My first PRS - what to get??

[dealmaker]

Guys,

I have been tempted by Mr Smith's guitars on a number of occassions in the past but never actually convinced myself to pull the trigger.

Anyway - I was at the dealer the other day (testing one of the newLP R0 50th's) and I took the opportunity to try another PRS. The one I tried was a Custom 24 - 25th anniversary - it was REALLY nice - but the revelation for me was the neck - this was the first time I had tried a PRS with the "wide thin" neck - (as opposed to the "regular" neck I have always tried in the past).

It was a very nice smooth neck - with a very consistent feel all the way up the fretboard. I was impressed - and I even liked the 5 way rotary knob (I believe it's not unanimously popular).

So I have decided to get a PRS with this "wide thin" neck - trouble is which one to get? There was a "Custom 22" there with an "Artist pack" - it had an astounding top on it - really nice and tight and even flame!

Another guitar was a Custom 24 with a "10 top" - again a very nice top.

The guys in the store reckon I should get one of the 25th anniversary models as "they all come with 10 tops" - and I've decided I want a 24 fret model.

So is the "Custom 24 25th Anniversary" the logical choice? ...or anything else I should consider???? (I dont like the Santanna's or the single cuts - got plenty of those! )

Colour wise I want something close to a "red tiger" - guys in the shop recommended either "fire red" or "black cherry" as being closest to red tiger.

Any PRS experts care to chip in??

thanks!

 

[DRF]

Not a PRS expert,but theres a limited one in the forum classifieds that looks really nice. $3500. Its in Hong Kong.

 

[stratoburst]

Pull the trigger......you will not regret it I would go with the Custom 24 first up as I think they are real good value
Just find one that speaks to you and feels right. I wouldn't worry about the 10 top. One of my best players is not the best looking.

 

[stratoburst]

Here's a pic of my Custom 24 (forgot to post a pic) as you can see it's not the nicest top but this is one of the best guitars I have played period. Price often has nothing to do with tone

[/IMG]

 

[Underliner6]

I really like the PRS 513

 

[Tim Plains]

Customer Support Center | FAQ's Also, click on "Model History" on the left.
Do some research on Modern Eagles and McCartys, as well. The Birds and Moons forum is a great place for anything PRS. In case you didn't know, Artist packages have "better" tops than 10 tops - they're one step up.

 

[dealmaker]

Thanks guys - leaning towards a Custom 24 anniversary with a nice top!

 

[ablackorchid]

How about this Custom 24: 2008 Paul Reed Smith PRS Custom 24 - One Piece 10 Top ! - eBay (item 280478311558 end time Mar-20-10 18:35:51 PDT)

 

[boycey]

This one keeps bringing me back for a second look!!

I suppose the only advice I can offer is the usual get out there and try a load!!
A 22 fretter will obviously feel different than a 24 fretter - do you need or use the extended range offered by a 24 fretter?
Another thing would be their pick-ups. I'm out of the loop now and haven't played any more recent models, but I'm familiar with the Dragons and the HFS & Vintage Bass pairing - I liked them all but they're quite different, again try out the different pick up combinations available to you and see what floats your boat. Lastly - don't overlook their bolt on CE models, you can pick them up with 10 tops and stuff too if that appeals to you- they are great guitars.

 

[Nicky]

I recently acquired a glossy black PRS Custom 22 (2001 model) for $2K. It has the Dragon II pickups. I am very impressed by this rockin' guitar.

 

[King Matthew]

I've don't own one yet, but I played a VERY nice custom 22 that I would love to get my hands on.

 

[John]

dude, if you can-- do it!
PRS are really good guitars, from my experience-- totally worth it

 

[prs97]

Not an expert either but I have a Custom 22 and a McCarty.

From what I've heard, PRS is discontinuing the Cu22 model. Not sure what that may mean for pricing. I love my McCarty but they only come with wide/fat necks as far as I know.

I would check out a Custom 24. PRS' bread and butter model for a good reason.

 

[jeff_farkas]

I've played/had a SC-250. Great guitar and just flawless. I've also played a Custom 24. Just sweet! Can't go wrong with any PRS!!

 

[Quill]

I got one myself, not long ago - a Sunburst 22, which were discontinued at the end of 2009. The shop I dealt with had loads and loads of PRS guitars - it was a beautiful goldtop Custom 22 that had initially caught my eye, you know, that kind of amazing goldtop finish where you can see the flame through the gold - including a number of Private Stock guitars, and a couple of really high-end used pieces; a hollow-body that had the body shape of a Custom 22 really stood out among those.

In the process of choosing mine, I played every one I could. And aside from some set-up issues here and there, which I think were largely caused by rough treatment by customers in a big, busy store, I could not find a bad guitar by that company. And I really tried! Great frets. Beautiful, resonant necks. Excellent acoustic tone - different, from guitar to guitar, but always good. Really versatile pickups and what seemed to be quality pots in all the ones I plugged in. I think you could almost get any PRS and it'd be at least pretty good.

The two that gave me pause - I really love my Sunburst - were a DGT and that hollowbody I mentioned. The DGT I liked because it had great big frets, it was strung with .011's which felt like .009's with those large frets, very nice PAF-style pickups (maybe a little hot for my taste; I like the 58/08s in my Sunburst) and a nicely done nitro top coat, which felt comfortable for me (it has a poly base coat). And the hollowbody just blew me away, damn thing felt like a beautiful old violin, but even used it was still well above four grand. And I wanted the trem, because the PRS trem is just great and I've wanted a guitar with a decent trem on it for ages.

If I didn't already have a nice LP, I'd've looked more closely at the Singlecuts, but I did play five or six, just for fun, and every one of them sang. I seriously don't know if I'd buy a new LP with those PRS singlecuts still out there. Great guitars.

Good luck!

 

[jeff_farkas]

The SC's are great!
Buy Paul Reed Smith SC 245 Electric Guitar with Ten Top, Bird Inlays, and Wide Fat Neck | Solid Body Electric Guitars | Musician's Friend

 

[paulatics]

love my 513, get fender sounds to les paul sounds. 13 diff pup configurations. awesome neck

 

[rideski]

I have a Johnny Hiland Model in Black Cherry with the maple 24 fret neck and it is awesome. The versatility and quality is unmatched. PRS can't be beat for product quality.
Careful though....one you get one you'll want another!

 

[Iceman0124]

Here's a pic of my Custom 24 (forgot to post a pic) as you can see it's not the nicest top but this is one of the best guitars I have played period. Price often has nothing to do with tone

[/IMG]

I think she'es a real beauty! Great color choice too. "10 tops" and the like dont impress me like they did before veneers took over everything....I remeber feeling really special with my fotoflame strat 18 years ago or so....wish I still had her too.... Imperfect tops look a lot more interesting to me now just because heavey quilt and tight perfect flames are a staple on lower end, I like light sporadic figuring, unique and not a bunch of photo copies, my opinion anyway.

 

[jeff_farkas]

If you're going to get one get it soon. PRS is cutting a lot of models out, check their web site.