If you had enough, would you buy a PRS?

Mystic Fibrosis

This question just crossed my mind as a what if. Tbh I think they're slightly gimmicky, I know the craftsmanship is excellent but I don't think anyone leaning towards the heavier side of things would really use one. I mean, to have one would be great, I can imagine playing Porcupine Tree/Opeth stuff on one easily, they can get that great sounding tone, but would you consider their tonal range somewhat limited?

John

I've played Dabhoys PRS and it plays very very nicely. They do seem to have a mellower tone compared to the likes of a Les Paul. To me they sound like a halfway house between a strat and a les paul in terms of tone. I really don't think having such a tone prevents anyone from playing extremely heavy music on one.

voxpop

i've already bought a prs, a soapbar SE btw (have a single cut,prefer that over the new gibson frendly version!), but still a PRS beautiful guitar,lovely sound,butter-like neck...mmmmmmmm- what more do you want

NotMe

Yes I would! Sweetest looking guitars I think whatever about tone.

DamoRed

Sweetest looking? Well that's a subjective personal choice. But from what I've read here before, I've been led to believe tone is EVERYTHING!

Who, or how many, would pick it out in a blind test? A Gibson, an Epiphone or a PRS!

I'd pay good money to see and hear that one!


Damo

voxpop

theres a boards test if ever - get doc j,fayla,dah boys,etc along for a listen test - fender,prs.gibson,jackson.epiphone - all stock of course - see who can match the guitar with the tone.....oh that would be interesting

feylya

Fayla? A new bastardisation of my name? :eek:

TBH, I have a dreadful ear for guessing tones.

As for buying a PRS, not a hope. I have never played an expensive guitar (>€1000) that has made me want it. I've played Squiers that have made me go "Wow, I want this guitar" but Gibsons, you can keep them, Fenders, no thanks. PRS, I've never played but reports from various people that think the same way I do have all said that they just aren't worth it. Especially with that ****ing chunky heel!!!

voxpop

aoh apologies - feylya - but come on the SE modeld by prs are no way near a €1000 - plus they are beautiful guitars to play, and heel....smeel. - you ovb never played a PRS feylya, huh !!

feylya

Well, the sub €1000 models are supposed to be great (Tremonti SE for instance) but €2600 for a Custom 24? No thanks. I'll get a custom made for that, thanks very much.

And I can't stomach big bulky unsculpted heels on guitars.

voxpop

i dont think the Trimonti are being made anymore..but the PRS SE model are something special, me thinks.
If you want a custom go for a jap model (ibansishi *(sp)) you know what i mean !!! PRS SE are not custom modelx...that should be clear...why are you even compairing ??

jcoote

yeah the tremontis are gone .... anyway i'd buy one once i had my main guitars (strat,sz1010) sorted ie pickups bridge etc...but a prs wouldn't be my dream guitar

dabhoys

The McCarty pickups are quite mellow sounding. But the custom pickups are alot hotter. I love my PRS and it plays like a dream but If you have the money get a Gibson Les Paul. It will serve you better It will sound good for any style of music!!! Its my favourite guitar hands down...

Karl Hungus

Yes, I would buy one if I had the money. An Emerald Green Custom 24 with bird inlays would be my choice of PRS.

But Feylya is quite right, you could get your own custom made guitar for that kinda price tag. Or depending on what you want, a lot less. I know I did. PRS are very overpriced, and the heel is very obstructive, so I doubt you'd catch me saving my money for one.

Of course, if I won the lotto, I'd likely get a whole hoard of guitars, which would include said Custom 24, an alpine white Les Paul Custom, Ibanez Universe, Rickenbacker 4003, and probably a big pile of amps too.

dabhoys

All though I didn't pay much for mine I practically robbed my one!!! It was in mint condition when I got it.

fortuneg

I think a PRS Singlecut in black cherry (with a nice 10 top) is one of the best lookin guitars out there!

feylya

Angry_Penguin wrote:

i dont think the Trimonti are being made anymore..but the PRS SE model are something special, me thinks.
If you want a custom go for a jap model (ibansishi *(sp)) you know what i mean !!! PRS SE are not custom modelx...that should be clear...why are you even compairing ??

No, not a PRS or Gibson or anything else Custom. I mean a small luthier custom. A Small custom shop.

fish-head

I've got a Santana SE and it's absolutely wonderful, i cannot fault it, it's great for the kind of tones I want whether it's thick jazz or thin jangly rock n roll. Though maybe it needs a bit of a clean..

funky_buddah

PRS are beautifully crafted instruments with a gorgeous lush tone, however, you're right, for heavy tones it's best to look elsewhere.

Johnny Storm

I've never played one, but they dont do anything for me in terms of appearence or coolness factor.

jcoote

in fairness i think most guitars over a grand are well crafted and have a decent tone

It wasn't me!

To be honest, gorgeous guitars with great tone, and a tone I love, but the same tone could be gotten quite easily from a guitar I'd get more use from.

I would, given the choice, have a Strat, a Les Paul, an SG, and a Jackson Rhoads. Those'd do me in terms of getting all my guitar tones. Amps are a diffeent story. Those guitars would have various work done on them too. I'd probably want two amps, realistically, for a full range of tones. And then there are basses...

the magician

all i can say is that i bought a prs mc carthy and it simply the best guitar i've played its been my main guitar for 2 years now and i think its fantastic.very versatile as far as im concerned.
great cleans, can get very heavy if you want it. can sound almost like a les paul albeit somewhat mellower as someone already pointed out(which is what the mc carthy was designed for).
great playability. and as soon as i have some money im gonna buy a singlecut.personally i think prs make the best guitars unless you consider a custom made option by a luthier.
definitely worth the money. the only guitar i have ever bought that i really intend on keeping to the end.this is the best pic i have at the mo. mc carthy

Voodu Child

I've always thought of PRS's as 'accountants guitars', y'know, the kind of guitar a guy in his 40's buys, and hangs on the wall and never plays it...

Also, id have to disagree with the conception that they're great players..ive played a cu22 and a cu24, and found both of them very nice to play, but no better than plenty of e500 guitars ive played... As the lads said, i found the neck heel very hampering, and the radius a bit on the small side..

As for tone, chuck a set of dimarzio PAFs or something in a decent guitar and you should get a tone just as good (with a good amp of course..)

bonzai bob

if by enough money you mean having just won the lottery, then yes i would buy one in a second! however if i only JUST had enough money, then no.

Although you can get a PRS on eBay for $1300 at the moment.

Eoin Madsen

Meh. I'd consider one second-hand. But more likely, I'll just wait till fitz gets one and I'll borrow his.

I'm decided. When I have the money, I'm getting a Warmoth bass made. With Q-Tuners. And six knobs on. Unless I can think of more.

the magician

voodoo_child wrote:

As for tone, chuck a set of dimarzio PAFs or something in a decent guitar and you should get a tone just as good (with a good amp of course..)

depends what you mean by decent guitar.if you mean putting a set of dimarzio into an epiphone i think you will notice the difference. but there are other guitars that are just as good quality and you will pay just as much for them.
i happen to like the particular tone of the mc carthy. not a big fan of dimarzio's. I'm not arguing that prs have better tone than any other guitar. i just think the tone is great and that it has a sound of its own and that while you can get similar tones from other guitars not really the same tone as these .


as for playability i definitely think its far better than most cheaper guitars but then again i guess its down to personal preference. i find the guitar sits very comfortably, i love the neck, heel doesnt bother me. great action, tuning stability and intonation. especially on fixed bridge models which are pre-set once the neck relief is set proper.
i played 17 gigs on this guitar in one week and it never let me down.I'm not trying to be a guitar snob either my other guitar is an ltd eclipse.