Why I Don't Like PRS Guitars đžSE Soapbar II Review
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 30. 06. 2024
- This week I put my prejudices aside and give this divisive brand another chance. The 2005 PRS SE Soapbar II looks like my kind of jam so maybe this is what I've been missing? Let's take a close-up look and listen and see if this one gets my mojo working! đđž
00:00 intro & coming up
00:53 not a massive fan of PRS
03:25 this might be the one
05:23 some specs, weight, fingerboard & frets, etc
08:14 neck profile & measurements
09:28 pickup readings
10:20 under the hood
13:09 todays rig
13:59 this is what it sounds like unplugged
14:31 this is what it sounds like plugged in
15:21 let's play something
16:38 let's try & play something else
18:21 this guitar sounds good
19:18 volume & tone controls
20:20 black coffee break
20:50 it really does sound great
22:25 so what do I think?
24:40 is it the guitars fault?
25:50 the fat chin test
30:28 it's a great guitar but...
32:00 play out jam
The Guitaristas CZcams channel is fully independent of sponsorship, paid reviews, and supported/gifted products... it's all the thrills without the shills! đžBut this content costs real time and a lot of money to make so my own way of raising a few extra $$ to fund the channel is via the subscription TV Channel at: theguitaristas.tv and I am very grateful to my growing army of loyal supporters there who help fund this content, make it possible, and keep it real. You know who you are. đ
I AM NOT AN EXPERT. Some things I do know and some things I don't know but think I know and sometimes I say things that are not entirely correct. Once I have said things it's too late to correct them so please check any 'so called facts' with an adult, google, wikipedia, or someone else that knows.
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I always get asked why I spend my lunch break on a Friday sat in the car. Answer Col is on.
"Ernie-ballsack" had me nearly spit tea over the keyboard!! LOL. Nice one Collin!
Colinâs been watching âDaveâs World of Fun Stuffâ again!
Wife asked what was so funny đ
The more of this guyâs videos I watch the more I think he and his channel are a modern âmissing linkâ of what CZcams would have looked like if it was in the internet era of 1996-2003 (or whatever).
This is a huge compliment- internet of today is đŻ about on engagement in order to get your money.
There is next to zero actual âcontentâ created by unique personalities that is not entirely focused on marketing to the viewer in some fashion.
Iâm not naive and I understand how things operate, itâs just great to see these style of videos
Totally nailed it. Weâd have so many more like Colin
Thanks thatâs really appreciated đđ
Lets be honest, looks count for a lot in guitars, you buy what you like then make them playable if they are not already
The "Fat chin test" was a real eye-opener! Would like to see that test on a Firebird đ€
As a firebird owner- youâll wanna be over 6 feet tall or youâre gonna think the first fret is in the next hamlet over, mates.
Lol firebird pickups and learning to use your fender tone stack are the key to a perfect life.
â@@WithCarePlzwhich, for me, makes playing beyond the 12th fret much easier.
It opened my eyes too. Now I see why the cheapest guitar I own is the one I enjoy the most playing. (A Harley Benton DC-Junior FAT) The combination of a chunky neck with access to every single fret without hassle makes it for me.
Do you gig sitting down?
PRSs dont do it for me much either, but i dont hate them
Paul himself sounds insufferable, and just puts me off the whole brand
Santana did his best work on a Yamaha SG
Love my Yamaha Revstars, I'd like to have one of those old SG copies.
100%
I associate the Santana sound with the first "new" song I heard from him when he did She's Not There. I think he was using the Yamaha then.
Im a massive prs fan and own several. But, i also understand that mojo overall is a function of the guitar, the gear, and the player coming together. If the player isnt inspired by a guitar/brand/version, then the mojo will never be there. I get it.
I just appreciate col giving a factual review of whatever he is looking at. I cant stand sgâs, or gibsons and epiphones for that matter, but i appreciate col being able to review gear in an effective manner and i respect his skills/history.
I think if Colin reviewed toasters I would watch as he's a very likable chap, great to see hes in great form and btw tea and toast are grossly underated! Somebody should make some indepth video reviews to get the ultimate combođ
Well youâre right. Prs wasnât there when the music was happening. Prs will never get over that. When the party ended prs popped its head round the door and said â hey Iâm here!â Everyone at the party said â weâre all off to bedâ â youâre 40 years too late mateâ â shut the door when you leaveâ
A local guitar builder once said to me â itâs a great piece of furniture to hang on the wallâ â itâs for bankers and accounts really mateâ
This is gold from you col. I think we should call you the colonel!!!!!! We love you mate. The nicest bloke on guitar utube channels. Keep em coming.
đđđ
Being a proud Canadian I owned two Godin guitars. Made in Canada, awesome build quality, real quality guitars. There were a Stadium (T style), and a Radiator (2020 version, LP style with a really stupid name lol).
In my opinion, really good mid level guitars, but I just could not fall in love with them, ended up trading them both in, around a year after buying them.first the studio went towards a Epiphone Wilshire, and the Radiator went towards my Epiphone LP Junior. Took a loss on on the jr but could not be happier. Just goes to show that even if the quality is there, on nice instruments doesn't mean they are going to be "for you" so yes I traded two good North American guitars for two Chinese built ones at a loss on one but they look feel and play right for this Living Room Legend.
Aren't Fury guitars another Canadian brand? I've seen a review of a Strat-like model except it was a bit more pointy. I don't remember ever finding one 'in the flesh'.
Wow! I thought I was the only person in the world who wasn't a fan of PRS guitars.
Can't stand them
đ I wonder what it is !? Maybe it's the scale length !? I had a very old PRS se standard 22 that I loved but it wasn't as fulfilling to play as the les paul Jr. Or telecaster for example. I can only think it's the scale length.
No there's a group of us who don't like'em. Look great! Feel and sound bad.
I take one look at the headstock and just go.. naa!
Oh no⊠thereâs many of us! We just donât spend the time hating on the brand and making sure everybody hears us like most of their fans do to us for liking our brands!
Gotta tell you Colin, I was fussin around w/ headphones on doing work. I stopped what I was doing to come look at this as the sound was really good on my end. I wouldnât mind having that guitar at all. Seriously, not sure what it sounds like in your room, but here, it is really nice.
I already called dibs when it hits Reverb
Regardless of the guitar it is Colin`s stream of consciousness that is the Star of the show. Keep Safe.
I've been playing for over 60 years. I had the privilege of working through out the '70s, and just retired a few years ago. I've played pretty much every guitar brand you can think of at one time or another. I really wanted to like PRS guitars, but I just can't. And it really is a lack of "mojo", whatever that is. It's something that players have never really been able to put their finger on, but it's a real thing. I call PRS a "left-brain" guitar, because it seems to appeal to more technical, math oriented players, were Fenders appeal to more emotionally based players, "right-brain". That's probably BS, but it works for me.
Hey, I get it. And it is obviously all subjective as everyone is different. I can't say PRS seems like the math rock technical guitar to me as the first time I saw and heard one in the flesh was when I saw Ted Nugent playing a white one in the mid 80s. I had no idea what it was, but knew one thing for sure, it wasn't the Byrdland. He absolutely shredded on it and it sounded great. But with the likes of Al Dimeola and John McLaughlin using them, I get that connection. I love my 30 yr. old PRS Custom 22's and McCarty that do carry my interpretation of mojo, as they're well broken in like an old Les Paul and even have their own smell. But they're not like my Fenders. I prefer their scale, weight, ergonomics and versatility (of Strats) and the whole Fender history in California thing.
And I like Santanaâs sound/voice better when he played a Gibson. (Same with Clapton.)
Well I have a custom 24 core and an older 97 original McCarty. And I dont play them much, thought it was just me...
Thanks for the review.
100% agree with PRS skepticism. I'm sure they are really well made and great value for money. But they dont speak to me at all, tried one in a shop just one time, didn't like it.
I have two,( a Hollowbody, and a Custom24, both SE ) and they are soo good; I canât fault them, they are perfect.
Perhaps the âpersonalityâ of other guitars gives them âcharacterâ!.
I have a Custom 24 SE, it's scratched my PRS itch for years now, it plays like a cool breeze
That's better , My Friday night viewing has arrived đđ, Cheers from Brisbane , Australiađâș
Same here in HK altho we're a few hours behind you!
The SG was one of the last guitars that I tried because I didn't love the look. I was told SGs are for tall people. I tried an SG and it fits me. I have wide shoulders and I immediately realized how other guitars make me feel bound up. Coincidentally, my favorite guitars other than the SGs have been Teles.
If the guitar doesn't make you feel cool it's not for you. Shallow, I know, but that's the most important component of playing guitar.
Not a PRS guy either but if this one popped up at my local shop for a few hundred I might've bought it just to have at least one 'PRS' in the 'collection.' It does sound good, obviously well made. I play standing mostly, maybe these line up for high fret access and balance better on a strap. But I think you got a good deal and that's a keeper for a while at least. You may even start liking it a little. Cheers from Dallas y'all!
I owned this model, been a long time. Mine was a kinda sunburst finish, I much prefer the half moon inlays over the bird's, great video as always, love the Ernie ballsack strings comment, hilarious...
I'm the same with the PRS bird inlays. Going back 20-ish years I think that PRS had them on fewer, perhaps the more expensive models. It felt like there was something a bit artisan about them then. Now they seem to be on almost all their guitars and, to me, they look more mass produced and slightly naff. They remind me of the old ornamental ceramic flying ducks that loads people had on their living room wall that became clichéd.
I'd be more interested if there was a greater choice of moons, dots or blocks, as there are on the Tremonti, DGT and Santana models. Cleaner looking and less 'fussy'.
I like that youâre informative but I can also learn along with you if you donât know something already, this makes the videos more genuine to me which I always enjoy!
Paul has said that PRS uses a harder nickel fret than industry standard. Note too that yours is made by World Music; the current SE's are made in Indonesia by Cort and like almost all PRS's pretty much flawless.
Your epiphany is spot on. I find some guitars more comfortable to play than others. Your explanation of looking down and where your hand can reach the neck is excellent.
Ernie Ball Sack strings? Never heard of this series! đđ€Ł
PRS proprietary tone foam? I think you are on to something! đđ€Ł
Your the goat mate!!! Love your show , your style , your playing and since Iâm « French » you have « joie de vivre !!! »
Your energy is contagious!!! If I ever go to Britain I need to drink a few pints with you đâ€â€â€â€
Thank god you have given me an actual reason why Iâve never been interested in PRS guitars. My main guitar is essentially the same except it looks like a Gibson Special TV Yellow. I was about to spend money on a therapist to see where it all went wrong, but now I can just say itâs my fat chin! Thanks a million Col! Youâre a gem. đ
Man, hearing this takes me back to when I got to see Peter Green at small supper club in San Francisco in the late 90's. Carlos showed up and joined him for Black Magic Woman. And magical it was.
Great as always good sir. And I agree with you there's not much about a PRS I like, and the owner blabbing about tonewood and other unproven facts doesn't help đ
That guy thinks he is the Steve Jobs of guitar manufacturing and I am sorry. He is not.
I've had very good experience w/ PRS guitars. Of course, each person has their own likes, dislikes & criteria. I happen to love the nearly straight string pull through the nut.
Great to hear the inspiration for the playing - always prompts me to get the SG out and play something different, I will be having some santana on in the car and a jam later on!
I want to like PRS but I'm just not attracted to any of their guitars. My test of a guitar is: How does it play, How does it sound and lastly "but not as important" - How does look. Even if it plays and sounds great you still have to like it to some degree.
Good video colin really enjoyed it mate
A fellow player loved SGs as his guitar of choice. I showed up to a jam with the double cut McCarty 594 and he loved the look and ended up buying one. I like switching between my R7, Strat, Gibson DC Junior Tribute and the PRS. Still thinking I want a DGT Gold Top but they are on a waiting list here in Canada.
When you started playing it unplugged, it sounded like the house of the rising Sun! Thatâs a nice sounding guitar! Great film as always, Colin!
Very honest review. i can completely relate.
"The fat chin test" is brilliant. I learned something that was under my nose all this time. Thanks.
I thought I wanted a PRS, but until last week, I hadnât even set eyes on one! Then, I walk into my local guitar shop on âCustomer Appreciation Dayâ and find a PRS S2 McCarty on the wall. I eagerly gave it go, plugged it in and played a bit, and was totally underwhelmed! I canât tell you why, but I didnât find anything to keep me wanting to play it. It was a lovely guitar, well appointed, beautiful⊠but⊠meh. For just over CDN$3200, Iâll leave it. However, I did have a wonderful fling with a CDN $11,500 Gibson Murphy Labs Les Paul, so happy day!đ đâ€ïžđžđ¶âïž
Interesting vid Colin. You did get some fab sounds out of that guitar, P90s are superb pups generally, but like you PRS just do not do it for me either. I have played some, they are well made and are certainly not bad guitars at all in anyway but they do not make me want to play on, they just dont inspire me in any way. We are all different and have our likes and dislikes in how a guitar sounds but there is more to it as you have just shown. For me often its the necks but its definitely how they sit with you and give that all important "feel" in their playing. Great playing mate really enjoyed the vid, thank you.
Maybe you should try the NF53, the proper "T style" of PRS, might change your mind, who knows đ. I personally use a SE CE 24 as a working tool and it is the best guitar I own in that price tier. The only thing I dislike are those "low friction pots", it just feels weird. But I would say that, indeed, the so called mojo is not really there, just lacking some soul or spirit. But you know, for home used workout session it is my go to. Once again thanks for this video. You are my CZcams's gem. Hope to see more soon. Have a great day!
After the comparison of the different guitars and how they line up, Iâm definitely sold on an SG! Iâve been eyeing an Epiphone like the blue one you have hanging in the back or maybe the Tony Iommi signature. It seems to be badass! Thank you sir
A very valid point, Colin. Of late I've come to the same conclusion as to why some guitars "sit" better on me than others, (and, yes, it's probably a sitting , not standing, issue). Of course, guitars like SGs have the related issue of players being unfamiliar with where the fret positions fall. All could be accommodated with use, to a degree, but we don't have to. Just play what we like. Thanks.
Good review Colin along with the Black Magic Woman inspired Jam..Thanks...đ
Who else is now going to do the chin test on all their guitars? I, for one, definitely will be! Nice one Col. I also totally agree that PRS's leave me cold. (no beverage or snack today - did some overdue work admin whenever you started playing - made for a good soundtrack!) đ€
Great playing Colin! I understand your point if PRS. They don't make me salivate like other guitars.
I have about 30 guitars but I haven't got a PRS , but I have tried a few from time to time but I just can't get excited about them even the dearest one's the quality is great but like you I've got grey hair & don't associate them with the guitarist's I grew up with me be a mental thing . Good review as usual though.
Yeah, I don't get PRS either. I find their obsession with tonewood and exotic burl to be a bit obsessive and gaudy. It's just a guitar, ma'am, not jewelry.
Same here. I am a studied engineer of wood science and technology plus a joiner and once even built my own Tele (Walnut body and Canadian maple top), so I'm attracted to nice wood tuned into good engineering of course.. But PRS always has been Kitsch to me and they also are played by old farts playing old fart music for old farts. Not to mention the Headstock...
Last pretty guitar I bought was a Jetstar by Guild and it was like having an instant connection, despite the guitar isn't perfect (Tuners).
They have to try to justify the price somehow.
@@Case_the price actually isnât that bad for the Custom 22/24s, especially when you compare to what Gibson is charging these days. PRS quality control blows Gibson off the table.
@@zer0dave In other words, it's always important to set your comparison standards properly if you want to make something look good đ
Completely disagree with everything you've said. PRS are beautiful instruments with outstanding QC
Colin, I love your videos dude! I also put down guitar for a long time and came back.
You might have an easier time with your left arm and wrist position if you try holding the guitar in classical position, especially since you play sitting down.
Cheers!
Great video. You got the Santana thing at the end. Lovely guitar and tone. If you really don't like the shape, send it to me!
I had one of those but in sunburst, until recently. Great wee guitars, solid as anything. It went with some other excess gear I had to sell off, but would heartily recommend them.
But, but, but, they have the bestest tonewoods!đ All joking aside, I think you're absolutely correct with the PRS "shape(s)" being a thing that many can't get past. It's exactly why they've sold a bazillion Silver Skys.
So youâre saying PRS is a POS? đ
Lol
Colin? I really think you MAY enjoy the PRS Santana SE. Gibson LP double cut junior shape, 24.5 scale, all mahogany, maple cap and then a decent veneer, (not too fancy looking) thick rosewood board, pots out of the way, big neck, well made, great trem, (I had a claw installed for down trem only) character humbucker pick ups, etc. Super great guitar. I recommend because I tried a 2023 model and had to buy it. I'm not into prs guitars either! I dislike pretty much all of them... as too fancy looking for me, but I really think that model, and only that model, may actually be the one prs you would like. LP double cut shape! Maybe one day! đ»
Cheers Colin really enjoyed that đ
What it looks like. What it looks like. What it looks like. The first 3 criteria when purchasing a guitar. If you don't connect with it visually, odds are your mojo won't flow. Similar to you Col, coming of age musically in the late 70s and into 1980s, my hero's were playing Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, Gretsch, et al. Those are the models I gravitate to. I know PRS makes great guitars but I haven't seen one yet that grabs me.
You nailed it.
ColeâŠ.I recently acquired a PRS SE Bernie Marsden signature. I had Duncan â59s installed front and rear, all new wiring and 500k CTS pots. New brass saddle inserts, and Gibson knobs.
Best sounding/playing guitar I own. Better than my 2013 LP Standard
Yeah, it's weird, I have a really nice PRS SE that was even Plek'd and it plays fine but it would be the first guitar I would sell out of my dozen or so guitars. I just never have bonded with it after all the time I've tried.
The Soapbar II guitars aren't made today. I love wrap around bridges. I think they have more resonance than a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece most of the time (not always).
Thank you for showing how different guitars fit the body. I could see it over the years of watching others play, but your demonstration, one after another, made it very clear. I've got a Donner Tele Thinline copy and love it. Maybe it's time to try an SG like guitar. I don't want to spend the money on a Gibson or Epiphone.
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend Colin also Canada day is Monday where I live to be honest â€â€â€â€â€đâ€đđđđđ
I agree with you. I only have sgs and can't seem to move on to another shape. So, thank you.
Thank you Col! PRS guitars do nothing for me Iâm afraid, but your show was just as entertaining and enjoyable as ever. I donât get what you said about you playing by the end you were real Smooth!
Best impedance reading yet! đ thanks Col!
With your tendency to roll the volume up and down you should try some roy buchanan style volume swells. I quite like my PRS . Now I have to get one with p90s. Great video
would love to see you get your hands on a Hagstrom Ultra Max or Fantomen. the Fantomen is wild but super comfortable. and the Lund pups are surprisingly vintage. Though the Pat Smear Hagstrom might be more up your alley...basically an SG :) So a fun comparison. Love the channel mate!
I have a PRS Soapbar II SE. It does indeed sound fantastic and play really well. Mine is also super light, 6 pounds exactly. I like the look. Pointy guitars, I love âem. My favorite headstock is the six-on-a-side Jackson headstock. On the other hand I really dislike the look of the Epiphone Coronet headstock. To each their own. :-) Keep on rockiinâ Collin!
Hey bro, SG's are your comfort area where SG's for me is hard to play. Currently I own a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a Fender Strat, 2 Ibanezs and a PRS core Standard. I bought my PRS used in 2006 and I feel like that guitar was made for my hand but before I got it my Les Paul was my main guitar from 1993 until I bought the PRS. I have owned several Ibanez guitars that I hated and I have played several guitars that the shape was fine but they just didn't vibe with me, so I know what your talking about bro. I love my PRS but that don't mean that everyone has to love or like them. Another good video man!
Great video and review. I agree with you 100%, sounds great, but Iâm not a fan of the shape or the look. Until next week-Cheers from sunny Arizona!
Hey Colin nice review . . .the SG is a BEAST that cannot be slayed !! The chin test although rudimentary is SPOT ON . I just tried one of these new head stock 59 LP Epi's and it was as if i was playing a plastic guitar(no good for me ) . .in my old age i'm finding SG's and V's to be my favorites . the Explorer also is a good Guitar. i have that 58 custom shop Epi with burst buckers and it sounds ridiculous good , but it to passes the " chin test " . . . Anyhow hope all is well over there and the Invasion isnt hampering your life . . peace
A month ago i had played a PRS SE Starla, i must say that i loved how lightweight it was and the pickups sounded fantastic, kind of their own version of 60's Gibson T-Tops or Guild HB-1s, but the neck was the problem for me, because even if it was a C shaped one, it was too fat for my left hand, so it wasn't a very comfortable experience to play it, and the same day i played a Kim Thayil signature Guild Polara and i loved it, as i'm an SG fan and i love how Guild humbuckers (both full sized and mini sized) sound, it definitely convinced me, also it was very lightweight and the neck was a pleasure to play, the D profile is definitely my favourite shape, slim and flat.
Aloha Colin. I play sitting down a lot, due to my injuries. Even before the accident, I like holding the Strat upside down. I may build one from parts thru Warmoth.
I liked this video, it puts a little perspective on my prefernces.
Great episode, Colin. Love the fat chin positional guitar style system. I thought your first bit of playing was great by the way.
Thank you for the video! I'd like to hear the guitar tone straight into the amp, with all pots wide opened, because the pedals and the pot ingaged could change the tone a lot. Are the caps in the control hole connected in parallel or series to the signal? A close look may help.
Thanks for the video. It was between this and gretsch electrojet. Going with the Gretsch. Thanks.
Nice review Colin. Have you tried playing in the "classical" position, ie resting the guitar on your left leg? I always play this way and it's so much better for me for all guitars. It also puts the guitar in the same sort of position as if you were standing. Try it! Cheers.
PRSâs donât do it for me either. I always say they donât have the mojo too. Iâm starting to realize maybe itâs because I hate the shape of their guitars and headstock, also.
My heroes played Gibsons, and Fenders.
If you like P90âs youâd really love them if your amp wasnât pulling half of the treble out of their tone circuit lol.
Fender tone stacks are subtractive. When your fender treble is on 10 itâs not pulling any treble off the guitar at all. When you have your fender amp treble at 6 you are pulling 40% of the treble and tone knob adjustment on your guitar.
The move with fender amps is keep treble on 10 and pull highs out with your guitar tone pots if needed. Keep the bass below 4 or even below 2 or 1 and you get more fat midrange where the p90 does work.
If you keep your fender amp treble on 6 youâre massacring all your highs with any kind of pickup. Especially humbuckers and p90.
Youâre also killing the effectiveness of your guitar tone pots by squashing all the treble coming from your guitar immediately at the front of the amp. And the tone knob on your guitar rolls off treble coming from your guitar as well, see what Iâm getting at?
Iâm not telling you that bcuz Iâm trying to get off on being a know it all- iâm telling u bcuz i misused my fender amps for years and still loved them đ
But when you figure out to stop pulling all your searing highs out of everything you play on accident- control the treble with your guitar tone pots and keep your fender amp treble in 10- try it straight into your princeton no pedalboard.
Youâll see. No need to thank me or mention me.
What we were accidentally doing was giving ourselves the worst sort of accidental compression.
Youâre pulling all the SMACK out of your tone.
Also: princeton reverb is the amp you play without a pedalboard.
You will have a personal revelation if you sit alone for an hour and go straight into that amp no pedalboard- use your guitar volume to clean up the amp when needed- or vary pick attack more. Use the vibrato circuit to add a rotational sort of magic sauce. You can put a tad on everything it just lets the amp do itâs work better. Donât think of it as a beach boys effect or something- you love your princeton now wait till you learn to use it!
I promise you if you do what Iâm telling you straight into your princeton and experiment for an hour- youâre gonna love your princeton 100x more than you already do. The Princeton itself is the ultimate overdrive pedal when u learn to use it. There just isnât an overdrive pedal in existence that sounds as nice as a Princeton Reverb breaking up. Idc what anybody says- a Princeton Reverb is not a pedal platform- itâs the anti-pedal platform. The Twin Reverb is a pedal platform lol. The Princeton Reveb is the amp that you learn to sound great on with no pedalboard.
Thanks for taking to time to share this info but your probably wasting all your good tone advice on me⊠I just do what I do and am not in search of such nuances or perfection Iâm just looking for a base setting that can sound half decent whatever I plug into it and can get all knarly when I add some fuzz! đđ€·ââïžâŠ but you should definitely message Mick and Dan at that pedal show this is right up their alley!
dude, your playing was fire, sounded darn mojo-y
đđ
Have a 1992 PRS CE24 bought new back in the day, picked it over a Gibson LP Standard. Have owned a few other brands ever since including a couple of lower end Gibson LPs. Favorite guitar is a 2023 Epiphone 59 LP Standard.
Both the CE22 and CE24 from around that period were more functional, straightforward guitars, as I remember it. They had less ornate finishes but were still US made.
Yes, very high quality build and material with only the dot abalone fret markers. Also, the maple top isnt so ornate thats itâs almost garish. Despite being a great guitar, years on, kept looking at Gibson Les Pauls, and to my own surprise, ended up getting the Epi 59 now being my favorite for its price-value element.
I just tired a Generation 4 Santana SE in a store in Ä°stanbul. I was surprised how good it was. The sustain was fabulous. I also love the look although I do not like the birds on the fretboard... Still thinking about getting this one. I am really intrigued ro buy one đ
I don't like PRS guitars for a lot of the reasons you mentioned. But I must admit, this one sounded much better to me than the first one you reviewed. They are going for between $500-$750 here. As always, love the vids.
A couple of years ago I bought the Cherry Burst SE Custom 24-08 because I figured I should at least give them a shot (and it was selling at about half price). Now I've decided I like it a lot. The wiring is lousy, bridge pick-up now cuts out so will rewire it, BUT the 8 sounds it offers are very useful - definitely a good inexpensive Swiss Army Knife for gigging if you need one - for me a handy spare if my Sadowsky NYC S Style HSH breaks a string mid-set. So now I'm a bit interested in the new SR Dark Amber 24-08 - body still from Indonesia (no problem with that) but better PRS pick-ups, wiring in US etc so . . . maybe! The other one worth a look is the new 'cheapest in the line' PRS CE 24 Satin which, from the look of it, could be a decent entry level, nice satin wine red vibe. That said I'm not that interested in most of the PRS line - tried a few but they dunnae speak to me Jimmy! đ€Ł PS - I actually like the birds - shoot me now! PPS Love the Fat Chin Test!
I donât like PRSes either but I wouldnât put them in the âpointy guitarâ category like Jacksons and Charvels. They were never trying to be one of those, they were aiming to be an old school Gibson alternative since their debut. Much different spirit/intent from the 80s pointy guitar hair metal stuff.
I agree 100% ! Cheers!
Peter Green > Carlos. But, that PRS also is awesome. One of the coolest PRS guitars i've seen, and i wish they still made that body with the forearm contour like that.
But hey, you're into what you're in to. SG's are iconic.
Hard to compare the two.
Cool vid, never seen that model before.
The mojo thing, I kinda feel it's a bit of both as well, part player, part guitar. I got couple SE models, (Torero and Santana singlecut trem) and they are fine guitars. Last week I got the Silver Sky "Dead Spec" model, and I do have to say that I've been blown away by it. It's just an amazing guitar.
Totally get it. I play PRS and bandmate plays SGs for exactly the reason you mention. He likes the neck out to the side, I like them underneath and can we hell as like play each others set up.
I always liked the PRS guitar. I've never played one but I assumed it's a good guitar. I agree it's personal preference. I hope to play one in the near future.
Colin, .. thanks for bringing the nuances, that I wouldn't have considered, .. like the middle fret location thing. And, this just one example, of course. We may have different tolerance levels, to certain aspects of an instrument .. but, if we're not even looking for different characteristics, when considering a purchase .. not good, is it.
I always use a strap sitting down so there is less difference standing up - the downside of the SG for many is the 12th fret is a bit further on from the eyeline - reverse of your experience - all about what works for you
Most PRS models suffer from the "neither fish nor fowl" syndrome. I'm not a fan of the 25" scale length or of the 10" fingerboard radius. If Im going to play a Gibson-inspired design, I'd prefer 24.75 and 12 . Also a lot of the models have neither the warmth and guts of a Gibson nor the clear bright spank of Fender. They are more midrange focused and sound sort of generic as a result. Finally, I've tried out some core models that had QC issues, despite PRS' reputation for having perfect fit and finish.
What about the PRS 594? Named for the 24.594 scale length which was the original scale length of the 1958 Gibson Les Paul. Ted McCarty helped design it.
What you mention about the position of the frets relative to your chin is something I recently found out and it really makes a very different experience.
With a 22 fret PRS I have the same thing as you, that the frets feel too far the the right. Not bad, but a bit uncomfortable when I go to upper frets. Standing up have no issues, BUT sitting down crossing my legs the PS is positioned perfect for me.
I recently grabbed my first SG and is the complete opposite. Is too far away in a normal position, I love the SG standing up and sitting down I just elevate the neck and my leg is a bit to the right maybe and sits perfectly as well.
The Strats and teles sits perfect for me as they are. And with LP for some reason dont feel uncomfortable when sitting normal.
A friend of mine hates SG for exactly the opposite reason, is too far to the left.
I ave a 24 frets RG ibanez that I find extremely comfortable, and the 2 extra frets puts the position like perfect for me. So if you can try a 24 fret prs, and Im sure that will feel more comfortable to you in this aspect. Also the 24 fret prs is the original design as well. Great video!
This is a video that Paul would definately want to see. I think a statement like youve made, would get his gears turning. Ive never played but 1 prs and i liked it. But theyre not a brand im into. Tho i do wanna try a simver sky just to see if its a different take on the strat that id vibe with
Colin, that PRS from 2005 likes to sing! Good grab! You're giving me THE GAS!
Used to own a Gibson Firebird and had to fight to play it practically every time I picked it up but really enjoyed it!
I'll comment more later, but the small beige component on the volume pot is a ceramic "disc" capacitor and is, in fact, a treble bleed. There are different topologies of treble bleed circuit, some with resistors and some without.
The Gibson p90 les Paul's can't be beat but for ÂŁ325 s/h you're saving 1k on the current price of a new LP Junior.
Nice vid.
Sounds great to me, okay the neck is a bit wooly maybe.
I don't mind the shape at all but the chunky neck might not be for me.
Serious question, if the headstock was covered or if you didn't know it was a PRS would you like it more Colin? The shape demo at the end was interesting for sure, and I want that green tele by the way if you ever want to sell it.
Enjoyed the video.