Video

A 2.5mm allen key was a little too big to use as a feeler gauge for a stock PRS bridge (at least on my CE24). Ended up floating about 1/8" above the body, and PRS recommends about 1/16". The problem with it being higher is even if you lower the saddles all the way, you still have an action of over 2mm at the 12th fret, which is way higher than PRS factory spec. I think I tried a 1.75mm feeler gauge to get the bridge screw height, and that was a lot closer to it ending up with a height of 1/16" off the body. But great video, you saved my PRS!

The nicest people ever - such a joy to deal with - highly recommend this shop for your next purchases - subscribed John

nice to see screws turn.....

Hello, I am using a 2017 prs ce24 model. I'm planning to install your bridge this time. Will there be any problem if I install the 6 point mounting screw you provide without additional processing? The threads of the mounting screws installed on the existing prs ce24 and yours are somewhat different.

With these instructions and set up specs also apply to the S2 line bridge?

When measuring with the 2.5 allen key, that makes sense. However - isn't the bridge plate holes supposed to sit IN the slots of the screws (to create that knife edge)? That doesn't seem to occur in the close up here?

I recently bought a mint condition used 2019 PRS SE Santana Trem Single Cut from GC-SF for a crazy low price. The guitar is like-new and unused (clear plastic still on the cover plates and tuner backs) which tells me the previous owner never played it. Got it home, tuned up new strings, used the tremolo ... and the thing will not stay in tune. I've tried every other tech tip out there except the one presented here, which is to replace the stock PRS SE Patented Molded Tremolo. My question is: what's the performance and construction difference with a MannMade Tremolo for PRS SE guitars? It looks identical to the stock PRS Molded Trem. Thanks for any insight you can offer here!

which MannMade bridge would I get for a SE DGT and is it just a replacement or is it superior to the PRS stock one?

how would you adjust the action if it was too high?

FYI: the video does not warn to make sure that after installing the springs, make sure the knife edges of the bridge are sitting within the grooves of the screws. I installed my guitar strings, had them all tuned up, and was adjusting the trem claw. I put the bar in the bridge to try it out, and WHAM!! The bridge slid into the grooves with a BANG. Surely, sliding down the screws and slamming into the grooves with 120 pounds of force could not be good for the knife edges on the trem. I wish the video had a more explicit warning for this. I was aware of the possibility, but figured that since the video did not talk about this possibility, it wasn't a concern. I figured that by following the video directions exactly, such a risk would have been mitigated because the bridge would end up exactly where it should have been. I also should note that I ordered direct from John Mann and the allen wrench I received was 3mm, not 2.5mm. This would have given slightly more wiggle room for the bridge to move up and down the screws during install. Not sure why the change was made, but I am sure there was a good reason for it. The good news is that the guitar seems to stay in tune perfectly. I really hope the unit wasn't damaged, as it cost quite a bit.

Hi John, I've just got an S2 satin Standard 22, beautiful. I'm having trouble understanding one thing - when you do the 2.5 mm thing, the edge doesn't seem to sit in the screw grooves. Is there a point where you shift them in place (maybe when you put the springs on?)? Can this damage the knife edge or will it slip in smoothly? Everything else clear but this. Many thanks.

Just what I needed. Thanks for sharing 🙂

im sorry, can i ask you for the tuning note by note?

I used this exact method from someone who linked your video as a source on my PRS CE24 and my tremolo came around 1mm from the body of the guitar and wasn't straight (it was leaning towards the body on the back). A lot better still than the stock settings with a pretty high action. I then adjusted the tremolo screws, so tremolo now sits completely straight and to be honest - i like it 1mm from the body, since the action is really low with no fret buzz and the tremolo works ok. Do you think, i should just use the 3mm key, set it to the recommended height and then lower the action on the strings after? Thank you for the awesome and informative video, it's what might just saved my PRS! :)

Wish you still had this guitar. Gotta find me one.

Although I did put an allen of 2.5mm underneath to measure it, after tuning the guitar and adjust the springs for the tremolo to be parallel to the body, the tremolo seats only almost 1 mm above the body..? Any thoughts? It's a CE24 2007.

Excellent instruction, thank you very much! To install the springs, I simply hook them in the claw and use a spare spring to pull them to the block. To risk of slipping that way

Should the height of the screws on a stock SE bridge be the same (2.5mm)? Or is the 2.5mm strictly for your bridge only?

I have the 30th Anniversary Vine Custom 22 in Copperhead. Just beautiful. McCarty would be nice to have alongside it.

There is no full kit for PRS SE Custom 24 guitars for us lefties. Best I found was an upgrade kit that includes almost everything except the bridge plate. #1 Will there be one (full kit) made available for us lefties? #2 Is the upgrade good enough? meaning the SE bridge plate good enough or inconsequential?

I’d like to replace the bridge saddles on my S2 Starla with brass. Any recommendations?

im curious about something. Say i follow this but find the treble side of my bridge plate (when viewed from behind) higher than my bass side. Why would this be? I figured it could be the springs but tightening or loosening makes no difference. One would think the treble side screws aren't in enough, but i followed the guide. Why would this happen? It's a prs 30th anniversary so i'd be surprised if it were a fault.

Great sounds!

Thank You John Mann.

I believed John Mann worked at A Big Music Store in Nashville. You did An Excellent Job fixing My Guitar. I still have that white ‘69 NM Strat. Sounds So Good. Thank You.

The Steve Reich reference is the best.

Great playing!

that's quite an enhancer...really cleans up the tone well

My prs se custom 22 (year 2021) has the bridge suspended, but I'd like to put it all in contact with the body (I use rarely tre tremolo and i need stability and reliability). How can I do? I have the impression the 6 screws can't go lower than now..

My prs se custom 22 (year 2021) has the bridge suspended, but I'd like to put it all in contact with the body (I use rarely tre tremolo and i need stability and reliability). How can I do? I have the impression the 6 screws can't go lower than now..

So you don't have to change the claw?

I need some advice, I have a SE and a core custom 24. They both have stock trems. I also have a spare tremelo that is the mil-com from an 80s PRS 1 piece like in this video. What I am debating is if I should replace the 2 piece brass block trem in the core with the 1 piece Mil-Com trem, and then install the 2 piece core trem into the SE as an SE upgrade. Or,, I can just replace the SE with the Mil-Com. But I feel like the Mil-Com should go into the core under the assumption of putting the best trem in the best guitar. Anybody got a couple cents on this? I am comfortable doing the work myself.

Amazing

Hello! 😄 So are there no insert nuts/threaded nuts that the six mounting screws go into? The six mounting screws just screw straight into the wood, correct? Thank you so much for the video! 😁 you did an awesome job!

Hi, what size is intonation saddles screws?

Steve played thru Fender twin with phase 90 and mxr + distortion pedal sometimes only way to sound like Jonesy

Pistols never played cbgb's.

I have one on each of my SE Euro special editions (2018 roasted maple neck, 2019 blasted ash top). The SE bridges feel too squishy, and the MannMade USA bridge makes them play like a guitar worth twice as much.

I would like to say huge thank you to John. I believe this is the only video on CZcams properly explaining how to set up a PRS tremolo bridge. PRS webpages only mention the rule of lining up the screws so that they are level, but there’s no explanation of HOW to do it. Thanks to John I was able to safely disassemble the trem on my SE and set it up so that for the first time in years it actually works. This is a very tricky adjustment, but a lot of guitar techs do not know how to do it, and instead they set PRS trem as if it’s a Fender. Thank you once again!

Amazing Bridge. Did the swap out on a CE 24 I bought used that someone had wrecked the stock trem knife edge. I used the included 2.5mm to set the height and it worked fine. I will say it came out slightly lower probably around 1.14 MM and not 1.59mm (1/16). I ended up backing the screws out about another half/three-quarters and that brought it right up to 1/16. Anyway thanks for the video!

I should've done this myself after seeing this video. I paid a decent amount of money for a local repair guy to do it and...ouch. He had zero clue. Now I have to do it all over again anyway. Thanks for the tutorial.

Fucking hell man,,,,this guy is as rough as a bears ass hole on that guitar..Bridge clattering off the paint work and tapping springs into the bridge with a screwdriver and it sliding into the cavity potentially damaging the finish..I wouldn't let him near a barn door...

How did you set up the springs? How much tension is required?

What a top video. Probably the 10th one I’ve watched to see how to set a PRS trem properly and the only one that’s any good.

Never understood why PRS doesn’t recess their trems.

How can I get a Mann made for my se custom 24? They always seem sold out

pu

Man that thing is exact! 👌🏽

Hi John great vidéo! i'm sorry if you answered that before but i bought a used core PRS cu24 (2007) and the 6 screws of tremolo are really not at the same heigh just horrible. Before touching anything what do you recomend me to set it right?

Thanks so much for the upload!! The 2.5 mm method is very useful!