Prs?

johnwoods

Hey, I'm thinking about buying a new guitar, and I wanted get one that would really set me up for good, So im willing to spend bout 2500 - 3700 on it, I have a strat at the mo, and my girlfriends got a les paul standard, I thought bout one of em, I love em tone wise, but i want the tremolo system of an ibanez, so is a PRS the way to go?

Nice one,
John

Kenny_D

See my sig

I'd go second hand anyway. Maybe take a look at Chris Guitars if you want a great PRS at a good price

Eoin Madsen

Your girlfriend has a Les Paul Standard... that is so cool.

Mr. CooL ICE

Have you thought about a Tokai PRS? Others here would know more than me, but you could get a PRS equivalent for about €600-700, and it would probably be better built than a genuine PRS. Do that, and spend the rest on an amp

johnwoods

LordChessington wrote:

Have you thought about a Tokai PRS? Others here would know more than me, but you could get a PRS equivalent for about €600-700, and it would probably be better built than a genuine PRS. Do that, and spend the rest on an amp

Yeah I know what you guys mean, but I just bought a new amp, A marshall 150W AVT halfstack, its fantastic, and when I get this new guitar ( will prob be a few months) I want it to be a dream guitar, If ya get where im coming from. As is no holding back, so Id rather get the real thing, basically i want sweet tone/ sweet looking guitar with an ibanez trem.

Thanks for feedback tho!

Eoin Madsen

Honestly, I don't think you're going to hear the difference. And there's some lovely looking Tokais.

Doctor J

Maybe something like this? The Mahogany body gives these S models a lot of warmth and the ZR trem is, by most accounts I've read, the finest trem there is out there. If you're looking for something really special then PRS are well worth looking at, also check out Eggle too. Bear in mind also, that for the amount of money you're prepared to spend, you could get something custom made too.

LundiMardi

wow, i never thought i'd say this about a PRS, but from the sounds of it, you seem to think you're going to get the most incredible guitar ever built..

Just because it has a huge price tag, doesn't mean it's going to be *that* much better than the strat or les paul, because it won't be..

I'd personally spend that money a little more wisely.

But, it's your money soo.......

fitz

2003, previously unretailed McCarty for $1750.
That's well under your budget, even with shipping, customs and vat.
I'd go for that, then get rid of that Valvestate and get a nice valve amp with the cash you have left over.

*edit* Oops, just noticed it doesn't have a trem, talk to Chris though, he might change it for you, or just buy one, you'd still be under budget.

Karl Hungus

johnwoods wrote:

Hey, I'm thinking about buying a new guitar, and I wanted get one that would really set me up for good, So im willing to spend bout 2500 - 3700 on it, I have a strat at the mo, and my girlfriends got a les paul standard, I thought bout one of em, I love em tone wise, but i want the tremolo system of an ibanez, so is a PRS the way to go?

Nice one,
John

Er, a PRS isn't going to have an Ibanez trem, nor anything like it. The closest you'll get is to have something custom built, otherwise you'll have to put more thought into what exactly you want.

disgruntled

johnwoods wrote:

Yeah I know what you guys mean, but I just bought a new amp, A marshall 150W AVT halfstack, its fantastic, and when I get this new guitar ( will prob be a few months) I want it to be a dream guitar, If ya get where im coming from. As is no holding back, so Id rather get the real thing, basically i want sweet tone/ sweet looking guitar with an ibanez trem.

Thanks for feedback tho!

Do PRS make Floyd rose equipped guitars? But that aside there seems a bit of a disparity between what you are intending to spend on this guitar and your amp. If I were you I'd consider spending a little of the money you were intending to spend on the guitar to upgrade your amp.

As for the guitar those Tokai's are pretty damn good I played one recently and I must admit I was very tempted, excellent value for money. There have been a bunch of great suggestions but I think if your looking for and Ibanez trem get an Ibanez. Get a nice prestige and spend the remainder on a sweet amp, well that's what I'd do anyway.

johnwoods

Hey guys, thanks for the response, I like that ibanez the doc was pointing at, beautiful paint job. I hear what you guys are saying about Tokai's, Ive never really considered em cause its the first time ive ever heard of em, but ill give it a look, I think im just gonna get the guitar cause i just upgraded my amp and it gives pretty sweet, thick tone, im very pleased with it, and its a half stack!

I always thought money no object it would be easy to pick the perfect guitar, but as it seems not so!

Nice one lads,
John

johnwoods

Is it possible to get a custom made les paul with a floyd rose trem? and if so how do i go about it/price it, cause the guys in the music shops come across like morons some times.

fitz

Might be an idea to contact Derek Nelson of Danvel.
I'm sure he could build you a custom PRS copy if that's the style you're looking for...

Beecher

Theres always this!!!, but its miles above your budget. Have you considered getting 2 guitars with the money, perhaps that PRS from chrisguitars and a prestige Ibanez with trem from www.guitarbargains.com?

johnwoods

Beecher wrote:

Theres always this!!!, but its miles above your budget. Have you considered getting 2 guitars with the money, perhaps that PRS from chrisguitars and a prestige Ibanez with trem from www.guitarbargains.com?

Oh YES!, now thats what im talking about, listen does anyone know if i could get one like that custom for 3500? pref not signature/2nd hand.

Oh and is chris's guitars 2nd hand? I find his website and the gibson one hard to gauge, nice one

John

fitz

Ring Derek Nelson at Danvel:

Danvel Musical Instruments (Guitar Building and Repair): +353-1-4942741

Tell him what you're looking for and ask him how much he'd charge, but give him an exact spec. including body woods and shape, neck wood(s) and join type, along with ideas for electronics and hardware.

I'd imagine you could go and buy the electronics and hardware, give them to him and get him to do the build with those parts.

I'd imagine €3500 is enough for a custom build.

johnwoods

Yeah I know what ya mean, thing is i dont know enough about wood for the body and neck joins and stuff to really advise about that kinda stuff, and id rather have (as silly as it sounds) a brand name, not for any reason other than known consistency in their guitars.

Karl Hungus

johnwoods wrote:

Yeah I know what ya mean, thing is i dont know enough about wood for the body and neck joins and stuff to really advise about that kinda stuff, and id rather have (as silly as it sounds) a brand name, not for any reason other than known consistency in their guitars.

If you're dead set on having a brand name, then avoid Gibson, their extremely inconsistant. Either PRS or Ibanez are very consistant in their work, so those are your best shots, really. But I would say that custom built is generally far better in build quality than anything that's production made.

You might be interested in a John Petrucci Signiature guitar though, it supposedly has one of the best trems out.

Oh, and a Parker Fly might be another one to consider.

fitz

johnwoods wrote:

Yeah I know what ya mean, thing is i dont know enough about wood for the body and neck joins and stuff to really advise about that kinda stuff, and id rather have (as silly as it sounds) a brand name, not for any reason other than known consistency in their guitars.

Well, if you're looking at something similar to a Les Paul or PRS, you want a mahogany body with a maple top, and a set mahogany neck, not a bolt on.

I'd really strongly advise you not to rule out a custom build.

€300 to €400 for a pair of pickups, will cover you for any pair of Gibson pickups, or a set of PRS Dragons, or a pair of Seymour Duncans.

€300 will sort you out with whatever trem you want, and €200 will get you a set of locking tuners.

That leaves, at worst, €2600 for him to build your own custom guitar around those parts.

Tbh, if I had €3500, that's exactly what I'd do. He quoted me €2500-€3000 for a custom Lowden-type acoustic, so I reckon you'd be more than fine with that budget.
The guys work is impecible, I think he built a guitar for The Edge.
You'll get more for your money with a custom guitar built by a professional.
Ring him and talk to him about it.

Beecher

I would forget Gibson for this, having owned 2 I can say their quality various huge between their standard guitars and their custom shop is way too pricey (that floyd rose Les Paul retails at $10,000)

The ESP custom shop would be more reasonable, it has a quite well known name and could probably provide you with what you want (albeit with little change left)

Have you considered a J custom!, they mightnt be Les Paul shaped but they are lovely lovely lovely guitars and will leave you with a bit of moolah in your pocket!

Karl Hungus

Beecher wrote:

The ESP custom shop would be more reasonable, it has a quite well known name and could probably provide you with what you want (albeit with little change left)

Have you considered a J custom!, they mightnt be Les Paul shaped but they are lovely lovely lovely guitars and will leave you with a bit of moolah in your pocket!

You know, that's the first time I've seen the ESP Custom Shop refered to as reasonable, in any way shape or form, ever. :v:

The J Custom might be of interest, because the Mahogany body with Maple Top is rather akin to what a Les Paul would have.

Beecher

Karl Hungus wrote:

You know, that's the first time I've seen the ESP Custom Shop refered to as reasonable, in any way shape or form, ever. :v:

Only in comparison. Ive seen some purchased for $3,000'ish on the net, it aint pocket change but its a lot less than the $10,000 Gibson and would prob be just as nice if not nicer. Still J Custom FTW!!!!:v:

Dont forget a good luthier can route a floyd rose onto an existing les paul for example:



Maybe take a trip to England, find a nice Les Paul Classic for around 1,200 euro's and get it done up. Bear in mind the floyd rose installation on a les paul aint an easy job, the front and back of the guitar will need the finish stripped and redone as well as the routing, the whole job will prob set you back 300'ish upwards, plus 150'ish for an original floyd rose or Ibanez Edge pro. Still for around 1,800 you could get a nice les paul classic, floyd rose installed and a nice set of Dimarzio's if you shop around

feylya

www.shamray.ru

Karl Hungus

feylya wrote:

www.shamray.ru

I hope you're getting payed by those lads at this stage, Fey. :v:

Beecher

Also check out Chris Larkin, Irish luthier and all round gent, you can call into his workshop and discuss woods etc with him.

Examples of his work:





I LOVE THAT BASS! 6 string 35" scale with midi *drools*

feylya

Karl Hungus wrote:

I hope you're getting payed by those lads at this stage, Fey. :v:

Nope. I might be paying them though.

Karl Hungus

feylya wrote:

Nope. I might be paying them though.

Oh? Anything in mind? :v:

feylya

Yes.

It wasn't me!

Share it!

feylya

No.

Karl Hungus

Yes damnit!

:v: - Pacman commands it!

feylya

Pacman banned for one month for demanding.

Karl Hungus

feylya wrote:

Pacman banned for one month for demanding.

But he wasn't demanding, he was commanding.

johnwoods

Wow, Im overwhelmed with response, thanks to every one who took the time to give there opinion, If i was to go j custom, where would i head?

Chris Larkin looks sweet 2, i must say.
Oh and that black les paul with the floyd rose, is PERFECT,
Nice one,
John

Beecher

johnwoods wrote:

Wow, Im overwhelmed with response, thanks to every one who took the time to give there opinion, If i was to go j custom, where would i head?

Chris Larkin looks sweet 2, i must say.

Nice one,
John

Ishibashi, more specifically here!. To order decide what you want and e-mail them here, and they will sort out a secure order form for you (or you can bypass all this and use the standard order form if you speak japanese). They are very very friendly, delivery takes a week. Delivery cost is 100 euro and you will pay import duty of around 21% but those guitars are works of art, utterly stunning!

JMArr

Karl Hungus wrote:

You might be interested in a John Petrucci Signiature guitar though, it supposedly has one of the best trems out.

Good advice...
I would def check out a few MusicMan guitars. A friend of mine has a Les Paul, Clapton Strat, Tele and a MusicMan ...he swears by the MM and always goes back to it above the others...cant remember the model buts its a HSS pickup config..think its this one
http://www.ernieball.com/mmonline/specs/instruments_silhspecial.html

johnwoods

Heya's,

Im just not a signature guitar kinda guy, makes me feel like living in someones shadow, ne who, I was in music maker today and was looking at a sweet PRS custom 24, gonna check it out, comes in at 3500, but i reckon after the mountains of stuff i got there i can bargain em down at bit. The reason I was looking for a new guitar is, I want one with the scope to play faster than a strat, and also be able to do divebombs with out goin spades outta tune, Is that poss with a custom 24?

Nice one!
John

LundiMardi

DO NOT buy a PRS in musicmaker!!!!!!!

Buy online, and from the money you save you could buy a second guitar!!!!!

if you buy from MM i WILL have to hunt you down and slap you in the face with a fish

Beecher

johnwoods wrote:

Heya's,

Im just not a signature guitar kinda guy, makes me feel like living in someones shadow, ne who, I was in music maker today and was looking at a sweet PRS custom 24, gonna check it out, comes in at 3500, but i reckon after the mountains of stuff i got there i can bargain em down at bit. The reason I was looking for a new guitar is, I want one with the scope to play faster than a strat, and also be able to do divebombs with out goin spades outta tune, Is that poss with a custom 24?

Nice one!
John

Firstly as Lundi said, buy online, you'll save a few hundred easily (plus I agree with the fish statement)!!

If you want a PRS with a floyd you only have 2 options,

(A) Custom shop

(B) Buy a PRS and do what the guy did with his black Les Paul Custom and get a luthier to route and install a Floyd Rose.

johnwoods

Beecher wrote:

Firstly as Lundi said, buy online, you'll save a few hundred easily (plus I agree with the fish statement)!!

If you want a PRS with a floyd you only have 2 options,

(A) Custom shop

(B) Buy a PRS and do what the guy did with his black Les Paul Custom and get a luthier to route and install a Floyd Rose.

Yeah I hear what your saying, but with a guitar that expensive, and even in general, Its very important for me to play it before i buy it, mabey its just me but when i was buying my strat I tried about six before i found one that felt right, and it would apply more with something of this price!

Also If the tremolo on a PRS is up to the job of a few "divebombs" and other little tricks like that, (which for the price i think it should be) I wouldnt be so worried bout a floyd rose, does the PRS trem work well? Anyone with experience of em?

Cheers

fitz

You've enough budget to get a custom made guitar.
You'd be crazy to even consider buying in Music Maker.
Ring Chris Larkin and ask roughly how much it'd cost for a PRS copy with Floyd Rose. I'd wager you'll get a lot more for your €3500 than a CU24 from Music Maker.

Go and find what you think feels right, then get the details of the neck profile and size, the fret sizes, the fretboard wood, the body woods. Give that info to a luthier and you'll get exactly what you want.

Karl Hungus

johnwoods wrote:

Also If the tremolo on a PRS is up to the job of a few "divebombs" and other little tricks like that, (which for the price i think it should be) I wouldnt be so worried bout a floyd rose, does the PRS trem work well? Anyone with experience of em?

Cheers

Quite frankly, I don't think you have a clue. A PRS trem will NOT be up to the job of even one divebomb. You'll have a nice vibrato at best. If you want to do divebombs, go for an Ibanez, or other locking trem equipped guitar.

You don't want Signiature, you don't want custom, you don't want customised, and I'd say you don't know what you want at all. So by all means, go and pay through the nose for a PRS, then **** it up when you try and divebomb.

Beecher

johnwoods wrote:

Also If the tremolo on a PRS is up to the job of a few "divebombs" and other little tricks like that, (which for the price i think it should be) I wouldnt be so worried bout a floyd rose, does the PRS trem work well? Anyone with experience of em?

Cheers

PRS's are amazing guitars, allthough not really designed with serious trem use in mind. However if you are happy with the limited direction of the PRS trem (compared to a floyd) and you want solid tuning just invest in a good roller nut and locking machine heads it'll be as good as anything else out there. :v:

Edit:
Good machine heads:
here, and here.

johnwoods

Karl Hungus wrote:

Quite frankly, I don't think you have a clue.
So by all means, go and pay through the nose for a PRS, then **** it up when you try and divebomb.

Dont talk to me like that Hungus, If I knew what I was doing I wouldnt be ****ing posting here would I,?

If the blokes in the shops knew what they were talking about it would be easier too.

johnwoods

Beecher wrote:

PRS's are amazing guitars, allthough not really designed with serious trem use in mind. However if you are happy with the limited direction of the PRS trem (compared to a floyd) and you want solid tuning just invest in a good roller nut and locking machine heads it'll be as good as anything else out there. :v:

Cheers for the advice.

Im gonna have a think about it and see what the story is, Nice one to everyone who posted.

John

Beecher

johnwoods wrote:

Cheers for the advice.

Im gonna have a think about it and see what the story is, Nice one to everyone who posted.

John

Just one last piece of advice, maybe spend a 100 squids and fly over to London for a day. Head to Denmark street, it's literally a street made of just guitar shops! Last time I was there I played everything from PRS's to a Gibson Les Pausl to a 1953 Fender Esquire (I believe that was the year, it was def 50's, and not a reissue) and a chapman stick, in summary they have everything you could consider buying there and at fantastic prices (most are on par with online shops). Its the only way I can think of getting yourself a deal and a guitar you can feel before you purchase, plus you might find something you never considered

johnwoods

Beecher wrote:

Just one last piece of advice, maybe spend a 100 squids and fly over to London for a day. Head to Denmark street, it's literally a street made of just guitar shops! Last time I was there I played everything from PRS's to a Gibson Les Pausl to a 1953 Fender Esquire (I believe that was the year, it was def 50's, and not a reissue) and a chapman stick, in summary they have everything you could consider buying there and at fantastic prices (most are on par with online shops). Its the only way I can think of getting yourself a deal and a guitar you can feel before you purchase, plus you might find something you never considered

Hmm, I like the sound of that Beecher, Nice work.

Karl Hungus

johnwoods wrote:

Dont talk to me like that Hungus, If I knew what I was doing I wouldnt be ****ing posting here would I,?

No, but reguardless of what anyone is saying, you seem absolutely set on getting a PRS, to the point of trying to convince yourself that it's going to do exactly what you want, when infact, it isn't, and furthermore you seem to dismiss every other option given to you.

Everything you're saying suggests that a PRS is not the guitar you're after:

The reason I was looking for a new guitar is, I want one with the scope to play faster than a strat, and also be able to do divebombs with out goin spades outta tune, Is that poss with a custom 24?

No. That is not "Poss" with a custom 24.

The last bit of advice I'll offer you is that next time you're in Music Maker, try out one of the higher-end Ibanez guitars, because it's that kind of guitar you're describing that you want, not a PRS. For some reason you seem to have the name PRS stuck in your head.

Beecher

johnwoods wrote:

Hmm, I like the sound of that Beecher, Nice work.

Actually now that I'm thinking if my last trip over there they tend to have a lot of second hand PRS's there, I saw a PRS custom 24 for 1,299 sterling in perfect cond. I know people tend to be nervous about second hand guitars but you'll find PRS owners tend to be quite anal about their instruments and you'll find most of them in the second hand market are quite flawless, and as a bonus you save money and benefit from the previous owner setting up the guitar. Then you could always buy a nice new ibanez for the trem aswell (Its always nice to have a backup guitar!) :v:

Edit: Also newer PRS's, as nice as they are, have a very obtrusive heel on the neck. Older models dont

Double Edit: Pic of the heels:



Left guitar is new, right guitar is old.

johnwoods

Karl Hungus wrote:

No, but reguardless of what anyone is saying, you seem absolutely set on getting a PRS, to the point of trying to convince yourself that it's going to do exactly what you want, when infact, it isn't, and furthermore you seem to dismiss every other option given to you.

Everything you're saying suggests that a PRS is not the guitar you're after:



No. That is not "Poss" with a custom 24.

The last bit of advice I'll offer you is that next time you're in Music Maker, try out one of the higher-end Ibanez guitars, because it's that kind of guitar you're describing that you want, not a PRS. For some reason you seem to have the name PRS stuck in your head.

I hear ya Karl, Its not that I dont register your opinions, its just I wanted to buy it perfect off the shelf, not like have it operated on after purchase ya know.
Its not that I want a prs, I would get an Ibanez if
It sounded warm/full, and not so fuzzy.
Anyway thanks for your help,

Oh and Beecher man I see what your saying bout that heel, doesnt look to good!

Cheers