Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

[Vincent]

Hi all,

I'm seriously GAS-ing for a PRS Custom 22/24 as a quasi-replacement for my Ibanez Jem that i've outgrown.

Purchasing from Australia locally isn't really an option as PRS guitars are seriously expensive here and I doubt we would get the pick of the bunch anyway. That said I've played a couple in-store and I like the feel and tone of the ones I've played.

I've heard that PRSs quality and consistency from guitar to guitar is incredible and on that basis, I am thinking about buying one sight unseen from USA.

Is that an advisable path to take? Is there anything I should be aware of when buying PRS guitars? Is there a PRS buying guide out there that can help me?

Thanks...

 

[Vincent]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

Further to my first post:

To me the most important thing a guitar should have (setup aside) is good resonance. Are PRSs known for having consistently good resonant wood from guitar to guitar or is it hit and miss, like Gibson LPs?

 

[phil_104]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

I've played many, many american PRS models (my main guitar is a PRS), and I can safely say that I would buy with confidence, even sight unseen. Unlike Gibson, who is notorious for putting out terrible guitars, and gems in a swarm of production instruments, PRS guitars tend to be very consistent (something that people will even fault them on ; as some say they lack character).

Be aware that I don't think the 22 version is available new anymore.

What you want to do, if buying a 24 model, is play a few and decide on what neck shape you like best. Then, if possible, get a detailed picture of the top of the specific guitar you will be receiving. Also, if possible, try and find one with the switching option you like best : I'm not a fan of the 5 way rotary switch, and much prefer the 3 way toggle with coil tap.

Anyways, just make sure you explore the features you like best, and you should be fine. Let us know what you pick.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

PRS guitars, although generally regarded high quality and consistent, have an above average rate of single dead notes across the neck. This is probably caused by the unique combination of set neck in a Strat style body, usually with maple cap and a tilt-back headstock but anyway, it is more common than e.g. in a Les Paul and with a Strat you can just toss the neck.

You might be able to correct such a problem with e.g. the Dunlop sustainer thingie but it is dicey.

The neck shape of the wide/fat neck is the best there is, though, in combination with fretboard radius and frets chosen by PRS. Still missing it.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

+1 on confident buying unseen. Natural acoustic/mechanical resonance will not be a problem. This is precisely why PRS guitars are as expensive as they are.

As for being a quasi-replacement for an Ibanez JEM? I'm not convinced. Any of the PRS neck profiles will be fuller than the 'nez. (No bad thing, IMO.) The PRS vibrato cannot compete with a FR-licensed double locking system. (NBT, IMO) If you need 24 frets, there is only one candidate.

I'm not a huge fan of the rotary pickup selector. It is clumsy to use and the older non-PCB version produces audible clicks between stops. I only really use three settings. I ought to follow phil 104's advice and convert to a three-way toggle.

 

[phil_104]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

I ought to follow phil 104's advice and convert to a three-way toggle.

It really does make a difference, just feels more practical. For the OP though, if you are buying new, you can get them with that switching option from the factory, and according to the site, they now also offer 5 way blade switch and tone-volume.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

PRS is one of the very few brands you can feel pretty confident about buying without playing first.

Besides, if you get it and it's a dog, it won't be hard to unload in AU.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

Does anybody know whether one of those Ibanez 12-pole 4P3T switches would sit in the hole intended for the PRS rotary selector?

I always wanted to be able to select between bridge HB only, the "power, out-of-phase" setting of early Customs and neck HB only. The 4P3T should make this possible.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

I agree with everything stated above, and would mostly suggest that you get your hands on a wide/thin and a wide/fat, so you can instantly see which one you should be buying.

I'm a fan of wide/fat, but if you've spent years playing an Ibanez Jem, I'm going to assume that the wide/thin is what you'll prefer. I'm pretty sure you'd love a Custom 24 with wide/thin. I had one years ago, and it was a super fast playing guitar with better tone than the majority of shredder bolt on guitars.

 

[Vincent]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

Thanks guys. Still not decided on which PRS model I want though.

Funkfingers - the reason I'm getting rid of my Ibanez Jem is i think I'm over the whole licenced FR and thin neck combination. I can't seem to get the right tone out of my Jem. That said, I have a Gibson LP R9 so I am a bit spoilt

Hmm, time to open up a new thread on the different types of PRSs (or I might just use the search function first).

Thanks again.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

3 of my 4 were bought blind. They were all perfect. That said, no maker is 100% perfect but if I was going to lay down cash blind, I would and have gone with PRS

 

[aleclee]

Re: Buying PRS Custom 22/24 sight unseen?

I've bought five of my six sight unseen. The only one that's not utterly consistent is my '89.

PRS guitars, although generally regarded high quality and consistent, have an above average rate of single dead notes across the neck.

This is a bit overstated IMO. While I have two PRS guitars with "dead spots" (12th fret on the G string is the most common), it's not a big deal--some people have had trouble noticing them when playing even when I point it out. In any case, I don't recall coming across one with the dead spot made since 1995 nor do I recall any 22 fret models with one.