I just ordered my first electric guitar

[CYKLVM]

I have a PRS SE CE 24 arriving friday

I also got a dynamic microphone, replaced my keyboard with one that has hammer action keys, and in the future I'm planning to get studio monitors.

I am happy

[zerocrossing]

The first thing you're probably going to want to do is bring it to a professional to get a proper set-up. This can make a huge difference in playability and tone.

[jamcat]

I disagree there.
This isn't some vintage instrument that's been around the block for a few decades. New guitars come out of the factory properly setup. PRS in particular are known for their highly calibrated factory setups. When you buy a PRS, you're buying it for that.

The BEST setup your guitar will likely ever have is when it comes out of the factory. This is particularly true of PRS!

Chances are better that your local guy is going to make it worse. There's a lot of trust going into someone you don't know there, and things can go VERY sideways. Bottom line, if your local guy wants to do more than a saddle adjustment, you should grab your guitar and run. DON'T let a stranger grind the frets of your new PRS, file your nut, or start sanding your fretboard.

You would do better getting some videos from Dan Erlewine (or even just StewMac's YouTube) and buying a cheap used electric for $100 to practice on. You really only need to learn how to set saddle height and intonation, and spring tension (if you have a floating bridge), none of which is difficult. And you probably only need to do any of that if you change string gauges. This is something to worry about later on, as you develop your personal preferences and playing style. And by then, you'll know if you need to get your guitar setup, and why. If you're not sure why you're doing it, don't.


This is probably everything you'll ever need:

Bookmark it and come back to it in a year and a half, but not before then!

[lfm]

I'd just say, congrats to your new guitar.

[mystran]

You really only need to learn how to set saddle height and intonation, which isn't that difficult. And you probably only need to adjust that if you change string gauges.

Saddle height, intonation and the truss rod.

The last one is something everyone should really learn to adjust, because in many climates it needs to be adjusted a couple of times a year, whenever there's a significant shift in environmental conditions (mainly humidity that causes the wood of the neck to expand and shrink). Unless you're in the business of constantly changing your string gauges, the bridge is kinda "set once and forget about it."

That said, on most electrics all of these things are really easy to do once you learn how and mostly the changes are reversible anyway. With truss rod one should be careful to use the exact correct tool (don't want to damage the head of the rod; slightly wrong size tool might work but risks damage over time due to slipping) and remember that 1/4th of a turn is already "large adjustment" and about the maximum you want to turn it at once without letting the neck settle for a few hours (sometimes takes a while to get the full effect)... but that's about it.

[zerocrossing]

You really only need to learn how to set saddle height and intonation, which isn't that difficult. And you probably only need to adjust that if you change string gauges.

Saddle height, intonation and the truss rod.

The last one is something everyone should really learn to adjust, because in many climates it needs to be adjusted a couple of times a year, whenever there's a significant shift in environmental conditions (mainly humidity that causes the wood of the neck to expand and shrink). Unless you're in the business of constantly changing your string gauges, the bridge is kinda "set once and forget about it."

That said, on most electrics all of these things are really easy to do once you learn how and mostly the changes are reversible anyway. With truss rod one should be careful to use the exact correct tool (don't want to damage the head of the rod; slightly wrong size tool might work but risks damage over time due to slipping) and remember that 1/4th of a turn is already "large adjustment" and about the maximum you want to turn it at once without letting the neck settle for a few hours (sometimes takes a while to get the full effect)... but that's about it.

Right. I've seen a lot of shipped guitars need some truss rod adjustment, and at that point you'll probably want to make sure all the intonation is right as well. I've never bought a PRS, but I imagine the cheap models are not expertly set up before they leave the factory, but I could be wrong.

[zvenx]

One of PRS'S 'rules' are even the SE's are set up from factory.



rsp

[tapper mike]

Shipping changes everything. Changes in humidity can affect neck relief and fret sprout.