NGD: PRS DGT SE Goldtop

AlbertA

Fractal Fanatic
I got lucky while browsing Sweetwater and saw they were in the middle of posting a demo version of the PRS DGT SE model (sales rep before told me new ones are backordered until sometime Q1 next year).

Originally they didn’t have any photos, only a description about why the guitar was a demo with about a $80 dollar discount . I hesitated when I had it in my cart and disappeared in a matter of minutes - I thought someone else had snagged it.

But 15-20 minutes later it was back with full pictures and the picture of a small scuff on the upper horn side - nothing that worried me at all- the rest looked just like new. So snagged it right away.

They guitar arrived a couple of days later on a Sunday.

It seemed Sweetwater had restrung it with 9’s - it felt like - and the neck relief was a bit too much for my taste.

The neck was surprisingly chunky but I like it. The fretwork seems good- fretwork seems good though lacked that mirror finish polish.

The strings were binding at the nut - with the usual “piiiiing” sound when operating the tremolo or bending.

I lowered the neck relief with the strings it came with so I could check if the fretwork was any good. I got the action at the 6 string 12th fret to around 1.8mm area with only a slight buzz spot in the b string at the 12 fret.

I ordered a graphtech nut replacement (PT-6643-00 is direct fit) just needed to sand the bottom and adjust height.

While I was at it I ordered the PRS SE locking tuners as well.

I installed the new nut and tuners and I polished the frets with #0000 steel wool and installed the usual set of guitar strings I use ( Ernie ball regular slinky 10-46).

I made some truss rod adjustments over some days while letting the he neck settle, some small height adjustments in the saddles and intonation.

It plays great now, no pings at the nut and stable tuning.

The bridge pickup sounds great with JCM800, Plexi amp sims in the Axe-Fx III.

Here's a brief demo:


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That is literally the best top you can get on a DGT. Congrats on that score!
John Mann was running a sale on his Mann Made upgrade parts for the long weekend. Not sure what you paid for the tuners, but might be worth checking out his sale: https://www.johnmannsguitarvault.com/parts/?mode=list&limit=24&sort=desc&max=600&min=0&brand=2420341
I paid $96 from from the PRS store at Amazon: PRS SE Locking tuners

Direct replacement of the existing tuners, super easy install and they work great so far.
 
The string change and scuff tell me it’s a customer return.
You get the discount without the wait. Great score!
 
Sweet guitar!! I paid for one of those. Original estimate was 2-3 months. And then there was no estimate. So I gave up, got my cash back and bought something else. Might still get one when they become available.
 
I played the non-SE version of that one at my local shop and I thought it was extremely nice, but too expensive.
I hope yours plays 1/2 as well as it did. Enjoy!
 
I have an ‘08 core model DGT Goldtop that was my first PRS. I think it’s an incredible guitar.

The core model, spec’d by Grissom, uses 11s on up. That gauge gives it the growl that Grissom goes for, but will exercise your fingers for a while, but with the frets they use they won’t feel that heavy of a gauge.

If you don’t know his music, check out Grissom’s work on YouTube. And if you’re ever in Austin on a Tuesday night check to see if he’s playing at the Saxon Pub, where he’s the artist in residence. It’s well worth going because Grissom will play his as* off.
 
Pop Tv Bro GIF by Nightcap
 
I got lucky while browsing Sweetwater and saw they were in the middle of posting a demo version of the PRS DGT SE model (sales rep before told me new ones are backordered until sometime Q1 next year).

Originally they didn’t have any photos, only a description about why the guitar was a demo with about a $80 dollar discount . I hesitated when I had it in my cart and disappeared in a matter of minutes - I thought someone else had snagged it.

But 15-20 minutes later it was back with full pictures and the picture of a small scuff on the upper horn side - nothing that worried me at all- the rest looked just like new. So snagged it right away.

They guitar arrived a couple of days later on a Sunday.

It seemed Sweetwater had restrung it with 9’s - it felt like - and the neck relief was a bit too much for my taste.

The neck was surprisingly chunky but I like it. The fretwork seems good- fretwork seems good though lacked that mirror finish polish.

The strings were binding at the nut - with the usual “piiiiing” sound when operating the tremolo or bending.

I lowered the neck relief with the strings it came with so I could check if the fretwork was any good. I got the action at the 6 string 12th fret to around 1.8mm area with only a slight buzz spot in the b string at the 12 fret.

I ordered a graphtech nut replacement (PT-6643-00 is direct fit) just needed to sand the bottom and adjust height.

While I was at it I ordered the PRS SE locking tuners as well.

I installed the new nut and tuners and I polished the frets with #0000 steel wool and installed the usual set of guitar strings I use ( Ernie ball regular slinky 10-46).

I made some truss rod adjustments over some days while letting the he neck settle, some small height adjustments in the saddles and intonation.

It plays great now, no pings at the nut and stable tuning.

The bridge pickup sounds great with JCM800, Plexi amp sims in the Axe-Fx III.

Here's a brief demo:


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Purty! Of the two SE models, the gold-top with moon inlays is the one I'd pick for myself....
 
Got one myself last week
It’s really a versatile guitar not only the switching but also the two volume control gives you access to a great variety of tones.
I’ll also going to change the tuners for locking ones
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This SE of yours sounds great. For me, I think I'd struggle with volume knob placement. On guitars that put volume knobs there, I am always knocking down the volume while I play. For whatever reason, the recessed volume knobs in the Core models go a long way towards fixing that for me, which leaves me stuck buying the core line for a DGT. The SE is an unbeatable value, though.
 
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