PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

[Lewguitar]

The last NAMM I was able to attend was 4 or 5 years ago and the guitar that impressed me the most was the re-release of the PRS Singlecut.

I liked it better than any other electric guitar I played.

Some of the PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cuts seem to be reasonably priced, especially used.

Are they as nice as the Single cut models I was so impressed with 4 or 5 years ago?

And why are some going for $1000 used and some going for $2000 and more? I don't know much about PRS guitars...never been able to afford one!

 

[jmh151]

PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

The lower priced ones usually have a bit more wear and a basic top. The ones in mint condition and fancier 10 tops or artist tops sell for more on the used market since they cost a lot more new

 

[jmh151]

PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

On the used market, the fancier PRS guitars maintain their value if they're in mint condition. Once you get a ding in it, the value goes down quite a bit and are great deals on the used market.If you buy a used one and decide to sell it, you'll be able to get back what you paid for it. Not the case with new.

Quality wise, they're all top notch, if I could find one for 1,000 I'd grab it

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

On the used market, the fancier PRS guitars maintain their value if they're in mint condition. Once you get a ding in it, the value goes down quite a bit and are great deals on the used market.If you buy a used one and decide to sell it, you'll be able to get back what you paid for it. Not the case with new.

Quality wise, they're all top notch, if I could find one for 1,000 I'd grab it

Thanks! The one I'm looking at is about $1300 used. Saw a used solid color one for $1000 but not a sunburst one or similar. I don't really have the money to spend on one and I love my ES-335. But I could sell a something to get one and I've been thinking of doing that. I'd like a second guitar with humbuckers.

 

[jmh151]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

The 20th anniversary ones had different bird inlays as well, which I think were a little nicer. Other than that, really no different unless someone added options like gold hardware, rosewood neck, 10 top, artist grade, etc....

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

Man...I'm looking at my amps right now and thinking about which one to sell! I also have two nice old lap steels. Sold one last month for $1200. I could sell the other one too. I really don't play those 1930's Rickenbackers much...and I'd still have my 1950-something Supro lap steel that also sounds great.

 

[sixstringsamurai333]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

I had a beautiful goldtop 20th Anni Singlecut Trem for awhile. I wrote a little about it here if anyone's interested, and some high res pics too: http://sixstringsamurai.co.nz/2012/06/18/prs-20th-anniversary-singlecut-trem-all-that-glitters/

Bottom line was the SCT just didn't sound like I thought it would (i.e. like a Les Paul) but that's down to the thinner body and trem, mostly.

I'm sure the full thickness one would be killer! I had a "pre lawsuit" Singlecut (no trem) that was my main Les Paul guitar for a few years, and it looked great and sounded even better.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

I liked the pre-lawsuit single cuts better also.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

I had a beautiful goldtop 20th Anni Singlecut Trem for awhile. I wrote a little about it here if anyone's interested, and some high res pics too: http://sixstringsamurai.co.nz/2012/06/18/prs-20th-anniversary-singlecut-trem-all-that-glitters/

Bottom line was the SCT just didn't sound like I thought it would (i.e. like a Les Paul) but that's down to the thinner body and trem, mostly.

I'm sure the full thickness one would be killer! I had a "pre lawsuit" Singlecut (no trem) that was my main Les Paul guitar for a few years, and it looked great and sounded even better.

Would love to read your comments but your website is down for maintenance.

Those of you who've played both the vibrato version and non-vibrato version: what were the tonal differences and how did the response and feel of the guitars differ?

BTW, I did compare the PRS Singlecuts to Les Pauls at NAMM and not being a Les Paul lover (although I used to be) I preferred the Singlecuts. The Singlecuts seemed more resonant and the Les Pauls flatter sounding and less resonant.

But I cannot remember if the Singlecuts I liked so much had fixed bridge or vibratos.

 

[sixstringsamurai333]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

Yeah sorry about that - the damn thing got hacked by some idiots. I'll have to do a clean tonight and put it back up. Will let you know when it's all good to go

The Singlecut Trem is much brighter, almost jangly. Imo, it is nothing like a Les Paul, which is why I ended up selling it. Neck profile IIRC is fairly standard across the range, just depends on whether you go wide-fat or wide-thin. Or whatever those are called these days with the new CNC profiles.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

Yeah sorry about that - the damn thing got hacked by some idiots. I'll have to do a clean tonight and put it back up. Will let you know when it's all good to go

The Singlecut Trem is much brighter, almost jangly. Imo, it is nothing like a Les Paul, which is why I ended up selling it. Neck profile IIRC is fairly standard across the range, just depends on whether you go wide-fat or wide-thin. Or whatever those are called these days with the new CNC profiles.

The more I think about it, the more I'm pretty sure the PRS Singlecuts I played at NAMM did not have vibratos. Boy, Johnny Hiland was demonstrating those PRS guitar at the booth and he sure sounded good! Clean as country water. Here he is...but not on a PRS:

 

[sixstringsamurai333]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

Hot damn, I need to learn me some chicken picking!

Website's back up now so all the links should be live again - fingers crossed those *******s don't hack it again!! Looks like I'll be spending the weekend before Xmas trying to improve website security...

 

[Manimal]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

I've got a 2002 singlecut stock #7's hard tail bridge & it is something magical. It sounds better than my other prs and hamer's. It's got that extra something you can't really put your finger on but you know it's there!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

So what are the best years for a Singlecut?

 

[jmh151]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

So what are the best years for a Singlecut?

I regularly read the PRS bulletin boards- from what I read there are no "good" or "bad" years for PRS, even the single cuts, unlike Gibson. PRS has always maintained good quality control. I just wouldn't buy a 10 top or Artist top sight unseen, new, since the figuring on what they consider 10 or Artist grade tops can vary depending on the stock they get in.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

I regularly read the PRS bulletin boards- from what I read there are no "good" or "bad" years for PRS, even the single cuts, unlike Gibson. PRS has always maintained good quality control. I just wouldn't buy a 10 top or Artist top sight unseen, new, since the figuring on what they consider 10 or Artist grade tops can vary depending on the stock they get in.

I'm looking used. I have been selling a lot of stuff on Ebay this month and last month.

I used to be a real Les Paul nut! One of my first good trades was around 1966 when I traded my refinished Fender Jaguar for a '56 Gold Top Les Paul.

But these days, LP's sound kind of flat and dry to me. The Singlecuts I played at NAMM knocked me out though and I've been thinking about a PRS Singelcut ever since.

I've sold enough old stuff I don't use to be able to put about $1500 together.

 

[jmh151]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

From what I've read everywhere, the Single Cuts won't get you the Les Paul tone, due to the 25" scale.

A few years ago they had 2 different Single Cuts- the SC250- with the 25 inch scale and hotter pickups, for modern music, and the SC245, with a shorter 24.5 inch Les Paul type scale and vintage pickups for more of a Les Paul tone.There's one on ebay now selling for $1529

The Stripped 58 is PRS's Les Paul, with the thicker back and 24.5" scale, though they are expensive and not enough on the used market.

On a budget there's the SE245 or Bernie Marsden models, which have the thicker back and 24.5 inch scale, which are very fine budget guitars.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

From what I've read everywhere, the Single Cuts won't get you the Les Paul tone, due to the 25" scale.

A few years ago they had 2 different Single Cuts- the SC250- with the 25 inch scale and hotter pickups, for modern music, and the SC245, with a shorter 24.5 inch Les Paul type scale and vintage pickups for more of a Les Paul tone.There's one on ebay now selling for $1529

The Stripped 58 is PRS's Les Paul, with the thicker back and 24.5" scale, though they are expensive and not enough on the used market.

On a budget there's the SE245 or Bernie Marsden models, which have the thicker back and 24.5 inch scale, which are very fine budget guitars.

I don't want an import PRS. USA only. And I don't want it to sound like a Les Paul either. I want it to sound like the Single Cuts I played at NAMM. Thanks for all the info and the tip on Ebay.

 

[aleclee]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

I have a 20th Anny SC (pic below, click for the BIG version). It's a really nice guitar, even compared to the other five US-made PRS guitars I've owned. It's the only PRS I've ever played that had a rolled fretboard. That's a major reason why I've kept it during my recent PRS sell-off. Some time after they re-introduced the SC in 2005 (post-lawsuit), they started weight relieving the SCs. I had a SC with a BRW neck and it was a boat anchor. I haven't weighed my 20th but I'd guess it's in the 8 lb range: pretty darn light for a guitar of its thickness. The other thing I find interesting about it is that the finish quickly sunk into the wood. It must be mighty thin for a poly finish to do that.

As for price variations, the Artist package was a pricey upgrade (~$1,100 list IIRC). In addition to the extra-figured top and gold hardware, it also came with a BRW fretboard. For those who care about such things, it can make a price difference. If nothing else, it means I won't try to take it out of the US. : private:

I don't play it all that much. I've since moved towards EBMM guitars and was never that into LP-style guitars in the first place. It still fills that role in the "harem" and I keep it around just in case I feel like going for that vibe.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: PRS 20th Anniversary Single Cut - anyone have one?

I have a 20th Anny SC. I don't play it all that much. I've since moved towards EBMM guitars and was never that into LP-style guitars in the first place. It still fills that role in the "harem" and I keep it around just in case I feel like going for that vibe.

Aleclee, that's what I'm worried about...that I just have GAS and want something new and beautiful to be enthusiastic about, but that after a while, I won't play it. Thanks for the reality check. I'm a 335 kind of guy when it comes to guitars with humbuckers. And a Strat guy when it comes to single coil type guitars. I sure did like the Singlecuts I played at the PRS booth though.