Mr Dave Twinfan...

[Twinfan]

All good points Phil, especially the band stuff.  I gig with two solicitors and a teacher, luckily we can string the odd classic rock track together OK  ;)

[gwEm]

Well, anyone can do anything they like with their money I guess.. but no one likes watching a gig where the guitarist has 1000s of pounds worth in gear and knocks out lengthy and passionless blues solos. I've played on the same night as a band like that, and it definitely wound me up. But yeah, maybe it was wrongful jealousy.. or boredom ;)

(and we all know you can play just fine Philly, so stop posing ;) )

[Elliot]

Yeah Phil - your better than me.  By the 'earn your stripes' criteria, I should play a Hondo!

[Philly Q]

(and we all know you can play just fine Philly, so stop posing ;) )

 :lol:

I really can't.

Well, anyone can do anything they like with their money I guess.. but no one likes watching a gig where the guitarist has 1000s of pounds worth in gear and knocks out lengthy and passionless blues solos. I've played on the same night as a band like that, and it definitely wound me up. But yeah, maybe it was wrongful jealousy.. or boredom ;)

Yeah, but those solos would be no less lengthy or passionless if he was playing a Columbus Les Paul copy!  :P

I think sometimes that these debates really have nothing to do with PRS guitars, in fact they boil down to everyday social prejudice.  Some people are deeply resentful of professionals who they regard as immensely rich and arrogant without a care in the world, whereas anyone working class automatically qualifies as "salt of the earth".  Others see anyone in a suit as a hard-working, responsible member of society and everyone else as a layabout or benefits cheat.  Both perspectives being equally stupid generalisations.

And I have to say that musicians, whilst not generally stupid people, like to think of themselves as "street" (whether they are or not) and therefore tend to be contemptuous of the "suits".  :|

[Afghan Dave]

I have nothing but respect for "professionals" ... When you need a "job" well done, sometimes it's worth paying for.  :P

[bucketshred]

(and we all know you can play just fine Philly, so stop posing ;) )

 :lol:

I really can't.

Well, anyone can do anything they like with their money I guess.. but no one likes watching a gig where the guitarist has 1000s of pounds worth in gear and knocks out lengthy and passionless blues solos. I've played on the same night as a band like that, and it definitely wound me up. But yeah, maybe it was wrongful jealousy.. or boredom ;)

I think sometimes that these debates really have nothing to do with PRS guitars, in fact they boil down to everyday social prejudice.  Some people are deeply resentful of professionals who they regard as immensely rich and arrogant without a care in the world, whereas anyone working class automatically qualifies as "salt of the earth".  

This. Bang on.

I used to work with a girl who thought that if someone was 'salt of the earth' they could do no wrong and their behaviour was always excused because 'they were a good lad/girl'. She was also one of those types who was proud of her own ignorance and lack of intelligence.

Back to the topic at hand. Who cares what you're playing, who is playing it or what you're playing on it. The main thing is: 'are you having fun?'

[Twinfan]

Back to the topic at hand. Who cares what you're playing, who is playing it or what you're playing on it. The main thing is: 'are you having fun?'

This.  x1000.  ;)

[juansolo]

Because of the price point of PRS', they did (still do to some degree) have that image of being guitars for well-heeled professionals who like to be weekend warriors (and can barely play a note) - it does rub some people up the wrong way.  I've seen such blokes in action in the pubs, thousands of pounds worth of gear and struggling to play a 12 bar blues with any conviction.  Suppose it stems back to earning your stripes as a guitarist and being worthy of the instrument.

This seems to be mainly a musician thing. I think it comes from most muso's being stoney broke. Hence the intrinsic value of most guitar gear is what you can sell it on for when you run out of brass ;)

Our perpetually broke muso has practiced, they've earned their stripes then some 'rich' professional of some description (they usually complain about doctors doing it. Doctors, such selfish bar-stewards...) that dabbles with playing comes along and buys a really swan guitar and plays it badly... Something they feel they could get so much more out of, and they probably could. But that doesn't mean that the Doc shouldn't have it. The world doesn't owe you a ten grand guitar because you're awesome.

It's the envy thing that I have such a big problem with. This works for cars also (I keep coming back to this as there are so many parallels at MUCH higher values). The number of badly piloted super cars I see being punted around tracks is quite high. Just because you can buy a Ferrari, it doesn't magically imbue you with the driving prowess of Fernando Alonso.

Do I have a problem with that? Of course not, because if I was lucky to have that kind of brass I'd spunk tonnes of cash on cars too. Indeed, instead of being bitter, go natter to them. They're likely enthusiasts just with busy lives. Get a ride in their car. The fact you can drive rings around them in a 2 grand MX-5 is irrelevant. That you can do that is cool in itself, be happy in your ability.

The grim reality is, being a good driver or a muso usually doesn't pay. Other things do. That doesn't mean you can't do those other things, make a lot of money and dabble in driving/playing. We shouldn't be envious of these people, we should celebrate their success. Unless they're w**kers, there's a lot of them about to, just don't judge them by the car / guitar they buy.

I'm rambling.

[Afghan Dave]

I like to think that if I were to walk into a room and see 3 guitars and was unaware of their price I'd still pick the same one.

PRS Private Stock
59 Les Paul
BC Rich Gunslinger Retro

I'll have the BC Rich!  :o

By the sound of it that's what Dave/Twinfan would do with this PRS.

Follow your heart.

[bucketshred]

One thing I've always noticed is that the best musicians I know really couldn't give a flying $%&# what they're playing through (except for keyboard players, but that's a different thing entirely). They'll just play the shite out of it and have fun no matter what. They may have a PREFERENCE for certain things but most of the time they don't care.

[juansolo]

And I have to say that musicians, whilst not generally stupid people, like to think of themselves as "street" (whether they are or not) and therefore tend to be contemptuous of the "suits".  :|

I like to refer to people to who have this attitude as 'f**king idiots', it saves typing. Let's face it, most of them with this attitude are either not the brightest bulb in the pack or have all the mental maturity of a 16 year old.

[Twinfan]

Everyone's different.  Some guitarists don't know what brand strings they're using and will play absolutely anything (Seasick Steve) others will want every last detail sorting (Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson).

Neither approach is wrong, just different.

[bucketshred]

Everyone's different.  Some guitarists don't know what brand strings they're using and will play absolutely anything (Seasick Steve) others will want every last detail sorting (Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson).

Neither approach is wrong, just different.

I'd completely forgotten about those two. I'm not really a fan of either so I guess I can be excused.

Anyway, I hope you have fun with your new PRS when it comes. They're not something I'd normally gravitate to but I certainly wouldn't say no if someone was offering one for free!

[gwEm]

rock is meant to be about sticking it to "the man", and the guitar a symbol of rebellion.. therefore (some people might think) an expensive guitar would seem like a bit of an insult to the rock ideals.

these days though, i think middle class professionals need to rebel a bit themselves. i certainly still want to stick it to the man!

(this ignores of course other styles than rock can be played on the guitar)

[Afghan Dave]

rock is meant to be about sticking it to "the man", ....

i certainly still want to stick it to the man!

Sorry dude, you're on your own there...