Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

[Sorg]

FIRST OF ALL: Note that i live in Norway. Guitar prices here are twice the one's in USA. Just as you know.

I have the opportunity to buy a PRS Custom 24 for 2575$ (new in Norway: 4242$) http://prsguitars.com/showcase/current/custom.html . I can choose between black and silver. They also have a PRS Custom 22 in blue for 2424$ (new: 4242)

They also have a CE 22 orange for 2424$. (ny 3484$) http://prsguitars.com/showcase/current/cemahogany.html

Questions:
1. How big is the difference between the Custom and CE guitars? To me it seems as the Custom has a nicer design. What's the main difference with a bolt-on neck (CE) and neck-thru (Custom)? Is the custom worth the extra cost?
2. What do they sell new CE's and Custom's for in USA today?
3. Is it any difference between 22 frets and 24 except for the two extra frets?

All the guitars are brand new. Hope you can help me out here guys. I have to decide quick.

 

[Sorg]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

Seriously? Can't anyone help me out here?

 

[jony]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

Questions:
1. How big is the difference between the Custom and CE guitars? To me it seems as the Custom has a nicer design. What's the main difference with a bolt-on neck (CE) and neck-thru (Custom)? Is the custom worth the extra cost?
2. What do they sell new CE's and Custom's for in USA today?
3. Is it any difference between 22 frets and 24 except for the two extra frets?

All the guitars are brand new. Hope you can help me out here guys. I have to decide quick.

Bolt on neck and set neck differences are quite "talked about" on many guitar forums.. I am sure a quick search will get you some results.

Basically, set necks are thought of as having more sustain (not universal) and bolt on necks as snappier and airier.

check musicians friend or something for the prices,,, very easy.

The frets place the neck pickup in a different place. Some argue tha a 24 fret neck makes th neck pickup too bridge like because its away from the harmonic sweet spot. Play both if possible. Otherwise stick with 22. Its safe I guess.

 

[Guitarist]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

I'll answer what I can.

The neck-thru design will typically yield better sustain due to more wood to wood contact. I would think that most would prefer it to bolt on.

The neck humbucker will be affected regarding fretboard length (22 or 24 frets). For a more distinguishable neck tone, most prefer 22 frets. It'll give you a warmer sound as opposed to a neck pickup that sounds more like an "in-between" sound. I've had experience with this, and it's worth checking it out to find out which neck tone is right for you. Obviously, niether one is superior to the other - simply different.

Prices are usually in the 2K-3K range for standard production appointments. The CEs can go for a little under 2K. Select woods and finishes are usually a little higher, exceeding 3K.**

**I'm gathering this information from a recent visit to my local Guitar Center. The most expensive model was a CU22 in a beautiful 10 top with the Indian rosewood neck. I believe it cost $3400.


I wish you much confidence in your decision. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to play both models and decide for yourself if the cost is acceptable. I've owned a CU22 and it was one of the most beautifully constructed guitars I've ever had the pleasure to play.

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

Personally, I'd go for a custom 22. The pickups have a more vintage voicing to them, and the neck pickup sounds better than the more squeezed up cu24. I owned a Cu22 for a couple of years and it was an outstanding guitar.

The cu24 would be a good choice if you're more of a metal/shred player, as it has hotter pickups and slightly better upper neck access.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

Depending on what tones you like/dislike is what I would tell you to go with. The guitar prices are pretty reasonable IMO.

Everyone else outlined the differences. The neck on the 24 fret guitars will be thinner.

Luke

 

[Sorg]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

I tried the search function, but I got too many topics when I searched "necks".

Well, I play metal in my band (www.invain.org), but I want a PRS because to me it seems like a really good allround guitar which you can use in almost any kind of style. I have watched a Gutrie Govan video and he got showed a lot of different sounds you can get out of it. And also I love Opeth's guitar sound.

I will try the guitars today.

Thanks.

 

[Sorg]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

Well I tried both of the guitars today. The blue PRS custom 22 is 287 $ more expensive than the black Prs Custom 24. Only because the store ordered 3 custom 24 and only one custom 22 and therefore can sell the custom 24 a bit cheaper.

Anyway, it seems to me like what some of you said is correct. The neck pickup in the 24 is brighter than the one in the custom 22. It seems to me that is more easy to get a good jazz tone for instance with the neck pickup on the custom 22. Otherwise it was very difficult for me to find any big differences between the guitars.

The only thing is if I want to pay 287 bucks more for the custom 22. The arguments I have is that I liked the color on the guitar slightly better and the thing I mentioned with the neck pickup.

When I try the guitars in the store it's very difficult to decide. 1. I'm playing a guitar way different that the guitar I have at home. 2. The guitar is not set up as good as it can. Very high action.

But when I leave the store I think about the guitar, so maybe that's a good sign. Sometimes you just have to take the chance I guess. I doubt there's big possibilities of getting a bad guitar when you buy a PRS guitar?

 

[Kivitel]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

For those prices you should consider getting someone to make you a custom instrument in the country. Those prices are freaking insane.

 

[Sorg]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

For those prices you should consider getting someone to make you a custom instrument in the country. Those prices are freaking insane.

2400$ for a new PRS Custom ain't that bad is it? A different guy said the prices were pretty reasonable, just see in a post above. And another one said that in the US they go for 2000-3000 $

I know you may get than cheaper in the US, but if I import I have to pay 25% tax. So what does a new PRS Custom cost in USA today? To all of you guys who say they I should check musciansfriend and all that. They don't list their prices. So can you tell me?

 

[Sorg]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

Any other PRS user in here?

 

[aleclee]

Re: Help! Are these PRS guitars a good purchase?

Here's a link to the US PRS price list. The good dealers here will give you 35-40% off list (including case, Guitar Denter!).

There is a difference in tone between the Custom and CE. My first PRS was a CE because I preferred its tone to that of the Customs I tried. Aside from the nitro finish on the CE's neck, there's no difference in playability because the neck joint is identical (aside from the way it's attached to the body). There's no big neck flange to get in your way. There are also fewer option on the CE: birds and 10 tops are not available.

24 fret PRS guitars only come with tremolo bridges. If you want a stoptail, you have to go with 22 frets or an older PRS. The 22 and 24 fret models also come with different pickups. I'm not so fond of the HFS/VB pickups that come on the 24 fret models. On my last PRS (a Custom 24), I ordered it with Dragon 2 pickups instead.

If you have more questions, the best place to go for PRS experts is the Birds and Moons forum. There are a number of European members who might be able to advise you on purchasing a PRS over there.