I cant believe I'm about to say this...

[Shreddy Mercury]

....but if I wanted to be gay and actually buy a US PRS, what is the go to model? I do like the carved top guitars, and while figured wood is great, I'm not opposed to a painted guitar. Since I've spent my entire adult life hating them because they're part Strat, part Les Paul, yet somehow cost more than both of them put together, I know very little about them. CE22, CE24, McCarty, bolt neck, set neck, confusion abounds. I do know the rotary selector is the dumbest invention of all, but I've never really spent any time with one.

Most times, when guys here post a NGD about a PRS and I dig the guitar, it tends to be a mid to late 90s US model. I don't really want an import, unless it's just too ballin' to ignore, but I gotta support my countrymen and buy USA if at all possible.

 

[Rackman]

Welcome to the FABULOUS world of PRS!

The go-to model for general use is the Custom 24. I personally prefer the newer "Floyd" sub-model but their variation on the Milcom trem on the base model is not half bad either. The 5-way switching is super gig-friendly - all the normal humbucker positions plus two noise-canceling "single coil" parallel positions from one control.

The CE24 is snappier but has less sustain. The Standard 24 is a hair less bright.

The Singlcut (especially the old mid-scale ones) and Tremonti were the weapon of choice for nu metal. Not really my thing but there it is. The new short scale Singlecut is basically a swipe at Gibson's shit QC. The McCarty is sort of a diet Singlecut.

The Swamp Ash Special is unique - bright, snappy country guitar in a PRS wrapper. The Anniversary ones with 3 mini-buckers are one of my all time favorite axes. They come in a color called "Angry Larry" which I feel like people here could appreciate.

The Hollowbody and Archtop are what they sound like.

Be aware if you decide to swap pickups the neck magnet needs to be flipped, and then you need to translate the wire colors. Otherwise you will likely end up both out of phase and gay, and that's no fun for anyone

 

[BeZo]

I bought Jarrett guitars. They are by far the best PRS ripoffs out there.

 

[311boogieman]

No worries. The TGP folks will be here shortly.

 

[Geo]

Buy the entry level USA made and you'll have all the PRS you will ever need.

 

[VonBonfire]

....but if I wanted to be gay and actually buy a US PRS, what is the go to model? I do like the carved top guitars, and while figured wood is great, I'm not opposed to a painted guitar. Since I've spent my entire adult life hating them because they're part Strat, part Les Paul, yet somehow cost more than both of them put together, I know very little about them. CE22, CE24, McCarty, bolt neck, set neck, confusion abounds. I do know the rotary selector is the dumbest invention of all, but I've never really spent any time with one.

Most times, when guys here post a NGD about a PRS and I dig the guitar, it tends to be a mid to late 90s US model. I don't really want an import, unless it's just too ballin' to ignore, but I gotta support my countrymen and buy USA if at all possible.

Some of what I have managed to gather:

594= 24.594" scale length, 22 frets, and vintage style pickups, stop tailpiece, usually with chunkier neck and 2 vol/2 tone pull for coil split.

Custom 24=25" scale length, 24 frets, more aggressive pickups, tremolo system, five way selector switch with vol/tone knob or 24-08 version with three way toggle and two mini toggelz for coil splitting.

 

[japetus]

An old 90's mccarty, standard. Can find them for $1100

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

An old 90's mccarty, standard. Can find them for $1100

Where are you finding US PRSs for $1100?

 

[SFW]

The S2 models do not have carved tops.

 

[japetus]

Facebook marketplace and locally

 

[SonVolt]

....but if I wanted to be gay

ballin'

Yep, you gay.

 

[Geo]

Bought one these new last year for $1100.

If you were local I would sell it to you for that.

https://prsguitars.com/electrics/model/s2_standard_22_satin_2025

 

[70 Mach 1]

PRS never appealed to me.
I tried a few at GC over the decades
I guess im not gay

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

Number of PRS guitars you need = n +1, with n being what you currently have.

 

[VonBonfire]

Number of PRS guitars you need = n +1, with n being what you currently have.

 

[Jack Luminous]

TGP refugees already ??? OMG !

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

What is OP's favorite shade of tan?

 

[VonBonfire]

What is OP's favorite shade of tan?

Matt is a gem of a human being and a helluva guitar player IMO. I'm guessing he's in the middle of financing this through MF as we speak:

 

[LPMojoGL]

Bro just called me gay.

For real tho...
I had a CU24 10-top in the late 90s. Great guitar, but it was so pretty that I was afraid to take it anywhere. Admittedly missed the late 70s LP Custom I sold to afford it.
I recently had a 97 CE24, that was fantastic, better than any current CE24 I've played.
I picked up this 2003 Artist CU24 in trade, thinking I'd flip it, to offset the $ of recent guitar purchases.
To my surprise, and utter dismay at possibly being gay, I absolutely dig it.
I haven't played enough modern Core models, other than the CE24s, to have an opinion, but I will say that it's totally worth it if you can find a late 90s-early 2000s to explore. They're pretty awesome. They may not out-Strat a Fender, or out-LP a Gibson. Comparison is the thief of all joy. Taken at their own merit, you just might find a killer guitar to add to the stable. It might even be in your top 3.
I'd recommend both, CE24 and CU24 based on my experience, and CU22 based on a friend's killer guitar.

Going back to, "Comparison is the thief of all joy."...
I can't tell you how many pedals or amps I've flipped because they didn't do one thing better than another. And totally slept on what they do well. So it might not be the best delay ever, but it brings out something unique in you're imagination. It might not be the Marshalliest modded Marshall, but it does sounds that no other amp does.
Fact of the matter is, they're all different colors to paint with. The trick is recognizing how that color works for you, and working with it.

 

[VonBonfire]

Bro just called me gay.
View attachment 445439
For real tho...
I had a CU24 10-top in the late 90s. Great guitar, but it was so pretty that I was afraid to take it anywhere. Admittedly missed the late 70s LP Custom I sold to afford it.
I recently had a 97 CE24, that was fantastic, better than any current CE24 I've played.
I picked up this 2003 Artist CU24 in trade, thinking I'd flip it, to offset the $ of recent guitar purchases.
To my surprise, and utter dismay at possibly being gay, I absolutely dig it.
I haven't played enough modern Core models, other than the CE24s, to have an opinion, but I will say that it's totally worth it if you can find a late 90s-early 2000s to explore. They're pretty awesome. They may not out-Strat a Fender, or out-LP a Gibson. Comparison is the thief of all joy. Taken at their own merit, you just might find a killer guitar to add to the stable. It might even be in your top 3.
I'd recommend both, CE24 and CU24 based on my experience, and CU22 based on a friend's killer guitar.

Going back to, "Comparison is the thief of all joy."...
I can't tell you how many pedals or amps I've flipped because they didn't do one thing better than another. And totally slept on what they do well. So it might not be the best delay ever, but it brings out something unique in you're imagination. It might not be the Marshalliest modded Marshall, but it does sounds that no other amp does.
Fact of the matter is, they're all different colors to paint with. The trick is recognizing how that color works for you, and working with it.