Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

[Sorg]

When I tried a PRS Custom 24 it was a bit hard to play (not that easy playable, like an ibanez for instance), but I guess much had to do with the action being set to high.

I have a Gibson and I like wide necks, but the PRS neck seems to be very wide. (I mean the fretboard and the gap between the strings). And the other way, when you look down at the guitar from the side. I like that it's wide there, but maybe not that the fretboard is too wide. Doesn't that make it heavyer to play?

1. Does anybody know how wide it is compared to a Gibson? (on the PRS site it only says that the neck is "wide fat").
2. Is it possible to now how wide the fretboard is and how wide the neck is from the side?
3. Does the Custom 22 have a more wide neck than the 24?
4. Do you guys think that the PRS necks are fast compared to Ibanez, Jackson, etc..?

 

[FretFire]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

I've always thought it's the player's technique that determines shredding ability, not the guitar's neck. I've seen people shred on all types of guitars. However, of course being more comfortable with the neck will help you stay more relaxed, etc. That said, if you are comfortable on wide, flat, skinny necks like Jackson and Ibanez you might not like a PRS neck. In my experience they are deeper than most Jackson/Ibanez necks, although not quite as thick as a Gibson 50's profile IMO. If you like typical "shredder" necks the wide-fat profile might appeal to you more.

 

[Sorg]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Well I don't exactly know, because all I have ever played is my Gibson LP Studio Lite and I like the neck on it very much (but maybe because I so used to it?). When I try Ibanez for instance, they're just too thin for me (then I mean from the side), not too deep. They don't fill the room in my hand enough.

But I don't like that the fretboard is too wide. Does anyone know if the neck on a PRS and my Gibson is very different?

 

[3'scompany]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

But I don't like that the fretboard is too wide. Does anyone know if the neck on a PRS and my Gibson is very different?

I've got a little bit of info for you here. The Custom 24 isn't going to come with the wide-fat neck. It is either offered in wide-thin or the regular carve. Then the Custom 22 is offered in either the WF (wide-fat) or the WT (wide-thin) This being said, the WF and WT both have the same width at the nut which is 1 11/16th's of an inch. This is also what current les paul studios are and many other gibson guitars are as well. So width of the neck shouldn't be a problem compared to a gibson. However, the depth might be an issue, which is the difference between the WF and WT. Now if you still think the WF and WT necks are too wide, the Custom 24 aslo comes in the regular carve. The regular carve is slightly skinner than the wide necks coming in at 1 21/32" for width at the nut. It has the same depth as a WF so its got some more "meat" than the WT so to say. However, though I've never really looked that intensely at buying Cu24's, when I have looked at them I've never seen one in the regular neck carve. So avalibility may be an issue on that one. But like I said, I'm not the expert on that as all my PRSi are 22 fret models.

Hope this all helped at least a little. Here's the neck info on PRS's web site: http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/faq.html Just scroll about 1/3 of the way down.

 

[3'scompany]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

1. Does anybody know how wide it is compared to a Gibson? (on the PRS site it only says that the neck is "wide fat").
2. Is it possible to now how wide the fretboard is and how wide the neck is from the side?
3. Does the Custom 22 have a more wide neck than the 24?

All answered in above post.

4. Do you guys think that the PRS necks are fast compared to Ibanez, Jackson, etc..?

For me the PRS necks are just as fast if not faster. Speed of a neck IMO all boils down to comfort first and foremost and then action height (to some degree). I can't play on 25.5 scale necks and I can't play on thin ones very fast. I can't even play a Wide-thin that comfortably. The Wide-fat is perfect for me. Its the perfect width and depth for my hands. I'm not the best guitar player by any means, but I can blast through some pretty fast runs. Like I said, it all boils down to comfort and what meshes with you. I'd say try it with lower action as I feel like the action totally transforms the feel of my PRSi.

 

[BluesGuyJ]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

I have an Ibanez JS1000 and an early 70s Gibson SG Standard.

I can shred on the SG way better than I can the Ibanez.

It's all preference.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

If the only PRS you played was at Guitar Center then you haven't played a well set up PRS. My action on my CU24 is pretty low and it plays very fast. It also has the wide thin neck which 3's already talked about.

Luke

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Does Guitar Center mess up the action on guitars on purpose? A PRS leaves the factory with a good set-up.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

I'm actually surprised more shredders don't use PRS instead of Ibanez and Jackson. They make a profile for everyone. I like the McCarty wide/fat the most. And you don't need to concern yourself with the large heel because it doesn't hamper anything, but it allows the body to have better tone and energy transfer. Plus, you can get PRS guitars with 22 or 24 frets.

They come setup pretty good from the factory.....a lot better than Gibson does. That stuff doesn't matter to me, because I know it'll be set up perfectly within an hour of owning it.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

A PRS leaves the factory with a good set-up.

There's a local shop that claims to be the biggest PRS dealer in like three states (the only one that's bigger is an internet-only dealer). They stock something like 150 of them at any given time. (If you're ever in Dayton, Ohio you have got to stop by, it's called Centerville Music). I was talking to the owner, who is very cool about letting you play whatever, knowing full well you're not in the market to buy anything. He will say, "Pull anyone of them down, and it'll play great, killer setup. 9/10 go straight from the box to the wall. The other one gets a slight truss rod tweak, and it's done."

 

[TheTranslator]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

I have an Ibanez JS1000 and an early 70s Gibson SG Standard.

I can shred on the SG way better than I can the Ibanez.

It's all preference.

That's because the JS1000, and all the other Satriani models, have extremely rounded Strat-like fingerboards, as opposed to the standard Prestige line, which are very thin and FLAT. A month ago, I test drove both the JS2400, and JEM7V, which has the FASTEST fingerboard I've played up to date (after bridge and truss-rod adjustments). Guess which one I finally walked out Guitar Center with :knockedou

Certain SG's have very flat fingerboards, and even though the neck is FAT, the flatness of the fingerboard allows fast riffage. I have a vintage SG standard, a 61-reissue SG, and a $700 SG Faded Special. Ironically, the least expensive Faded Special has the fastest fingerboard out of the 3, but for some odd reason, it doesn't mold to your body as naturally as an Ibanez, which gives the impression that Ibanez guitars have faster necks.

 

[Archer_of_Fish]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Shredding is about technique not the guitar.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Yes, PRS will work for shred. And super fast country picking.

 

[FretFire]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

That's because the JS1000, and all the other Satriani models, have extremely rounded Strat-like fingerboards, as opposed to the standard Prestige line, which are very thin and FLAT. A month ago, I test drove both the JS2400, and JEM7V, which has the FASTEST fingerboard I've played up to date (after bridge and truss-rod adjustments). Guess which one I finally walked out Guitar Center with :knockedou

Certain SG's have very flat fingerboards, and even though the neck is FAT, the flatness of the fingerboard allows fast riffage. I have a vintage SG standard, a 61-reissue SG, and a $700 SG Faded Special. Ironically, the least expensive Faded Special has the fastest fingerboard out of the 3, but for some odd reason, it doesn't mold to your body as naturally as an Ibanez, which gives the impression that Ibanez guitars have faster necks.

Funny, Satriani has no problem shredding on his rounded "strat-like" fretboards. I agree with my sentiments from 6 years ago laugh2 that shredding is more about your technique than what guitar you're holding.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Funny, Satriani has no problem shredding on his rounded "strat-like" fretboards. I agree with my sentiments from 6 years ago laugh2 that shredding is more about your technique than what guitar you're holding.

:smack:

That's because the JS1000, and all the other Satriani models, have extremely rounded Strat-like fingerboards, as opposed to the standard Prestige line, which are very thin and FLAT. A month ago, I test drove both the JS2400, and JEM7V, which has the FASTEST fingerboard I've played up to date (after bridge and truss-rod adjustments). Guess which one I finally walked out Guitar Center with :knockedou

Certain SG's have very flat fingerboards, and even though the neck is FAT, the flatness of the fingerboard allows fast riffage. I have a vintage SG standard, a 61-reissue SG, and a $700 SG Faded Special. Ironically, the least expensive Faded Special has the fastest fingerboard out of the 3, but for some odd reason, it doesn't mold to your body as naturally as an Ibanez, which gives the impression that Ibanez guitars have faster necks.

 

[TheTranslator]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Funny, Satriani has no problem shredding on his rounded "strat-like" fretboards. I agree with my sentiments from 6 years ago laugh2 that shredding is more about your technique than what guitar you're holding.

I agree as well. With a little practice, ANYONE (not only Malmsteen lol) can play their best riffs on ANY neck/fingerboard profile. However, the consensus opinion is that FLAT fingerboards accomplish this with greater ease and comfort, than rounded "Strat-like" fingerboards.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Shredding is about technique not the guitar.

+1. It all depends on what kind of neck the player likes and is used to. The fastest local rock guitarist I've seen down here prefers massive, baseball bat necks. When you generalize about speed and how it relates to necks, string gauge, and actions, they'll be all kinds of exceptions.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Why do new members feel the need to bump zombie threads?

 

[TheTranslator]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Why do new members feel the need to bump zombie threads?

I'm in the market for another high-end guitar in the next month or 2, so I was initially doing a search on the playability of the PRS custom 24, and I "bumped" into this thread :why:

 

[blueman335]

Re: Question about the necks on PRS guitars - (PRS good for shredding?)

Why do new members feel the need to bump zombie threads?

Why not? It's not like we come up with new stuff on our own all that often.