Opinions please

[Doadman]

OK, I may have come to a point where it's decision time as I've found an SL3 still in stock somewhere and it's in my preferred Trans Blue. Here are the choices I now have:

PRS SE Torero in Black Cherry - £725
Jackson SL3 in TRans Blue - £855
Jackson SLAT3-6 in Black - £950

The PRS has all the spec I want but not the neck and arguably not the build quality. I found it to be a very well built guitar but loads of people are telling me that the Japanese Jacksons are even better. I like the SLAT3-6 but I'm not sure I see another £100 in it over the SL3. Are active EMG's really that much better? That leaves the SL3 sitting right in the middle. It's a discontinued model but that may not be a bad thing. Which do you think represents the best choice for me? I play in a Rock covers band doing everything from Black Sabbath to Doobie Brothers if that helps.

[Antag]

Is it practical for you to go & try the SL3?

[Stevepage]

I would go PRS. I've had 2 Japanese Jacksons and while they are ok, I think PRS's build quality is just the same if not a bit better.

I would also go by experience too, if you like the build quality and how it played then I'd choose that over what some one has told you what to buy.

 

[Doadman]

Unfortunately, nobody even remotely local has a Soloist in stock so I can't try it first. The nearest I've been able to get is trying a cheap Jackson and the neck did feel a bit more comfortable being that bit harrower and thicker.

[Roobubba]

I wouldn't spend more on a guitar that has EMGs in - because I'd rather rip those out and put BKPs in. If the axe already has passives in, you save yourself a bit of hassle there ;)

Roo

[Doadman]

That's very true and the thought has crossed my mind. I don't think I'd change the Hotrails but I may well be tempted to put a BKP in the bridge position instead of the JB. I believe the Holy Diver works well, though I'd be inclined to go with whatever Tim says.

[LazyNinja]

I second what Steve said, don't let people put you off the PRS if you tried it yourself and you liked it. But if you didn't like the neck maybe you need to look elsewhere?

Have you considered ESP Horizons or Schecter C1s?

MH400 for £629.
http://shop.absolute-guitars.co.uk/esp--ltd-mh400-stb---see-through-blue-123-p.asp




I don't have experience with either so don't shoot me if these are rubbish!!

[dave_mc]

that's quite a bit for the sl3, the one i tried (granted that was a couple of years ago before a five pound note was worth more before it was printed) was something like £600. That being said, based on the PRS SEs I've tried, I wouldn't want to pay that much for the torero either. :lol:

maybe I'm just cheap.

Personally I'd prefer passives for those tones, but if the guitar is right down apart from the pickups, it's right, you can switch pickups reasonably easily and there's not much point in taking a guitar you like less just to get better pickups.

I also really want to try those sovereigns, they're a similar price and are made in the UK. On paper, the spec is great (but we all know what that can mean, "too good to be true" and all that). But if you can find one to try, it's bound to be worth a try.

[Doadman]

I've tried an ESP Horizon and it was a well built guitar but the 'U' shaped neck really wasn't for me. I'm going to sleep on it overnight but I think I'm going to go for the Jackson even though I've never played it. The Torero is a fantastic guitar as it has the mahogany body, ebony fingerboard and binding, all of which I prefer. I'm not as keen on the EMG pickups but that wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. People also tell me that Korean made guitars aren't as good as those made in Japan but all I can say is that PRS is one bloody well made Korean guitar. It's certainly better built than my RGT42 by a long way and I love my Ibanez. The concern is the neck. I could play it and it was nice. Even though it felt wide, it was nothing I didn't think I could adapt to but it was also very thin and one of my reasons for changing is to get a slightly thicker neck. That PRS isn't a poke in the eye away from being as thin as a Wizard II neck so I have to wonder if I'll be as happy with it long term.

The Jackson only really worries me because I've never played one before but if I am to get an SL3 I have to act soon. I've searched all over the internet and I can find only 3 available still. One is in Amber but they're asking £950 for it and won't budge so that's dead in the water. Another I found was in Black and the lowest they'd go is £799. That leaves the Trans Blue one at £850, which is my first choice colour and I'm happy to pay the extra £50 to get that colour and the flame maple top. It's true I like the passive pickups and the vast majority of people on numerous guitar forums have assured me that if anything, a Japanese built Jackson is better built than a Korean PRS. Actually, some of the members of the Jackson forum argued they may even be better than a USA Jackson! All that aside, it's the neck that's swaying me. The width is the same as my Ibanez but it's that little bit thicker, which I think will help my playing. I'm not a shredder by any means; in fact my style owes rather more to Blues but I just like the feel of Metal guitars. The Jackson looks rather more obviously 'Metal' than the PRS but I'll live with that.

As I say, I'll sleep on it over night and probably order it in the morning.

[LazyNinja]

Here's a wild card lol. I'd go for this.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-MSG-Deluxe-Mint-Condition_W0QQitemZ150432473119QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item230679601f