I can compare them and hopefully I will love the SE just as much as the core.
Tom Bukovac just posted a video about how he hates sticky finishes on newer guitars. And he just so happened to have a newer Gibson SG. He brought it to a tech and the tech said he thinks it's because there's too much material applied and that's why so many newer guitars have that sticky neck. The tech used 0000 steel wool from a fine woodworking store to go over the back of the neck. The stuff from Home Depot isn't fine enough. He then polished it and made the guitar more playable without hardly any noticeable difference. Also, really love your review. I respect your opinion and your attention to detail. Looking forward to your long term review as well.
Having two Guild guitars with the same pickup knob arrangement, I think I can make a guess as to the logic: the default volume knob setting is full-up, both knobs. When you want those differential tones, you decrease the neck pickup for a sharper tone, or decrease the bridge pickup for a rounder tone. The knob you go for is the knob visually paired with the pickup you want more of. You want more bridge, you go for the rear knob, you want more neck, you go for the front knob. But to turn them down, not up. It explains clunkily, but plays very intuitively.
I had a PRS Mike Mushok SE baritone a long time ago before they discontinued it. The SE models are truly fantastic guitars and were even back then. Speaking of baritones, I think it'd be pretty cool to see you try out some baritones with them gaining more popularity recently. As usual, Dr. Fludd, great video, keep it up.
Thank you for your detailed analysis that reinforces my desire to acquire it, I listened to all the demos available on UA-cam, this guitar sounds, the pickups are very good. PRs has made very strong with this SE and the demanding David Grissom has helped
Great review. I'm an "old PRS guy" .. grew up near Paul's hop in Annapolis MD and bought my first in ~1988. I'd like to try one of these out. The SE's are really impressive year over year. I have a slightly modded (Suhr Thornbucker pickups, locking keys etc) Zach Myers semi-hollow that I gig all the time - quality is A+.
Those moon inlays were his original design that he was going to use as a standard, but people back then liked the birds more. I do enjoy both and wish to see more moon inlays in PRS's future. My 594 wood library has the birds on it. I like them a lot.
Great job brother…I have that guitar and I also have the PRS SE Santana Singlecut …I think the limited run Santana Singlecut feels and sounds fantastic and on par with the DGT and I think overlooked
You would love the trem cover on Vai's latest sig model Pia JEM. Instead of screws to secure the cover plate, it uses magnets. Just grab the cover and pull it off. Want it back on? Simply press it back into place. That's it. Similarly, you know what's better than one screw for the truss rod cover? No truss rod cover, like a Fender, Suhr, Charvel, or my new Kiesel, which still uses a Gibson-PRS-style tilt-back headstock. There really is zero reason for truss rod covers, unless you're Larry Carlton and your sig model 335's TRC is inscribed with 'Mr. 335.'
David plays 98% on the bridge pickup so thus the volume for that is most accessible. Also I don't remember but there is something about the coil split being like 75/25 instead of 50/50 if that makes sense
My two cents: I own 30 guitars. The pickups on my dgt-se are AMAZING!!! They sound great from 1-10 on the volume knob. They have more range of "clean -up" than any pickups I've ever played (over 50+yrs.). They can mimick pretty much every guitar sound, and most importantly, they have a clarity I've never experienced. I would pay 4 times the price of this guitar . Just Astonishing!!!
It would be good to see you have a conversation with David Grissom. The two of you have the most attention to detail on guitars. He has such high standards. The SE isn’t just a cheaper DGT. Grissom approved all of the specs before his name was put on it. From the neck carve to the finish. The pickups and electronics and overall feel of the instrument needed to be up to snuff for both the Core and the SE editions.
I missed the unboxing due to the international timezone thing but I'm glad you reviewed this guitar, it sounded like you were having a lot of fun with it.
I had a SE Tremonti years ago. I don't know why I sold it. It was light, comfortable and I love the take on the singlecut shape. I think it had a few dings because it was sevond hand. Now, what I really want to get is a hollow body SE. Nice to see your take on more affordable guitars. That DGT looks like a keeper.
l played a DGT yesterday. GREAT guitar...just like your video shows. My question is - given the really high quality of the newer SE models (DGT, 24-08, 594), is it practical to buy a core model?
I've only had 1 extended experience with a core model and that was the Silver Sky. In that case, I didn't feel the need to have the core model. And in this case, I don't intended on ever buying a DGT Core. I'm sure it's amazing, but I can't justify the price right now.
Really enjoy your reviews. You pick out interesting instruments, for a start, but it's clear that you're very honest in them. I loved how genuinely impressed / surprised by this one. Oh, and you should never apologise for pointing out minor details!
If the gloss is sticky or not well that depends on the type of coating. I have played satin necks that where not all that slick. Old classy wooden furniture with an highgloss thin coating those are more slippery than wet and also very durable. Guitars used to bee the same but as more seldom today for the same reason that furniture of to day may look as just as fine but.
I'm a one guitar person, and for the last 3-4 years m one guitar has been a PRS SE 24 Floyd. So I'm really used to the PRS "wide thin" neck profile. I tried both the SE DGT and the SE 594 with my boss a few months ago (hes been looking at getting a PRS). The 594 neck is definitely a bit fatter than the wide thin on mine, but the neck on the DGT felt really bizarre. I flat out hated it. The shape, the way it tapered as you go down the neck, everything about it was just wrong to me. The DGT pickups worked better for any sort of dirt tones than the 58/15 LT pickups though.
Enjoy your guitar! I watched part of the unboxing live stream, you were quick releasing this first impressions video. Cort starting to manufacture the PRS SE line probably was the reason why they discontinued a favourite of mine, their M series. 😭 My Cort M600 is my reference guitar in every aspect. It has the looks of a PRS, but it actuallly is more like an evolved Les Paul. From what I saw I think it used to be built better than PRS SE line. The 1-screw truss rod plate is standard in all Cort guitars, regardless of the price range (I just permanently remove it, though). Brands using either Cort or Samick factories in Indonesia usually jack up prices no less than $300 compared to one of these manufacturer's similar-range own models, and in my experience the full QC offered by these factories is also partially overlooked by some of these brands in order to cut costs (Ibanez is one of them, as I experienced first-hand). I believe PRS is getting the full QC service, although I've seen issues with their paint (I could find these instruments typically offered as B-stock), and those fret ends don't look nearly as good as in my 2013 M600 ($500-600 price range), and definitely worse than in my 2016 Washburn PX Solar 170 C (this was in the $800 price range, also made by Cort). The main issue with instruments built in tropical areas is, even if they're perfectly built, wood is naturally more damp during the manufacturing process, which is also quite automated and fast, and when you take those instruments to drier areas (like, most of the rest of the world), everything shrinks, and fret ends will likely pop out. People instinctively relate every case of it to a QC issue, though. It has to be noted that PRS has a very good approach about this in their USA-made models, they're taking neck shaping really slowly in several stages taking weeks until wood would stop moving that much, but of course this adds up to the price. BTW Vigier is the most extreme in this process, taking years. I have no data on why both volume controls are set that way. I'd speculate they chose this layout y on this model since most people tend to use the bridge pickup all the time, so it would satisfy players using their pinky to constantly control the volume. Or it could just be David Grissom's personal preference, since it's his signature model.
I played a Brian May signature yesterday. Its fatal flaw for me is the 24 frets, and the fixable flaw is the trem which needs to be decked for my tastes. What stood out was the neck. As fond of a big neck as I am, this was odd. A little wider than most, a lot thicker than many, and the fretwork is shocking good for the price. I understand the original is both a bolt-on neck and English oak. This was Mahogany. It's not ergonomic, it's quirky, arguably the switching is a bit much. But for some reason I will take one if I get the chance. The neck made me think of your preferences, and I have to ask if you've had occasion to sit down with one?
Love the in depth review as always, and the playing at the end as well! It seems like switching to single coils doesn't dramatically drop the output and its a pretty nice sound. Well done start to finish.
Nice review, thanks! I'm still teetering on the edge of buying this model. I would have been an 'early adopter' except when mine arrived a month ago it had a horrible, and very visible, knot in the wood of the binding. (I thought these were all going to specially QC'd in line with the punctilious demands of Dave Grissom...) When the retailer (here in the UK) got in touch about my replacement, they were honest and said the fingerboards varied in colouring, so I asked for pictures of the two they had received. Instead of being almost completely black like yours (and all the launch videos and PRS marketing photo sets sent to retailers and reviewers...) they are now coming through with the 'streaky bacon' cheap-wood fingerboard look that I personally hate. So I asked for my money back instead. I may relent if I see any online that have nice dark fingerboards, but I don't hold out much hope; they're starting in on the less handsome wood stock methinks.... 😒
Nice to know I’m not the only one who prefers one screw truss rod covers! I have an Edwards Les Paul custom with a one screw truss rod cover and considering it has the old style Gibson truss rod making adjustments is an absolute breeze. Edwards is also a brand you should keep an eye out for if you’re ever scouring the market for Gibson style guitars but want to avoid paying Gibson prices.
PRS used to have moons as the base inlay but everyone always wanted birds so they basically stopped offering them. The old PRS forum was called Birds and Moons back when it was online too.
Great initial review Andre, I have the same guitar in Gold and agreed with everything you said. The pickups and playability are great and your dead on about every position being usable and the gloss neck not being sticky. I liked this guitar because the mahogany set neck and shorter scale does things for the humbucker modes I prefer over my HSS strat type swiss army knife guitars. I also think the DGT SE is a bit more vintage voiced compared to many of the more modern versatile guitars out there but still has great playability, it's a great mix. Not sure what you meant when you wrote one piece neck construction though, mines certainly not one piece.
I really appreciate your reviews. Anybody can gush about how awesome everything they test is, but you consistently identify things prospective buyers ought to know. If the affordable SE lasts a year in your collection, PRS should include that fact in their advertising.
Thank you :). I actually have 2 other guitars coming in the next few days and a ton that haven't been on the channel yet. I have to do an annual thing where I explain why I kept vs sold certain guitars.
I appreciate your demo with clean tones. How can you tell the story running a tube screamer. I have a problem with the strings and the machines. I'll probably change them to the PRS lockers. Other than that - 100% Thsnks again ...
I've been looking for a humbucking guitar a bit like this. I might not get it anytime soon since I am working on a partscaster, but I only own and plan to to own single coil or stacked coil guitars, I might get this at some point because of the price and the humbuckers.
Great in depth review. I have two SE Custom 24's and a Core 35th anniversary and the SE's hold their own against the Core. I've been looking to get either a DGT SE or a McCarty 594 SE and you might have pushed me towards the DGT.
I just had a question not related to this particular guitar but ... what is the support between the guitar and your leg called? I always play nearly leaning over the guitar to be comfortable but it hurts my back in the long time. Otherwise, all your videos are pinpoint accurate good job man!
Are you a mind reader? I'm looking at getting a new guitar soon and it's between a PRS (similar model with a Floyd Rose) and an EVH wolfgang standard. This was helpful to the decision. Related, do you ever plan on doing more videos on guitars with Floyd Roses? You mentioned they are your favorite iirc. I want one, but worry about tuning stability- specially for the fully recessed Floyd. I would be interested in what you have to say about Floyd's and their care.
one screw covers are sick! Game changer for us who changer gauges / live in hectic climates but still wanna keep things formal. -___^ PRS gloss kills me though.. I hit my 277 SE with one of the dish scrubbies my grandma makes to satin it. PRS guitars look great and sound different. Either in a good or bad way. My 277 does warm jazz on the neck fine, but the stock bridge PU was underperforming for me. Swapped it out for a Nazgul, now it's sick! Those half moon inlays are really cool, they always are great to see on a guitar!
At 4:05 you say it cost $3000 used, where does it cost $3000 used? The SE model is, as you stated, $850-$900 new (less in the over flooded used market). Are you comparing the cost of a used core model DGT to a new SE version? I am confused about this. Other than that, very good review, loved your playing, tones and thoughts on the guitar and its quality.
as always, i really enjoyed the review. i don't usually get into the aesthetics of PRS, but, this one is pretty sexy. say, have you ever considered reviewing a Reverend Double Agent W, or their Warhawk DAW? just curious on your thoughts on Reverends with tremelo & H/P config . .. . cheers!
Excellent review of the PRS DGT SE! I am puzzled, though, why the DGT is getting all of the attention when the McCarty SE is equally as good. I have both, and value you them both for their unique sounds and playability. From your comments about flashy bird inlays and preference for a gold top, I can see how the appearance of the McCarty models might be cons for you. But the sounds are fantastic. If I were to characterize it, both models sound like a mix between a Les Paul and a Strat, with the McCarty leaning more towards the Les Paul sound and the DGT learning more towards the Strat end. Anyway, really enjoy your videos. Signing up to support your work on Patreon!
Yea I’m not a huge single cut guy, but I may have to give that one a try. At least pick it up at a store and see what I think. Thank you for supporting on Patreon. It’s a huge help and really appreciated.
That split sound is better than pretty much any others I've heard. A lot of mid priced stuff, the makers don't take the effort to make all the pickup settings sound unique when you switch.
Just received my new DGT Se, my first impressions about this was that its very pretty! The action was high and one knob was loose. The picks up sound great and its lighter than a LP. After playing it, I prefer my Epiphone Lazurus LP over this guitar, my Epi is meatier, more solid. I've never been a fan of light guitars but this Dgt is not that light. I need to really play my dgt over some weeks. But I really think that once the hype is over, there will be many of these on sale on Reverb. I think the prs 08/24 is better! A keeper! Just my opinion thats all.
Not planning on reading through 260 comments so TL;DR Grissom mainly plays the bridge and is constantly playing with the bridge volume when he plays which is why the pots are in the order they are.
I'm like you I don't like fancy inlays. I have a custom guitar I built which is a Gibson LP Jr copy from a kit from canada and I love it that it's a maple neck with no finish on the back of the neck and no inlays.. The old gloss finishes were made of nitro cellulose which I think is made from Cotton and it gets sticky when hot. I love the tone of that guitar from what I've heard.. I have my brothers older 1990 PRS Custom 24 which is an expensive guitar and it has no bad joint where the body meets the neck which is really nice.. I also don't like too many screws.. It's just annoying.. Steve Vai uses magnets on his PIA guitars.. I think that's a great idea.. You should feel the trem on the expensive guitars.. They aren't cast, but solid steel and they are all good.. It's the design is so good.. Dave Grissom played for my homey.. John Cougar Mellencamp .. From my hometown of Seymour Indiana. I heard the pickups were copied from his higher end pickups which were copied from a Gibson like 58 or something he had in his collection of studio guitars from what I understand. I may be wrong about that, but that's what I understood if memory serves me. I need to get one bad! Thanks my friend. Great review.. Outstanding kind sir! Tim
Paul Reed Smith thought the moon inlays would be the most popular, but when the company started selling guitars with the birds inlays, the majority of orders were for birds, which is why that became the default. The people have spoken, you're in the minority. I love the birds 😁
Sounds fantastic. I'm not typically a gold top fan, but this one looks nice, especially with the dark neck. I will say though, I'm in the group that finds nitpicking about screws to be a step too far... but I respect that not everyone will share that opinion. Thanks for the video.
I love how hybrid picking is just as natural to you as breathing. I would love to do it more, but I had an accident with a table saw in 2005, my s middle fingers are mangled and I just can't do it, nor can I get into full fingerpicking at all. So it's straight up picking for me. Jealous.
There is a preview for the Patreon lesson you can check out here: www.patreon.com/Andrefludd.
I'm so glad I found you and subscribed.
Seriously, watching your content feels like my friends and I discussing our equipment.
Thank You
@@hkguitar1984 I appreciate that thank you!
@@andrefludd I just finished watching this video a second time, I've a quick question.
Do you thing the USA Made PRS DGT would be as great a value as this SE?
Is it possible the USA Made is that much better?
I've a friend who owns an early 2007 DGT, it is a fantastic instrument.
Also, the half-moon inlays are a beautifully executed understatement.
I don’t know what evil magic PRS employs on their pickups but they make the best sounding split coil sound. To my ears their higher end humbuckers have a very convincing single coil sound when split. Also Mr. Guitar Dr., I’m so happy for you that your channel is growing. You definitely have created a niche for yourself on the flooded guitar oriented UA-cam channel market.
I'm doing my best out here thank you! I do agree, the pickups are shockingly good.
Partial tap resitors 😊
I know of the DTG core pickups they spent months and months going back and forth with Grissom to nail that coil split and so they were able just bring the specs to the SE pickups but they have lately elevated even those.
You can just add a simple resistor to ground in any coil split switch and get same result as PRS
Agree 100%! Even the low end import pick ups split better than most. My US and Import PRS just have better split sounds than my other guitars.
Thank you for reviewing this guitar! It does seem to have a lot of hype behind it but it seems like the hype is deserved. I really enjoy and appreciate your approach towards reviewing gear
Thank you :)
I grabbed one a few months back. Love it. A real workhorse. Records wonderfully with little need to EQ or chase wild frequencies that happen with LPs. Gets a wide range of tones. Even unplugged, it sounds big.
I played a few PRS guitars and never understood the hype behind them. I do respect the company though and this video just makes me want to try one. The last thing I need is another guitar. 😆
Excellent review! These are still back ordered for a while seems like everywhere. PRS SE really upped their game this year with this DGT and the 594
You have quickly become my favorite guitar channel, Keep it up man, your channel will hopefully grow fast.
Thank you :)
Thanks for the well spoken analytical review of this guitar. I appreciate that your approach to the analysis of this guitar is serous and detailed. Well done.
I have a large zip-loc bag full of truss rod covers, backplates, and screws...lol. I generally only remove them once, and then only replace them if I'm selling the guitar.
I do the exact same thing, but I'm too dumb to keep a zip lock bag, so they hang around in random places, then I lose the screws, and right before selling them, I buy new screws.
The dot inlays are actually why I bought an S2. Now its my favorite guitar!
Cool, I got the McCarty SE this year and I love it. Those pickups do sound really good in the DGT.
PRS sells locking tuners for the SE guitars for about $100. That said I have an SE CU24 and honestly the stock tuners worked really well. I replaced them anyway just because string changes are so much easier. I would also have one of these SE DGTs if I weren't cursed with left-handedness.
I'm also left-handed, but I never learned guitar that way. Interestingly enough, I'm a big left hand legato guy and my picking is horrible.
I am also mostly left-handed but learned guitar right-handed and never really even thought about it.
Neither of my SEs (594std and 277bari) have tuning issues from their non lockers, and I don't change strings enough to be bothered by the extra ten minutes. High quality all around
I completely agree about the clarity and harmonics. I have the 24 08 and i feel the same. I play Amazing Grace with all harmonics and it sounds so clear, bright and strong on the SE! The guitar is just so resonant. Alot of people say that doesn't matter with an electric but i completely and forcefully disagree. Inspiration makes playing and tones sound better. A guitar that lively and resonant makes you want to play. In my opinion inspiration and connection to an instrument are 75% of great tone. Stevie Ray could play through an 87 Gorilla and it would sound amazing. Inspired playing always sounds great!
Couldn’t agree more!
I have gone through various PRS phases from "all in" to not wanting to gig with the fancy topped expensive ones for fear of scratching them. At no time have I ever questioned their quality. You mention how nice the bridge is... Paul designed them with John Mann and I've replaced EVERY one of my strat bridges with PRS or Mann Made bridges. I love the comfort contour under the edge of the hand when palm muting, and the 6 knife edges underneath and the slots in the 6 screws instead of sliding around on a smooth post. The 594 and the DGT IMO are among the best guitars ever made (Core, S2, and SE depending on your pricepoint, but are all top notch). I got a good deal on an S2 594 and was planning on flipping it... but it quickly became one of my top 3 guitars and may end up being a forever-keeper. ☮❤🎶
Excellent review. I converted to PRS a few years ago. Their quality and attention to detail across all the range is way above other companies.
Why did you have to "convert?" Is it a religion or cult?
@@AlexVonCrankit's a way of life
That smile on your face as you play is worth a thousand words. I could tell you are just vibing with the DGT so much.
It can't be faked lol
My PRS custom 24 has been able to suppress the urge to buy more guitars for almost 3 years now. Glad to see your satisfaction with their quality as well!
I need to get a core model to try for a while...I can only imagine.
I picked up a GC run with of the custom 24 in trans black with an ebony board. Didn't need it but I added the PRS locking tuners for convenience. Plays better than more expensive guitars.
PRS is doing an amazing job with the new SE line, the DGT is my favorite with the McCarty. I have an CE24, and i love it, is really a perfect guitar.
Many thanks for your first look at the DGT SE. I'm really glad (and relieved) that you seem so genuinely excited by it, because I've had one on order since February and the latest update is that it should arrive in a couple of weeks' time! Like you, I went straight for the Gold Top with its classy and understated half-moon inlays. 😎
You have great taste, my friend :). I bet you'll love it.
I got mine 2 weeks ago and i've been playing every single day for hours. Unfortunately, it's going back to the factory because the nut was not cut properly. It didn't affect playability at all, but it needed to be serviced. PRS has been great in working with me so i have no complaints. Congratulations fellow NJ guitarist!
The DGT (David Grissom Tremelo) is based on his specs. He mostly plays on the bridge pup, and swells with the knobs with his pinky. The core model is the same. As for the minimal fret sprout, that's probably due to weather factors, not factory.
Or its due to both
@Cocoa Koifish 錦鯉 from prs? Not likely. I have 6 prs guitars with no fret issues. And I've played well over 20 in my local shop, no fret sprouts. Keep in mind prs unboxes all guitars for examination from overseas.
The volume knobs are so you can dial in each pickup so maybe one is used with a lot of gain and the other is dialed back, like the neck to do clean stuff with in one song.. This is an old trick that lot's of guys used / myself included with a Les Paul.. except it has two tones, but I never use them..
I've never felt drawn to PRS, but this could totally change my mind. Less fussy fretboard inlays definitely a part of that.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it, I have a core DGT model and the pick ups are just so fantastic. I’m going to pick up an SE version so I can compare them and hopefully I will love the SE just as much as the core.
Tom Bukovac just posted a video about how he hates sticky finishes on newer guitars. And he just so happened to have a newer Gibson SG. He brought it to a tech and the tech said he thinks it's because there's too much material applied and that's why so many newer guitars have that sticky neck.
The tech used 0000 steel wool from a fine woodworking store to go over the back of the neck. The stuff from Home Depot isn't fine enough. He then polished it and made the guitar more playable without hardly any noticeable difference.
Also, really love your review. I respect your opinion and your attention to detail. Looking forward to your long term review as well.
Yep that’s a great solution. Thanks for sharing and thanks for supporting the channel
Having two Guild guitars with the same pickup knob arrangement, I think I can make a guess as to the logic: the default volume knob setting is full-up, both knobs. When you want those differential tones, you decrease the neck pickup for a sharper tone, or decrease the bridge pickup for a rounder tone. The knob you go for is the knob visually paired with the pickup you want more of. You want more bridge, you go for the rear knob, you want more neck, you go for the front knob. But to turn them down, not up. It explains clunkily, but plays very intuitively.
I had a PRS Mike Mushok SE baritone a long time ago before they discontinued it. The SE models are truly fantastic guitars and were even back then. Speaking of baritones, I think it'd be pretty cool to see you try out some baritones with them gaining more popularity recently. As usual, Dr. Fludd, great video, keep it up.
Thank you for your detailed analysis that reinforces my desire to acquire it, I listened to all the demos available on UA-cam, this guitar sounds, the pickups are very good. PRs has made very strong with this SE and the demanding David Grissom has helped
Great review. I'm an "old PRS guy" .. grew up near Paul's hop in Annapolis MD and bought my first in ~1988. I'd like to try one of these out. The SE's are really impressive year over year. I have a slightly modded (Suhr Thornbucker pickups, locking keys etc) Zach Myers semi-hollow that I gig all the time - quality is A+.
Doc, this has to be the most comprehensive and lucid review I've seen on YT about this guitar. You're crushing it!! Thank you!!!
Thank you :)
Those moon inlays were his original design that he was going to use as a standard, but people back then liked the birds more. I do enjoy both and wish to see more moon inlays in PRS's future. My 594 wood library has the birds on it. I like them a lot.
Man im rooting for your success! 💪
Great job brother…I have that guitar and I also have the PRS SE Santana Singlecut …I think the limited run Santana Singlecut feels and sounds fantastic and on par with the DGT and I think overlooked
Thank u. Best review of a PRS eye've seen in a while. THIS might b the one...
Honestly, the smile on your face at the beginning of the video told me what I wanted to know.
You would love the trem cover on Vai's latest sig model Pia JEM. Instead of screws to secure the cover plate, it uses magnets. Just grab the cover and pull it off. Want it back on? Simply press it back into place. That's it. Similarly, you know what's better than one screw for the truss rod cover? No truss rod cover, like a Fender, Suhr, Charvel, or my new Kiesel, which still uses a Gibson-PRS-style tilt-back headstock. There really is zero reason for truss rod covers, unless you're Larry Carlton and your sig model 335's TRC is inscribed with 'Mr. 335.'
David plays 98% on the bridge pickup so thus the volume for that is most accessible. Also I don't remember but there is something about the coil split being like 75/25 instead of 50/50 if that makes sense
No birds? No way! Just kidding ;) Great video man. I love my PRS Ce24, didn't try the DGT yet. Cheers!
You crack me up! Solid review and nice playing.
Thank you :)
Thats why you should check out John Mann Guitar Vault John made the original PRS Trem , I have them on my Strats now also killer Trem
Andre, where could I get that thing you have on your guitars to adjust the angle on the lower horn for playing more comfortably?
Search performaxe
My two cents: I own 30 guitars. The pickups on my dgt-se are AMAZING!!! They sound great from 1-10 on the volume knob. They have more range of "clean -up" than any pickups I've ever played (over 50+yrs.). They can mimick pretty much every guitar sound, and most importantly, they have a clarity I've never experienced. I would pay 4 times the price of this guitar . Just Astonishing!!!
Whatever you do, don't tell your wife that they can mimic pretty much every guitar! Otherwise, she won't be satisfied until she sees 29 eBay listings!
@@ParaBellum2024 If I was married, I probably wouldn't have 30... Thanks for the reply!
@@brianmiller3287 That makes perfect sense!
Great review / playing as always dude!
Thank you :)
It would be good to see you have a conversation with David Grissom. The two of you have the most attention to detail on guitars. He has such high standards. The SE isn’t just a cheaper DGT. Grissom approved all of the specs before his name was put on it. From the neck carve to the finish. The pickups and electronics and overall feel of the instrument needed to be up to snuff for both the Core and the SE editions.
I'd be honored to talk to David, but I assume he has bigger fish to fry lol.
@@andrefludd may one day you be a bigger fish lol
I missed the unboxing due to the international timezone thing but I'm glad you reviewed this guitar, it sounded like you were having a lot of fun with it.
Initial impressions only haha. ..the full review will likely be... obnoxiously long and overly detailed. Hope you have a great weekend Simon.
@@andrefludd - thanks, you too. I look forward to the obnoxiously detailed review!
Keep killing it, great content as always!
I had a SE Tremonti years ago. I don't know why I sold it. It was light, comfortable and I love the take on the singlecut shape. I think it had a few dings because it was sevond hand.
Now, what I really want to get is a hollow body SE.
Nice to see your take on more affordable guitars. That DGT looks like a keeper.
I had one, I didn't get to review it before letting it go. It was really nice
@@andrefludd That' s a pity. Would have liked your review. Did you like it? Do you remember whar color it was?
l played a DGT yesterday. GREAT guitar...just like your video shows. My question is - given the really high quality of the newer SE models (DGT, 24-08, 594), is it practical to buy a core model?
I've only had 1 extended experience with a core model and that was the Silver Sky. In that case, I didn't feel the need to have the core model. And in this case, I don't intended on ever buying a DGT Core. I'm sure it's amazing, but I can't justify the price right now.
About the backplate/screws issue - some builders are using magnetic backplates now, so you don't have any screws at all.
Really enjoy your reviews. You pick out interesting instruments, for a start, but it's clear that you're very honest in them. I loved how genuinely impressed / surprised by this one.
Oh, and you should never apologise for pointing out minor details!
Thank you!
Thanks for letting us know they weren't chipped, I was really worried.
If the gloss is sticky or not well that depends on the type of coating. I have played satin necks that where not all that slick.
Old classy wooden furniture with an highgloss thin coating those are more slippery than wet and also very durable.
Guitars used to bee the same but as more seldom today for the same reason that furniture of to day may look as just as fine but.
I have an SE-1000 and it’s my favorite to play. Just sounds powerful!
I'm a one guitar person, and for the last 3-4 years m one guitar has been a PRS SE 24 Floyd. So I'm really used to the PRS "wide thin" neck profile. I tried both the SE DGT and the SE 594 with my boss a few months ago (hes been looking at getting a PRS). The 594 neck is definitely a bit fatter than the wide thin on mine, but the neck on the DGT felt really bizarre. I flat out hated it. The shape, the way it tapered as you go down the neck, everything about it was just wrong to me. The DGT pickups worked better for any sort of dirt tones than the 58/15 LT pickups though.
nice review!
I don’t know PRS but Kramer puts the Bridge Pickup Volume control near the bridge so you can do volume swells.
Nobody's had a bad thing to say about this guitar as of yet. Really interested in trying one.
Enjoy your guitar! I watched part of the unboxing live stream, you were quick releasing this first impressions video.
Cort starting to manufacture the PRS SE line probably was the reason why they discontinued a favourite of mine, their M series. 😭 My Cort M600 is my reference guitar in every aspect. It has the looks of a PRS, but it actuallly is more like an evolved Les Paul. From what I saw I think it used to be built better than PRS SE line. The 1-screw truss rod plate is standard in all Cort guitars, regardless of the price range (I just permanently remove it, though). Brands using either Cort or Samick factories in Indonesia usually jack up prices no less than $300 compared to one of these manufacturer's similar-range own models, and in my experience the full QC offered by these factories is also partially overlooked by some of these brands in order to cut costs (Ibanez is one of them, as I experienced first-hand). I believe PRS is getting the full QC service, although I've seen issues with their paint (I could find these instruments typically offered as B-stock), and those fret ends don't look nearly as good as in my 2013 M600 ($500-600 price range), and definitely worse than in my 2016 Washburn PX Solar 170 C (this was in the $800 price range, also made by Cort).
The main issue with instruments built in tropical areas is, even if they're perfectly built, wood is naturally more damp during the manufacturing process, which is also quite automated and fast, and when you take those instruments to drier areas (like, most of the rest of the world), everything shrinks, and fret ends will likely pop out. People instinctively relate every case of it to a QC issue, though. It has to be noted that PRS has a very good approach about this in their USA-made models, they're taking neck shaping really slowly in several stages taking weeks until wood would stop moving that much, but of course this adds up to the price. BTW Vigier is the most extreme in this process, taking years.
I have no data on why both volume controls are set that way. I'd speculate they chose this layout y on this model since most people tend to use the bridge pickup all the time, so it would satisfy players using their pinky to constantly control the volume. Or it could just be David Grissom's personal preference, since it's his signature model.
Thanks for sharing and for being part of the live stream
I played a Brian May signature yesterday. Its fatal flaw for me is the 24 frets, and the fixable flaw is the trem which needs to be decked for my tastes.
What stood out was the neck. As fond of a big neck as I am, this was odd. A little wider than most, a lot thicker than many, and the fretwork is shocking good for the price. I understand the original is both a bolt-on neck and English oak. This was Mahogany. It's not ergonomic, it's quirky, arguably the switching is a bit much. But for some reason I will take one if I get the chance. The neck made me think of your preferences, and I have to ask if you've had occasion to sit down with one?
I never tried one, but it's on the list!
David Grissom (DGT) said the coil split is not 50/50, it is like 2/3 so you still get most of the bite on the bridge pick-up.
Glad to see the usual PRS quality through the range is the same here. Beyond that, I love watching you vibe with a good guitar!
Thanks, Mike :).
Thanks for great videos!
Love the in depth review as always, and the playing at the end as well! It seems like switching to single coils doesn't dramatically drop the output and its a pretty nice sound. Well done start to finish.
Thank you :). Yea! Even split they still have plenty of volume. I didn’t need to adjust anything between the two. It’s pretty amazing.
Nice review, thanks! I'm still teetering on the edge of buying this model. I would have been an 'early adopter' except when mine arrived a month ago it had a horrible, and very visible, knot in the wood of the binding. (I thought these were all going to specially QC'd in line with the punctilious demands of Dave Grissom...) When the retailer (here in the UK) got in touch about my replacement, they were honest and said the fingerboards varied in colouring, so I asked for pictures of the two they had received. Instead of being almost completely black like yours (and all the launch videos and PRS marketing photo sets sent to retailers and reviewers...) they are now coming through with the 'streaky bacon' cheap-wood fingerboard look that I personally hate. So I asked for my money back instead. I may relent if I see any online that have nice dark fingerboards, but I don't hold out much hope; they're starting in on the less handsome wood stock methinks.... 😒
Nice to know I’m not the only one who prefers one screw truss rod covers! I have an Edwards Les Paul custom with a one screw truss rod cover and considering it has the old style Gibson truss rod making adjustments is an absolute breeze.
Edwards is also a brand you should keep an eye out for if you’re ever scouring the market for Gibson style guitars but want to avoid paying Gibson prices.
What it is you having on youre guitar that helps you to hold a guitar in a right position ? ;) great video by the way ,regards Greg form Norway
It’s called the performaxe!
PRS used to have moons as the base inlay but everyone always wanted birds so they basically stopped offering them. The old PRS forum was called Birds and Moons back when it was online too.
I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!
Great initial review Andre, I have the same guitar in Gold and agreed with everything you said. The pickups and playability are great and your dead on about every position being usable and the gloss neck not being sticky. I liked this guitar because the mahogany set neck and shorter scale does things for the humbucker modes I prefer over my HSS strat type swiss army knife guitars. I also think the DGT SE is a bit more vintage voiced compared to many of the more modern versatile guitars out there but still has great playability, it's a great mix. Not sure what you meant when you wrote one piece neck construction though, mines certainly not one piece.
I pulled all the specs directly from the prs site
What is that connected to the bottom horn of your guitar? Looks like something I could use for practicing.
I really appreciate your reviews. Anybody can gush about how awesome everything they test is, but you consistently identify things prospective buyers ought to know. If the affordable SE lasts a year in your collection, PRS should include that fact in their advertising.
Thank you :). I actually have 2 other guitars coming in the next few days and a ton that haven't been on the channel yet. I have to do an annual thing where I explain why I kept vs sold certain guitars.
I appreciate your demo with clean tones. How can you tell the story running a tube screamer.
I have a problem with the strings and the machines. I'll probably change them to the PRS lockers. Other than that - 100% Thsnks again ...
Glad I could help! And I totally agree. Clean tones are so important
I've been looking for a humbucking guitar a bit like this. I might not get it anytime soon since I am working on a partscaster, but I only own and plan to to own single coil or stacked coil guitars, I might get this at some point because of the price and the humbuckers.
Great in depth review. I have two SE Custom 24's and a Core 35th anniversary and the SE's hold their own against the Core. I've been looking to get either a DGT SE or a McCarty 594 SE and you might have pushed me towards the DGT.
I just had a question not related to this particular guitar but ... what is the support between the guitar and your leg called? I always play nearly leaning over the guitar to be comfortable but it hurts my back in the long time. Otherwise, all your videos are pinpoint accurate good job man!
It's called performaxe. I have a review on the channel. Thanks for supporting :)
Are you a mind reader? I'm looking at getting a new guitar soon and it's between a PRS (similar model with a Floyd Rose) and an EVH wolfgang standard. This was helpful to the decision.
Related, do you ever plan on doing more videos on guitars with Floyd Roses? You mentioned they are your favorite iirc. I want one, but worry about tuning stability- specially for the fully recessed Floyd. I would be interested in what you have to say about Floyd's and their care.
Floyd rose isn’t my favorite but I do like them. I’m working on a video of the FRX. I hope to do more Floyd stuff in the future, hopefully with prs.
Great stuff thanks 👍🏻
Thank you :)
Nice review. But what really caught my eye was guitar rest. Who makes that?
The guitar rest
I like everything about this guitar except the color and inlays. For my first PRS, I really want bird inlays and a Veneer Top!
one screw covers are sick! Game changer for us who changer gauges / live in hectic climates but still wanna keep things formal. -___^
PRS gloss kills me though.. I hit my 277 SE with one of the dish scrubbies my grandma makes to satin it.
PRS guitars look great and sound different. Either in a good or bad way. My 277 does warm jazz on the neck fine, but the stock bridge PU was underperforming for me. Swapped it out for a Nazgul, now it's sick!
Those half moon inlays are really cool, they always are great to see on a guitar!
I'm with you re: Inlays. I hate the bird inlays. Love a simple dot, rectangle, or trapezoid inlay.
At 4:05 you say it cost $3000 used, where does it cost $3000 used? The SE model is, as you stated, $850-$900 new (less in the over flooded used market). Are you comparing the cost of a used core model DGT to a new SE version? I am confused about this. Other than that, very good review, loved your playing, tones and thoughts on the guitar and its quality.
I'm talking about the Vigier guitar I point to in the arrow :) thanks for your comment
@@andrefludd ok thanks for the clarification, I was very confused. I completely missed the arrow. 😂
love the Gold top look!
as always, i really enjoyed the review. i don't usually get into the aesthetics of PRS, but, this one is pretty sexy. say, have you ever considered reviewing a Reverend Double Agent W, or their Warhawk DAW? just curious on your thoughts on Reverends with tremelo & H/P config . .. . cheers!
I’ve only tried reverend in store, but it felt pretty nice. It was the Koch sig
Excellent review of the PRS DGT SE! I am puzzled, though, why the DGT is getting all of the attention when the McCarty SE is equally as good. I have both, and value you them both for their unique sounds and playability. From your comments about flashy bird inlays and preference for a gold top, I can see how the appearance of the McCarty models might be cons for you. But the sounds are fantastic. If I were to characterize it, both models sound like a mix between a Les Paul and a Strat, with the McCarty leaning more towards the Les Paul sound and the DGT learning more towards the Strat end. Anyway, really enjoy your videos. Signing up to support your work on Patreon!
Yea I’m not a huge single cut guy, but I may have to give that one a try. At least pick it up at a store and see what I think. Thank you for supporting on Patreon. It’s a huge help and really appreciated.
Where do you get the knee extension piece that fits on your guitar. Please let me know I need one because of disability issues.
Search performaxe
that is the best 'single coil' tone out of a 'bucker.. very impressed.
Me too!
Would love to see a PRS SE custom 24-08 compared to this one. Great review btw
That split sound is better than pretty much any others I've heard. A lot of mid priced stuff, the makers don't take the effort to make all the pickup settings sound unique when you switch.
100%
Now I want jewellery that matches my guitar inlays, Mystery Girl has a good business idea.
Just received my new DGT Se, my first impressions about this was that its very pretty! The action was high and one knob was loose. The picks up sound great and its lighter than a LP. After playing it, I prefer my Epiphone Lazurus LP over this guitar, my Epi is meatier, more solid. I've never been a fan of light guitars but this Dgt is not that light. I need to really play my dgt over some weeks. But I really think that once the hype is over, there will be many of these on sale on Reverb. I think the prs 08/24 is better! A keeper! Just my opinion thats all.
I’m ot a PRS fan but this was a very good review that has me reconsidering.
Not planning on reading through 260 comments so TL;DR Grissom mainly plays the bridge and is constantly playing with the bridge volume when he plays which is why the pots are in the order they are.
I'm like you I don't like fancy inlays. I have a custom guitar I built which is a Gibson LP Jr copy from a kit from canada and I love it that it's a maple neck with no finish on the back of the neck and no inlays..
The old gloss finishes were made of nitro cellulose which I think is made from Cotton and it gets sticky when hot.
I love the tone of that guitar from what I've heard..
I have my brothers older 1990 PRS Custom 24 which is an expensive guitar and it has no bad joint where the body meets the neck which is really nice..
I also don't like too many screws.. It's just annoying.. Steve Vai uses magnets on his PIA guitars.. I think that's a great idea..
You should feel the trem on the expensive guitars.. They aren't cast, but solid steel and they are all good.. It's the design is so good..
Dave Grissom played for my homey.. John Cougar Mellencamp .. From my hometown of Seymour Indiana.
I heard the pickups were copied from his higher end pickups which were copied from a Gibson like 58 or something he had in his collection of studio guitars from what I understand. I may be wrong about that, but that's what I understood if memory serves me.
I need to get one bad!
Thanks my friend. Great review.. Outstanding kind sir!
Tim
I'd love to see a minimalist version of this. Fixed bridge (hipshot) and just 1 volume + pickup selector
Push pull for the split on the volume? That would be a cool idea.
@@andrefludd indeed!
Paul Reed Smith thought the moon inlays would be the most popular, but when the company started selling guitars with the birds inlays, the majority of orders were for birds, which is why that became the default. The people have spoken, you're in the minority. I love the birds 😁
men because of you i ordered one!🤘
So nice to have a review that doesn’t involve a free guitar. Thank you.
Sounds fantastic. I'm not typically a gold top fan, but this one looks nice, especially with the dark neck.
I will say though, I'm in the group that finds nitpicking about screws to be a step too far... but I respect that not everyone will share that opinion. Thanks for the video.
Well I kept the screws talk to under 2 minutes ;). Hopefully the rest was useful
@@andrefluddhey great video!... what's the thing you have attached to the bottom cut way?
What is that contraption you have under your guitar? Where can I buy it from?
Look up performaxe
I love how hybrid picking is just as natural to you as breathing. I would love to do it more, but I had an accident with a table saw in 2005, my s middle fingers are mangled and I just can't do it, nor can I get into full fingerpicking at all. So it's straight up picking for me. Jealous.
haha yea. It's always been my natural tendency even before I learned the term "hybrid picking." Appreciate your comment.
Andre you have a funny silver thing attached to the guitar. ;)