I've been playing PRS since 97/98, just really easy guitars to play and stay in tune.
I've currently got 2 I use and abuse:
- 97' Custom 24, wide thin neck, stock pickups, 5 way rotary, tremolo, poly finish
- SC245 Limited, Madagascar rosewood wide fat neck, artist top,3 way toggle, adjustable stoptail, thin nitro finish.
I like the 25" scale on PRS, does get a touch tight with 24 frets but used to it now I guess. I think you can't really go wrong with a McCarty, they have the thicker mahogany back which adds a little more thickness to the sound.
The SC245 is a great guitar and my current favourite. I had it refretted with jumbo stainless steel frets, bone nut and reworked the bridge to get it a little more resonant. Really sings.
Many folks either love or loathe the pickups, I don't mind them, I like the 5909's as a current production stock pickup but an upgrade can really bring it to life.
My only gripe with this brand is the price, I think you get a great instrument for the bucks but you can quickly find yourself in deep waters financially for frills that don't necessarily make it that much better. A good stock instrument and a visit to your local luthier with some minor upgrades will put it in private stock category.
Depending on your aesthetic appeal, if tops are your thing you need not look past a 10 top or artist package. All the other parts, technology etc are the same that you can change/do yourself.
PRS has a tendency to do "limited runs" of their instruments. This is where you keep an eye out for what your after in my experience. Dealers do a shop run with all the great features that are usually reserved for private stock guitars with a twist at a good compromise, ie nice tops, different finish options, variations of woods, select colours which are great value compared to other similarly spec'd instruments at higher price points.
As a ex BAM member I've seen and played a few hundred PRSi, I think you need to spend some time finding the right combination that works for you without getting too caught up in all the bling.
