Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Dmoney on June 26, 2012, 01:51:49 PM
-
...but I've become the owner of a PRS.
This CE22 has been kicking about ebay for a bit and oddly enough, it was in a store in the little market town im from, and I was scheduled to go up and visit my family so I thought I'd drop in.
Mahogany body, wide fat bolt on maple neck. Dragon 2 pickups.
I'm not sure if the wiring is original, since it has a 3 way toggle and not the rotary switch. It also looks a bit messy in there, but it sounds really good. push-pull switch on the tone. not sure if it does series/parallel or coil taps.
It plays incredibly well. The 'wide fat' neck isn't really that wide or fat! It feels really nice and I sat in the shop playing it for a long time. I've never really got on with a guitar so quickly as I have with this. The trem is also really good. It's set to be floating and the tuning is really stable. I might set it flush on the body, I dunno.
I like that it isn't too flash.
The shop in Ormskirk is called Sound Affects. The staff are very keen and helpful. Even brought me a coffee while I was playing and were happy to chat about whatever. They had a bunch of fancy PRS' on the wall. I'd recommend dealing with them if they have something you fancy.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/IMG-20120626-00094.jpg)
Original wiring?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/IMG-20120624-00080.jpg)
-
Dammit, I can't see the pics! :x
I'm sure I must have seen the guitar on eBay, though.
I was wondering if this thread was going to be Roo buying a Tele.....! :P
-
It's a tobacco burst CE22.
You probably have seen it on ebay. It was on there a while.
-
Good score - I can see my influence is rubbing off ;)
That's a bit messy for factory wiring - it's had the rotary swapped for the McCarty switching. Push/pull gives split coils.
By the way, they're not the original pickups either. Uncovered HFS Treble and Vintage Bass would have been stock.
-
PRS aren't my thing but that looks like a pretty good score!!
Happy playing :)
Paddy
-
I wouldn't have thought of them as my thing either, but since I've got into strat shape and having a trem... this is pretty good.
I had to change the strings and I popped out the pups. They are both engraved with PRS on the underside and have little gold & black stickers. Dragon II treble and bass. I think I would actually prefer uncovered pickups. Question is... do I try to remove the covers! I can see they are potted on pretty well. The wax is visible around the sides of the bass on the underside.
I don't mind the McCarty switching. I'd prefer that to the rotary switch I think.
I took off the truss rod cover because when I played the A on D string is vibrated wildly. I'll address that at some point. I didn't notice that while playing plugged in when in the store though.
-
By the way, they're not the original pickups either. Uncovered HFS Treble and Vintage Bass would have been stock.
I thought the HFS/Vintage Bass usually only appeared on 24 fret models?
-
oh yeah. A bunch of documentation came with it. Like who checked it at factory. that little card thing with the spec. the pickups are listed on that as Dragon II also. Maybe PRS changed it up a bit?
-
They came on both for the CE I think Phil, but if DMoney has the eagle hangtog it looks like DIIs were the stock pickup. They changed specs a lot in the 90s!
-
While we're on the subject of PRS pickups, Dave, do you know (roughly) the specs for the McCartys and Dragon IIs?
I'm thinking of transplanting one or other set to my Tokai SG, and I'm wondering which is more likely to be suitable.
(Apologies for thread hijack!)
-
nah thats cool Philly. I'd like to know too!
-
Great buy!! CE's are my current PRS "Thing", I keep saying it but those guitars are going to go up in price someday once people realise they're not a poor mans PRS just because they have a bolt on maple neck. Made in the same factory to the same standards with all the same hardware as the set neck guitars. The bolt on thing wasn't a cost saving with these, it was a tonal choice.
What age is it? I think i remember in the early 90's the dragons where on most of the 24 and 22 fret guitars.
I keep meaning to snag one, haven't yet, but these can be had with ten tops (they did make em) and all the trimmings for just over £1k. when you consider the quality it's daft not to buy. personally i think the bolt on maple necks make them better all out rock machines.
I also prefer the mcarty style switching. I'm suspicious of any pickup selector that isn't a toggle. Blows my mind too much..
There used to be a guide to PRS pickups in the tech support, listed everything they made and their characteristics and comparisons, can't find it anymore though. FWIW my Mcarty pickups did not work for me in my Mcarty. They got changed to BKPs. Still haven't found the guitar they work on.
Congrats DMoney Great score!
-
found it, with a little URL manipulation, not listed on the Customer support index anymore
http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/pickups.html
-
Thanks, sounds like the Dragon IIs are a little hotter, although I seem to recall reading somewhere that McCarty specs are somewhat hotter than vintage, about 9k at the bridge(?).... might be completely wrong though. And I don't think they use vintage-style wire in the coils either, so that DC resistance wouldn't mean much in comparison with a PAF type.
-
McCarty pickups are PAF type, around 8.5k. To my ears they're Alnico II.
DIIs aren't very loved.
Phil - I'd put the McCartys in your SG ;)
-
Thanks Dave. I could try both, I'm just being lazy.... will definitely be taking the Dragon IIs out of the Standard 22 to be replaced with Cold Sweats, and I'll replace the McCartys with..... something, eventually.
-
Great buy!! CE's are my current PRS "Thing", I keep saying it but those guitars are going to go up in price someday once people realise they're not a poor mans PRS just because they have a bolt on maple neck. Made in the same factory to the same standards with all the same hardware as the set neck guitars. The bolt on thing wasn't a cost saving with these, it was a tonal choice.
What age is it? I think i remember in the early 90's the dragons where on most of the 24 and 22 fret guitars.
I keep meaning to snag one, haven't yet, but these can be had with ten tops (they did make em) and all the trimmings for just over £1k. when you consider the quality it's daft not to buy. personally i think the bolt on maple necks make them better all out rock machines.
I also prefer the mcarty style switching. I'm suspicious of any pickup selector that isn't a toggle. Blows my mind too much..
There used to be a guide to PRS pickups in the tech support, listed everything they made and their characteristics and comparisons, can't find it anymore though. FWIW my Mcarty pickups did not work for me in my Mcarty. They got changed to BKPs. Still haven't found the guitar they work on.
Congrats DMoney Great score!
It is a 2006 model.
It's very resonant for a bolt on and doesn't feel like any cost saving has taken place on it. What pickups did you put in the McCarty?
-
Great buy!! CE's are my current PRS "Thing", I keep saying it but those guitars are going to go up in price someday once people realise they're not a poor mans PRS just because they have a bolt on maple neck. Made in the same factory to the same standards with all the same hardware as the set neck guitars. The bolt on thing wasn't a cost saving with these, it was a tonal choice.
I agree, but I think the only slight "design flaw" with these bolt-ons was that the body wood under the neck heel was very thin. I've never owned a CE, but I had an old EG and the body had cracked (only slightly) in both corners of the neck pocket.
Of course the neck pocket of the set-necks is the same, but it's glued on all sides so the neck is better supported (or "differently" supported).
I've noticed that the newer PRS bolt-ons have more wood in the neck pocket area.
I'm not suggesting this is a massive problem or that it happens to many PRS bolt-ons, I may have just been very unlucky. Probably shouldn't have mentioned it.... :oops:
-
very nice :)
-
no worries about mentioning it. I didn't actually notice. this one looks fine, so I guess I'll just take care of it when I put it down. I think it's tough enough to hold up to most things other than being dropped or falling over or something.
-
Great buy!! CE's are my current PRS "Thing", I keep saying it but those guitars are going to go up in price someday once people realise they're not a poor mans PRS just because they have a bolt on maple neck. Made in the same factory to the same standards with all the same hardware as the set neck guitars. The bolt on thing wasn't a cost saving with these, it was a tonal choice.
What age is it? I think i remember in the early 90's the dragons where on most of the 24 and 22 fret guitars.
I keep meaning to snag one, haven't yet, but these can be had with ten tops (they did make em) and all the trimmings for just over £1k. when you consider the quality it's daft not to buy. personally i think the bolt on maple necks make them better all out rock machines.
I also prefer the mcarty style switching. I'm suspicious of any pickup selector that isn't a toggle. Blows my mind too much..
There used to be a guide to PRS pickups in the tech support, listed everything they made and their characteristics and comparisons, can't find it anymore though. FWIW my Mcarty pickups did not work for me in my Mcarty. They got changed to BKPs. Still haven't found the guitar they work on.
Congrats DMoney Great score!
It is a 2006 model.
It's very resonant for a bolt on and doesn't feel like any cost saving has taken place on it. What pickups did you put in the McCarty?
Went with a Nailbomb in the bridge and a cold sweat in the neck, was going for clear articulate and crunchy as hell, Tim recommended the Coldsweat to pair it. worked a treat, but was thinking of switching out again, in the bridge anyway.
-
no worries about mentioning it. I didn't actually notice. this one looks fine, so I guess I'll just take care of it when I put it down. I think it's tough enough to hold up to most things other than being dropped or falling over or something.
I guess it may only be a risk if you're one of those crazy people (e.g. Slash) who bends the whole neck by pulling or pushing on the headstock. The maple neck must be a fair bit stronger than that thin bit of mahogany in the neck pocket, so the body'll give way first.....
-
Very nice buy there. I love the look of that.
-
Ah, now I'm at home I can see the pictures! Nice, I like the fact it's a mahogany body without the maple top. :D
-
cheers guys!
Yeah I'm not one for doing neck bends unless I'm playing a guitar with no trem, and even then I rarely do it!
I dunno if I'd try a nailbomb in it. I'd prefer something that cleans up well and sounds nice split if anything.
I won't be changing what is in there in the near future at least.
Yeah I like the fact it doesn't have a fancy top. when I tried it I was sat in a room full of very 'blingy' PRS'. I like how this one was had a modest look in comparison.
-
Yeah I'm not one for doing neck bends unless I'm playing a guitar with no trem, and even then I rarely do it!
I dunno if I'd try a nailbomb in it. I'd prefer something that cleans up well and sounds nice split if anything.
I won't be changing what is in there in the near future at least.
Yup, thats why trems were invented ;) so we don't break our necks off
Funnily enough, thats another aspect of my reasons for buying a Nailbomb, thats what a lot of the reviews were saying. it splits fine, but then again, to me a single coil in a mahogany bodied, maple topped, set neck guitar doesn't sound right anyway, so the split is really only for giving a diff sound. i want to play with single coils i break out a strat or tele.
like i said though, thinking of trying something different in the bridge position, i get the feeling by trying to impose mids and high end on the natural sound of the guitar, the pickup is fighting against it rather than working with it. No idea what to put in instead.
-
Yeah I like the fact it doesn't have a fancy top. when I tried it I was sat in a room full of very 'blingy' PRS'. I like how this one was had a modest look in comparison.
I like your thinking! :) I've owned seven (I think!) PRS guitars, and (so far) not one with a maple top.
I think I will give in and do a Twinfan eventually though. :P
-
"I vowed this would never happen..."
:lol:
That's the problem with making vows/promises or overt statements about future gear (Twinfan?! :wink:).
My take on PRS has always been "they don't seem to move me" and "I'll be surprised if I ever own one". But the surprise I'll feel has been gradually decreasing over the years on here. Still don't think I'll get one, but I can see how I might...
Anyway, nice score :D
-
It's an interesting guitar. The maple neck should work well with the plain mahogany body. Congrats on it! Maybe VH2s would be a nice upgrade.
-
I think I will give in and do a Twinfan eventually though. :P
Private Stock...Private Stock...Private Stock..... ;)
"I vowed this would never happen..."
:lol:
That's the problem with making vows/promises or overt statements about future gear (Twinfan?! :wink:).
I'm very happy thanks, and sticking to my vow :D
-
Love the guitar, I've never tried a bolt-on neck PRS but I love Fenders so I'm sure I'd like it if I did. Looks like a very no nonsense rock 'n' roll geetar and all the better for that. It is a slippery slope. I've gone from never having liked a PRS I'd played (not many it must be admitted) to owning two in the space of a year so be careful out there. :)
Philly, do you have McCarty pickups already? I only ask because I'm thinking of asking Jonathan to put some Mississippi Queens into my '95 McCarty and whilst I probably don't want to sell the stock pickups (in case I want to restore the guitar to its original state) I'd be totally happy to leave them with Jonathan, if he's happy, so you could try them out in your guitar before you buy. Don't know if that's useful?
-
Nice guitar.
I am sometimes surprised that these guitars sound good even though they have the Dragon II pickups. I once had a pair of them, tried it in 4 different guitars and it never sounded the way I wanted.
Cheers Stephan
-
"I vowed this would never happen..."
:lol:
That's the problem with making vows/promises or overt statements about future gear (Twinfan?! :wink:).
I'm very happy thanks, and sticking to my vow :D
I'm not convinced you've actually made any "vows" have you? :lol:
I was thinking more of your "fairly postive pronouncements" from time-to-time. And not so much the "current" one - I was thinking more of some of the earlier ones over the past few years!
Anyway, subconsciously, I was thinking more of myself - have I ever actually said, literally, "I'm never buying a PRS"? If I have then I need to find and edit those posts now, just in case they come back to haunt me... I'm definitely finding them these things more appealing than I did before :D
This one looks particular tasteful to me - although I've always imagined fixed neck for "my PRS".
Luckily, I have no spare money :lol:
If I did have enough for the sort of PRS I might be thinking of, then probably I'd be taking a trip to Jonathan first, though... It's close, but I think that I value the idea of owning a custom from Feline more than I do a PRS...
But Dmoney getting one just shows, er, something... decent guitars are decent guitars, and if you keep reading positive noises about something from your peers, sooner or later you're going to try one, and then you'll have to get one...
It's Roo and a tele next :lol:
-
Ahh another NGD on the
BKP PRS-Forum...
Congrats, mate, nice one.
shite I don´t think I can run away much longer....must get money to buy PRS...possibly with soapbars...
-
I'm not convinced you've actually made any "vows" have you? :lol:
I was thinking more of your "fairly postive pronouncements" from time-to-time. And not so much the "current" one - I was thinking more of some of the earlier ones over the past few years!
The current one is a pretty strong statement (https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=27873.0), previously I've just said I don't "need" any more gear - "want" always took over though :roll:
I've deleted saved eBay searches, stopped scouring websites etc. Quite a big change for me.
-
PRS have done some models with a wraparound and 3x strat type pickups. I'd be interested in something like that maybe. I believe they are called the EG and the 305.
-
Philly, do you have McCarty pickups already? I only ask because I'm thinking of asking Jonathan to put some Mississippi Queens into my '95 McCarty and whilst I probably don't want to sell the stock pickups (in case I want to restore the guitar to its original state) I'd be totally happy to leave them with Jonathan, if he's happy, so you could try them out in your guitar before you buy. Don't know if that's useful?
Thanks Andrew, very kind offer. :)
I do have a set of McCartys already, in my McCarty Korina. I'm intending to change the pickups in all my PRS guitars at some point, but I agree they're worth keeping just in case.... which prompted the idea of putting either the McCartys or Dragon IIs in place of the Gotoh(?) pickups in my Tokai SG (can't really be bothered to buy BKPs for that one just now!)
-
I've deleted saved eBay searches, stopped scouring websites etc. Quite a big change for me.
Eeek! :o I can't imagine ever doing that. It'd be like losing a limb or something.
(Slight exaggeration there! :roll: :lol: )
I think I will give in and do a Twinfan eventually though. :P
Private Stock...Private Stock...Private Stock..... ;)
Oh Lord no! One step a a time, Dave, one step at a time. :P
I was thinking more along the lines of a bog-standard maple top model. Maybe inching up to an Artist Pack. Can't imagine going any further than that at this stage! :wink:
-
Private Stock is where it's at Phil - go straight for the best stuff ;)
-
I could never get over the guilt of spending £5,000+ on a single guitar. The most I've managed is half that, and I'm not sure I'd do it again!
-
Looks awesome, if i was ever gonna get a prs it'd be an understated one like that. Great guitars, just don't have the "rock" image!
-
Looks awesome, if i was ever gonna get a prs it'd be an understated one like that. Great guitars, just don't have the "rock" image!
They seem to be fine for a lot of modern rockers!
-
They are indeed fine for a bunch of people, but I wouldn't say I see them commonly. I see people using les paul shapes (gibson, epiphone, ltd, esp) and SG shapes WAY more than PRS. I've seen more people using Fernandes than PRS. I saw one dude in a band rocking a PRS about 6 years ago, and a guy I was in a band with used an SE until he got a les paul studio. I think it's fair to say PRS has a bit of an image issue. That's all old news though right?
just looking through their artist page there isn't many people I care about on there or listen to on a regular basis. Chris Haskett is probably the only one. oh! I just spotted Todd Morse of H20 and Hazen St.
Gwem. VHII's is something I was considering.
-
PRS seem to be more popular in the US than here in the UK. Conservative UK guitarists seem to want Fender and Gibson above all else...
-
hmm i think it took me to own a PRS with all the fancy trimmings to take the need to have more away. Its an awesome sounding guitar, it's got some non standard stuff as it's a special run, and it looks stunning. But i wouldn't have another full fat job. I'd have one of the solid colour or non 10 top CE's or an old standard, or one of the stripped down one's like DMoneys one here.
Here's the thing, mine sounds great, but i would never gig it, i would rather have an old beat up one that sounds just as good and play that.
Can't beat those trems though...
-
PRS's were born to be gigged - get it out there having fun!
A lousy photo, but here's me gigging Private Stock Signature #41:
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Guitar%20stuff/DSCN0490.jpg)
-
Narp lol it sounds awesome, but so do my others, i would be gutted if it got nicked or got scuffed up. i like to keep my guitars good. Had a JS1000 years back and that went thru multiple gigs and looked as good when i sold it on as they day that i bought it. the only guitar i'm not bothered about scuffing is my strat, and thats because i like scuffed up strats.
other reason i dont want it scuffed or stolen is that, to me, it's not easily replaceable. it's a 10 top mcarty trem in teal black, from 06 so its pre all the asthetic changes which i don't like.. i don't like the blade style pickups selectors, i don't like the new style and hollow birds, don't like the new heel etc etc. Old PRS's are only getting more expensive
actually i have a heartbreaker of a story about a scuffed up strat, but i've thread jacked enough :P
-
Dings in PRS's rock - I whacked a nice one in the side of the above guitar at the same gig (its first - doh!)
They're tools, use 'em!
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Guitar%20stuff/2012-01-23091725.jpg)
-
Dings in PRS's rock - I whacked a nice one in the side of the above guitar at the same gig (its first - doh!)
They're tools, use 'em!
Yeah, of course you're right - in principle - about the tools thing.
But I find dings in PRS guitars particularly upsetting..... they don't look "natural", somehow, when they're aged or beaten up. Maybe it's just because PRS is a relatively new brand so we simply don't see many road-worn examples, but a relic Fender or Gibson looks "right", a relic PRS doesn't!
(That said, the lower-priced PRS models seem more at home with a bit of abuse than the upmarket ones do!)
-
I know what you mean about dings in PRS Guitars; alot of people really don't like them.
When I went to look at what is now my 97' CU22 the guy opened the case to show me the guitar and after a few seconds he said 'Oh, you're still here. I've had 6 people come and look at this and all of them ran off when they saw the ding in the top'. It has a very slight ding in the top, near where your arm would rest on the front of the guitar, and 6 people left it because of that. Ah well; it helped me get the guitar for £650 :lol:
-
Blimey, a Cu22 for £650! :o
I must admit, I'm not particularly bothered by the minor dings on my Standard 22. They don't really look out of place on the plain mahogany body and satin (with shiny patches) finish.
I'm glad the headstock's intact, though.... I'm very fond of the PRS headstock shape, and it's a shame that the pointy bits so frequently get chipped.
-
Dings in PRS's rock - I whacked a nice one in the side of the above guitar at the same gig (its first - doh!)
Tell the truth.. you cried didn't you? inside maybe, but you cried..
;)
I agree with the PRS's not looking right with dings, the bling bling ones can be too bling to ding. It just spoils the effect, and therein lies PRS's main problem, at least on the 10 top birded guitar porn models, they've become a prestige item instead of a tool, and you don't like to wreck a prestige buy, and whether or not you agree with it as i don't, i agree with you, it's a tool, it's still in the back of your head "oh no.. i dinged my work of art"..
However the above would not stop me buying a pre dinged PRS for the right price. and i wouldn't be half as precious about it either. thats the good thing about the CE's, no matter how pretty, they've all been used as tools.
For the record, i like my strats gallagherised. fender heavy relics aren't heavy enough. other than the gallagher model obviously, but i've become strangely partial to sonic blue recently.
-
I traded myself a CU22 back in 1997, which was in mint condition and because of everybody wanting a mint condition one I ended up never taking it out of it's case which was a tragic waste.
Sold it on a year later.........
Decided to make my own after that......
Anyone fancy a Goldtop Swamp Ash Tiger
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/457814_368290486551375_229560195_o.jpg)
-
i've heard about this phenomenon with second hand PRS. Any dings and buyers just don't want to know, and them being hard to shift. This one I have here feels like a workhorse. I wouldn't have any issues gigging it at all.
-
I think Brow got a PRS at a stupidly low price as it had a ding in it.
-
Yep, Brow did really well. I've told him that before!
Tell the truth.. you cried didn't you? inside maybe, but you cried..
;)
Actually, I mentally kicked myself for droping it off its stand, then played the snot out of it at the gig 8)
-
Jon - that Tiger looks cool!
-
i've heard about this phenomenon with second hand PRS. Any dings and buyers just don't want to know, and them being hard to shift. This one I have here feels like a workhorse. I wouldn't have any issues gigging it at all.
Some people are just picky!
I buy guitars to play them, so if they get dinged then that's just how it goes. I tend to buy stuff to keep it, unless I just can't get along with it, so don't let resale value affect me too much. Everything I buy gets used live, plain and simple. PRS definitely have a reputation with most people of being guitars you look at and play at home and keep in mint condition. I've never seen the point in spending that money on a guitar to not play it, so kudos to Dave for gigging his guitars that cost more than my 1st 2 cars put together :lol:
A few years ago I was selling a mid 70s Fender Music Master that had been modified with a 2nd pickup and a new scratchplate (I still had the originals), and a push/pull pot for series/parallel wiring. A guy came up from London to have a look at buying it but as soon as he saw the extra pickup and non original control knob for the push/pull pot he almost ran out the door. I told him I had all the original stuff so no problem, but he wasn't interested because the original screws had been unscrewed so I could change the scratchplate and pickup etc so meant it wasn't as it was when it left the factory. The fact it was well used with paint chips didn't seem to bother him though!
Ah well, no accounting for taste I guess.
-
i've heard about this phenomenon with second hand PRS. Any dings and buyers just don't want to know, and them being hard to shift. This one I have here feels like a workhorse. I wouldn't have any issues gigging it at all.
Some people are just picky!
...PRS definitely have a reputation with most people of being guitars you look at and play at home and keep in mint condition.
I think there is a real culture amongst certain PRS people to play expensive Pokemon with PRS guitars.
I recently joined another forum as I was interested in learning about PRSs having acquired a second hand DGT (to play I might add, it's not on the wall). I was actually a bit shocked about the number of people who seem, so far as I can tell, to treat the guitars like kids do football stickers, i.e. to show them off and trade them for other PRSs. I'm not saying they're wrong to do it, who am I to judge, but it's an attitude that I wasn't expecting about something that's effectively supposed to be a tool, albeit a pretty one.
I also think PRS play to this crowd with their multiple limited runs of certain models and their continual reinvention of the line. I have no problem with that, I'm sure each revision results in a better instrument, but all the limited edition models definitely seem to feed the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality of some PRS aficionados. If you're interested in collecting PRSs for the sake of collecting them, rather than what they can do for you as a player, then I also understand why you wouldn't touch a dented one with a barge pole, it's all about the object and its worth to others, not its functionality. But they seem happy so where's the harm?
-
I also think PRS play to this crowd with their multiple limited runs of certain models and their continual reinvention of the line. I have no problem with that, I'm sure each revision results in a better instrument, but all the limited edition models definitely seem to feed the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality of some PRS aficionados.
Good post, I think you're absolutely right.
But, as you say, no harm in it.
I don't "collect" guitars as such, but I do buy them mainly because I like 'em. If I bought them on a "need" basis, I don't gig, I don't record, I'm a very bad player..... so I wouldn't have any. :lol:
-
Which forum were you on Andrew?
It's a very good description of several US forum-going PRS owners, but it's not the majority by a long shot. They stand out because they're the ones you remember and are always posting NGDs. I know of several guys who order a Private Stock roughly once a month :o
As you say, there's no harm in it and everyone's different. People do the same with cars and other objects if they can afford to.
-
i've heard about this phenomenon with second hand PRS. Any dings and buyers just don't want to know, and them being hard to shift. This one I have here feels like a workhorse. I wouldn't have any issues gigging it at all.
Some people are just picky!
...PRS definitely have a reputation with most people of being guitars you look at and play at home and keep in mint condition.
I think there is a real culture amongst certain PRS people to play expensive Pokemon with PRS guitars.
I recently joined another forum as I was interested in learning about PRSs having acquired a second hand DGT (to play I might add, it's not on the wall). I was actually a bit shocked about the number of people who seem, so far as I can tell, to treat the guitars like kids do football stickers, i.e. to show them off and trade them for other PRSs. I'm not saying they're wrong to do it, who am I to judge, but it's an attitude that I wasn't expecting about something that's effectively supposed to be a tool, albeit a pretty one.
I also think PRS play to this crowd with their multiple limited runs of certain models and their continual reinvention of the line. I have no problem with that, I'm sure each revision results in a better instrument, but all the limited edition models definitely seem to feed the "gotta catch 'em all" mentality of some PRS aficionados. If you're interested in collecting PRSs for the sake of collecting them, rather than what they can do for you as a player, then I also understand why you wouldn't touch a dented one with a barge pole, it's all about the object and its worth to others, not its functionality. But they seem happy so where's the harm?
^ this 100% it's the lawyer/dentist brigade, the same people that buy the limited run gibsons and put 60's fender Strats in glass cases on walls...
I play my PRS, just because i don't want to take it out and ding it (it already has a little bit of buckle rash from when i pulled it out drunk one night) doesn't mean it doesn't get played extensively. But i'll stand up and say that i hate this "investment" attitude. Yes it's their money, let em do what they want, especially with PRS's and Gibbos that were designed to take their money off them, but when they start doing it with old guitars that were awesome tools, designed to be used then my attitude becomes Indiana Jones'd
some might say i'm jealous because i can't afford em. nope, i have one of the better paying jobs in the offshore industry, so i can. But i played guitar as a kid when my family didn't have much money, and i learned to really appreciate what i had. Still have my first jap squire. I don't want a private stock PRS because for me it's just too ostenatious. The only way i would consider one was if i absolutely couldn't get the spec i wanted, and i would certainly make sure some of the aspects of bling were toned down. I really like that Twinfan takes a guitar like that and plays the shitee out of it. and dings it. and says "ah well, still sounds great". That would make the colour drain from some of the posers faces.
This exists in most hobbys though, i've seen it in my other pastime which is straight razor shaving.
The mojo effect exists there too. certain brands are considered holy grail razors and there are 2 communities of people, the guys who buy old razors in antique shops, restore them, trade amongst themselves on the forums for fair prices, and generally try to keep these things in use and in the hands of the people who use them. Then there are the collectors who drive up the price of the "mojo" brands (made of magic steel apparently) to put them in display cases and don't have the first idea how to use them.
I guess that in any of my hobbys i'm physically involved with the function of the thing i'm interested in. I do not get putting something expensive and made for a purpose in a display case and never using it.
Have to say, at least PRS and fender put out workhorse guitars that aren't massively differentiated in terms of image from the higher end guitars. A PRS like Dmoneys, still says PRS on the headstock and is still made to the the same levels of quality as ever other US PRS, and a road worn strat still says "fender stratocaster" on the headstock and doesn't look that much different to the untrained eye from a CS relic. Gibson play a class system way too much, if you don't have the money for a standard or classic, which i think are way over priced these days, they make sure that it's massively differentiated from, say studio, so the corksniffers, when they're out watching a working gigging band "you see? he just has a LP studio, i have the more expensive proper one".
Not wailing on Studios BTW.
Rant over
Still don't want to ding my mine lol
-
I love my Private Stocks because they use the best tonewoods available, and they have some of that handmade mojo going on. You have to get past the looks, because underneath they're the best musical instruments I've ever played.
I love 'em and play 'em :D
-
Agree with Dave here - guitars are made to be played!
I don't think I'll ever get a PRS PS though, perhaps a Blonde CS Esquire is more suited to me.
-
Which forum were you on Andrew?
It's a very good description of several US forum-going PRS owners, but it's not the majority by a long shot. They stand out because they're the ones you remember and are always posting NGDs. I know of several guys who order a Private Stock roughly once a month :o
As you say, there's no harm in it and everyone's different. People do the same with cars and other objects if they can afford to.
It was on Vintage Rocker, the BaM expat section. I think you're right, the 'collectors' aren't the majority, but they post the most because of their rapid turnover of instruments, so their presence is disproportionate to their number.
-
I love my Private Stocks because they use the best tonewoods available, and they have some of that handmade mojo going on. You have to get past the looks, because underneath they're the best musical instruments I've ever played.
I love 'em and play 'em :D
Strange but true!
The fact that they're such beautiful guitars actually counts against them, in an inverse-snobbery kind of way.
-
I'm hoping that my 2012 Ltd edition Lion can be seen as a players guitar - even though I've always said that there will be only 12 of them (11 right handed and one southpaw)
The concept is 20th anniversary celebration guitar/Ltd run of 12 thing that looks like 20:12
Admittedly their price may put them in the hands of collectors at £2995 each, but you'd pay that for a Gigson R9 or a custom shop Gibson, so I don't see that it is a step too far.
Obviously a guitar of that price you probably choose not to hand round to drunken punters at a jam night or leave unattended on a stand at a pub, but you'd still play it .
-
Not a fan of PRS guitars, they look too nice and they play too well (not enough of a fight in it for me), but if you want one to get all dinged up, lend one to me for a few gigs :D
Paddy
-
They do play exceptionally well, in my experience at least. The 245 I had played like butter. I kind of agree that I like my guitars to have a bit of fit in them (although Daves ME) is possibly the best guitar I have played!
-
Back in London now.
Here is another shot...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v174/xtattybobx/Untitled.jpg)
I don't feel like its 'too easy' to play. Maybe because the neck is bigger than all my other guitars, but it is still really comfortable, which is the main thing. I've noticed another guitar I've owned resonate so much when it's against my body. The whole thing vibrates and when I'm stood still playing it I can feel it where the body is resting on my torso.
The trem and the whole system of keeping the strings in tune is totally solid. I've not tried to pull off any divebombs yet but I've been giving the trem some abuse and it's holding up perfectly.
-
The thing with PRS' that I've always struggled with is they don't quite 'look' ME when I play one. They do sound and feel great to play, but when I dig in on a Les Paul or Vee, their 'vibe' inspires me to play better and dig in. I don't get that with the 'plays like buttah' high end stuff. Its not that PRS, Suhr etc. are bad or lack soul or any of that nonsense, quite the opposite - its just what feels right to one person isn't right for another. Saying that though, I'd be prepared to give a Santana model a good gigging some time - they do have 'vibe' for me, but I ain't got anywhere near that kinda cash.
-
:D Here is the reply i got from Dave-Twinfan (i hope you don't mind,Dave..),April 2007,when i asked him if he had ever played a PRS Custom22 :):
Re: PRS w/Mule
« Sent to: viking on: April 16, 2007, 06:29:39 PM » Quote Reply Remove
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No PRS for me - WAAAAY too expensive!
Dave
-
Although things do change! Right now I'd love to get a CS Fender but I would consider them WAAAAY too expensive at this moment in time. Roll on a few years and I reckon my position may change.
-
Although things do change! Right now I'd love to get a CS Fender but I would consider them WAAAAY too expensive at this moment in time. Roll on a few years and I reckon my position may change.
Yeah, I've increased my "upper limit" a few times in the last couple of years. Still nowhere near PRS Private Stock levels, but I might consider Fender Custom Shop prices now....
(Obviously I don't have your other financial responsibilities!)
-
Although things do change! Right now I'd love to get a CS Fender but I would consider them WAAAAY too expensive at this moment in time. Roll on a few years and I reckon my position may change.
Yeah, I've increased my "upper limit" a few times in the last couple of years. Still nowhere near PRS Private Stock levels, but I might consider Fender Custom Shop prices now....
(Obviously I don't have your other financial responsibilities!)
And they are ridiculous too! Nearly £1k a month on child care and a weekly shopping bill of between £100 and £150. THat's the cost of a nice new guitar each month!
I really can't wait until the kids are old enough to be put to work as they can then start paying our mortgage off!
-
Yep, times and finances change in 5 years!
-
Although things do change! Right now I'd love to get a CS Fender but I would consider them WAAAAY too expensive at this moment in time. Roll on a few years and I reckon my position may change.
Yeah, I've increased my "upper limit" a few times in the last couple of years. Still nowhere near PRS Private Stock levels, but I might consider Fender Custom Shop prices now....
(Obviously I don't have your other financial responsibilities!)
And they are ridiculous too!
Nearly £1k a month on child care and a weekly shopping bill of between £100 and £150. THat's the cost of a nice new guitar each month!
Wow - what you spend on childcare alone is more than I earn a month.
-
It is a little ridiculous. Just a good job that I have a job that pays pretty well and that we have a great family to help out when they can.
I can imagine that the salary/income of a guitar maker/luthier is quite low unless you get lucky or are exceptionally talented (I'm not suggesting any of the great luthiers on here are not exceptionally talented BTW).
Perhaps there is a trade off in doing something you love doing rather than sitting behind a desk working on things such as IT delivery for a large corporation.
-
I'm trying to get all the guitars in before i have kids. then i won't let them touch them (i had to save and buy my own when i was a teenager) and then leave em to my grandkids. Lets face it, it's a teenagers job to hate a parent, they'll hate me anyway so i might as well give mine a reason :lol:
-
I have no kids (that I know of... wahheeeeeeyyyy!). I try to keep my outgoings down. That said, this PRS cost less than my Les Paul. I recently sold a couple of guitars and some pickups, and other bits and not being a big fan of the wider PRS range but definitely enjoying this particular guitar, I thought I'd give it a go since it was at a fair price. I'd say if anyone feels tempted to go PRS then the CE's are a lot of guitar if you can find one for a good price.
I'm going to try a nailbomb in the bridge. Take the one from my strat. and a Cold Sweat in the neck. I do like the Dragon II's but on single notes they don't feel like they cut. I can always put the dragon II's back in. I won't be selling them.
-
I'd say if anyone feels tempted to go PRS then the CE's are a lot of guitar if you can find one for a good price.
Prompted by this thread, I had a quick look on eBay - it's surprising just how few CEs are for sale.
I know the various CE models have been discontinued for a while, but they must have made a lot of them over the years. Seems most people hold onto them!
-
Agreed. im not that into the ones on ebay either. And the price people seem to want for them second hand seems to vary a bit.
-
A lot of the PRS guitars listed on eBay at the moment have been there a while - I think people are a bit ambitious with their pricing!
I'm sure there are particular models which sell at good prices to collectors, especially if they're in pristine condition as we discussed earlier in the thread.
But the ones I've sold didn't go too well - there doesn't seem to be much demand for Miras or Starlas (although I did get a decent price for the Mira Korina, and it sold very quickly!)
-
A lot of the PRS guitars listed on eBay at the moment have been there a while - I think people are a bit ambitious with their pricing!
This is what I see too but it's always worth putting in a bid up to what you're willing to pay as sometimes if the auction doesn't make reserve you can get a second chance offer. That's how I got my DGT. In the current climate I do think most PRS reserves on eBay are on the optimistic side.
-
very very very very very optimistic. very very in this particular case.. getting into deluded territory, especially since he had the neck scalloped.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1995-CE-24-PRS-Professionally-Scalloped-neck-Electric-Guitar-with-orig-case-/251081817428?pt=Guitar&hash=item3a75a47d54
I've seen 10 topped 24's go for that much..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRS-CE-24-FADED-BLUE-JEAN-MOON-INLAYS-INT-L-SHIPPING-NICE-PAUL-REED-SMITH-/140792030300?pt=Guitar&hash=item20c7dbe45c
This one, much more like it. I'd have that if i didn't have a ebay rule of really trying not to buy outside of europe at the moment
-
Here it is again.
Added a Nailbomb in the bridge a Cold Sweat in the neck. The wiring has all be replaced but kept safe along with the pups. Changed the rings too. Went for Volume only, with a 3 way toggle, and a mini toggle for coil spit instead of a push pull tone knob. The difference between the stock guitar and how it is now is night and day. It also looks like it wants to be rocked to bits!
-
That looks fookin' superb :D
-
^ yup, the uncovered buckers definitely round off the stripped down asthetic, that is a rawk machine!
-
It's surprising what a difference open pickups and black mounting rings make, looks good!
That's one thing I've always found interesting about PRS, they mix it up quite a lot with the cosmetics - different coloured pickup rings, different knobs, different inlays, some finishes with natural backs, some with solid colours. It gives you a lot of choice, even with examples of the same model.
-
Good find. I have a CE22 myself. I've left it stock because I really like the tone. I've been considering removing the 5 way rotary switch and replacing it with a 3 way toggle and coil split on the tone control.
I've seen PRS sell a drop in kit but it costs £60+. What would I need to be able to have a Volume, Tone w/Coil Split and a Toggle?
-
you'd need an SG style 3 way toggle. (the tall style gibson toggle won't fit... too tall!)
The tone pot on mine was a push pull pot with DPDT switch. I think mine was a 16mm Alpha. It had a narrower bushing than the CTS pots. The hole in the body for it is a little wider than the bushing on the pot. I remember the washer off that sat on the top of the body being a little deformed.
You also need a 500K volume pot (i used a 550K BKP). with a 0.022uf tone cap, and a 180pf Volume Bypass cap.
There is a diagram made by PRS for converting 5 way to 3 way switching. I think one of the pickups in the 5 way rotary switch guitars has flipped magnets or something, so it's not as straightforward as I thought to rewire while keeping the original pups..
-
I've seen PRS sell a drop in kit but it costs £60+. What would I need to be able to have a Volume, Tone w/Coil Split and a Toggle?
Bear in mind that you'll have to enlarge the hole for the 3-way toggle switch, so it's not a reversible mod.
(Well, it's sort of reversible, but you'd have to use a couple of big washers or something to put the rotary switch back in the hole where the toggle switch was)