Re: Why PRS guitars cost so much
they cost so much because people will pay that much for them. people pay that much for them because they want to believe they are worth it. I say they are not. why do I say that? well, beside being true... the company behind it is not worth it. why? because they do not have an open ear to customer input... they do not take it well. an empty sense of arrogance, based on the conversations I've had with them - meaning, they act as if their $hi7 doesn't stink as much as it actually does... probably something to do with the impression they put out there to try to get people to believe their product is so much better when it is not. I've personally have conversations with them about changes or options that they ignored or shot down or literally said they'd never do. I've come to see at least 2 of them come in to play on different models since them... I'm certain they will expect people to believe it was soley an interal decision and not at all based on customer input/feedback. so... although I liked my SingleCut and how it played and how it sounded, the experience with the company was such that I just got rid of it last year. I'd like to say that maybe if Paul actually ran the company, it'd be different... but I expect the arrogance started somewhere.
there are guitars out there that are of better quality for a more cost-effective price from a company that really does care about the customer. go find them... and buy them... and play them.
I'll have to disagree. If you want small changes to be made, go to a small guitar maker or have a lutheir custom make you a guitar. PRS has turned into a big company, and when you're dealing with a big company it's harder to make design changes for a one off guitar, unless the buyer has the money.
I met the Paul Reed Smith Team last year in NYC during a 2 day event- I met Paul Reed Smith, Len Johnson, the head of the PTC team, Doug Sewell, and David Grissom. It was at Rudy's Music, Soho, NYC, and it was a very small event where you could walk in with your PRS, meet Paul himself, have him sign your guitar, and have Les- the master tech that does all the setups on all the stars guitars including Carlos Santana- set up your guitar with new strings FOR FREE.
Paul was busy with buisness alot, always on his cell phone, but when he was off, you could easlily approach him and he was extremely friendly. He does have a Bill Gates/ nerdy personality meaning he is friendly but quirky at the same time, but he took the time to just hang out and talk for 2 straight days, discuss guitars, help you place orders, answer your questions, etc- not for 2 hours, but for 2 days. Though he has the whole line of new SE amps out, at no time was Paul being a salesman and get you to buy anything. If you tried badmouting the competition or say how his guitars were so much better than others, he wouldn't say anything.
Doug Sewell was there performing amp mods on the spot, modding an amp for David Grissom.
Paul respects David's input ALOT, and was probably there to discuss a new guitar. They were talking alot about what Dave wanted in his next guitar- which I suspect were discussions for the new all Mahogany DGT Standard model. Dave was evidently very demanding with what he wanted, both in his guitars and amps, and Paul was bending over backwards to make Dave happy with the guitar he was designing and amp Doug was modifying. So from what I saw, Paul is still very involved, though has maybe taken on the role of CEO or President of the company rather than lutheir. He is still very actively involved in every aspect of the company.
If you REALLY wanted to talk shop and setups, Len was there to answer all of your questions while doing a setup on your guitar.
As far as being expensive, I spent $1599 for my Korina KL1812. No fancy top, solid Korina but rare. More people, including Paul and Len, ooo'd and ahhh'd over that guitar that day than their own expensive Artist series Artist top guitars. PRS has come out with budget lines- the Mira, and even the Korina Limited- if you want even cheaper, their import line are excellent quality for the money.
