PRS for Shred?

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that you've got $2,000 to blow on a Paul Reed Smith. It has to be a PRS -- no exceptions -- and you intend on using it for shred.

a. What model would you buy?
b. Would you make any modifications? (be specific)

Thanks in advance, you shred god!

- Keith

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I'd go with a Custom 24 w/ trem or a SingleCut Trem.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I'd go for this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Paul-Reed-Smith...ryZ33045QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

24 frets (don't know why shredders really need those 2 extra frets, but they do), maple neck (for more attack and a more focused tone, great for lead playing), and a wide/thin profile (less wood to get in the way of shredding), trem (for those crazy divebombs and other tricks).

I'd probably change the pickups out for WCR's HERC set: http://crcoils.com/New_PIckups/Herc_Set/herc_set.html If I were to spend all that coin, I'd also get the High Gain RS guitar works electronics set for it.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I'm not sure how much they cost, but the Santana III and Johnny Hiland signature models are my favourites.

The Swamp Ash special would also be good, Swamp Ash owns and it has a blade switch + middle pickup w/maple fretboard.


I'm 99% sure I'd change the pickups no matter what...maybe some Dimarzio Blazes or whatever Paul Gilbert is using at the moment, or EMGs or a Distiortion set.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: PRS for Shred?

or whatever Paul Gilbert is using at the moment,

I lol'd at that. That was cool. Paul Gilbert makes me crave Dimarzio.. I have a problem.. *whips self*

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I like the McCarties the most, but I've had a few PRS guitars, and the one that was the best for shred was the Custom 24 with wide/thin neck profile. The reason PRS are good for shred is because of the flawless necks that accomodate low action. They also have a sweet buttery tone with the neck pickup for sweep picked arpeggios. All PRS guitars with humbuckers are good for shred, but the Customs with wide/thin get my vote.

 

[3'scompany]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I'd say any model is good for what you're asking. The wide/thin is cool but I play shred oriented music and all my guitars have the wide/fat profile. I can play faster on the wide/fat just because it feels better to in my hands cause they're kinda big. The singlecuts are my favorite. The upper access is some what limited on the lower strings, however, its not unsurmountable. And they have an awesome tone. I think PRS' are underrated as shred guitars. Like joneser said, their necks are flawless, they accept low action really well and are like butter in the hands. Their trems are pretty good too, though I don't prefer them. You don't have to have a trem to shred, but its nice at times. Just find one that speaks to you and you'll be able to rip on it, no doubt. And I wouldn't worry about "having to have" the 24 fret model over the 22. There are trade offs either way. 22 frets means more clarity with the neck pickup and more "beef" on the bottom end from what Paul says himself and 24 frets gives you more frequency range obviously. Take your pick.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I agree about wide fat necks. That's my favorite profile. Even if it seems big, it's a good shape for most hands.

The PRS's I use for high tech rock playing are McCarties with C-5/59's.

 

[bloodswords]

Re: PRS for Shred?

my McCarty suits my shred/ black metal needs well.

 

[3'scompany]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I agree about wide fat necks. That's my favorite profile. Even if it seems big, it's a good shape for most hands.

The PRS's I use for high tech rock playing are McCarties with C-5/59's.

Yeah, I think you gave me advice when I first got on here about the C-5 in PRS's. Magical combo in my singlecut. That thing wails. Its a great mix between metal beef and vintage shine if you ask me. Raw vintage aspects but still very heavy, but doesn't sound too compressed or fuzzy. Perfect mix in my book. I think a C-5 and a Jazz could be a good combo for a shred PRS.

 

[nuntius]

Re: PRS for Shred?

Shredders don't need 24 frets, look at Yngwie - he uses 21. Sometimes having those extra few notes can make a difference though.. I use them on occasion especially when tapping or using tapped/harp harmonics. Obviously it's possible to do harp harmonics where the 24th fret would be on any guitar, but having the fret there makes it much easier to do.


I agree with the_Chris, the bolt on maple necked CE is probably the preferable guitar for shred in the PRS stable, but in reality any of the solid bodies will 'work' for shred.

I'd personally go for a double cut design as opposed to a single cut design for improved upper fret access, but that's a personal thing.

 

[sosomething]

Re: PRS for Shred?

Any would work - you can shred on any guitar that suits you, but like others have said, if there is ONE particular PRS that best suits itself to the characteristics of a typical shred guitar, it's the CE24.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: PRS for Shred?

Just for clarification, does "wide-thin" mean a wide neck across the fretboard with a shallow depth from the top of the board to the curved back of the neck?

 

[nuntius]

Re: PRS for Shred?

Yes.

Wide fretboard, thin neck

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: PRS for Shred?

As a reference point, does the wide-thin PRS neck have about the same thickness as a Les Paul but a wider neck?

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I'd probably go with a Johnny Hiland model or one of the Private Stocks with an ebony fingerboard, though I doubt you could get one for $2k. I don't know if I could deal with the rosewood.

I'd stick to the 24-fret models as much as possible. Not because the extra two frets are neccessary, but because of the awful heel on the 22-fret models.

 

[sosomething]

Re: PRS for Shred?

Just for clarification, does "wide-thin" mean a wide neck across the fretboard with a shallow depth from the top of the board to the curved back of the neck?

Yes.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: PRS for Shred?

Any with a wide thin neck profile would work well, it just depends if you like the Ash, or Mahogany, bolt in, or glue in.

Luke

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: PRS for Shred?

The Johnny Hiland model seems interesting. Anyone out there have experience with the Hollowbody I or II? If so, how do you like it and what type of music are you playing?

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: PRS for Shred?

I think the Hollowbody II was what Vic Johnson was playing at the Sammy Hagar concert last week, but I'm not sure since I didn't really know what to look for to discern it from the others. It sounded (and looked) amazing, but I wouldn't have expected different from him. That's as far as my experience goes, though.