PRS Tremonti Trem or Stoptail....

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Hey guys!

I'm finally investing in my first big guitar....the PRS Tremonti!

My only problem....do I go with the upcoming Trem model, or stoptail?

I'd love the trem model, but I need a guitar that will hold up well in a few tunings.....Drop D, D5 (DADADD), and Standard atleast....

Will the trem be able to do this, or am I better off with a stoptail model?

Thanks for all the help!

 

[nocluejimbo]

The trem will be able to handle all of those tunings, but I wouldn't want to be switching around between anything but standard and dropped D. I'd keep the Ibanez and use it just for D5.

 

[Wrake]

Trems will handle different tunings, but if it's anything like my Floyd, you'll probably set it up for one tuning and leave it. Otherwise you'll be fiddling with it for 10 min or so to get everything right when you change tunings. Once you let that tension off of one string, the others go a bit more slack as well, then you have to tune them, check them again, tune again, check, repeat ad nausem...and that gets pretty old when you need drop D for one out of 10 songs. And then there is the horror of changing string gauges....*shudder*

I personally will never buy another floating bridge guitar...but thats just me. I feel that hardtails are much friendlier as far as tuning goes. And most vibrato effects can be done with your fingers...with the exception of the wacky Steve Vai , Van Halen stuff...

Just my .02

 

[Platypus]

I've owned both bridges from PRS and they'll both handle whatever you toss at it.. I'd recommend putting 10's on it instead of the stock 9s. You'll need to adjust the intonation and possibly the truss rod in the neck but it's well worth it and can detune no problem. The 9's are hard to intonate in tunings lower than D.

To be honest, if I wanted a trem, it would be something I could do some major bending with and the PRS trem is not that trem sadly. It offers very little overall movement in my opinion and only adds stuff like a little vibratto every now and then. Don't expect any steve vai out of it that's for sure.

The Stoptail is an amazing bridge and lets you handle multistring bends with ease. I think it sounds more sustainy/toneful as well but that's my pref.

If it were my guitar, I'd get the stoptail.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Maybe I should rephrase my question....will the trem be able to handle the changes without adjustment? Optimally, I'd like it to handle Drop D and D5, but if that's not possible, like mentioned, I was planning to keep my Ibanez for D5.

Any more recommendations? Maybe the stoptail would be just fine, but I like the idea of a trem to mess around with! Tremonti now lives by them, and I love the stuff he does with them live!

 

[Platypus]

Maybe I should rephrase my question....will the trem be able to handle the changes without adjustment? Optimally, I'd like it to handle Drop D and D5, but if that's not possible, like mentioned, I was planning to keep my Ibanez for D5.

Any more recommendations? Maybe the stoptail would be just fine, but I like the idea of a trem to mess around with! Tremonti now lives by them, and I love the stuff he does with them live!

Yes it will handle them fine, I mentioned they'd both handle what you throw at it. It's nowhere NEAR the hassle that Floyd Rose trems are.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

What exactly do you mean by the stoptail handling multi-string bends better?

 

[Platypus]

What exactly do you mean by the stoptail handling multi-string bends better?

Most trem based guitars I've ever owned didn't tolerate multi-string bends very well. More often than not I'd break strings pretty easily if I did anything crazy during a bend/solo. The PRS one is much better than most at handling this but it still suffers from this in the end. For example, using the same strings I would break strings once every 2 months with the PRS trem and when I got a stoptail one I have YET to break a string with it, I end up changing my strings because they lose their tone, not because they break.

Each bride has its advantages, I suggest trying to find and play both. You'll begin to understand the advantages/disadvantages of each when you play the same licks on each guitar.

 

[kylek]

Stop tail... cough stop taill.... will you ever use the trem bridge? People rave and rave about how they keep your guitar in tune... i have NEVER had a problem with a stoptail keeping tune, unless the neck is warped, which will **** up any guitar.

Trems are a pain in the ass, PLUS you can do almost anything save for divebombs with your hands

 

[Elpelotero]

i've read a lot about this topic with prs users on their forums. the general concensus is that a stoptail will give u a really tight transient attack, so its good for riffing. however, if you're looking for carlos santana-like sustain, you'll need the trem version. the reason is the cavity creates it's own little "reverb tank" of sorts, especially w. the springs. the transient isn't as immediate and agressive, but the notes seem to bloom out and sustain well.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

This choice is getting tougher and tougher by the minutes....if only I could buy both..... :?

Any more suggestions?

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I think I've come to a conclusion....

As I'm not too crazy about the flat black finish, or the Tremonti tag at the 12th fret, I'll go with a Singlecut Standard set to the Tremonti specs:

- Tremonti pups
- Locking Tuners
- Adjustable Wrap-Around Bridge
- Birds
- Color of my choosing....10 top guilt of flame...I've always had something for the transparent grey/black

Any idea how much this would cost me? I would think it might be cheaper than a tremonti itself, as I'm not paying for the artist model.....

Also, does anyone have any PRS colors to share? I need to chose my color!

 

[Elpelotero]

well, if you go private stock, base price is at least 6000. if you want a customized singlecut, you'll probably have to do it yourself. I'm not sure if PRS takes one-off orders that aren't private stocks. you also run the problem of supply and demand. Because they won the gibson lawsuit, there's a HUGE backlog on anything singlecut. espect at least 5 or 6 months. also remember the standard is all mahongany. the tremonti im almost positive has a maple top. just some words of advice before you plunk down the $.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Does just making modifications of this sort really make it private stock? I was worried about that.....

I could order a singlecut and parts and do all the modding myself, correct?

Grrrrr....maybe I'll end up with a nice custom 22.....half a year is quite a bit....

 

[Elpelotero]

ask GC or your local dealer. ask to talk to the guy who knows most about PRS, not the new hired stockboy. i may be wrong about the customizations as i don't own one! but i've read a lot about them and when i find the right one i'll buy it. either way, pickups and bridges are no more than 30 minutes of work.

also try the online stores...wildwood, elderly, those places. they are renowned for being THE #1 prs dealers year after year for a reason. they can probably get you whatever you want, if they don't have it in stock already! they got loads of SC's in stock for you to pick and choose.

 

[nocluejimbo]

The wait isn't any shorter for a CU or McCarty. I would agree with Elpelotero in his suggestion to look online. I would add to his list Wilcutt Guitars because their online selection is incredible.

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

I actually just found the perfect singlecut for me on wilcutts!

Waiting for their response on price!

After the mods, I'd have a custom Tremonti clone

Very excited right now!

 

[nocluejimbo]

Good choice.

 

[paleamberglow]

i live really close to the PRS factory in Maryland, but for some reason i haven't been there yet , they give tours sometimes. the bird inlays on most of their guitars i think are inspired by the wildlife / ducks and geese of the chesapeake bay and maryland's eastern shore. just a bit of random info

 

[ibanez4life SZ!]

Thanks! Random, but good to know!