Jeff_H
Dean Hardtail Fanologist
I thought I'd post a family portrait, since they won't be together for much longer. Ideally I'd keep them all, but it's not practical or financially responsible. I'm keeping my two favorites, the Vintage Cherry Sunburst and the Spalted Maple. I do like the Amber Quilted, but it's worth the 2nd most $$ wise, and I don't play it like the other two.
Hardtail's are my favorite guitar, even over my Les Paul's (although my Pelham Blue '57 is gaining ground). They are built like a Les Paul with either a one piece or two piece mahogany back, a 3/4" carved maple top, set neck mahogany neck, two humbuckers, ect. Controls the same. They have a molded heel that makes upper fret access effortless, not like fighting the heel of a Lester. The necks are generally a comfortable "C" shape and not too thick. They feel fast. The Quilted Hardtail has a Soft V neck profile, like all of the Collectors Editions. The Spalted also has a Soft V neck, as do all the Exotics that I'm aware of.
They all have abalone headstock and fretboard inlays, with 1/2 of the 12th fret inlay being sterling silver. The fretboards are all ebony with jumbo frets and rolled fingerboard edges. The Collectors Edition guitars have all sterling silver fretboard inlays. They all come with locking TonePro's bridges, Grover tuners and Seymour Duncan pickups. Most have the JB/59' combo, although my Spalted came with a PG neck.
The sound and playability is so close to a Les Paul, but with better top end clarity due to the ebony board and double cutaway. Unlike PRS, the top horn of the Hardtail retains much more mass, which helps it sound thicker. I don't really care for the JB/59' set personally, although it does sound good. My Spalted has a Seth Lover set and my Vintage HCSB has a Brobucker/Seth....but I think it's soon to have a set of Saturday Night Specials.
These come up for sale fairly often, and if you shop right you can pick them up for $1000-$1500, depending on condition and if the seller knows what they have or not. They are so worth the money. The tone and playability are outstanding and with SD pickups these can do any genre of music extremely well. I've never played a PRS that sounds better, including the Custom 22 I used to own. If you ever have a chance, pick one up. You will not be disappointed.
***Edit - Models from 2001-2003 were said to have Honduran Mahogany bodies. Also, 2001-2005 are supposed to be the best years for wood and build. The first 2 numbers of the serial number indicate the year, such as 02 10132. It would be a 2002.
2002 Vintage Cherry Sunburst Hardtail
Hardtail's are my favorite guitar, even over my Les Paul's (although my Pelham Blue '57 is gaining ground). They are built like a Les Paul with either a one piece or two piece mahogany back, a 3/4" carved maple top, set neck mahogany neck, two humbuckers, ect. Controls the same. They have a molded heel that makes upper fret access effortless, not like fighting the heel of a Lester. The necks are generally a comfortable "C" shape and not too thick. They feel fast. The Quilted Hardtail has a Soft V neck profile, like all of the Collectors Editions. The Spalted also has a Soft V neck, as do all the Exotics that I'm aware of.
They all have abalone headstock and fretboard inlays, with 1/2 of the 12th fret inlay being sterling silver. The fretboards are all ebony with jumbo frets and rolled fingerboard edges. The Collectors Edition guitars have all sterling silver fretboard inlays. They all come with locking TonePro's bridges, Grover tuners and Seymour Duncan pickups. Most have the JB/59' combo, although my Spalted came with a PG neck.
The sound and playability is so close to a Les Paul, but with better top end clarity due to the ebony board and double cutaway. Unlike PRS, the top horn of the Hardtail retains much more mass, which helps it sound thicker. I don't really care for the JB/59' set personally, although it does sound good. My Spalted has a Seth Lover set and my Vintage HCSB has a Brobucker/Seth....but I think it's soon to have a set of Saturday Night Specials.
These come up for sale fairly often, and if you shop right you can pick them up for $1000-$1500, depending on condition and if the seller knows what they have or not. They are so worth the money. The tone and playability are outstanding and with SD pickups these can do any genre of music extremely well. I've never played a PRS that sounds better, including the Custom 22 I used to own. If you ever have a chance, pick one up. You will not be disappointed.
***Edit - Models from 2001-2003 were said to have Honduran Mahogany bodies. Also, 2001-2005 are supposed to be the best years for wood and build. The first 2 numbers of the serial number indicate the year, such as 02 10132. It would be a 2002.
2002 Vintage Cherry Sunburst Hardtail
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