Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

[Drunken Bowling]

I've had the PRS SE Bernie Marsden for almost a year now, and while it's a good guitar with good build quality, I want to like it but I just can't. I've had the nut replaced with a Tusq, and the stock tuners replaced with Kluson locking tuners. It doesn't sound bad, and it stays in tune fairly decently, but it's just not "me". There's always been something about the shape of the PRS headstock that I never quite liked, and the guitar itself just doesn't have the same curves. It's more "squared" in comparison to a Les Paul. Not to mention it has bird inlays and not the pearloid trapezoids that I love. Before it, I owned a Gibson LP Trad Pro, but there's no way in hell I can afford another one, at least not for a while. I grew up idolizing Ace Frehley, and I just miss Les Pauls. So I've been thinking of selling the PRS and my amp and getting one of the new Plus Top Pro's. I've been hearing good things about them and I think that with some good aftermarket pickups to fatten up the sound and maybe some 50's wiring, I could have a guitar that not only sounds good, but is something that I think looks cool.

Am I crazy for wanting to do this?

 

[Chocklit_Thunda]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

No... You just have to play what feels right for you... If its an epiphone over a prs then so be it. Just find an Epi that feels right to you. Check other brands as well.

 

[Edgecrusher]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

Just do it... Too many great guitars out there to mess around with one that you just dont dig with.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

I have always been of the opinion to play what feels good for you. If the epiphone feels better go for it.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

Just do it... Too many great guitars out there to mess around with one that you just dont dig with.

+1. Guitars should inspire you to play, not be something that you tolerate. I have a few current-production Epi LP's, and like them much better than the Korean Epi's of the 1990's. Since they opened their Chinese plant 10 years ago, Epi's been on a product improvement (and consistency) program, and in 2010 started upgrading PU's. All of the models with coil cut push-pulls have upgraded PU's, which sound pretty good. You may want to upgrade PU's or just swap magnets. For $500, a Plus Top Pro LP is hard to beat, especially if you're an LP guy.

 

[cayle_6]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

I've recently played an Epiphone Plus Top Pro. The newer Epiphones sound really good. I still prefer the Bernie, because I like the PRS singlecut shape, bird inlays and I love the neck profile. You'll find the Epiphone's neck to be slimmer than that of the Bernie.


Go for the Epiphone if you're after the Les Paul feel and vibe. But try it out first.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

A current epiphone Tribute is a helluva good buy. REAL maple cap and veneer (instead of mystery mahogany cap and veneer like all the other Les Pauls they make) , quality electronics,.and Gibson pickups.

 

[MisterE]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

I can understand your need to trade I faced the same decision with my PRS SE SC, it played great and like yourself updated the nut to Tusq Xl, replaced the tuners with Grover mini locking rotomatics and it just wasn't working although it changed when I traded the JB/Jazz pickups for P-Rails. It is now my #1.

In your case you are trading and that's good also, you have to play what you bond with. Epi's are quality made guitars and I hope you will be happy with your trade.

 

[rts99]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

Life's too short to deny yourself a simple pleasure - like an epiphone. As long as it's not a financial hardship just do it.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

be patient, save up and get a gibson.

 

[Condemned soul]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

+1 Be real patient, save the pennies and get a Gibson. If they are in your price range now or in the future, you might consider a LP Studio. Some of them are nice.
Regardless of the way you go, you know the drill, start playing till one of them speaks to you.

 

[JonnyDoyle]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

newer gibsons have a much lower price. lower than epi's in some cases like the LPJ(which is just the 50's tribute) $699 new. everything you just described means to me that there isnt a guitar in the PRS SE line that youll be happy with. sell it, and get a gibson or epiphone. check out agiles as well. there is no substitute for a gibson that says paul reed smith on the headstock. just like theres no gibson that is a substitute for a paul reed smith. different animals.

 

[agentzero12]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

I'm a big epiphone fan. I won't be crazy enough to say don't buy a Gibson, but here is why I don't.

For the money you spend on an epiphone with upgrades, you will get a fantastic looking guitar that plays great and sounds great for under $1000. Most gibsons I play that have a price tag less than $1500 just don't feel or sound as good to me. Now the sound is subjective, short of burstbuckers I don't like Gibson pickups. They seem sterile to me. But aside from that, to compare my epi lp classic to a Gibson lp classic with upgrades, I'd take the epi any day.

Not to say gibsons are bad, I'm just budget conscious and do my own tech work so it's easy for me to make that decision.

Back to the original post, I don't gel with the prs single cuts myself. I prefer lp for a single cut guitar. I really like epi too. But as mentioned, go play a bunch of stuff to see what you like.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

For the money you spend on an epiphone with upgrades, you will get a fantastic looking guitar that plays great and sounds great for under $1000.

I do it way cheaper than that. A used Epi LP Std Plus in nice condition goes for around $300. Add a couple Seymour Duncans, also used, and for a total of $400 plus shipping, you can have a pretty good-sounding guitar.

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

I say do it, and I am a PRS guy myself. You got to play a guitar that speaks to you and inspires you to want to play, and play better. If it doesn't do that, time to find something that does.

As far as all the posts on saving for Gibson, I call BS for my own personal philosophy. Do what you got to do now to ensure you are still playing and enjoying playing what you own, then worry about saving for something another step up the ladder. If you don't like the gear you have, likely you won't play it as much as you should/could and may not improve yourself as a player as much as you'd like, or enjoy your time playing as much as you'd like (depending on your goals). Just doesn't make sense to me, get gear you love and play it till your fingers hurt!

 

[loversmoon]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

id do it. If epi is what feels and plays well for yourself then go for it. I have owned the lower in gibson and did not feel pleased with the overall quality. Thats a personal thing. In my opinion a well built epi with some upgrades can put you in a good price range for a flat out nice playing guitar.

 

[stringbender11]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

I agree with the others, get what you like. Guitars are just things, easy to replace. I switched from Fenders to Epis about a year ago as i like the shorter scale necks better and I have really enjoyed having a them. Find a buyer for the PRS and find yourself a nice Epi.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

As far as all the posts on saving for Gibson, I call BS for my own personal philosophy. Do what you got to do now to ensure you are still playing and enjoying playing what you own, then worry about saving for something another step up the ladder. If you don't like the gear you have, likely you won't play it as much as you should/could and may not improve yourself as a player as much as you'd like, or enjoy your time playing as much as you'd like (depending on your goals).

+1. The OP says he can't afford a Gibson for a while, so why not get get an Epi LP and play the thing? I'm happy with my Epi's and feel no need to drop $2,500 on a Gibson LP Std. That's 5 times the cost of the Epi version and they're not 5 times better nor sound 500% better. Many players can go thru life with mid-priced guitars and be perfectly content. There's a point where you have to stop wishing you had high-end gear and play what you have.

 

[agentzero12]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

+1. The OP says he can't afford a Gibson for a while, so why not get get an Epi LP and play the thing? I'm happy with my Epi's and feel no need to drop $2,500 on a Gibson LP Std. That's 5 times the cost of the Epi version and they're not 5 times better nor sound 500% better. Many players can go thru life with mid-priced guitars and be perfectly content. There's a point where you have to stop wishing you had high-end gear and play what you have.

I like it. It's always nice to hear people share that sentiment instead of being gear snobs. Especially on the interwebs.

 

[RoccoFunnyMan]

Re: Thinking About Selling My PRS For An Epiphone...

Hammer meet Nail. Both my Epi LPs are incredible instruments, couldn't be happier at 5 times the price.

+1. The OP says he can't afford a Gibson for a while, so why not get get an Epi LP and play the thing? I'm happy with my Epi's and feel no need to drop $2,500 on a Gibson LP Std. That's 5 times the cost of the Epi version and they're not 5 times better nor sound 500% better. Many players can go thru life with mid-priced guitars and be perfectly content. There's a point where you have to stop wishing you had high-end gear and play what you have.