Refinishing my PRS Soapbar - what colour?

cm01

So I have a great MK1 SE Soapbar that I love, but I’m not fussed on the sunburst finish at all ... I’m thinking of refinishing it and maybe adding a humbucker the bridge, but I can’t decide what colour to go for - I’m torn between a solid colour - Pelham Blue or TV Yellow - and a sparkle finish - either silver, blue or red sparkle... help please! 

DeeTee

I wouldn't go for TV yellow personally, just because it would look like it was pretending to be a Les Paul Special. It's got its own cool thing going on.

Funkfingers

DeeTee said:

Les Paul Special

Traditionally, on Gibson Special models, the plastic parts are black.

IMO, the quickest and simplest way to improve the look of the PRS SE would be to change the pickup covers.

guitars4you

I'd take the pelham blue option - partly as it looks so cool and partly then it is not trying to pretend it is something it isn't - Not sure if you are undertaking your own mods etc or farming it out - You'll be spending a bob or two on such a project and not getting any return, 'capital wise' but hopefully something that is customised to your needs - I bet many of us have undertaken such projects based on our hearts and not wallet - Enjoy

skullfunkerry

Orange sparkle

Lodious

Looks great as is!

dindude

skullfunkerry said:

Orange sparkle

I was going to say Candy Tangerine, similar vibe 

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

IMO, the quickest and simplest way to improve the look of the PRS SE would be to change the pickup covers.

This.

I happen to have a pair of black covers if you want them. Not just saying that to sell them - they're not worth enough for it to matter.

But of your colour choices I'd go with Pelham Blue.

LastMantra

Lodious said:

Looks great as is!

I like it too.
If anything I'd give it a slightly mat finish and swap pickup covers. 

victorludorum

Stick a Firebird pickup in the bridge for a bit of Neil Young.

SimpleSimon

Surely a goldtop?

Jalapeno

Checkout my Tomato Ketchup burst refinish of a very dull PRS SE Korina

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/36470/prs-se-sc-korina-honey-now-a-mod-refinish-thread

Funkfingers

guitars4you said:

You'll be spending a bob or two on such a project and not getting any return, 'capital wise'

The price of a professional respray will be most of the way to the cost of a pre-owned PRS SE Chris Robertson model. 

cm01 said:

maybe adding a humbucker the bridge

P90-sized humbuckers are available from DiMarzio, TV Jones and Seymour Duncan. I have one of the latter’s Custom Shop “JB90” models that I ought to decide whether to keep or sell.

ICBM

victorludorum said:

Stick a Firebird pickup in the bridge for a bit of Neil Young.

I have a couple of cheap but fairly decent Firebird pickups for sale if this idea sounds interesting.

cm01

Cheers all ... I was thinking of doing it myself but I know how hard it is to get a decent finish.

I’ve got a set of black covers so I think I’ll swap them over and see how it looks before I decide, but I’m liking the orange sparkle idea!

cm01

It’s amazing the difference a set of pickup covers can make ... decided not to mess with it after all 

SpiritOfTheAge

Very classy.

LastMantra

Very nice indeed!

I'd still be tempted to take a bit of the shine off the gloss. Not relic just soften the shine all over. There was a blog someone posted ages ago about a guy doing it to an lp copy and it looked really good (maybe someone remembers?). Involved scotchbrite or something and a mouse sander and a lot of time!
I done it to a squier strat and that went from cheap and nasty looking to actually quite cool even though I probably rushed it a bit. Felt better too.
It's a big messy job though!!

ICBM

cm01 said:

It’s amazing the difference a set of pickup covers can make ... decided not to mess with it after all.

It looks perfect now .

10thumbs

Looks like a decent piece of wood , seems a shame to hide it......... know what I mean ?    

Funkfingers

10thumbs said:

a decent piece of wood

Slab o’ mahogany, stud-mounted fixed bridge, two P90 pickups and a fat neck. Crude but extremely effective. 

cm01 said:

It’s amazing the difference a set of pickup covers can make

PRS SE series plastic parts tend to be generic SE Asian offerings. 

On current SE Custom models, the humbucker surrounds are black, neck = 1.5mm tall, bridge = 3mm tall. On most colour finishes, these guitars look better with cream surrounds of equal height - like their American-made equivalents. 

ICBM said:

victorludorum said:

Stick a Firebird pickup in the bridge for a bit of Neil Young.

I have a couple of cheap but fairly decent Firebird pickups for sale

Twin ‘bird ‘buckers, mounted via those Wilkinson mini humbucker surrounds, would be a good idea on all-mahogany guitars. Individual volume controls per pickup would assist with blended tones when both pickups are selected.