PRS SE 245 Tuning Issues PART I

Do you have a PRS SE 245? it's a lovely entry level PRS guitar but lots of people seem to have issues with Tuning and Intonation. In this video Danny from #winningatmusic reviews the challenges he has with his own PPRS 245 SE and works out how to resolve it by either fixing the problem or upgrading parts.
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[tomgriffiths]

A bit late to the party but have you checked how the nut is cut? If you tune each string to pitch and then fret each one at the first fret in turn. What shows on your tuner. If the first fret note is sharp it could be that your nut is cut to high, so that when you fret the string it inevitably gets pulled out of tune. If the first fret note is flat you may need a new nut!

[andrewdenine]

If its got that older bridge that u can't adjust with the brass saddles throw that away get a tonepros 2 wraparound bridge, throw that nut away and get a 43x6x1/4" tusq nut also ide buy some locking tuners I put the actual PRS locking tuners on I paid maybe 220 or so Canadian for these upgrades . If you don't wanna buy these at least get the nut that nut on there pinches the strings it's junk . Maybe going down a string size might help if its 10s on there try 9s . Another problem is the the neck joint on LP guitars (set neck or glued on neck ) 12th fret is where the problem is because the truss rod won't bend fretboard past where it meets the body of the guitar so what u need to do is get the numbers for string height (use feeler gauges for that their cheap. First adjust the truss rod and don't be afraid to turn it but once u feel a little bit of torque on that nut driver stop turning . (If u don't have the wrench it came with anything will do if it fits proper. turning clockwise, looking down the fretboard edge from headstock all the way down the edge of fretboard and it should be a convex curve (back bow) . Then turn it counter clockwise until lightly snug a small amount or resistance on the nut driver from turning the truss rod screw . It should have a concave bow called relief (it's what also makes string height higher . Count the amount of turns on on that truss rod nut (mark starting point by marking that screw with marker before and after adjusting . Ex. If turning clockwise twice lightly, made it tight and turning counter clockwise from point (u could do 4 turns till tight (then add both up =4+2=6 . Then divide by 2 which is 3 turns clockwise is center of the truss rod. In a perfect world this should make your neck straight without using the truss rod at all but if it's not straight like this turn it what ever way makes it perfectly straight /level . Then count how many turns in from that point and how many out . R.t+L.t÷2(R=TURNING DIRECTION

[KRColson]

My suggestion is to bring the damn thing back to the store and have them correct the issue. Why should you have to bother with jumping through hoops to keep a brand new guitar tuned properly? And your your own expense I might add! I just bought an SE Mira with the wrap around bridge and I'm having the same problem as you. I bringing it back and let them deal with it. Cheers!

[holmes]

I Love my Gibson Les Paul Standard !!!

[tomvice]

Is the stoptail bridge tilting forward? Tonepros wells or a washer in the post seems to straighten the posts

[Trashpanda_]

Well this was anti climactic 🤣 No part 2, 3, 4, 100? I have same guitar, that I LOVE, but I know it’s that silly wraparound. Ordering a replacement, but love reaffirming I’m not the only one with that issue.

[marshallohio]

OMG, , , I fixed several of those SE / etc guitars with wraparound bridges, !! I pull the bushings out of the guitar!! I use to cut and super glue to bushings several small safety pin's shanks as shims !! Lately, I've been wrapping bushings with thin layer of metal !! EG, bottom of peanut can !! I use those $12 dollar locking studs and Wilkinson bridge from Amazon !! Screw the studs flush to the bushings!! Hand press bushings in guitar's body where bushings are flush with body !! You will have very tight installment of bushings when done !! And, NO, you will damage guitar's finish !! Action will be at 1/16th at 12th fret !! Or, do exactly same procedure with the $100 tone pro if you have a more expensive guitar !! The key is to eliminate all loose play at bushings and tailpiece mount studs !! Cheers

[andrewguttry]

If you're relying solely on an electronic tuner you'll never get all chords to sound 'correct' in every key. For example; play an Am chord and a D chord in the first position, and the F# note in the D chord will sound too sharp; flatten it so it sounds right and the top E in the Am will sound flat. This is the problem with fretted instruments and tempered tuning; tuning will always be a compromise because it is impossible for all chords to sound correct without 'sweetening' the tuning-especially when you have a bridge with little or no intonation adjustment as on the 245. So, flatten the top E and B just a touch, and do likewise with the bottom E. Use your ears to tell you what sounds right, not what the tuner is telling you. It can only tell you that individual strings are at the correct pitch when played open. By all means use a tuner to establish a base note (A for example), and tune from there. Hope this helps.

[lucyimhome]

Look dude,
It's the bang for the buck as far as SE go.
Want better? Get better. Change out those pickups, get locking tuners, change the bridge out.
This is why it's called a student edition.

[TelipatiEvolustions]

Kurt cobain - out of tune?? Hmm never mind

[mca]

A guitar with this kind of saddle will always have tuning issues. It's simple a bad construction piece of gear.