Well, I sold 5 guitars and 2 basses in the last 13 months so I figured I was due for a NGD. I had been eyeing a Vela for quite a while but I had a chance to play an S2 Standard at NAMM this year and liked it a lot. I found this one used at a good price and it was cheaper than a used Vela. Plus, satin finish which is my preference. So, a pretty good win. Just two very minor nicks in the body otherwise it appears fairly mint.
Good - Finish is great for me. Not everyone likes the McCarty style finish or the satin feel but I dig them. And a minimally finished neck is always superior to gloss, IMO. The fretwork is outstanding...the edges are smoother than anything else I currently own. Nut is also smooth and rolled over. Weighs 7lbs, so it's light. The pickups are very interesting. I had low expectations on coil tapping but through my rig the single coil and buckers both sound great. Rich and full. Not magic, but certainly on par with this price range. The neck carve feels really good, too...I can understand why ppl comment on PRS necks.
Needs work - I doubt this was the factory setup because the strings are quite high. Relief looks about right so hopefully I can just lower the saddles a bit without too much buzz. Interestingly, even with high action it is very very playable up to the 15th. Gets pretty high after that. But, this is nothing unusual with a used instrument.
Sorry for the mess of a bookshelf my wife and I share in the pic. Too cold to go outside for a decent picture.
Looks great, Brian!
That looks awesome. I love PRS necks. They feel really comfortable. The satin look is great on that one.
Oh wow, that beautiful
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Congrats! She's a beaut
Very nice aesthetic to that guitar. Congrats.
Now that's gorgeous. Played one at Dave's last year and really wanted to take it home. Congrats, bud!
Sweet that's one of the nicer s2s I've seen. I desperately want a vela but I've not had the cash anytime one has been available.
Very nice!
PRS is on my list to try out (and by that I mean buy one and play it for several months). I actually really liked the SE Zach Myeres sig that was in our NAMM booth. Pretty cheap and a very nice player (and sounded great unplugged as well).
I'll probably end up going the S2 route as well. I don't want to spend Core money, but I'm a headstock snob (finally just started admitting it), so S2 makes the most sense. Also, the S2 line seems to not have very many of the "spinnin rims" finishes that both SE and Core sport. I've avoided man PRS guitars in the past because they looked like Bill Murray's bowling ball in King Pins. ;D
Quote from: culturejam on December 16, 2016, 08:31:02 PM
Very nice!
PRS is on my list to try out (and by that I mean buy one and play it for several months). I actually really liked the SE Zach Myeres sig that was in our NAMM booth. Pretty cheap and a very nice player (and sounded great unplugged as well).
I'll probably end up going the S2 route as well. I don't want to spend Core money, but I'm a headstock snob (finally just started admitting it), so S2 makes the most sense. Also, the S2 line seems to not have very many of the "spinnin rims" finishes that both SE and Core sport. I've avoided man PRS guitars in the past because they looked like Bill Murray's bowling ball in King Pins. ;D
Now that's how you analogy ...
(http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4tbvr4xqA1r9al9a.jpg)
Nice guitar !
Quote from: culturejam on December 16, 2016, 08:31:02 PM
...but I'm a headstock snob (finally just started admitting it)
You have put words to what I've been feeling for years. I almost don't care how good the guitar is if the headstock looks like crap. Like those James Tyler guitars...they may be great, but no thanks.
Quote from: Jabulani Jonny on December 17, 2016, 01:40:10 PM
You have put words to what I've been feeling for years. I almost don't care how good the guitar is if the headstock looks like crap. Like those James Tyler guitars...they may be great, but no thanks.
Well, that too. But I also care what the name is on the headstock. I don't care how nice any given model is, I won't own an Epiphone. For some reason, I don't mind Squier or G&L Tribute. But Epiphone is a no-go for me. I know that's really dumb, but I can't help it.
Quote from: culturejam on December 18, 2016, 02:23:55 PM
Quote from: Jabulani Jonny on December 17, 2016, 01:40:10 PM
You have put words to what I've been feeling for years. I almost don't care how good the guitar is if the headstock looks like crap. Like those James Tyler guitars...they may be great, but no thanks.
Well, that too. But I also care what the name is on the headstock. I don't care how nice any given model is, I won't own an Epiphone. For some reason, I don't mind Squier or G&L Tribute. But Epiphone is a no-go for me. I know that's really dumb, but I can't help it.
Apparently you're not the only one. They changed the 2017 SE line
(http://www.prsguitars.com/images/blog_images/SEHeadstock-1-3.jpg)
Quote from: Jabulani Jonny on December 17, 2016, 01:40:10 PM
Quote from: culturejam on December 16, 2016, 08:31:02 PM
...but I'm a headstock snob (finally just started admitting it)
You have put words to what I've been feeling for years. I almost don't care how good the guitar is if the headstock looks like crap. Like those James Tyler guitars...they may be great, but no thanks.
Yeah, I don't get the Tyler guitars headstock. Ouch.
For somewhat silly reasons, the Heritage headstock puts me off as well, even though they make really nice guitars. I've often felt I should get over it and get one from my local dealer, but haven't done it. I've always wondered why they've stuck with the headstock shape when so many people complain about it; they could probably sell more guitars if they changed it.
Quote from: pickdropper on December 18, 2016, 02:29:30 PM
Apparently you're not the only one. They changed the 2017 SE line
Suddenly, I can see myself with an SE model. ;D
Quote from: culturejam on December 18, 2016, 02:23:55 PM
Quote from: Jabulani Jonny on December 17, 2016, 01:40:10 PM
You have put words to what I've been feeling for years. I almost don't care how good the guitar is if the headstock looks like crap. Like those James Tyler guitars...they may be great, but no thanks.
Well, that too. But I also care what the name is on the headstock. I don't care how nice any given model is, I won't own an Epiphone. For some reason, I don't mind Squier or G&L Tribute. But Epiphone is a no-go for me. I know that's really dumb, but I can't help it.
Squier does a nice job of making there super cheap models not look super cheap. The real low end versions of the les Paul look like cheap prices of junk from thirty feet away. That's not to say they're worse than squier Affinity strats, I don't know. But they sure look worse.
That said I've played some solid Epiphone Pauls. I'm a fender guy though.
Brian that's a great looking PRS. I have to say that after building my own guitar this year and doing a to. Of research on the way, I have a lot of respect for Mr Smith. Dude is as much a scholar as he is a builder.
Quote from: Matmosphere on December 18, 2016, 03:34:01 PM
Brian that's a great looking PRS. I have to say that after building my own guitar this year and doing a to. Of research on the way, I have a lot of respect for Mr Smith. Dude is as much a scholar as he is a builder.
Well, he's certainly interested in building more than guitars:
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151118005105/en/Guitar-Maker-Paul-Reed-Smith-Team-Scientists
He's got patents on an improved x-ray technology.
I've always wanted to get a PRS, but being left handed, there are very few. They make a strat sized hollowbody that is really nice
It's weird, seeing a non-shiny, non-AAAAA-flame-top PRS.
Like Mrs Bucket ("Bou-kee") from Keeping Up Appearances happily slurping lager.
Quote from: Matmosphere on December 18, 2016, 03:28:23 PM
The real low end versions of the les Paul look like cheap prices of junk from thirty feet away. That's not to say they're worse than squier Affinity strats, I don't know. But they sure look worse.
You mean the Studio "faded" models? I think they look okay. Not great, but at least half-decent.
I can get along with just about any guitar from the "feel" perspective (at least for the major styles and brands). So I tend to make my purchase decisions based on looks. You're right that Squier guitars look almost identical to the pricier American and up models, while Gibson definitely separates things visually.
If Gibson made a Studio with body and neck binding, I'd be buying those. But at that point, you're just a headstock inlay away from a Standard. ;)
Hot. Love the colour especially 8)
Quote from: culturejam on December 19, 2016, 01:02:21 AM
Quote from: Matmosphere on December 18, 2016, 03:28:23 PM
The real low end versions of the les Paul look like cheap prices of junk from thirty feet away. That's not to say they're worse than squier Affinity strats, I don't know. But they sure look worse.
You mean the Studio "faded" models? I think they look okay. Not great, but at least half-decent.
I can get along with just about any guitar from the "feel" perspective (at least for the major styles and brands). So I tend to make my purchase decisions based on looks. You're right that Squier guitars look almost identical to the pricier American and up models, while Gibson definitely separates things visually.
If Gibson made a Studio with body and neck binding, I'd be buying those. But at that point, you're just a headstock inlay away from a Standard. ;)
Nah, I'm talking about how crummy the entry level Epiphones look. Once you hit $350-400 epic start looking very nice but below that and they don't look to hot. Those super cheap squiers don't actually look that bad.
Imo the faded Gibsons don't look too bad at all. I kinda like that look on the SG.
Quote from: Matmosphere on December 19, 2016, 01:49:52 AM
Quote from: culturejam on December 19, 2016, 01:02:21 AM
Quote from: Matmosphere on December 18, 2016, 03:28:23 PM
The real low end versions of the les Paul look like cheap prices of junk from thirty feet away. That's not to say they're worse than squier Affinity strats, I don't know. But they sure look worse.
You mean the Studio "faded" models? I think they look okay. Not great, but at least half-decent.
I can get along with just about any guitar from the "feel" perspective (at least for the major styles and brands). So I tend to make my purchase decisions based on looks. You're right that Squier guitars look almost identical to the pricier American and up models, while Gibson definitely separates things visually.
If Gibson made a Studio with body and neck binding, I'd be buying those. But at that point, you're just a headstock inlay away from a Standard. ;)
Nah, I'm talking about how crummy the entry level Epiphones look. Once you hit $350-400 epic start looking very nice but below that and they don't look to hot. Those super cheap squiers don't actually look that bad.
Imo the faded Gibsons don't look too bad at all. I kinda like that look on the SG.
I think Gibson would sell more Epiphones if they simply used the Gibson headstock. Leaving the Epiphone logo would probably be fine; and a good differentiator. But I think that there is probably little interest for Gibson to make their lower line guitars look like the upper line guitars.
I'm actually curious what convinced PRS to make the logo change on the SE line. CultureJam is a good example of somebody who wanted a core model PRS because of the logo but might now consider a less expensive SE. I'm guessing that isn't their plan, but maybe it's not an issue for them as long as they get a customer into the PRS fold.
Quote from: pickdropper on December 19, 2016, 02:40:19 AM
CultureJam is a good example of somebody who wanted a core model PRS because of the logo but might now consider a less expensive SE.
I didn't necessarily want the Core because of the logo. I wanted one because they are awesome. I mainly *didn't* want the SE because of the logo (and because the hardware is rumored to be not that great). I guess in some ways, that might be the same thing as what you are saying, but in my head it's different.
But like I say way up this thread, the Zach Meyers I played at NAMM is one I would definitely own, "SE" on the headstock be damned.
Quote from: culturejam on December 19, 2016, 02:56:42 AM
Quote from: pickdropper on December 19, 2016, 02:40:19 AM
CultureJam is a good example of somebody who wanted a core model PRS because of the logo but might now consider a less expensive SE.
I didn't necessarily want the Core because of the logo. I wanted one because they are awesome. I mainly *didn't* want the SE because of the logo (and because the hardware is rumored to be not that great). I guess in some ways, that might be the same thing as what you are saying, but in my head it's different.
But like I say way up this thread, the Zach Meyers I played at NAMM is one I would definitely own, "SE" on the headstock be damned.
The Zach Myers guitars are really nice.
I think 2017 is going to be the year I get a PRS. I just haven't decided which one, though.
It all starts with 1. I remember when I bought my first Singlecut Satin and thought "Finally, I own a PRS." Never dreamed I'd own more than two dozen, but hey, it starts with 1.
Very nice guitar, and the McCarty finishes (and everything McCarty) are underrated. I find it interesting how DGTs are a lot more popular, and yet they are in large part a McTremy (in fact that's the model David based it on).
As far as the logo on the new SEs - that's just wrong. I mean it looks great, but it's the import line. Fender doesn't dominant brand Squier as Fender (except for a little FMIC blurb somewhere), Gibson doesn't dominant brand Epiphone as Gibson (sure it says it on the truss rod cover), and neither one of them brand the thirty other brands they own under the parent brand.
All that being said, I'll likely be moving at least half of my PRSs next year, not cause they're not great, I just don't get around to playing them enough and guitars are meant to be played, not sit in their cases on a rack in my basement.
Which ones are on the chopping block?
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Since I've got doubles of nearly everything, most will be available, and once one sells I won't sell the other one. Already sold my HF2, one of my SASs, the aforementioned SC Satin. Since the 509 has just come out at a ridiculous price, my 513 and 305 will go up. Probably three Singlecuts, my purple and gold CU22 Artist, either my McTremy or my DGT.
Only one's I probably won't put up for feelers will be my CU22 P90, my 408, my Studio, my SAS hardtail with maple board and birds, and my red Singlecut.
Will send a list to anyone who's interested after the holidays.
Do you have any SC58 or SC245 models?
All this prs talk made me do some googling. Turns out the factory is about an hour from me and they do free tours. Might take advantage of that.
Quote from: pickdropper on December 20, 2016, 01:43:21 AM
Do you have any SC58 or SC245 models?
I have a Goldtop 245 with David Allen P51 Mustangs in it.
Quote from: GermanCdn on December 20, 2016, 07:27:00 AM
Quote from: pickdropper on December 20, 2016, 01:43:21 AM
Do you have any SC58 or SC245 models?
I have a Goldtop 245 with David Allen P51 Mustangs in it.
Cool, what do you think of it?
I've been looking at the 24.5 scale length models as well as some of the traditional offerings, like CU22 or P22s.
Really like the 245. I've got two 250s as well, very different instruments (especially in the pickups - don't like the stock 250 pickups, they're too hot for vintage and not hot enough for modern if you know what I mean). The 245 falls much closer to the "classic" LP type feel and tone (and the David Allen pickups take the even further). I had intended on putting a set of Lindy Fralin P-94 pickups in to really for an early goldtop tone, but I never got around to it.
Don't have the original pickups (I used to sell stock pickups after I swapped them, then realized how much money I was losing instead of reinstalling stocks and selling the upgraded pickups separately if and when I chose to sell the guitar). Swapped the tuners out for Kluson Vintage Locking (no mods or new holes required), stock tuners are in the case.