PRS guitars - want to pick your brains.

Big Job · #1 07-07-2006, 01:37 PM

Hello,

I quite like the look of PRS guitars, however, I know very little about them indeed. So I got some questions for you people - because I know there are a few of you on here that really like them. So here goes....

I have only ever used one PRS guitar when I was 10 years ago and it was a McCarthy and I rember it being fantastic! But looking on the web these guitars are expensive. What is the crack with the CE series? These seem a better price range but I dont know the difference between a CE a '10 top', an artists package and a modern eagle.

ANY input would be apprechiated.

Big Job

C.Thep · #2 07-07-2006, 01:55 PM

CE's have bolt on necks

ChrisReedSmith · #3 07-07-2006, 02:30 PM

Hey Big ...Job?! Whats up! The model you played was a "McCarty". Which is a tribute to Ted McCarty who was a good friend of Pauls' and was deeply involved with the development of Gibsons classic guitars such as the Les Paul, SG, and Flying V I believe.

I'll give you a short summary of the PRS line. There is now a fantastic selection of Korean made instruments made under the PRS name which are great guitars, but are not what comes to mind when the letters PRS are said.

All real PRS' are american made. All in the same factory by the same people. There is no less attention to detail to their affordable CE models as there is to their Custom and Singlecut models.

CE's are made to lean towards to the Strat player. They even have a Swamp Ash CE which further gives it a brighter, biting tone. These guitars have either a solid mahogany body or mahogany with maple cap. And a bolt on 1 piece maple neck. Which is what makes it more strat like. Because CE's are bolt-ons, have dots, and usually are solid colours, they are more affordable. They come in 22 and 24 fret versions and most all have trems.

The Standard line is strictly Mahogany bodied. No maple caps. They are mahogany necked as well which is set in. They usually have moons but as always there are some exceptions. Generally the 22 fret models have the stop tail whereas the 24 fret models have the trem. This follows suit with the Customs.

The Custom line adds a flamed or quilted maple cap, usually bird inlays, and as an option can come with a "10 top". PRS defines a "10-top" as a flame or quilt maple top where 90% or more of the top is clearly defined and the wood grain is subtle to non exsistent.

I actually have to cut it off here for now. That gives you a little to chew on.
Any more questions please ask Im more then happy to answer!

chris

ChrisReedSmith · #4 07-07-2006, 02:30 PM

Hey Big ...Job?! Whats up! The model you played was a "McCarty". Which is a tribute to Ted McCarty who was a good friend of Pauls' and was deeply involved with the development of Gibsons classic guitars such as the Les Paul, SG, and Flying V I believe.

I'll give you a short summary of the PRS line. There is now a fantastic selection of Korean made instruments made under the PRS name which are great guitars, but are not what comes to mind when the letters PRS are said.

All real PRS' are american made. All in the same factory by the same people. There is no less attention to detail to their affordable CE models as there is to their Custom and Singlecut models.

CE's are made to lean towards to the Strat player. They even have a Swamp Ash CE which further gives it a brighter, biting tone. These guitars have either a solid mahogany body or mahogany with maple cap. And a bolt on 1 piece maple neck. Which is what makes it more strat like. Because CE's are bolt-ons, have dots, and usually are solid colours, they are more affordable. They come in 22 and 24 fret versions and most all have trems.

The Standard line is strictly Mahogany bodied. No maple caps. They are mahogany necked as well which is set in. They usually have moons but as always there are some exceptions. Generally the 22 fret models have the stop tail whereas the 24 fret models have the trem. This follows suit with the Customs.

The Custom line adds a flamed or quilted maple cap, usually bird inlays, and as an option can come with a "10 top". PRS defines a "10-top" as a flame or quilt maple top where 90% or more of the top is clearly defined and the wood grain is subtle to non exsistent.

I actually have to cut it off here for now. That gives you a little to chew on.
Any more questions please ask Im more then happy to answer!

chris

vaijem777 · #5 07-07-2006, 04:05 PM

I went from 32 guitars down to 4. The only ones that I kept were a Strat, a Tele, a Taylor acoustic and my PRS Navarro model. Of the 17 PRS' that I've had, the Navarro is simply "the one" for me. Everything about it is as perfect as I dare hope for in a guitar of its type.

Definitely cool guitars, but play as MANY different models as possible before buying one.

**jaxadam** · #6 07-07-2006, 04:50 PM

PRS guitars have a little magic to them.

I particularly like the Custom line the best.

bduersch · #7 07-07-2006, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vaijem777

Definitely cool guitars, but play as MANY different models as possible before buying one.

I agree... but then you should go buy as many models as possible....

j/k... Part of the reason I have all those PRS's is because they all sound different, so depending on what type of recording/gigging I'm doing, there are certainly some PRS's that fit better than others. For example... if I'm doing hard rock, I go for a Custom 24 with stock pickups. If I'm doing blues, I typically reach for one of my McCartys. The Swamp Ash Special is great for funk.

Also, a lot of the markup for PRS's is for 10 tops, bird inlays, gold hardware, etc, which look great, but do nothing for your tone. Lots of sales reps are quick to push the pimped-out PRS's, but if you find one that fits, don't let the fact that it's not a 10 top/has dot inlays/has chrome hardware prevent you from buying it. Some people dog the standard series (no maple tops/all mahogany) because of its stripped down nature, but honestly, they have a thick warm tone that's hard to beat.

So to echo vaijem, I'd suggest trying as many PRS models as possible, which increases the chance that you'll find one that works best with your individual style.

--B

adamcbest · #8 07-07-2006, 05:27 PM

wow.. thats like $24000 worth of guitars right there. haha

Kontalonis · #9 07-07-2006, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.Thep

CE's have bolt on necks

YEP and that's why i love them! I have one ce 22 with a trem and i must say it is to die for. The neck is very fat and the bridge is a stable but subtle monster! The dragon pickups and mahogany body give the thickest (but not muddy) tone i've ever heard. I've always preferred bolt ons for some reason and the ce 22 is right down my alley!

Overall, i'd say that you are safe with any prs you purchase. They are quality instruments you can plan on keeping and enjoying for the rest of your life.

My baby...

mi2tom · #10 07-08-2006, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kontalonis

Lovely!!!

Kontalonis · #11 07-08-2006, 02:11 AM

This is one of those prs guitars that bduersch is talking about. No bs here, dot inlays, black paint, and chrome hardware! TEN TOP THIS SON! Haha just kidding. Those are beautiful axes bduersch.

Here's a pic of the neck, this thing is thick! I know what a lot of you iby players are gonna say, HOW CAN YOU LIVE WITH THAT HEEL. Well it's no AANJ but i learned to love it and i barely notice it anymore!

Another tip i can give you is GET A PRS WITH A TREM........why? I absolutely hate there wrap-a-rounds. You can not intonate each individual saddle, you can only move the bridge from the posts. This may be fine but if you switch string gauges you might run into a problem.......i don't like the possiblity for problems.

maliciousteve · #12 07-08-2006, 05:55 AM

I have a 1990 PRS Standard 24. It's simply the best guitar ever, better than any one elses haha. But seriously it's a damn good guitar, it may not have maple caps or anything fancy but the sounds you get from it are amazing and it feels incredible to play. I hear that Pre-1995 PRS's are surposedly better due to their smaller neck heels and brazillian rosewood boards. I kinda agree because i prefer the smaller neck heel. It sounds completely different from the new PRS standard anniversaries too.

Big Job · #13 07-10-2006, 04:47 AM

Thank you all for you help. It is clear that you are all very clued up on PRS guitars.

Big Job

TongueShredder · #14 07-10-2006, 06:24 AM

PRS are good guitars but I prefer Carvin CT6M (California Top) to any of them.

Gresh · #15 07-10-2006, 10:32 AM

One thing I would recommend on PRS guitars is going up a string gauge immediately. They just don't sing with 9's on them at all, IMHO. Plus their 25" scale length will give a looser feel than a strat or Ibanez.

I went from owning a lot of Ibanez guitars down to 1 Ibanez 7, a strat, and my favorite PRS Hollowbody Spruce w/birds and piezo. It is a magnificent guitar. Now I want a PRS with a trem, or maybe a Suhr standard. Play lots of guitars and get the one that speaks the most to you. With that kind of $$$ you should be picky.