Let's see some PRS pics and share your stories about them

[Greazygeo]

When they first came out saw a band playing a club. Guitarist was playing one and thought it sounded really good. Couple years later had my guitar stolen and with some insurance money ended up buying a ‘87 Standard 24 new for $1250.00. Had the big neck, candy apple red. Sounded good, hung funny on a strap though.
Fast forward a few years at GIT I see some teachers playing these guitars that sounded excellent. Found out they were Tom Andersons…get back from GIT and bought an Anderson and sold the PRS. Still have the Anderson after all these years.
Also had a CE24 that was ok…nice guitars, hate they way they hang on a strap though.

Sorry no pics of the PRS…do have some vid of it…should have kept it though, worth a bunch of $$$ now.

 

[VonBonfire]

When they first came out saw a band playing a club. Guitarist was playing one and thought it sounded really good. Couple years later had my guitar stolen and with some insurance money ended up buying a ‘87 Standard 24 new for $1250.00. Had the big neck, candy apple red. Sounded good, hung funny on a strap though.
Fast forward a few years at GIT I see some teachers playing these guitars that sounded excellent. Found out they were Tom Andersons…get back from GIT and bought an Anderson and sold the PRS. Still have the Anderson after all these years.
Also had a CE24 that was ok…nice guitars, hate they way they hang on a strap though.

Sorry no pics of the PRS…do have some vid of it…should have kept it though, worth a bunch of $$$ now.

Wow, you went to GIT? That must've been fun.

I remember first getting interested in guitar in the late 80's and it seemed like PRS was more associated with some glam rock dudes just going by some of the ads I saw in Guitar for the practicing musician. It's funny that they then got the lawyer-guitar association from the mid 2000s until about ten years ago, but now it seems like they've become universal though truthfully I only know one gigging guitarist around here whose main axe is a PRS but he def loves his.

 

[MYLILSS]

This is my PRS. It’s a CE22 in Whale blue and has had a few “small” tweaks done to it .

It now has an insanely figured Birdseye maple Fretboard, and a Gotoh double locking trem, with Duncan Nazgûl/Sentient pickups

 

[njshred]

When I received the PRS used on Billy Idol Unplugged:

 

[Music&Chaos]

This is my PRS. It’s a CE22 in Whale blue and has had a few “small” tweaks done to it .

It now has an insanely figured Birdseye maple Fretboard, and a Gotoh double locking trem, with Duncan Nazgûl/Sentient pickups

View attachment 436528

Can you share a normal pic without the weird filter?

 

[Greazygeo]

Wow, you went to GIT? That must've been fun.

I remember first getting interested in guitar in the late 80's and it seemed like PRS was more associated with some glam rock dudes just going by some of the ads I saw in Guitar for the practicing musician. It's funny that they then got the lawyer-guitar association from the mid 2000s until about ten years ago, but now it seems like they've become universal though truthfully I only know one gigging guitarist around here whose main axe is a PRS but he def loves his.

Yes 95-96. Always wanted to go and finally had the opportunity to go. Was a great year in my life. No car, no tv, did not know anyone for the first time in life. It was a blast.

PRS were not well known at all back then. And nowhere near as expensive. Neither was Anderson, I was like, what is that? Then found out Mesa Boogie Hollywood carried them and got to check them out before I went home.

PRS make some nice looking guitars and are well made, like I said just don’t hang on a strap how I like. Lots of them around here.

 

[jb44]

Don't play these anymore, putting them in storage. Prefer the Peavey Wolfgangs & Music Man Axis for their necks & PUs.

1991 Custom 24. Has a Brazilian board. 2nd or 3rd axe procured after re-starting playing in 2016.

Wanted to try PRS Custom 24 with a Floyd so got a couple.

 

[bikerdude2]

Don't play these anymore, putting them in storage. Prefer the Peavey Wolfgangs & Music Man Axis for their necks & PUs.

1991 Custom 24. Has a Brazilian board. 2nd or 3rd axe procured after re-starting playing in 2016.

Wanted to try PRS Custom 24 with a Floyd so got a couple.

That’s on my want list..A sweet switch 24

 

[67mike]

No pics, because I end up selling every PRS I buy. Not sure why?

 

[jb44]

No pics, because I end up selling every PRS I buy. Not sure why?

Yeah, I've given away a couple. One, a late 1990s moon inlayed Custom 22 with the rotary PU selection. Wasn't a fan of that so got rid of it. Initially had the opportunity to trade off for a green Peavey Wolfgang but passed...DOH!

 

[Metalhex]

I've owned 4 PRS SE guitars. All bought used. All incredible for the price. I had one just like this

I threw a Bareknuckle Warpig P90 pickup in the bridge and it crushed! So aggressive for the chugs. I may have to buy another one.

 

[Akira]

Not the ones I’ve tried, no. I haven’t tried the DMO or the Metal pickups though.

If it were me, I’d throw a different set of pickups in whatever you get.

The McCarty is a great guitar. Stock pickups are OK, or at least some people like them. I don't, not for metal, not really even my taste for rock. I find them to be a little spikey in an unpleasant way. The guitar is fantastic, though, will handle everything I throw at it. My MC with humbuckers in it has BKP Crawlers, same as my CU24, and is the evil twin of the white one I posted earlier with P90s. As much as I love my CU24, I prefer the stop tail on the MC. It just feels more solid, especially for rhythm work.

Did for me. At the gain levels our amps have anymore almost anything will work. You could always boost it, they’ll be fine.

I believe the pickups vary every few years. Even the stock McCarty Bass/Treble seem to vary a bit. I have a set and am almost certain it uses A4 magnets - possibly A2. They sound great. I thought I was going to be replacing them when I bought it, but every time I slam it into some gain - I do not find a need to swap them out. Really fun for riffing and chording. I am not certain what kind of 'metal' you may be thinkng of, so they may or may not do it for you. I wouldnt base a guitar off of a set of changeable pickups though either way. If you don't like em - sell the set and get something else.

Thanks for the help, guys! I ended up picking up an early 2000s McCarty that's in great shape with moon inlays. This is my first PRS. It's very comfortable. I think my only nitpick is I prefer jumbo or XJ frets. Pickups are okay, but I think I'll be changing them out. Music&Chaos, I agree that it's not worth judging a guitar just based on their pickups when they can be changed easily.

I play metal mostly in D Standard and Drop C. I was thinking of going:

• Bridge: Seymour Duncan Custom 5 or Black Winter (have read numerous positive comments on these pickups on these forums)
• Neck: Seymour Duncan 59, Pearly Gates, or Black Winter

Have you guys by chance tried these in a PRS before?

 

[Kordoba]

swamp ass bodies

the hog

 

[VonBonfire]

Bridge: Seymour Duncan Custom 5 or Black Winter (have read numerous positive comments on these pickups on these forums)

The Custom 5 seems beloved by members here.

I personally hate the Duncan 59 and think it sounds flat and lifeless but that's just my experience.

 

[Music&Chaos]

Thanks for the help, guys! I ended up picking up an early 2000s McCarty that's in great shape with moon inlays. This is my first PRS. It's very comfortable. I think my only nitpick is I prefer jumbo or XJ frets. Pickups are okay, but I think I'll be changing them out. Music&Chaos, I agree that it's not worth judging a guitar just based on their pickups when they can be changed easily.

I play metal mostly in D Standard and Drop C. I was thinking of going:

• Bridge: Seymour Duncan Custom 5 or Black Winter (have read numerous positive comments on these pickups on these forums)
• Neck: Seymour Duncan 59, Pearly Gates, or Black Winter

Have you guys by chance tried these in a PRS before?

How sweet is that!! Share some pics when you can. The pickups you listed are solidified in the rock world and will not be off the mark of what you are seeking, I would imagine. I would also always recommend checking out some Planet Tone pickups and contacting Jose via the chat for any questions, as I thoroughly enjoy their products over most makers in general, including the big name ones.

 

[romanianreaper]

I never got into PRS guitars and not sure why. I recently played my first USA one and played a CE back in the day that looked like a vampire guitar with bats, wtc. Looked really cool.

Just my opinion but I don't feel like PRS has marketed in a way that easily explains the models. When I look at most guitar companies, I easily can wade thru what I like and don't like. With PRS, I feel like I don't know what is tailored to certain players, etc.

I've done some reading on them and know about the shapes, MCarty, etc. Just get lost in it. My bass player has a bunch of PRS basses and loves them.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

I never got into PRS guitars and not sure why. I recently played my first USA one and played a CE back in the day that looked like a vampire guitar with bats, wtc. Looked really cool.

Just my opinion but I don't feel like PRS has marketed in a way that easily explains the models. When I look at most guitar companies, I easily can wade thru what I like and don't like. With PRS, I feel like I don't know what is tailored to certain players, etc.

I've done some reading on them and know about the shapes, MCarty, etc. Just get lost in it. My bass player has a bunch of PRS basses and loves them.

I agree with the critique about model confusion. The website does a decent job of showing a bunch of models and feature sets of each, but some things are hard to get a feel for from just perusing around the web site. Neck profiles, varying body thicknesses, that kind of thing.

For example I like just about all of the PRS 22 fret models with the “standard” PRS body shape. I like the idea of a 24 fret PRS but the Wide Thin neck profile they insist on making every 24 fret model with feels pretty much unplayable to me. I can’t stand it. I also really don’t like the way their guitars with stop tail pieces acoustically resonate, but again that’s not something you can learn from a website description.

I guess my point is that you really just have to find a store with a good selection and try everything. That’s unfortunately the only real way to be sure.

Although I’ve never really seen anybody play a DGT in person who didn’t love that one. Maybe start there.

 

[ChurchHill]

Have you guys by chance tried these in a PRS before?

Congrats!! Post a pic when you get a chance, would love to see it!

I haven't tried any of those pickups in a PRS before but have experience with all but the Black Winter. I'd think the Custom 5 would be a good fit. It's got a good treble response so should help you maintain definition when down tuned. Might also consider the Distortion which appears to have less mids than the Black Winter at about the same resistance. For the neck, the Pearly Gates might be a good fit. It's brighter, too, and a little more lively than the '59.

I'll agree with VonBonfire that I've found the '59 to be rather flat and lifeless, but again, that's just my experience.

 

[VonBonfire]

I like the idea of a 24 fret PRS but the Wide Thin neck profile they insist on making every 24 fret model with feels pretty much unplayable to me. I can’t stand it.

Interesting. Next to my recent '24 ES335 the wide thin profile has been problably favorite profile I've ever laid hands on. Haven't tried a wide-fat though.

I'd really like to get an SE custom 24 or a Santana model. I can pretty much stick any neck width/thickness save for 2x4's but I find a wider board a little easier to maneuver on and really loved that wide thin profile. It didn't feel "thin" to me at all.

I'll agree with VonBonfire that I've found the '59 to be rather flat and lifeless, but again, that's just my experience.

I have not had very good luck with Duncan pickups in general but I got an Edwards LP with the '59 in the neck hoping it would rival or exceed the 57 classics I loved so much. Man, talk about disappointment.

As for PRS I liked the 85/15's, they sounded really nice. Fat n warm without being muddy. A PRS is basically my next guitar purchase, even if it's only an SE. My only complaint was the tuners, while functional and held tune just fine, left a little to be desired in the feeling department. I'd probably upgrade them to the lightweight models.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

Interesting. Next to my recent '24 ES335 the wide thin profile has been problably favorite profile I've ever laid hands on. Haven't tried a wide-fat though.

I'd really like to get an SE custom 24 or a Santana model. I can pretty much stick any neck width/thickness save for 2x4's but I find a wider board a little easier to maneuver on and really loved that wide thin profile. It didn't feel "thin" to me at all.

Different strokes! If you dig it then that's all that matters for you. I don't like the Wide Thin neck because to my hands it's both too thin in the middle and they gave it a D shape so the neck has more shoulders than it feels like it should. That combo just feels bad to me. I get what they were doing, they wanted a thin neck profile but didn't want to diminish the sound with a small neck so they kept the shoulders big in hopes that the extra mass would mean more resonance. I can respect the intent behind the design but unfortunately the feel of that neck in particular just doesn't match my hands at all.

For what it's worth, my personal favorite neck profile is a slightly-thicker-than-medium profile in a C shape. Thinner C's are ok too. I just can't do D shapes though, too much shoulder always feels wrong. I'd rather put my hands on a V than a D any day (giggity). PRS's Wide Fat necks are great. The PRS Pattern is also great as it's the closest current production equivalent to the old Wide Fat profile. The DGT neck uses a unique profile and that's the one that disappears in my hands the fastest though. Seriously the DGT might be the best guitar PRS makes.