J
Jessie's ghost
Guest
I think we need a more precise way to describe what we might be tempted to call a "soul" in an inanimate object.
Why PRS guitars cost so much
- Thread starter firebirdV
- Start date
Ascension
Well-known member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
I understand the sentiment also and it is the very thing that you say that a PRS does not have that has me playing my PRS Custom 24 on stage 90% of the time now. It simply responds to the nuances of my touch and technique better than any guitar from any manufacturer at any price that I have ever had in my hands.
Souless as you say?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I understand the sentiment also and it is the very thing that you say that a PRS does not have that has me playing my PRS Custom 24 on stage 90% of the time now. It simply responds to the nuances of my touch and technique better than any guitar from any manufacturer at any price that I have ever had in my hands.
Souless as you say?? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
Erm...I didn't say. I said that was a poor choice of word.
Erm...I didn't say. I said that was a poor choice of word.
Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
While I dont really get on with PRS guitars I think they are a great instrument. My main problem is Paul himself....there is something off about the guy. Like he is desperate to come off as a great down to earth nice guy. I cant put my finger on it but something seems off with him.
While I dont really get on with PRS guitars I think they are a great instrument. My main problem is Paul himself....there is something off about the guy. Like he is desperate to come off as a great down to earth nice guy. I cant put my finger on it but something seems off with him.
Archer_of_Fish
New member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
Yeah Nerdy guys from guitar companies have a lot of clout with the government of a nation with real issues to tackle. PRS has nothing to do with Gibson's issues. I'm a Gibson player and have no doubt the Gibson brought this on themselves....the evidence seems to suipport this too.
The notion that PRS is calling the government to nail Gibson is tin foil hat conspiracy nonsense.
Yeah Nerdy guys from guitar companies have a lot of clout with the government of a nation with real issues to tackle. PRS has nothing to do with Gibson's issues. I'm a Gibson player and have no doubt the Gibson brought this on themselves....the evidence seems to suipport this too.
The notion that PRS is calling the government to nail Gibson is tin foil hat conspiracy nonsense.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
My first job in life was a GC salesman at 19 years old to 21. During this time, Paul Reed Smith was pitching his wares to Guitar Center and getting them placed on the racks next to Gibson. I'm proud to say I was in one of his first over the phone training sessions on his product. We picked his brain, asking why he didn't use Floyds and all sorts of 89 based questions about what HE KNEW was the next classic, and we didn't. In retrospect, we should have all been turning our paychecks into early PRS models.
I've liked the company since then, and it's my 3rd favorite alongside Gibson and Fender. I've had some early 90's Custom 24 and 22's, and then met with their rep Tim Edwards in 94, when he handed me one of the first McCarty models ever made......sure wish I'd had the money for that!
To this day, I still think the Ted McCarty/PRS connection produced their classic model...the McCarty Custom. Whether it has birds or moons, the McCarty model is what I consider PRS's timeless classic design. 22 frets, the wide/fat neck, thick heel, thicker maple capped body, increased headstock angle, and brilliant bridge design....
The 94 + McCarty Model is my favorite model because IMO it's essentially the final Gibson....the final Ted McCarty creation, after being the creator of many great Gibson models. He basically perfected PRS's ideas with the McCarty and Singlecut.
He could rest on those laurels alone, but the newest PRS's over the past 10 years have blown my mind too. The 245, DGM, Mirra, One, and newest Studio models are just amazing. PRS, before all others, is the company that stands shoulder to shoulder with Gibson and Fender. The others, while nice, fall short of what Paul accomplished.
My first job in life was a GC salesman at 19 years old to 21. During this time, Paul Reed Smith was pitching his wares to Guitar Center and getting them placed on the racks next to Gibson. I'm proud to say I was in one of his first over the phone training sessions on his product. We picked his brain, asking why he didn't use Floyds and all sorts of 89 based questions about what HE KNEW was the next classic, and we didn't. In retrospect, we should have all been turning our paychecks into early PRS models.
I've liked the company since then, and it's my 3rd favorite alongside Gibson and Fender. I've had some early 90's Custom 24 and 22's, and then met with their rep Tim Edwards in 94, when he handed me one of the first McCarty models ever made......sure wish I'd had the money for that!
To this day, I still think the Ted McCarty/PRS connection produced their classic model...the McCarty Custom. Whether it has birds or moons, the McCarty model is what I consider PRS's timeless classic design. 22 frets, the wide/fat neck, thick heel, thicker maple capped body, increased headstock angle, and brilliant bridge design....
The 94 + McCarty Model is my favorite model because IMO it's essentially the final Gibson....the final Ted McCarty creation, after being the creator of many great Gibson models. He basically perfected PRS's ideas with the McCarty and Singlecut.
He could rest on those laurels alone, but the newest PRS's over the past 10 years have blown my mind too. The 245, DGM, Mirra, One, and newest Studio models are just amazing. PRS, before all others, is the company that stands shoulder to shoulder with Gibson and Fender. The others, while nice, fall short of what Paul accomplished.
Last edited:
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
Oh yeah, and one other thing. PRS guitars are a great platform for SD pickups to really shine, since their wood already shines.
One of my best sounding guitars is a guitar that is close to what would have happened if PRS were around in the 50's. If the McCarty Model had come out in the late 50's, it would have likely had Seth Lover designed PAF's in it. So, that's what I did. Seth Lovers in a McCarty are F'in killer. Same with all the other vintage to medium output pickups...from PG's, 59's, Brobucker, C5 etc. Before you ever judge a PRS with stock pickups against a Gibson, try both those guitars with all the good aftermarket pickups. You'll hear PRS's that out-Gibson a Gibson. Too many comparisons done by Gibson players are done by guys with great pickups, comparing their Gibsons to stock PRS guitars. Change the pickups and you level the playing field.
Oh yeah, and one other thing. PRS guitars are a great platform for SD pickups to really shine, since their wood already shines.
One of my best sounding guitars is a guitar that is close to what would have happened if PRS were around in the 50's. If the McCarty Model had come out in the late 50's, it would have likely had Seth Lover designed PAF's in it. So, that's what I did. Seth Lovers in a McCarty are F'in killer. Same with all the other vintage to medium output pickups...from PG's, 59's, Brobucker, C5 etc. Before you ever judge a PRS with stock pickups against a Gibson, try both those guitars with all the good aftermarket pickups. You'll hear PRS's that out-Gibson a Gibson. Too many comparisons done by Gibson players are done by guys with great pickups, comparing their Gibsons to stock PRS guitars. Change the pickups and you level the playing field.
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
Really awesome top & finish, but please put creme pickup rings..!
For many many years I have looked at and played many PRS guitars but never bought one. Last November I got an unreal deal on a near mint 2007 Custom 24 in a local Pawn shop and so I bought it to flip and make some $$. After I had restrung it and cleaned it up to list it on Ebay I took it to band practice and played it out in a full band situation and it floored me.
You see a lot of talk on these forums about the looks and detail on a PRS but you almost never hear folks talk about the tone and how they respond and if you do see it's normally someone who doesn't own on talking about how cold and soulless they are. However nothing could be farther from the truth in my own experience with owning one.
I was so blown away by how the guitar responded all over the neck and also at how much tonal ground it could cover that I have yet to play a single live event without my PRS. This is since November 2011 and I play out at least 3 times a week.
With the stock HFS/VB and the 5 way I am getting clean clear strat like tones, smoking hot thick lead tones, punishing heavy rhythm tones, and a nice smooth buttery bluesy neck bucker all from the same guitar on the fly with just a flick of the wrist on the 5 way.
I have owned just about every brand that you can name over the 40 or so years I have been playing and what this PRS does in the way it simply responds blows me away.
I really did not care much at first for the way it actually played because of the different neck profile (wide Thin) and the 10 radius from what I was used to but the tones were just too impressive to ignore. The action has always been very fast and low it was just that it felt so "different" from what i normally played. However now after playing it almost exclusively for a few months it feels completely natural and I am playing nothing else.
NOTHING from Gibson or Fender or Carvin or Jackson or the USA Washburns or Hamer or--- has EVER knocked me out as a stage guitar like this PRS has!!
Heck now I even love the 5 way rotary switch!
Really awesome top & finish, but please put creme pickup rings..!
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
I've owned 2. A Mira maple top model and a McCarty Korina.
They were so very very pretty. But played so very very sh!tty. I can't say anything about the new models with their version of nitrocellulose finish but I really think PRS' weak link is those pickups. They are the thinnest sounding things ever. That's not even to say that they're low output. Fender single coils have more grunt than them.
They should just start throwing DiMarzios and Duncans in and call it a day. But I guess that wouldn't make the company as boutique.
Also as far as the style/shape of guitar goes, I'll take a Carvin over a PRS any day of the week. Far more customizable.
I've owned 2. A Mira maple top model and a McCarty Korina.
They were so very very pretty. But played so very very sh!tty. I can't say anything about the new models with their version of nitrocellulose finish but I really think PRS' weak link is those pickups. They are the thinnest sounding things ever. That's not even to say that they're low output. Fender single coils have more grunt than them.
They should just start throwing DiMarzios and Duncans in and call it a day. But I guess that wouldn't make the company as boutique.
Also as far as the style/shape of guitar goes, I'll take a Carvin over a PRS any day of the week. Far more customizable.
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
I liken PRS guitars to a new BMW, where a Les Paul is a classic Corvette and a Strat or Tele is a classic Mustang.
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
I think PRS makes fantastic products. Some day I would like a Singlecut as well as a Custom 22. The only thing I don't like is the emphasis on premium tops and the associated cost. Give me a decent burst, doesn't have to be crazy, at a reasonable price. Other than that, I have no gripes, they're well worth the cost for a great instrument.
I think PRS makes fantastic products. Some day I would like a Singlecut as well as a Custom 22. The only thing I don't like is the emphasis on premium tops and the associated cost. Give me a decent burst, doesn't have to be crazy, at a reasonable price. Other than that, I have no gripes, they're well worth the cost for a great instrument.
Last edited:
misterwhizzy
Well-known member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
The PRS SE Custom 22 I bought sounds almost as good as my Gibson. It plays great, and it's very well made. Sure, it could be that I got lucky, or it could be that they take their reputation and products seriously. I choose to believe it's the latter.
The PRS SE Custom 22 I bought sounds almost as good as my Gibson. It plays great, and it's very well made. Sure, it could be that I got lucky, or it could be that they take their reputation and products seriously. I choose to believe it's the latter.
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
^^
PRS SE > PRS USA
^^
PRS SE > PRS USA
aleclee
Major General GAS
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
The SE line has some nice instruments but that's crazy talk.
arellanon
New member
AudioWonderland
New member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
You need to come inside and get out of the heat. That's just ridiculous
You need to come inside and get out of the heat. That's just ridiculous
jmh151
Active member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
I'd say recent PRS SE > recent Gibson USA
My complaint with the SEs, and maybe they changed this, is the very soft fretwire they use, typical of imports. PRS American fretwire is almost as hard as stainless steel.
Then the finish-- SEs have the thick finish, something all imports have.
hardware- American PRS get much better hardware. The SE hardware is still great, as good as Gibson USA with cast tailpieces and non locking tuners, but with USA PRS you get solid billet aluminum or brass tailpieces, bridges and locking tuners on most models.
You can also see the difference in wood quality between an SE and American made PRS.
Not to downplay the SE line, they're excellent guitars, better than Most guitars costing several hundred dollars more
I'd say recent PRS SE > recent Gibson USA
My complaint with the SEs, and maybe they changed this, is the very soft fretwire they use, typical of imports. PRS American fretwire is almost as hard as stainless steel.
Then the finish-- SEs have the thick finish, something all imports have.
hardware- American PRS get much better hardware. The SE hardware is still great, as good as Gibson USA with cast tailpieces and non locking tuners, but with USA PRS you get solid billet aluminum or brass tailpieces, bridges and locking tuners on most models.
You can also see the difference in wood quality between an SE and American made PRS.
Not to downplay the SE line, they're excellent guitars, better than Most guitars costing several hundred dollars more
9unslin9er
New member
Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
Haha...I thought my trolling would incite some violence.
No, made in Korea is not better than something from the US of A.
HOWEVER! An American PRS can cost upwards of 10 times that of an import.
Is it 10 times better playing, better sounding, better looking?
I don't think so.
Haha...I thought my trolling would incite some violence.
No, made in Korea is not better than something from the US of A.
HOWEVER! An American PRS can cost upwards of 10 times that of an import.
Is it 10 times better playing, better sounding, better looking?
I don't think so.