NegativeEase
New member
Nailed the essence of PRS shreds
Not a PRS fan
- Thread starter JMP/HBE
- Start date
Nailed the essence of PRS shreds
Okay, I'll come in on the side of PRS 
My primary stage guitar for many years was a ce24. It was pretty spectacular.. went from. Teleish with the combined inside coils to more crunch than I actually needed..
Incredibly well made, absolutely beautiful, it had a wonderful trim, my only complaint was the fretboard impinged the space where the neck pickup should have been.. but overall no big deal.
In fact, I credit PRS with breaking the Gibson model, initially proving that much better guitars could be built for less. I am a form follows function guy so I really didn't care who else played them.. they just delivered and I think they open the door to so many wonderful mid-priced high end guitars.
The only reason I moved away from PRS is I started modding and building my own guitars that were exactly what I needed. I finally sold the PRS and made a reasonable profit on it because I just didn't play it anymore.
If they were to go out of fashion and the prices barreled, I very well could buy another one.
My primary stage guitar for many years was a ce24. It was pretty spectacular.. went from. Teleish with the combined inside coils to more crunch than I actually needed..
Incredibly well made, absolutely beautiful, it had a wonderful trim, my only complaint was the fretboard impinged the space where the neck pickup should have been.. but overall no big deal.
In fact, I credit PRS with breaking the Gibson model, initially proving that much better guitars could be built for less. I am a form follows function guy so I really didn't care who else played them.. they just delivered and I think they open the door to so many wonderful mid-priced high end guitars.
The only reason I moved away from PRS is I started modding and building my own guitars that were exactly what I needed. I finally sold the PRS and made a reasonable profit on it because I just didn't play it anymore.
If they were to go out of fashion and the prices barreled, I very well could buy another one.
elelpe
Well-known member
I admit PRS is a well-built guitar from some of the best materials on the planet. For that reason, it's the guitar I won't hesitate to buy unseen/online. But most of them I've seen are too gaudy. And the pickups are lackluster. I've tried bunch of them but never found the one that speaks to me.
I did have a 1999 CU22 for a short moment. The consistent quality was there but I didn't gel with the WF neck profile and the Dragon II pickups. So I sold it, with profit. One day I thought I found the one. It was a Korina McCarty in natural finish (without maple top). I liked everything about it but the sonic properties.
Couple years later I find a 2008 SC245 in McCarty sunburts. I usually don't like burst, but this one doesn't look too much. The neck feels comfortable (slimmer profile but not WT. PRS profile necks are confusing) and the pickups surprisingly sounds awesome. To my ears, it covers PAF territoty. It's the same pickup set as in USA Mira. I played a Mira before and it didn't sound that special. But this one delivers.
It becomes my go to HB guitar. The way I see it, just enjoy it as it is - not as a Gibson or a Fender. PRS direction doesn't help though. It is clearly going that way since PRS + Mesa is a thing no more. As a guitar company, it continuously evolves (whether it makes you scratch your head or not). I know I can get a LP standard, but I prefer the playability and the quality of this particular PRS. I consider it as a player, not as an investment. Would I be lucky with other PRS? Maybe but I guess, hardly. I won't buy any guitar in that price range only to change/mod something later.
I did have a 1999 CU22 for a short moment. The consistent quality was there but I didn't gel with the WF neck profile and the Dragon II pickups. So I sold it, with profit. One day I thought I found the one. It was a Korina McCarty in natural finish (without maple top). I liked everything about it but the sonic properties.
Couple years later I find a 2008 SC245 in McCarty sunburts. I usually don't like burst, but this one doesn't look too much. The neck feels comfortable (slimmer profile but not WT. PRS profile necks are confusing) and the pickups surprisingly sounds awesome. To my ears, it covers PAF territoty. It's the same pickup set as in USA Mira. I played a Mira before and it didn't sound that special. But this one delivers.
It becomes my go to HB guitar. The way I see it, just enjoy it as it is - not as a Gibson or a Fender. PRS direction doesn't help though. It is clearly going that way since PRS + Mesa is a thing no more. As a guitar company, it continuously evolves (whether it makes you scratch your head or not). I know I can get a LP standard, but I prefer the playability and the quality of this particular PRS. I consider it as a player, not as an investment. Would I be lucky with other PRS? Maybe but I guess, hardly. I won't buy any guitar in that price range only to change/mod something later.
I don't like PRS one little bit. I don't like the way they cut corners with everything except for their dye process.
* Most guitars don't get binding or blind fret slots.
* No compound radius.
* No Stainless Steel frets.
* Binding often goes just along the side, not the end of the fretboard.
* Polyester undercoat for the finish; that's why their finishes are so extremely glossy and tight, because they spray a polyester undercoat, sand that down and then spray the topcoat. That poly basecoat completely closes off the wood, like adding a blanket over your speakers, which explains why PRS guitars often sound so flat, dull, boring. Not just because their pickups are boring A.F.!
* Their pickups are lackluster, to say the least. Those square bobbins are just toppers over the rounded bobbins, and serve zero purpose whatsoever.
* The heel is HUGE and doesn't have to be.
Sorry, but for their prices, you can find better. PRS fell into the same trap Gibson did, in my opinion.
For 4000, I'd get a Mayones or a Patrick Eggle.
* Most guitars don't get binding or blind fret slots.
* No compound radius.
* No Stainless Steel frets.
* Binding often goes just along the side, not the end of the fretboard.
* Polyester undercoat for the finish; that's why their finishes are so extremely glossy and tight, because they spray a polyester undercoat, sand that down and then spray the topcoat. That poly basecoat completely closes off the wood, like adding a blanket over your speakers, which explains why PRS guitars often sound so flat, dull, boring. Not just because their pickups are boring A.F.!
* Their pickups are lackluster, to say the least. Those square bobbins are just toppers over the rounded bobbins, and serve zero purpose whatsoever.
* The heel is HUGE and doesn't have to be.
Sorry, but for their prices, you can find better. PRS fell into the same trap Gibson did, in my opinion.
For 4000, I'd get a Mayones or a Patrick Eggle.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Yeah, I honestly couldn't care less who plays a guitar or what genre of music they're associated with. It could be Nickelback, prog rock, ska, or any other form of music I don't care for. Doesn't matter. If I like the guitar's features, playability, and looks, I'll buy it.
El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
I’d be interested to know exactly how the PRS became the standard issue nu-metal guitar. For the longest time I thought Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit was playing PRS bur they were actually some custom company that just looked a lot like PRS. My theory is they were given huge advances from their labels and figured PRS must be “the best” because of the price.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
On the topic of PRS's, I think SE's are overrated.
Don't get me wrong, they're good guitars, but for what a PRS SE goes for these days, you can score a similarly priced LTD or Schecter that has about the same quality that doesn't come with trash tuners, nut, pickups, and hardware.
JMO.
Don't get me wrong, they're good guitars, but for what a PRS SE goes for these days, you can score a similarly priced LTD or Schecter that has about the same quality that doesn't come with trash tuners, nut, pickups, and hardware.
JMO.
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
This is what always stops me from considering PRS SEs. I compare the price point and feature set to LTD, Schecter, Charvel, and even Jackson and I have zero incentive to go SE.
v8stang289
New member
I bought a transparent blue SE Standard 24 a couple years ago for $425. I had always wanted to try one, so I picked it up. It was a solid guitar, played well and sounded good (sounded better when I swapped in Seymour Duncans).
I just could never quite warm up to it. The scale length, the neck shape, and other smaller stuff. Hard to explain really, but it just didnt work for me. I loved how it looked and wanted to love the guitar, but in the end I sold it.
I took it back to stock and sold it for what I paid for it.
So while I still think they're nice looking guitars, that satisfied my desire to own one.
I just could never quite warm up to it. The scale length, the neck shape, and other smaller stuff. Hard to explain really, but it just didnt work for me. I loved how it looked and wanted to love the guitar, but in the end I sold it.
I took it back to stock and sold it for what I paid for it.
So while I still think they're nice looking guitars, that satisfied my desire to own one.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
I think Mark Tremonti was a big one, he switched from Les Pauls to PRS around 1998.
I was a Gibson only player the first ten years I played, then played a Fender and it changed my preconcieved notion that they were crappy guitars.
I gradually sold off my Gibson guitars and bought more Fender guitars (which were my main guitars for more than 20 years).
On a lark, I picked up a PRS SE Custom 24 (SE's are the PRS Student Edition line) and was stunned by the quality of a Student Edition guitar.
I didn't really care for the pickups, but threw a set of Seth Lover pickups on the SE (This is a Seymour Duncan site.....right?) and fixed that problem.
Eventually I picked up two more SE's (replaced pickups on one with SD's) and finally a used Core (American made) Custom 24 before picking up a used Gibson SG Standard (first Gibson in over 30 years).
PRS to me has both Gibson and Fender like qualities (body shape, controls layout) and "fixed" the tuning issues I had always had with previous Gibsons. The string pull through the nut is nearly straight and the headstock angle is less severe than Gibsons, both of which seem to contribute to tuning stability.
The trems work much better than any Fender trem I've ever had, intonation on their compensated wrap tail bridge is spot on (with the correct string guage).
In short, I love guitars.....Fender, Gibson, PRS....whatever. They all have strong/weak points. I'm glad I found out that another manufacturer (PRS) was out there and tried/liked them.
I gradually sold off my Gibson guitars and bought more Fender guitars (which were my main guitars for more than 20 years).
On a lark, I picked up a PRS SE Custom 24 (SE's are the PRS Student Edition line) and was stunned by the quality of a Student Edition guitar.
I didn't really care for the pickups, but threw a set of Seth Lover pickups on the SE (This is a Seymour Duncan site.....right?) and fixed that problem.
Eventually I picked up two more SE's (replaced pickups on one with SD's) and finally a used Core (American made) Custom 24 before picking up a used Gibson SG Standard (first Gibson in over 30 years).
PRS to me has both Gibson and Fender like qualities (body shape, controls layout) and "fixed" the tuning issues I had always had with previous Gibsons. The string pull through the nut is nearly straight and the headstock angle is less severe than Gibsons, both of which seem to contribute to tuning stability.
The trems work much better than any Fender trem I've ever had, intonation on their compensated wrap tail bridge is spot on (with the correct string guage).
In short, I love guitars.....Fender, Gibson, PRS....whatever. They all have strong/weak points. I'm glad I found out that another manufacturer (PRS) was out there and tried/liked them.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Yeah. Those SE's are priced like the LTD 400-1000 series, and the LTD outspecs them by far. Great quality that's on par on those LTD's as well, as most of them are made in Korea.
If you want a good mod platform without brand-name hardware/pickups/tuners, Squier is hitting a way more accesible price point with the Classic Vibe series, and dare I say, hitting pretty much the same quality level. I understand, totally different guitars, but I'm sure there's other stuff coming out of the same factory as the Classic Vibes.
Mr. B
New member
It's really easy for me to convince myself that I "don't like" guitars I know I will never be able to afford.
I have an early Santane SE though, and I really like that guitar. Have a set of Seth Lovers in it, and it sounds and plays great. I like it precisely because it is not a Gibson or a Fender.
I have an early Santane SE though, and I really like that guitar. Have a set of Seth Lovers in it, and it sounds and plays great. I like it precisely because it is not a Gibson or a Fender.
Hsb
Well-known member
I want to like PRS but every one I have ever picked up, just didnt feel right in my hand. They are good guitars dont get me wrong but almost too much figuring in the tops and just something about the tone doesnt work for me.
As someone once said, it almost feels like playing someone else's guitar and not my mine
As someone once said, it almost feels like playing someone else's guitar and not my mine
This is absolutely true.. it takes time to adjust.but to some degree I think this is more of an advantage than a disadvantage.. PRS have some of the chime and attack that you'd get in a 25 and a half but they have some of the bloom that you get out of a 24 3/4.
Frankly I've moved almost entirely to 25 and a half and roll off high end when I need a more short scale tone.. but, if I was stuck in an island with only one guitar etc, the PRS scale length definitely achieves what they say they want to achieve..
Frankly I've moved almost entirely to 25 and a half and roll off high end when I need a more short scale tone.. but, if I was stuck in an island with only one guitar etc, the PRS scale length definitely achieves what they say they want to achieve..
JMP/HBE
Well-known member
Um .... don't ever say you won't do something because sooner or later you'll find yourself doing it. Looks like i got some crow to eat.
This Tremonti SE Custom just fell in my lap today, couldn't pass it up.
9.2 lbs full thickness body just like the USA model.
Seems very well made. No amp playing today ive been doing a minor setup, will have to play it thru the Scholz Rockman X-100 later.
Review to follow. Seems Paul makes decent stuff any-hoo .... > :9:
weepingminotaur
Well-known member
Um .... don't ever say you won't do something because sooner or later you'll find yourself doing it. Looks like i got some crow to eat.
This Tremonti SE Custom just fell in my lap today, couldn't pass it up.
9.2 lbs full thickness body just like the USA model.
Seems very well made. No amp playing today ive been doing a minor setup, will have to play it thru the Scholz Rockman X-100 later.
Review to follow. Seems Paul makes decent stuff any-hoo .... > :9:
I always appreciate people who don't mind admitting when they're wrong or revising their opinion about something. Good on ya. Lovely-looking axe.
