NGD (Now with added pictorial goodness)

[Andrew W]

Well I've not been around here for a little while because I've been in Turkey for two months on a very gruelling film shoot. My "self gift", purchased with the heroic amounts of overtime I racked up is this second hand 2011 PRS DGT:

I put in a low bid on eBay during one of the dark times on the shoot (about 4 a.m. near the Syrian border I think) and the auction failed to make reserve and so I thought no more of it. Then, last week when I had got back, it was relisted and again, I put in a low bid thinking the same thing would happen. Again the auction didn't make reserve but I was the highest bidder and I was offered the second chance purchase which I jumped at.

I went and collected it this evening and I'm thrilled. I think it must have been played only a handful of times as it's immaculate, everything was still in the case: the trem bar hadn't even been taken out of its plastic bag! The previous owner had restrung it with 10s so I've just taken them off and put a set of 11s on and in the brief thrash about I've had on it, it's sounding really good. I need to have a play with the pickup heights but I'll have to wait for the weekend to do that. I'll also try and take some photos of my own (the above is from the auction listing) as it's very pretty (I think).

This does mean that I may now get a set of Mississippi Queens to put in my McCarty as I don't think I need 2 hum-bucking PRSs so there may be further developments...
 

[TheyCallMeVolume]

Great find! I LOVE the top on that too!

[38thBeatle]

excellent- I do like a bargain.

[Kiichi]

One of those cases where it is not that evilbay...
Congrats!
And yes, we want more pics!

I feel like being pressured into buying a RPS myself by all these nice PRS NGDs around here.^^

[Philly Q]

Excellent!  There are definitely some bargains available on PRS guitars at the moment - shame for the seller but good for the buyer!

What's the colour?  Is it just a deep orange or is there a slight burst?

[Andrew W]

It's a Solana Burst apparently, it's quite subtle but I guess since the maple top is quite busy that's no bad thing. I also agree that it's not a good time to be selling guitars but, as you say, there are bargains to be had: an effectively new DGT 10 top for less than half new price is something I never thought I'd find.

[Mr. Air]

That guitar is looking mighty fine. Congrats on the purchase. It's always lovely to do a nice buy on ebay. I actually got an ebay buy arriving soon (hopefully it will be as good as yours) so there's another NGD in the air from air  :D

[Philly Q]

It's a Solana Burst apparently, it's quite subtle but I guess since the maple top is quite busy that's no bad thing. I also agree that it's not a good time to be selling guitars but, as you say, there are bargains to be had: an effectively new DGT 10 top for less than half new price is something I never thought I'd find.

Ah yes, that colour name rings a bell!

Less than half price, that's excellent!  There are loads of PRS bargains on eBay, but the only issue for me is that I like PRS guitars to be perfect (like yours).  I don't mind the odd ding on a Gibson or Fender, but I hate it on a PRS because they're just so nicely made in the first place.... and it always seems to be a chip on one of the points of the headstock!

My Standard 22 actually does have a few battle scars, but in that case I wasn't so bothered because the satin finish makes it a far more rough 'n' ready guitar in the first place.

[dave_mc]

oooh very nice :D

[Thrull]

I've never fallen in love with the way a PRS feels, but man i love the wood they select.

[PhilKing]

Congratulations - it looks like you got a good deal

[juansolo]

ooooh pretty!

[Andrew W]

Thanks everyone!

Further playing suggests that it's a much different beast to the McCarty than I'd thought given its heritage. I'd say the DGT has more chime and a really pleasant bloom on the notes I don't hear on the McCarty and that the string/note separation is clearer. The clean tones are better (I think) on the DGT and when fully wound up there is more clarity than I hear in the McCarty even fully overdriven. The McCarty on some settings could be mistaken for a Les Paul but I don't think you'd ever say that about the DGT, it's very much its own thing. It's a really versatile instrument, probably the most versatile guitar I've played and I love the full spectrum of beautiful shimmering cleans to pure filth I can get through my Cornell just by using the guitar controls, it's very impressive.

Further pictures will have to wait I'm afraid. I have been summoned back to Turkey for more filming at very short notice and I shan't be back for at least a week, so there'll be no photos, and even worse for me, no playing, until then. Boo.

[Telerocker]

That's a very nice catch! Congrats!

[Philly Q]

Further playing suggests that it's a much different beast to the McCarty than I'd thought given its heritage. I'd say the DGT has more chime and a really pleasant bloom on the notes I don't hear on the McCarty and that the string/note separation is clearer. The clean tones are better (I think) on the DGT and when fully wound up there is more clarity than I hear in the McCarty even fully overdriven. The McCarty on some settings could be mistaken for a Les Paul but I don't think you'd ever say that about the DGT, it's very much its own thing. It's a really versatile instrument, probably the most versatile guitar I've played and I love the full spectrum of beautiful shimmering cleans to pure filth I can get through my Cornell just by using the guitar controls, it's very impressive.

Do you think that's mostly down to trem vs. stoptail, or is it just the different pickups?  I don't know much about the DGT pickups, but the McCartys do seem to be a bit lacking in clarity.