Paul Reed Smith

ItsEvolutionBaby74

What exactly is the specialty of these guitars? I'm just wondering because I've been hearing a lot about them recently.

ianvomsaal

I think they're awesome - PRS are typically built incredibly well, and they use top of the line parts and pickups, and are very comfortable.
Some people really like them (like me), and some people don't really see what all the fuss is about (but generally those people haven't
really played one with a good setup and new strings through a really good amp at a decent volume). PRS make several models of guitars,
so you really need to find the one that fits you well (I went through several different PRS's before I found the guitars that worked for me).

I really like my click: Hollowbody2, and I really miss my click: Custom24 (bought before PRS started charging top $$$ for really nice tops.
My Custom24 was stolen at a gig in San Diego along with my Bogner Shiva head and the Bass Players Warwick Infinity (neck through) bass.
We collectively lost $13,000 that night, couldn't finish the gig, and they wouldn't even pay us the full amount (1-hr shy).

We went to the bathroom/bar during a break, and somehow our gear went out the front door - It was really crowded that night, so of coarse
no one saw anything, or said hey wait a minute, what are you doing with the bands gear, uhmm can someone ask SECURITY to stop them.
The security/bouncers and management said they didn't see anyone leave with our gear (the stage was near the doors, so of coarse no-one
saw anything) - Bottom line, watch you gear at your gigs - have someone sit up on stage with it while everyone makes a bar/bathroom run.

- Ian

Anon

Ian, that's terrible about your gear being stolen :(, that must have been very upsetting.

Couple of the people that i know that have one, say they used to wonder why someone would pay so much money for a guitar until they played one. Now that's their go to guitar. I agree, the tone is beautiful and the finish and the make is first class. They are very nice guitars.

I would never purchase one though, because i'm not a fan of the neck.

MichaelMcKevin

So comfortable it's almost too easy to play. I really like em but I'd say they're not for me. If I was actually going to buy one it'd probably be about 5th in a line of electrics I'd get before it (1. G&L S-500, 2. Gibson 335/345/339 , 3. Gibson Les Paul R8, 4. Suhr Tele, 5. PRS HBII), of course this is just based on my needs and wants.

xtremehardy388

My ex's dad has a PRS and I didn't find anything too special about them. I originally wanted them because of Mike Einziger(Incubus) but I didn't find the big deal on them except that they're about as heavy as Gibsons which was a turn off for me. Thats just my two cents. Sorry about your gear, Ian, by the way. My friends have had gear stolen and it's just terrible

ianvomsaal

Pj_Gurl wrote:

Ian, that's terrible about your gear being stolen :(, that must have been very upsetting.

Couple of the people that i know that have one, say they used to wonder why someone would pay so much money for a guitar until they played one. Now that's their go to guitar. I agree, the tone is beautiful and the finish and the make is first class. They are very nice guitars.

I would never purchase one though, because i'm not a fan of the neck.

Our gear was stolen a few years ago now, but it still irks me because I really loved the feel and tone of that PRS with that Amp.
I had mine modded shortly after the PIC with a different kind of selector and wiring (kind of like a McCarty, because I hated the
5-way rotary, but it got coil taps, a Buzz Feiten System, & Tom Anderson Voicing, which allowed convincible Strat and LP tones).

PRS makes a variety of different neck shapes (at this point I think like 5-different shapes). Some feel more like a Les Paul, and
some that feel more like a Strat or Tele. I'd seriously recommend going to a good dealer that has a wide variety of PRS's and giving
different models a whirl. You may end up finding one that has a neck to your liking.

I ended up going with more of a Narrow Fat type neck, and then having a luthier guy (named Jeff Marple) actually shape the neck
exactly like what I wanted with kind of a fat round neck with a flatter back like my '72-SG. Jeff actually took all the measurements
off my SG (I absolutely love my SG's neck, and I've never found another one like it), and then he was able to re-shape the PRS 's
neck just like it. That's why it really sucked to have it take a walk on me - it was truly a Custom/Custom/Custom guitar by the end.

- Ian

Novawind

I know you said you liked your McCarty Hollowbody II, but HOW do you like it? Is it really tonally versatile ie you can range from acoustic with the piezo to single coil sounds to heavier stuff, all in the same guitar? For a $4000 guitar, I'd expect the neck, action, pups, wiring, and finish to be impeccable. They look killer, but help me justify saving up that kind of cash for that kind of guitar.

ianvomsaal

Novawind wrote:

I know you said you liked your McCarty Hollowbody II, but HOW do you like it? Is it really tonally versatile ie you can range from acoustic with the piezo to single coil sounds to heavier stuff, all in the same guitar? For a $4000 guitar, I'd expect the neck, action, pups, wiring, and finish to be impeccable. They look killer, but help me justify saving up that kind of cash for that kind of guitar.

yeah, I like it a lot - I run the piezo direct to either an acoustic amp or straight to the PA - sounds like a piezo acoustic pickup.
I play a lot of different styles with it - gets a nice throaty tone with decent overdrive (you'll just have to think Incubus in tone).
The neck is nice, and the action was good (I had it set up, but I always have everything set up the way I like before I play it).
Mine is spotless, near perfect - but I'm sure you can always find a small flaw somewhere with any guitar.

- Ian

Pacomc79

They were one of the first custom guitar shops of the modern age to "make it" commercially. Paul Reed Smith built custom guitars and then worked his way back stage to get them in the hands of stars notably Carlos Santana.

It's up to you whether you think they are great or not, I've personally fallen in love with a few of them. I LOVE the custom 24 and several McCarty models I played one with a solid rosewood neck I was particularlly fond of.

My favorites are the Hollowbody II's and Hollowbody Spruce's. Very resonant. If I were to own a PRS, it would probably be a Hollowbody II. PRS builds them different than most in that they are not laminanated like say an ES 335.

PRS uses solid wood top backs and sides connected only by a center block that the bridge is attached to.

It's a lot more hand intensive than a lot of other guitar makers which leads to the cost. The finishes are expensive to do as is all the carving. The Hollowbody models are carved inside and out and the woods are scarce.

Novawind

Paco you're feeding the GAS fire.

Anon

ianvomsaal wrote:

Our gear was stolen a few years ago now, but it still irks me because I really loved the feel and tone of that PRS with that Amp.
I had mine modded shortly after the PIC with a different kind of selector and wiring (kind of like a McCarty, because I hated the
5-way rotary, but it got coil taps, a Buzz Feiten System, & Tom Anderson Voicing, which allowed convincible Strat and LP tones).

PRS makes a variety of different neck shapes (at this point I think like 5-different shapes). Some feel more like a Les Paul, and
some that feel more like a Strat or Tele. I'd seriously recommend going to a good dealer that has a wide variety of PRS's and giving
different models a whirl. You may end up finding one that has a neck to your liking.

I ended up going with more of a Narrow Fat type neck, and then having a luthier guy (named Jeff Marple) actually shape the neck
exactly like what I wanted with kind of a fat round neck with a flatter back like my '72-SG. Jeff actually took all the measurements
off my SG (I absolutely love my SG's neck, and I've never found another one like it), and then he was able to re-shape the PRS 's
neck just like it. That's why it really sucked to have it take a walk on me - it was truly a Custom/Custom/Custom guitar by the end.

- Ian

Thanks for the advice Ian. You're right though, once you find something that feels so right for you, it's hard to find something to measure up to it. My SG is my go to guitar, i love the neck, love the feel, love the weight, and it just feels so damn comfortable.

Trailer

I love my PRS McCarty!! So easy to play.. and sustains forever

Jam10

PRS are beautiful guitars!

the wolf

the PRS is just one virsatile guitar. you can get tons of sounds out of them that say a Tele, or strat, or Les Paul wont give you that many options.

opsopcopolis

I've played a Santana signature PRS.
It was probably the single most comfortable guitar I've ever played, better than my LP and Tele. It was only $350, I have no idea why i passed it up.

ianvomsaal

opsopcopolis wrote:

I've played a Santana signature PRS.
It was probably the single most comfortable guitar I've ever played, better than my LP and Tele. It was only $350, I have no idea why i passed it up.

Dough!

butterfly1

they have a new model called the "mira" which is worth checking out. Made in Maryland, 24 frets, all mahogny body a la the Santana body style, with a "players" price point. the early reviews are very positive. BTW, I am a big PRS fan. IMO they are the most consistently high quality production US made guitars.