PRS Factory tour, was pretty surprised.

[Digital Jams]

Yeah there are a few stories about Lee out there but can you amagine the customer care line at Gibson inc??? Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeettttttttttttt...................I had a killer time speaking with Lee during the build of two guitars, guess I just never pissed him off.

About prices......just refused $1700 for my maple GMW, $200 more than I paid

 

[tweed]

Grab a shovel and give me twenty mister!!!

300' driveway, Velco Steve saw it. Just got through throwing 50 pounds of ice melt down [/quote]

300' driveway?!? WTF were you thinking?

 

[Digital Jams]

Grab a shovel and give me twenty mister!!!

300' driveway, Velco Steve saw it. Just got through throwing 50 pounds of ice melt down

300' driveway?!? WTF were you thinking? [/quote]

Location Location Location

 

[Shiny_Surface]

300' driveway, Velco Steve saw it. Just got through throwing 50 pounds of ice melt down

I'm guessing you have a plow and don't a blow a driveway that long.

 

[Digital Jams]

300' driveway, Velco Steve saw it. Just got through throwing 50 pounds of ice melt down

I'm guessing you have a plow and don't a blow a driveway that long.

10hp Ariens snowblower, a lip full of skoal, dog, and some beers stuck in the snow

Too cheap to pay someone

 

[mysticaxe]

300' driveway?!? WTF were you thinking?

Location Location Location

Far away from the street????

What I took from that video was that people work faster when they know it is being taped! They looked like even though they were going quick, they were being reasonably careful. Think about how many guitars PRS makes - look at your local GC!

 

[AmpliFIRE]

I'm still not seeing the point of this thread Scott? PRS still makes a great guitar...no matter how much you think it costs them to build it. Paul has built a proven business model for sure. They are still in very high demand and the market has agreed to pay their asking price. Actually, I think it's great that they spend so much time with QC and discarding all of the questionable guitars. I've yet to find a PRS with finish flaws like some Gibby's and Fenders have...that to me is a win in itself. You know as well as I do that putting together a bolt on guitar is a lot different assembling a set-neck guitar from scratch...

 

[Gainzilla]

GMW is a better company now that he's not just making Charvel clones. But if Lee were to make a set neck guitar with a flamed maple top how much is he going to charge? I don't think it's going to be that much cheaper than a PRS. And PRS guitars do hold their value pretty well unlike a lot of other smaller brands, especially in this crappy economy.

Its not any better really, its the same thing with different headstocks. His Neck Throughs go for about 2k with crazy woods and your specs..

Im not going to say PRS is crap, they obviously have their fans, its preference like anything else. Like I said before, I dont care about resale value because I dont buy guitars to resell them. Surprisingly though, Theres a decent Market for GMW's, I could sell my strathead for as much as I paid for it, I could sell my Floyd pauls for alot more than I paid for them...

Meh, in the end, play what you like

 

[Gainzilla]

... True but If youve ever played San Dimas Charvels or Early Jacksons, you have a good Idea... <snip>

You have very valid reasons and I understand them. You said "Why more people dont do this, Ill never know..." with regards to ordering guitar from GMW, so I was just stating the most obvious reasons to help you "know" why people buy PRS over GMW.

The same can be said about any custom instrument from anyone IMO. Sure, you get an Idea from playing off the rack stuff but Id go so far as to say that there are enough guitars out there, off the rack, that give you a decent idea of what you are getting into should you choose to go the GMW route.. thanks for the help though

 

[Copperhead]

I've only had one set neck guitar that worked out for me, but it was stolen.

By far, I've been way happier with bolt ons.

The only bolt on guitar that did NOT work for me was a GMW.

Thump is totally correct, play before you buy, trust people who you've built a face to face relationship with. There are many internet "experts" that will quickly lead you down the wrong path, unintentionally. It just seems there are many insecure folks around that like to spout off on the internet because it gives them a sense of validation. Trust your ears, not your eyes. Beauty means nothing to tone. Even the best pictures can't show you how it feels.

 

[muudrock]

Hmm,
Want fries with that guitar?

Anymore, most of the successful manufacturers produce their guitars in a similar way. I have no problem with it.

 

[Jordon]

Sorry guys, I just thought with a $3000 price tag that there was more human factor involved and well older more seasoned builders.

Was just a tad shocked.

Whenever I hear PRS I never think about killer playing, just posing.

Aren't they marketed to lawyer/doctor types to brag to their friends about?

Uhhh....No, they aren't. I'm sure as hell no doctor or lawyer, and my PRS is one of the best playing guitars I've ever had my hands on.

 

[Burn]

Sorry guys, I just thought with a $3000 price tag that there was more human factor involved and well older more seasoned builders.

Was just a tad shocked.

Whenever I hear PRS I never think about killer playing, just posing.

Aren't they marketed to lawyer/doctor types to brag to their friends about?

Dammit, I was about to post a DiMeola vid right now.

 

[JTyson]

DO IT, DO IT

 

[ratter]

I'm still not seeing the point of this thread Scott? PRS still makes a great guitar...no matter how much you think it costs them to build it. Paul has built a proven business model for sure. They are still in very high demand and the market has agreed to pay their asking price. Actually, I think it's great that they spend so much time with QC and discarding all of the questionable guitars. I've yet to find a PRS with finish flaws like some Gibby's and Fenders have...that to me is a win in itself. You know as well as I do that putting together a bolt on guitar is a lot different assembling a set-neck guitar from scratch...

The other thing not evident here is....what is PRS paying their employees? If their guitars cost more, not because of materials cost or build time, but because he pays his workers a decent wage and benefits vs. what a Fender or Gibson does, that's cool with me.

 

[Digital Jams]

I'm still not seeing the point of this thread Scott? PRS still makes a great guitar...no matter how much you think it costs them to build it. Paul has built a proven business model for sure. They are still in very high demand and the market has agreed to pay their asking price. Actually, I think it's great that they spend so much time with QC and discarding all of the questionable guitars. I've yet to find a PRS with finish flaws like some Gibby's and Fenders have...that to me is a win in itself. You know as well as I do that putting together a bolt on guitar is a lot different assembling a set-neck guitar from scratch...

The other thing not evident here is....what is PRS paying their employees? If their guitars cost more, not because of materials cost or build time, but because he pays his workers a decent wage and benefits vs. what a Fender or Gibson does, that's cool with me.

Few years ago PRS had a jobs section on their website and the pay was low.......................8-14 an hour.

Have not been to that site in years.

 

[AmpliFIRE]

They back then use to be just paul in the basement of his town house. He lived just down the road from me and started his company from the ground up,hand made one at a time. Later he moved into a small shop in Annapolis, hiring employees. Just a several years ago he moved to the Eastern Shore and a last year expanded the building to (I think) 100,000sq ft more or total. Paul is one of the best Employers in Maryland and starts employees at more than most will make starting anywhere else. He is a great asset in the area and provides insurance and allows you to start building a personal guitar after 9 months of employment. For a company to take care of their employees like that in this day and age, build a high quality guitar, host charity events and be as humble and down to earth, I think they are worth it. In no way am I an employee or endorser Of PRS guitars. He also Jams when the "PRS band" plays out, but he doesnt think so.

 

[ratter]

I'm still not seeing the point of this thread Scott? PRS still makes a great guitar...no matter how much you think it costs them to build it. Paul has built a proven business model for sure. They are still in very high demand and the market has agreed to pay their asking price. Actually, I think it's great that they spend so much time with QC and discarding all of the questionable guitars. I've yet to find a PRS with finish flaws like some Gibby's and Fenders have...that to me is a win in itself. You know as well as I do that putting together a bolt on guitar is a lot different assembling a set-neck guitar from scratch...

The other thing not evident here is....what is PRS paying their employees? If their guitars cost more, not because of materials cost or build time, but because he pays his workers a decent wage and benefits vs. what a Fender or Gibson does, that's cool with me.

Few years ago PRS had a jobs section on their website and the pay was low.......................8-14 an hour.

Have not been to that site in years.

Entry Level Production Sanders - 2nd Shift
Entry-level production sanders for our Stevensville facility. Hiring for 2nd shift, 4 pm to 12 am. Salary starts at $10/hr. with up to a $1 increase after 3 and 9 months!

Complete benefits package includes: health, dental, 401K, paid vacations, holidays and much more!

For an unskilled entry level position with no education requirements, that ain't bad. Especially full benefits. And I'd be willing to bet it's better than what Fender offers for the same position, although that's only a guess...

 

[Jordon]

It's a lot better then what was available at the Washburn Custom Shop, I'll tell you that.

 

[Shiny_Surface]

Dammit, I was about to post a DiMeola vid right now.

DiMeola could shred on anything.

I still think PRS has a high ratio of posers, more interested in posting pics of their guitars online than anything else.

I'd be more impressed seeing someone rip it up on a working man's guitar than one of those things. And yes, I'm being somewhat trollish.