What Mods Improve Paul Reed Smith S2 Mira Sustain And Tone?

I get oddly excited talking gear tweaks — especially when it’s about making a guitar like the PRS S2 Mira sing longer and fatter. If you want more sustain and better tone, start with the fundamentals: strings, nut, and setup. Heavier strings (11s or 11–52, or even 12–54 if you’re brave) increase tension and vibration transfer into the neck and body, which almost always lengthens sustain. Swap the stock nut for a dense material — bone or a high-quality TUSQ — and make sure it’s cut perfectly. A sloppy nut steals tone and sustain faster than most people realize. Finally, a pro setup: correct neck relief, low but buzz-free action, and well-intonated saddles will make the guitar feel alive and hold notes longer.

If you want electronics and hardware that change character and sustain, there are a few high-impact swaps. Upgrading pots to quality CTS units and using 500k pots (for humbuckers) keeps highs present, giving the impression of more sustain. Add a treble-bleed circuit (for example 150pF + 220k resistor or a small cap alone) so you don’t lose attack as you roll volume back. Changing the tone cap affects the frequency roll-off: try a 0.022µF orange drop for clarity or a 0.047µF for warmer mids. For pickups, choose models with higher output or tighter magnets if you want more harmonic sustain: hotter humbuckers like a Seymour Duncan JB or PRS's own hotter coils will compress and sustain more, while PAF-style pickups give a rounder, singing sustain. If you want tonal versatility, fit four-conductor pickups and wire a push-pull pot for coil-split and series/parallel options — you’ll keep clarity and add different sustain flavors.

Hardware tweaks can be surprisingly effective. Swap to a heavier bridge or brass saddles to boost string-to-body energy transfer; some players report noticeable sustain increases with a solid brass or steel bridge block. Locking tuners improve tuning stability, which lets you chase sustain without worrying about slipping. For extreme sustain, consider an active sustainer system like a Sustainiac or Fernandes sustainer if you want infinite sustain textures — it’s a different beast but magical in the right songs. Lastly, don’t forget shielding the cavities with copper tape and proper grounding; a quieter instrument sounds richer and the sustain feels cleaner. Play around with pickup height and string gauge first — those simple changes often give you the biggest musical payoff before you start swapping parts. Try a combo of a bone nut, heavier strings, a hotter neck/middle pickup, and a bridge saddle swap — you’ll likely hear the Mira bloom in a way that makes soloing much more satisfying.

I love tinkering with instruments, and for the PRS S2 Mira I tend to go practical and bite-sized: first, heavier strings and a bone or TUSQ nut — those two alone made my old semi-hollow ring longer and fuller. Then a good setup: correct neck relief and action are underrated sustain mods. After that, I’d swap the pots to 500k CTS, add a treble-bleed on the volume, and use an orange drop 0.022µF cap if I wanted bright clarity; a 0.047µF if I wanted warmer, thicker mids.

On pickups, I’ve had great luck with hotter humbuckers for sustain (think Seymour Duncan JB-style warmth and grit) or boutique PRS-friendly humbuckers if you want vintage vibe but still a long note. Four-conductor pickups and a push-pull for coil-split/series options add tonal range without losing sustain. Hardware-wise, brass saddles or a heavier bridge block and locking tuners help transfer energy and keep things stable. If you’re chasing dramatic infinite sustain, a sustainer system works, but it changes how you play. Quick checklist: strings, nut, setup, pot/cap upgrades, pickup choice, saddle/bridge mass, and shielding — in that order I’d test them, because the simple stuff often gives the best bang for your buck.