Monday, January 13, 2025
GuitarGuitar Effects

STOCK vs UPGRADED: Side by Side Tone Shootout


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Ready to hear the difference? This is the ultimate Stock vs Upgraded PRS SE side-by-side tone shootout! I’ve taken my PRS SE from nice-but-nothing-special to a full-on beast, thanks to top-notch upgrades (hello, 59 PAFs!) and a killer new harness. In this video, I’ll give you back-to-back riffs so you can truly hear the night-and-day transformation. No more guesswork—just pure, honest tone comparisons.

#PRSSE #GuitarUpgrade #SideBySideComparison #59PAF #GuitarTone #StockVsUpgraded #ElectricGuitar #GuitarMods #UpgradedGuitar #GuitarShootout

???????????? Shoutout to Tom at The Buzztone: https://thebuzztone.com/product/59-paf-2/

???? MY GEAR: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/spedspedding
???? SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/spedspedding

#STOCK #UPGRADED #Side #Side #Tone #Shootout

Originally posted by UCPBRdUsg1Zmc5LaKAKiTW7Q at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MNM5NMGMk0

42 thoughts on “STOCK vs UPGRADED: Side by Side Tone Shootout

  • PRS makes some great pups. But are the Asian G&B pups as good as any other pups. They are better then 90% of other cheap guitars and those pups.
    I have upgraded all my SE Pups, but my new se ce still has the original pups… and they sound great. So if you do or don't change them, you'd be just fine.

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  • I'm a new subscriber. I love your tones. This might be the wrong place to request breakdowns but, I found you looking for the best Led Zep instructions, and I say honestly, yours were the best. I've searched your list, but I can't find any Frusciante. What's up with that? Johnny is in the Wheelhouse: Jimi, Jimmy, James, Prince, Niles, Scofield…Can we get a John Frusciante Episode? Thanks in advance. You'd rock it. Thanks.

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  • Hi Dude,
    Thanks ???? for the fantastic work your providing to the world ????.
    Could you show me how to play too rolling stoned by Robin Trower?
    Please ????.
    Very grateful ????.
    Peter.

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  • hard to tell which one would track better from this perspective, I dig the mid-range on the new set .

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  • Ha ha…..just watched your Joe Perry vid where you are playing your Les Paul and i think that guitar sounds better than this one either way

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  • Buzztone pickups sounded better across the board the split tones and middle position were much better than stock. The amber knobs made the purple pop more.

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  • I think the new pickups sounded clearer on the chords/notes than the originals. Good sound – good choice. Also, the coil-split sound is awesome! Great sounding 'stratish/SRV' playing there! For the knobs, maybe have a set of each color and also for the selector switch – you can change on occasion or mood. Goodness knows, those are some of the cheapest mods you can do for an electric guitar these days. : ) Looking forward to seeing/hearing more from your new workhorse.

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  • Buztones sound a lot better – far more clarity and Presence, with a capitol P in the zep sense.

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  • Mine came with the amber knobs but I put the same ones you have now on it because the finish is the brown sunburst (or black gold as the website states) and it looked weird.

    The original pickups sounded good, but the new ones are more clear. They have more balls and they just sound more "mature," I guess. That's the best word I can think of.

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  • Hey Sped!
    First and foremost Merry Christmas buddy!
    The new pickups do sound good indeed, and just to be clear I don’t think the original ones sounded ‘bad’ either, especially @ the price on SE’s typically. A friend of mine owns five or six real high end PRS guitars and I play them many times when I’m visiting. They feel great, sound great and look pretty damn great too, however I don’t know what it is but I just don’t bond with them LOL! I’m just at home with a Gibson and in particular the SG model.
    Great playing as always man, if I see Santa I’m going to insist he brings you down a 61’ SG Standard down your chimney ahah! ????????

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  • As you know I’m a huge fan of the PRS SE
    But have to admit the new pickups add a great punch and new dimension in tone ????
    Horses for courses I guess, I like they both
    But totally with you with the switching of guitars and the SE then appearing to lack a little something . Tweek Tweek HAHA
    Find just the same when switching from my SE to my Core cu24
    Brilliant playing Sped
    I could listen to you all day long
    A brilliant guitar became even more special
    Hope to see you using it a lot more ????????????????????????

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  • Hello Mr. Sped Spedding.
    Have You got a band? I visit friends in Latchford from time to time (Pulp Friction, Tarantino Movies cover band, Very Good, I digress).. I'd love to see you in full attack if You ever do gigs round that way. Regards from Germany.
    My apologies if this info is common knowledge on your other socials. I don't do them. Head in the sand.
    Happy Chrimbo to Ya too. And Gab. Can't forget Gab. ????

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  • The Buzztones are thin sounding when compared to the originals. The lower-mids are completely lost in the Buzztones.

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  • Gorgeous playing, looking forward to your side-by-side of a core model with an uncovered PRS 59/09 😉

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  • Sped, the Buzztones rock and are more defined. The original ones are warmer however for the style of music you play the Buzztones are a large cut above and I think you made an excellent decision! Rock On Sped!

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  • The Buzztone pop more and perhaps are crisper. I think they both sound great and I would be happy with either.

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  • Your demo reminds me of why I'm swapping my 85/15 S out of my custom. Yes they sound great for a bunch of tones and styles, but they fall just short for what I'd hoped. The humbucker sound is good, but it could be better in some aspects, the split leaves you wishing for more.

    Your upgraded pickups have more of that satisfying tone with a definite improvement in the split. It's always subjective, and nobody is right or wrong, just different tastes. The ones that make you enjoy playing are the right ones.

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  • The new pups are the shizzle!

    So present and forward

    No contest

    If Dogs Rod were a band I’d join!

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  • I prefer the upgrades, and the comparison bolsters our mutual opinion that the stock pickups aren't clear enough for our taste. Just a side thing here: A month ago I bought a Kingfish signature tele deluxe and I'm in love with it. If you can ever try one, try it.

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  • Unfair comparison because the long sleeves were affecting tonal resonance. You'd have to be wearing the same clothes.

    Apart from that the tones from the Buzztones are def more pronounced, less mellow. Can't remember if you changed any of the wiring.?

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  • Nice articulation on those pickups, felt the hammer of the gods on the bridge buzztone on Goodtmes/Bad times. Tele on steroids indeed!

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  • You can really hear the difference.. PRS pups sound good but the Buzztones certainly give it a richer and fuller tone… I like the black knobs, the guitar has a dark and brooding vibe, if it was me I’d swap out the rings and tip for black too.. hey you were even dressed fully in black.. subconscious? I think not.. the guitar was talking to you ????????

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  • Seems new ones have more output but matche each other from this point which is good I would say maybe as a result they are more expressive besides the rest of specs
    The thing is only what you like more does matter not us
    So congrats ????

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  • Happy Holidays, Sped. Really enjoyed this guitar makeover series. Do you find that your changes have rekindled your flame for this guitar?

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  • Hard to put into words, but the Buzztones sound more…… authentic, both ancient and modern, more depth, more tone, more rounded✌️????????????

    Reply

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