PRS guitars - Lost their appeal?

[hubberjub***]

Washed up?...ummmm....no...
They're some of the highest quality U.S.A. made guitars.




"better" in what way? Which ones are better and why?

I don't think they are washed up. They aren't the company they started out as. The guitars are beautiful. They have made some choices in terms of design that I don't care for. I know this is an Ed Roman complaint but it's legit. The neck heel is inexcusable. There's no reason it should be as big as it is. The hardware has also gone downhill. The original bridge they used was by Manne but now they use a much cheaper unit. My all time favorite PRS was the EG series from the early 90's. It was handmade in the US and was cheap. They were great guitars. They still make great guitars but many companies are building superior guitars that far undercut PRS prices. You aren't going to find them in the Musicians Friend catalog. Google luthiers in your area. You'll find someone who builds a quality product that costs way less that the equivalent PRS and you won't look like every other guitar player on the block. There is no reason that these threads should be taken so personally. It shouldn't be a crime for people to express their opinion. We're all here to have fun and further our playing.

[TS808]

All the folks I know who bought a PRS either loved them or hated them. It seems that the majority of people I know who didn't like PRS guitars were former strat players who bought a PRS and then went back to their strats.

PRS guitars are sweet, but in my opinion, way overpriced. Especially considering that the neck heel (as someone mentioned) is a real design flaw, as well as the fact that contrary to popular belief, most of the PRS models are not hand machined.

But I agree...you can get some guitars built to the same quality for much less. It seems that the major manufacturers, whether PRS, Gibson, and Fender, are doing their best to price themselves out of the market.

[Plank_Spanker]

I'll take heat for this but:

PRS builds a great guitar - that I wouldn't be caught dead with one on stage. For years, every one finger, two string power chord poser was on video and print making guitar faces with a PRS guitar..................and espousing their "solos are wanking, it's all about the song" excuse for their utter lack of talent. But they had their PRS endorsements...............................

Call it vanity, but I will never play a PRS. My mind equates them with all of the talentless morons that played them and droned on with the "solos are wanking" ( I suck but I'm in a magazine) mantra.

********Putting on flame proof suit now********************

[markb]

I'll take heat for this but:

PRS builds a great guitar - that I wouldn't be caught dead with one on stage. For years, every one finger, two string power chord poser was on video and print making guitar faces with a PRS guitar..................and espousing their "solos are wanking, it's all about the song" excuse for their utter lack of talent. But they had their PRS endorsements...............................

Call it vanity, but I will never play a PRS. My mind equates them with all of the talentless morons that played them and droned on with the "solos are wanking" ( I suck but I'm in a magazine) mantra.

********Putting on flame proof suit now********************

But other than that, they're OK, right?

[Spudman***]

I think they are beautiful looking and sounding guitars. However, I have played close to 25 brand new top of the line PRS guitars and didn't get a single bonding urge with any of them. But then...I tried the SE import model and found it to be a better set up and playing instrument than any of the 25. Go figure. That's my 2 cents worth.

I don't know if they are loosing it or not. Some people really like them and that's great. I'm sure they will always have a market but with the current economy they might not be moving the number of units they have in the past.

And for what it's worth...I always see many many used PRS guitars for sale. I'm not sure what that means. It's just something I've noticed.

[tot_Ou_tard]

Call it vanity, but I will never play a PRS. My mind equates them with all of the talentless morons that played them and droned on with the "solos are wanking" ( I suck but I'm in a magazine) mantra.

Did the talentless morons have a decent guitar to not wank on?

[wingsdad]

I don't think they are washed up. They aren't the company they started out as. ...

They've even resorted to a series of 'affordable' Asian imports, the SE series...now you can have a PRS that's on a par with a Chinese, Indonesian or Korean Samick, Cort, Ibanez or Epiphone...

[Rx Tone]

I don't think they are washed up. They aren't the company they started out as. The guitars are beautiful. They have made some choices in terms of design that I don't care for. I know this is an Ed Roman complaint but it's legit. The neck heel is inexcusable. There's no reason it should be as big as it is. The hardware has also gone downhill. The original bridge they used was by Manne but now they use a much cheaper unit. My all time favorite PRS was the EG series from the early 90's. It was handmade in the US and was cheap. They were great guitars. They still make great guitars but many companies are building superior guitars that far undercut PRS prices. You aren't going to find them in the Musicians Friend catalog. Google luthiers in your area. You'll find someone who builds a quality product that costs way less that the equivalent PRS and you won't look like every other guitar player on the block. There is no reason that these threads should be taken so personally. It shouldn't be a crime for people to express their opinion. We're all here to have fun and further our playing.

I agree with most of that.I like the tuners a lot and actually I haven't had any trouble with the bridge.I'm sure I couldn't hear any difference anyway.I like individual height adjustment saddles.It stays in tune with normal whammy use...all in all it's well made, nice looking, and sounds good (to me).If I had to find something to dislike I guess I'd have to agree about the heel. It reminds me of a Rickenbacker.
I wasn't challenging you, just asking.

Have you checked out these guitars made in your own backyard,now id spend $3500-4000 on one of those voodoo custom

No I haven't. I am aware of them, though.Good point. There's also a guy near here, Gerard Melancon in Thibodeaux, who builds excellent guitars.Really nice ones that I have seen and played.He's probably got a website.I honestly don't know.

[mrmudcat]

Hey brother(Rx) not sure your into tats I am.but check out a lifetime childhood friend of mine cameron sweet(my youngest boy was named after him!) Cant wait to get back to norleans one day .....Katrina almost took him and the rest of the place but he survived and he has flown up here to see me since( but ive not witnessed the wreakage firsthand down there) If ya need a shrimp he will put it on ya at:


http://www.electricladyland.net/

Peace brother!


Sorry to stray from the debate but potato/taters ,tomatoes /tom'atoes............yada yada ............:

[Rx Tone]

Hey brother(Rx) not sure your into tats I am.but check out a lifetime childhood friend of mine cameron sweet(my youngest boy was named after him!) Cant wait to get back to norleans one day .....Katrina almost took him and the rest of the place but he survived and he has flown up here to see me since( but ive not witnessed the wreakage firsthand down there) If ya need a shrimp he will put it on ya at:


http://www.electricladyland.net/

Peace brother!


Sorry to stray from the debate but potato/taters ,tomatoes /tom'atoes............yada yada ............:

I know exactly where that is.I got one I'd like covered...it's old and faded...Thanks!

[bigG]

I was lookin to get a PRS Custom 24, and ready to drop the big bucks. I happened to mention it to my local Peavey dealer (and guitar tech) and he immediately grabbed a Peavey HP Signature EXP for me to try out ($600 - Korean made, just as the PRS SE series are). I immediately fell in love w that guitar and bought it strait away. It's not a PRS Custom, but it gets you abt 95% there for abt 1/5th the price! I highly recommend checking one out!

Alas, in order to afford my Peavey HP Special USA Custom Shop ($1500 - which I had been drooling over for some time), I sold the HP Signature EXP and an Ibanez Prestige RG1570. But I'll buy another HP EXP when finances allow! A GREAT guitar! PRSs are certainly nice guitars, but WAY over-priced.

[helliott***]

As I said earlier, I'm not using either my CE-22 or 24 for my current project, only because the blues/rock/Texas thing is better served by a single coil. But it's got nothing to do with quality.
I can tell you for certain, these are top quality guitars. The neck heel thing is a non-issue for me, although some may disagree. They play beautifully, the pickups are hot and versatile, the neck comfortable and they adapt to diverse styles easily. PRS is a well-made guitar.

[Jimi75]

I just called my friend and asked if he gave me his CE22 so I can make a video where I testdrive the PRS. There is a bunch of videos on youtube that are not doing justice to the PRS. Think within the next 3 weeks I will make the video and post it here.

[djmcconnell]

I've been awfully happy with my Mira.

I was looking for a very flexible, well-made guitar that would give me solid single coil and humbucker sounds -- and that looked good to me -- since I don't intend to become a collector.

The Mira offered all that, and I've been very pleased.