School me on PRS wouldya?

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Ventura

Ventura

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So these guitars. I only read praise galore about how well crafted they are, how well they play, their magical electronics, all of it. I'm a Lester kinda guy, and dig my ESPs for the aggro goods. Is there magic in these guitars or are they all show (with dem purdy tops and all) no go?

Interested. From a distance, but interested.

Thanks for your input.
Mo
 
All I know is for a long time I simply didn't like them. Sure they looked nice but thats was about it. However the last few years they realy seem to have pulled the total package together. I've played some insanely nice PRS guitars these past two years.
 
Beautifully crafted guitars that play like butter. I don't own one nor are they one my must-have-one-day list. Just not for me.
I think a common knock on them is they don't have a character of their own.
 
I've owned a couple Custom 24's and a Tremonti. Both were great. Paul builds a nice guitar. The trem set up is probably one of the best around and the hardware/electronics package are great. Not a huge fan of all the pretty tops as that doesn't do much for me. Nor do I want anything with Tremonti's name on it. But, the Custom 24 is a great guitar. He's really penetrated the high end market well.
 
Owned six, kept one. Never had any of the crazy shit like the Dragons or the Artist - mine have all been customs, 22 and 24 fret. From a '91 to a 2011, my keeper ended up being a '96 hollowbody Cu22 Quilt top that has no f-holes. They didn't make many and I got it without knowing it was hollow from a MusicGoRound eight or so years ago.

Nice guitars, I'd just play them in person before making a buying decision though, just like I would if I was spending big bucks for anything but an Anderson. My '96 is killer and I love it, but the rest of the ones I had looked awesome but just didn't grab me.
 
I have a few of 'em. I'll keep it real short. They are indeed georgeous. The fit and finish is super tasty. 25" scale on many models is very comfy feeling. Get a fixed bridge model and odds are high, you'll think it is amazing.

Ones with twang bars aren't bad, but I like them a bit less. I have other guitars with whammy bars that satisfy my brand of abuse a bit better.

Get a rosewood necked McCarty (or really, any McCarty) in your hands and you'll thank me. To me, those are the keys to the PRS kingdom for someone who really wants to PLAY one. Many others look astounding, but you can't always "hear" it. Many may say otherwise, but I'm right. Lol! :lol: :LOL:

Lemme know if this raises more questions than provides answers.
 
Never played one I dug until about a week ago. Went in to a local shop for something and my regular guy was busy. He handed me a 2009 Singlecut with a Wide Fat neck and pointed me at a Mesa Roadster and said he'd be with me in a few.

Hour later I was in love and had a small crowd and another guy jamming along with me behind me. There were some things I didn't like compared to a LP, among them the finish and the weight. The finish feels kind of plasticky, and it was a pretty light guitar; around 7-8 lbs max. I did really like the neck, it was perfect for me; also loved the tailpiece-without the strings arcing up over the saddles like on an LP they were pretty close to the pups; just felt really natural to play.

I know you play LPs and dig em; try a Singlecut if you can find one. I loved that guitar, man. Seriously, it was one of the best I've ever played. My next purchase is an amp because I alternate between the two, and I've just bought/had built a custom guitar, but after the amp I'm on the hunt for an 09 Singlecut.

ADDED: bro, I just grabbed whatever he threw me to play to have something to do while I was waiting. I realized that one of the reasons I liked it was because every other time I'd play one I'd think to myself "this doesn't sound like a LP."

It's NOT going to sound like a LP, except that they're both guitars. They're lighter and thinner, for two things. Keep it out of your head that it doesn't sound like you think it should, and go play the crap out of every one you can find. It's taken me years to connect with one.

Good luck!
 
They look great, feel great, stay in tune crazy-well, and sound awesome. What's not to like? :) Some people bash em and I'm not sure why. Some LPs may have that special sauce and awesome mojo, but they are hard to track down while Paul makes consistently awesome instruments. (still love my LP but it's a finicky beeyatch at times;) Someday I'll grab a custom 22.
I've played a TON of PRS over the years and I've only come across two that I didn't care for and I specifically remember them. One was a brand new whale blue Mccarty and I think it was mostly the pups that I didn't bond with. The other was a used '97 Mccarty and it was beat to shit and something was wrong with the neck. With a tweak I bet it would've been alright.
 
Good guitars. Huge variety in the sound of the pups per model. I took a few months trying many before picking mine. Light and resonant. Some felt light and not quite so resonant. It ain't no chunky LP. If ya want a baby with back, keep steppin...

If you want a super versatile guitar light enough not to grind you down after a few hours, look there.

Adam of Angels has a JP6 BFR for sale. That is probably the best PRS you will find. It has all the strengths of a PRS and über shred. I would take my JP6 over my PRS, and you get a piezo that is great.

Good luck on the tone quest bro.
 
I have a few that are great guitars, 2 McCarty's and a Brazillian RW necked Eagle, one of the first run of them. They play great and stay in tune for months. They sound great too with the right pups in them.. Most of them I got used, I've got a thing about "if it rings really good not plugged in, it will sound good plugged in". The Eagle sounds like a Grand Piano acoustically. I've let go of the Custom 22's and 24's I had, the McCartys and the old Eagle sound much thicker to me than those ever did.
Just my 2 cents, everybody has their own favorites. I've had Gibsons, Fenders, Andersons, Ernie Balls and Charvels that I liked a lot too, but have stuck with these longer than anything else I've had.
I always laugh when people make all-encompassing statements about any guitar brand. There are good and bad of everything out there.
Your a Les Paul guy, I was too for around 15 years. I'm sure you've heard some that were great, and some that were beautiful turds :lol: :LOL:
The same logic applies to all of them. ;)
 
I had a C24 one off. I sold it but miss it. Played about 7-8 and didn't like the necks until the guy stuck a Wide Thin neck in my hand and it felt like it played its self. I plan on getting the 513 and a single cut after my Fender Select Tele. Really great guitars and Paul has consistent quality rolling out of the door. His shop is about 10 miles away and very high end state of the art.

A side note: Didn't like them back in the 90's but after '07 I have a like'n for them. :D
 
If you got the chance play a Modern Eagle. You might need to have your checkbook ready afterwards.
 
Bought a ME Quatro a month ago as a birthday present to myself, wound up playing it two or three times since then and returned it yesterday. Then I snagged a R0 on here. Much more of a Les Paul guy and while the Quatro was a fantastic guitar, it didn't really do it for me and I felt retarded having a $3400 guitar hanging around when I didn't ever use it.
 
I have a 2000 cu22, wide fat neck, dragon ii pickups with a trem. I never use the trem. But that prs has been my go to for years. However it's not a fancy one( no pretty top) just black w/ natural binding. I love it. Picked it up for a good deal and never left. They are just like any guitar tho. The right one will tell you she's the right one.
 
Ignore those who say PRS guitars don't have a voice of their own. They do. Just don't compare them to Lesters or Strats!

I have 2 Custom 24s, both with wide thin necks and BKPs. They are each incredible and will never leave the stable. They have a character all of their own: not with the huge bottom end of a Les Paul, but perfectly balanced with a lot of bite and just enough "oomph" for the heavy stuff (especially with Nailbombs in the bridge). Leads sound absolutely divine on them, and they can cope with absolutely any genre. Of course I also have a Lester for when you just need that extra massiveness.

If you try a Custom 24 though and decide you need more low end, just pick up a DGT: same sort of vibe, but chunkier body and neck to get the tone a bit closer to a Les Paul. Of course, Modern Eagles and Private Stocks up the ante even further: those guitars reek of class.

Incidentally, I should point out that PRS and Diezel is a match made in heaven ;)

-C
 
I've had about 20 through the years. Like Steve said the 24s have an incredible neck shape. As do the original Santana's. Most of the pickups suck, but I haven't tried them in about 4 years. My favorites were the original MEs with BKP VHIIs. They do have a voice of their own, and you either like it or not. Sort of like the Axe FX, which has a voice of it's own. If you are tied to traditional tones a PRS may not suit you. But if you are looking for something a little different, you may love them.

The Private Stocks are aesthetics driven. A standard CU 22 or 24 sounds, and is built, just as good. The 12 strings were the best electric 12s I've ever played.

Buy it used, they hold their value, and if you don't get on with it, it would be easy enough to move. :)


And if you are looking at say a 22, you should check out a Huber Dolphin as well ;) .
 
great playing guitars, and very pretty to boot, for me i'd be a bit weary of leaving the house with something like that, playing in cafes/bars with something that looks like a very exquisite piece of furniture

they've updated the one thing i didn't like which was the pickup toggle/placement, now it's a blade switch on newer customs, i no longer have a CU24 , but their necks are a really good fit for me, 25" scale length and a 10" i think radius fits like a glove, if i had to do it again i'd probably go for a 22 fret instead

it doesn't have as much character as say a tele/les paul but does do it's thing rather well, if i were loosely comparing to amps and a les paul or sg is a marshall, the PRS would be a mesa/boogie if that is any help

just my 2 cents as it were
 
Let me put it like this, after I got my 24 Custom, my 2 other guitars haven't been played as much as before. It's my "go-to guitar". Easy to play, stay in tune and sounds awesome.
 
They are great guitars in all aspects. However, I feel they lack a certain edge. They are just pleasant all over.

Sometimes it's better to have a guitar that plays a bit harder or sounds a bit edgy or snarls or squeals on certain notes. I feel with PRSi it's most of the times a bit too mellow - too easy to play and too smooth sounding.

I have improved my McCarty with a BareKnuckle RiffRaff, which is quite a rough pickup sound wise, it takes away from the polished style of the PRS and makes it a bit more BADDDD.
 
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