The anti-PRS brigade

[kasperjensen]

Sure, dentists may love them. But a lot of Professional guitar players do too...

 

[rlord1974]

One of my friends who is a huge PRS fan and loves his PRS, also hates strats with a passion. He would also complain when playing a strat on the few songs that called for it. So if the PRS neck is like a strat neck, I am confused by your statement that if you like strat necks, you will like PRS necks.

I am a strat guy, so maybe I will like PRS necks. I know I typically do not like shredder guitar necks like Jackson, ESP, etc.

I'm primarily a Strat guy and I like the PRS necks just fine. I think you will too.

I also generally dislike the super thin, "shredder" type necks with the compound or otherwise higher radius fingerboards.

 

[RG955TT]

Nice guitars, own 2, not my most played but bought them at fair prices and they are very well built and sound very nice and have their own thing going on. Why the hate? Some are priced very rediculous for sure but for a collector they fill a nitch that some seem to want.
If they didnt sell they wouldnt be building them would they? To me they are nicer to play than any of my Gibsons which ergonomically are not very good for me (no belly cut, no forearm cut) although to be fair I'm more of a super strat guy and plenty of people like to hate the Suhrs I own that fit me to a T. To each his own I say, same with amps, what floats others boat may sound like crap to me (Mesa Recto's?) or may not be my thing. But as said plenty of pro players use em so...

 

[fuzzyguitars]

i would agree with this statement 1000 percent.

I tried to like em.

but that 10 radius just kills it for me.

I am actually gonna have eric chaz do a refret of a tremonti single cut, and replane the neck to a flat 12 radius and stainless steel frets.

I've played MANY a PRS guitar. Most of them sounded good/great. All of them played like dog shit. I've never found a PRS neck I find to be anywhere near playable. All their neck profiles suck and there's also something off about the string spacing. I can go from Gibson to Fender to Suhr to Ibanez to Riszanyi to Moser to Epiphone to ESP to BC RICH to Charvel all day long, but give me a PRS and I become Edward Scissorhands. If someone gave me a $10,000 custom PRS I would sell it and buy 2-5 guitars I REALLY like.

Which brings up the final point. His prices are ludicrous and based solely on perceived value <cough>Gibson<cough>.

I couldn't agree with this more.

I owned a 1997 PRS Custom 24. Bought it brand new. Sold it exactly 11 months later, because it felt like dog shit to play. It looked AMAZING. To this day, it's one of the best looking guitars I've ever owned, not to mention, one of the most expensive. However, it simply didn't live up to its looks. The problem with the feel of the guitar was all in the neck.

IMHO, one of the biggest problems with PRS necks is that they all have -- with the exception of the Santana model -- a 10 inch radius. That's a fairly vintage and rounded radius. Most modern guitars start at 12 inches at least and go from there. A 10 inch radius is like playing a Fender Strat neck. If you like Strat necks, you'll love PRS necks. If you like palying Stevie Ray Vaughn and the Beatles, then you probably love Fender and PRS necks. If you like playing Metallica, Megadeth, etc, then you're probably barking up the wrong tree trying to own a PRS or Fender. Before people start citing the Jim Root Strat, that has a compound 12-14 radius on it.

PRS has made some headway in this area a little bit. First, the Pattern Thin neck is actually a really good feeling neck. It's not too far off from a Jackson "speed" neck. Second, they're offering a new guitar called the Torero that has a 14 inch radius on it. I think PRS is getting the message, but they're just very slow at it.

Lastly, PRS prices are insane. However, people are easily amused creatures, and we like shiny things. The shinier something is, the more we'll pay for it. PRS guitars are very attractive guitars.

 

[dooredge]

I'm a metal guy and PRS guitars have never caught my attention. Are they pretty? Sure. Are they finely crafted? Sure. Are they overpriced? Sure. Do they appeal to me? No.

Give me a mean super strat, beat up lp, or crude explorer and I'm happy as a pig in slop. I have no need for pretty dressed up guitars that dentists prefer.

Here's my idea of a kickass guitar and it just so happens to be mine. I guess its kind of pretty, but more importantly it's aggressive looking.

More pics for the discerning metalhead:
http://www.silencethegrave.com/jerod/kxk2.JPG
http://www.silencethegrave.com/jerod/kxk3.JPG
http://www.silencethegrave.com/jerod/kxk4.JPG
http://www.silencethegrave.com/jerod/kxk5.JPG
http://www.silencethegrave.com/jerod/kxk6.JPG
http://www.silencethegrave.com/jerod/kxk7.JPG

 

[rupe]

At least with say the Custom 24 you get a set neck. What I don't get is $3000-4000+ guitars with a bolt on neck.

I used to think that same thing until I discussed it with a few different luthiers/builders who all concurred that it's every bit as labor intensive to build a quality bolt on neck and neck pocket as it is to build a set neck guitar (and frequently more labor intensive than a neck through design)...it's very dependent on the tolerances used. I believe Tom Anderson may have addressed this as well on his forum but I can't remember for sure.

As for PRS guitars, I've played many of them over the years. Like many other manufacturers, I found them to be hit or miss as far as liking them (more miss than hit) but their QC is top-notch...light years beyond Gibson. that said, there have been a McCarty and Hollowbody models that have been among the finest guitars that I've ever played. A guitar that I like will sound, feel, and respond in a certain way that simply resonates with me (no pun intended)...its a very personal thing that I believe comes with years of experience. As a former guitar teacher and music store manager, I don't think most people/players ever get to the point where they can discern those almost intangible things, but the ones that do will almost instantly know whether or not a guitar is "for them".

 

[Shark Diver]

Sure, dentists may love them. But a lot of Professional guitar players do too...

Professional guitarist who flunked out of dental school

I get some people don't like them, but they are great guitars.

 

[drgordonfreeman]

One of my friends who is a huge PRS fan and loves his PRS, also hates strats with a passion. He would also complain when playing a strat on the few songs that called for it. So if the PRS neck is like a strat neck, I am confused by your statement that if you like strat necks, you will like PRS necks.

I am a strat guy, so maybe I will like PRS necks. I know I typically do not like shredder guitar necks like Jackson, ESP, etc.

I'm primarily a Strat guy and I like the PRS necks just fine. I think you will too.

I also generally dislike the super thin, "shredder" type necks with the compound or otherwise higher radius fingerboards.

This is primarily what I was getting at. PRS necks are rounded and slightly thicker than what I would call a "modern" guitar neck (i.e., flat radius, thin necks). Mind you, I'm not saying it's a guarantee that Fender players will love PRS necks, but there's a good chance they will, anyway, given that they're both round radius, thicker neck guitars.

Regardless, I don't want to seem like I'm putting any guitar brand down. There's a person for every guitar. I personally do not like PRS guitars, and I would not recommend them to any of my friends. That doesn't mean I don't like to look at them. They are gorgeous guitars. I just don't like playing with them. To me, I guess, PRS guitars are sort of like a hot 18-year blonde straight out of her graduation.

 

[Ventura]

What I don't get is $3000-4000+ guitars with a bolt on neck.

Agreed.

I dunno, as mentioned, that 408 is giving me wood as of late.

Say, why is it there's no PRS model 7 string guitars? Too risque for Paul to put 'em out there? I'm not talking the SE model - I'm wondering why there's no dentist style 7 string...for lack of a better term.

Just axin'

 

[mesa50w]

as a long time gibson only guy that just got a PRS Ill add my thoughts both good and bad on them.

good
1- QC...as soon as you pick it up ..you know the people making this guitar loved it from day 1
2- the neck (wide, thin) plays like butter..notes jump off the fretboard
3- tuners..string changes are so fast..every guitar should have these tuners no question
4- never heard a electric guitar sound this good when not plugged into a amp


bad
1- all the goofy bird and other inlays ( mine has moons, thank god)
2- the 5 way selector
3- where the vol pot is located..easy to hit it when your not thinking about it
4- pretty flashy looking guitar for me ( all of my gibsons are black) but thats just me


As far as Paul coping a lester...well everyone and their brother dose this either a gibson or a fender.

I thing PRS get a bad rap just like dual rectos..flashy and all the goof ball bands that get them. I honestly dont see how anyone could pick up a PRS and not think its a great guitar???

 

[SomeGuyChi]

It's funny hearing guys say that PRS guitars are "unplayable" because of the neck/setup (change it?)/stock string gauges (you can change those too, ya know)/pickups (hey....whaddaya know..)/etc, etc, etc.

I know a lot of monster musicians who get along with them just fine and have been playing them for years willingly.

 

[rupe]

What I don't get is $3000-4000+ guitars with a bolt on neck.

Agreed.

Based on what?

 

[Greazygeo]

How do you guys play butter?


Guitars can:

1)Look good

2)Play good

3)Sound good

At least PRS gets one of them correct.

 

[johnpace2]

I'm mostly a Les Paul guy, but I really dig the short scale PRS offerings. I have a SC 245 and I love it. Sounds killer, plays and looks great. I bought it used and it was on par with used Les Paul prices.

I certainly haven't looked at the prices of all models, but the SC 58 is around $3,800 and is the same level as a historic les paul, so what's the problem? There are some small runs that are $8-10K, but Gibson does that too.

 

[shane159]

I have no clue. I don't own any PRS's guitars but the ones I have seen in person were excellent guitars. I think bashing and dentist comments are based on younger folks or others out of jealousy. The costs are not cheap for those guitars ans a lot of Gibsons but it doesn't mean they are not great guitars. Also I see folks play one single brand one time and hate the brand off of one try. There are great guitars and crappy guitars in every model line....yes your 5000 guitar may not be a great guitar or a guitar the fraction of the cost can be 2x as good

Well said

 

[Ari]

I had two American PRS guitars (a Standard 22 and an Artist Custom 24 with the coveted Dragon I pickups). They played great, sounded muddy. I now have a PRS SE 245 Singlecut that has a thicker neck, but plays great and sounds BETTER than the American ones I have. Its my Les Paul killer with a slightly more "polished" vibe to it. YMMV

 

[luther910]

Love my PRS and Gibson both. My PRS Custom 24 is more of a hi end guitar than my Les Paul Standard. It is more versatile, it cleans up like nothing else (something the LP does not), it has locking tuners, trem and good looks. However, my LP has its own mojo. For some songs I prefer its feel and playability to the PRS.

 

[duodecim]

People complain that Gibson overcharges, but few can deny that the LP has a history and own character. Take that away, and you've got PRS.

Note that I'm just guessing about how people see PRS, I myself have never played a real PRS (I'm not a dentist) and hence don't really have an opinion.

 

[ejecta]

I dunno why you folks get your panties in a bunch over that... I've played good and bad Gibsons, good and bad PRS and the list goes on...

This is very simple: you grab the guitar, you like it, you get it. Play whatever melts your butter, regardless of what's written on the headstock.

My 2 best guitars at the moment, my go-to guitars, my do-it-all guitars are a cheap Fender Blacktop Strat (swapped the pups for some that I had home) and a Franken-Floyded-Strat with some Warmoth neck that plays incredibly good. I think I got both instruments for less than 500$ as previous owners thought they were unplayable junks. Gave them a little love and bingo here we are at sunny times.

Play what you like, why would you care about what others think?

Truth!

 

[snowdog]

The constant comparisons to Gibson irritate me. People need to get it into their heads that PRS is not trying to emulate Gibson.

Seems to me that they are, clearly not every model but undoubtedly in the single cut department. I'm guessing that Paul spent a lot of time grilling Ted McCarty (President of Gibson 1950-1966, designer of the LP, V, Explorer, Tune-O-Matic bridge etc...) on the finer points of Classic guitar design, while he was working with PRS in the late eighties/early nineties.

Gibson evidently got the same idea as well when they filed a lawsuit against PRS on the singlecut which eventually got dismissed, but did cause production to cease on that model for a few years.

Now they even make one with the right scale length. As mentioned by others the pickups are a bit of an acquired taste, and you can get real close to a LP sound by switching them out.

Lots of companies are trying to build a better LP, like it or not PRS are one of them.