JeffB
Let it B
well actually I got it a couple weeks back- but I wanted to give it a thorough beating before I posted anything. I actually played it quite a bit and it was tough decision, but everytime I played this, I knew it was a phenomenal guitar....MOJO. Even cancelled the other guitar I had on order- it's that good. It met all my criteria for specs (mainly rounder radius board, REAL mahogany-African & South American, medium jumbo frets, less neck angle than a Gibson/Hamer/Dean, and thinner body/better access than a Les Paul)
Yes, I realize most people think this is one of the ugliest contraptions on earth. I kind of do too...but it's kinda like a good bulldog, boxer, or pug..ugly but lovable... so ugly it's cute
She has it where it counts-tone and playability. (BTW_ thse pics suck-lighting in condo not good when I took these). I really tried to talk myself out of this thing because of the looks, but the Mojo was too strong!
Tone- this is a BEAST- if Metal guys weren't into the pointy/modern look, they would LOVE this guitar. It has the greatest amount of Low end I've heard, more than my SC250 and more than my R8. Incredible low end and low mids. Best way I can describe it is a classic Les Paul Junior crossed with an Explorer- Leslie West meets James Hetfield CHUNK CHUNK CHUNK. Being all mahogany & short scale she's darker toned, but not muddy in the least- every note is clear as a bell. Sustain , well..it's not my R8, but it's very good. Weight I'd say is a tad under 8 pounds. One Piece body. Resonance is absolutely outstanding-this one beats you in the gut at the neck joint. It's by far the most resonant non stifled sounding poly finished guitar I've played. My Epi sounds & feels like a plinky muddy toy next to this- and my epi is darn good for an Epi. Alot of people complain PRS guitars have no "mojo", and I've played many that certainly did not, this one however has definitely got it (as has the SC245s I've played, as well as my old 20th anni McCarty). I hate to admit it, but it "outgibsons" every recent Gibson I've owned barring the R8. It's brand new but has a very vintage "soul" so to speak. I'm sure not all of them do, but this one does.
The pups-I've yet to hear anything like these-def unique. I was expecting "filter-tron". They are more PAF-ish than that. Almost like a super overwound P90. They are not bright (at least in this guitar) but are clear with big lows and less highs/bite and ample but not overdone mids. Warm but clear. They almost sound like an Alnico 3 or 4 as they are not at all like typical A5/A2 pups I've experienced. They don't sound like most PRS pickups (which usually leave me cold) They are low output (I'd be surprised if the bridge is much more than 8K) & open, and don't compress as much as a PAF under high gain, but unfortunately because of this, they can get a little farty with alot of gain for metal rhythm stuff. But with the gain backed off a tad they really sing & crunch. Through fenderish-vox amps, it's some seriously classic old school blues w/ tons of pick attack, and through a Marshall type, it does a great Woman Tone, Godzilla, & Nugent. Cleans are dark but beautiful- Great be-bop style Jazz Tones. Controls are extremely usable througout the entire range- its def the kind of guitar that works awesome with a single channel amp.
Bad Stuff-
The Bigsby of course is a complete PITA to string, and doesn't stay in tune all that great, but I will rarely use it-just a little gilmour/beck/moore wiggle type stuff. Frankly, I'll probably just pull the arm off at some point.
Controls are bit far out of the way for my tastes. Vol is not bad but switch and tone are too far. also a PITA to pull up the tone control to split coils (which sound like big, but dark strat tones)
I *may* get some new pups for it- I would prefer more bite, and high mids like a good PAF, but everytime I plug it in, I second guess that desicion because they really sound good- though a bit unorthodox.
I hope to get some clips up in the next week or so.
Yes, I realize most people think this is one of the ugliest contraptions on earth. I kind of do too...but it's kinda like a good bulldog, boxer, or pug..ugly but lovable... so ugly it's cute
She has it where it counts-tone and playability. (BTW_ thse pics suck-lighting in condo not good when I took these). I really tried to talk myself out of this thing because of the looks, but the Mojo was too strong!
Tone- this is a BEAST- if Metal guys weren't into the pointy/modern look, they would LOVE this guitar. It has the greatest amount of Low end I've heard, more than my SC250 and more than my R8. Incredible low end and low mids. Best way I can describe it is a classic Les Paul Junior crossed with an Explorer- Leslie West meets James Hetfield CHUNK CHUNK CHUNK. Being all mahogany & short scale she's darker toned, but not muddy in the least- every note is clear as a bell. Sustain , well..it's not my R8, but it's very good. Weight I'd say is a tad under 8 pounds. One Piece body. Resonance is absolutely outstanding-this one beats you in the gut at the neck joint. It's by far the most resonant non stifled sounding poly finished guitar I've played. My Epi sounds & feels like a plinky muddy toy next to this- and my epi is darn good for an Epi. Alot of people complain PRS guitars have no "mojo", and I've played many that certainly did not, this one however has definitely got it (as has the SC245s I've played, as well as my old 20th anni McCarty). I hate to admit it, but it "outgibsons" every recent Gibson I've owned barring the R8. It's brand new but has a very vintage "soul" so to speak. I'm sure not all of them do, but this one does.
The pups-I've yet to hear anything like these-def unique. I was expecting "filter-tron". They are more PAF-ish than that. Almost like a super overwound P90. They are not bright (at least in this guitar) but are clear with big lows and less highs/bite and ample but not overdone mids. Warm but clear. They almost sound like an Alnico 3 or 4 as they are not at all like typical A5/A2 pups I've experienced. They don't sound like most PRS pickups (which usually leave me cold) They are low output (I'd be surprised if the bridge is much more than 8K) & open, and don't compress as much as a PAF under high gain, but unfortunately because of this, they can get a little farty with alot of gain for metal rhythm stuff. But with the gain backed off a tad they really sing & crunch. Through fenderish-vox amps, it's some seriously classic old school blues w/ tons of pick attack, and through a Marshall type, it does a great Woman Tone, Godzilla, & Nugent. Cleans are dark but beautiful- Great be-bop style Jazz Tones. Controls are extremely usable througout the entire range- its def the kind of guitar that works awesome with a single channel amp.
Bad Stuff-
The Bigsby of course is a complete PITA to string, and doesn't stay in tune all that great, but I will rarely use it-just a little gilmour/beck/moore wiggle type stuff. Frankly, I'll probably just pull the arm off at some point.
Controls are bit far out of the way for my tastes. Vol is not bad but switch and tone are too far. also a PITA to pull up the tone control to split coils (which sound like big, but dark strat tones)
I *may* get some new pups for it- I would prefer more bite, and high mids like a good PAF, but everytime I plug it in, I second guess that desicion because they really sound good- though a bit unorthodox.
I hope to get some clips up in the next week or so.
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