PRS BUYERS GUIDE - A Full Review of the PRS Electric Line
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- Welcome to our comprehensive Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Buyers Guide! Whether you're a seasoned player looking to add another gem to your collection or a beginner searching for your first high-quality guitar, this video is your ultimate resource for everything PRS.
Join us as we dive deep into the world of PRS guitars, exploring their rich history, innovative designs, and signature features. From the iconic Custom 24 to the versatile SE series, we'll showcase the wide range of models PRS has to offer, each with its own unique character and tonal palette.
Our expert team will provide valuable insights and tips to help you navigate the PRS lineup, understand the differences between various models, and find the perfect guitar that matches your playing style and preferences. Whether you're drawn to PRS for its craftsmanship, playability, or tone, this guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision.
Whether you're a rock, blues, jazz, or metal player, there's a PRS guitar that's tailor-made for you. So sit back, relax, and let us guide you through the world of Paul Reed Smith guitars. By the end of this video, you'll be ready to take the next step towards owning your dream PRS instrument. - Zábava
Been playing almost 50 years and just picked up my first PRS this year. I own several vintage Gibson's, Fender's, and Gretsch's and I have to say my new PRS plays as well as any of them. Don't know why I waited so long to get one!
This is the best overview of PRS I've watched.. And.. I've watched alot. Thanks guys from a sunny... But bloody freezing London UK.
I LOVE PRS guitars, and am a huge aficionado of the guitars and company. I own several and think that they are the best in the business as far as reliability. I’ve never been disappointed by any of my PRS guitars. They are so reliable. Fan for life.
ProTip: Always try to score a Quilt Top. Blows away any flamed shop. Ten Top. Lean Wood Library for a high end PRS, without the Private Stock sticker shock.
PRS has a PTC (PRS Tech Center) at the Maryland Factory. If you want to upgrade a used PRS or need repairs under warranty send it there. It will come back better than NEW. I swapped the HW to all Gold and did some electronics mods with mini toggle switches (drilling) for coil splits...plus they did a full setup and crowned the frets, along with a polish.
That has to be one of the most insightful and enjoyable videos on PRS. Baxter's passion and enthusiasm is wonderful. Thanks.
PRS Guitars are amazing. While I wasn't ultra impressed with the SE line when Carlos Santana finally talked Paul into brining them out, they are now some of the very best values out there on a guitar that is, really , all anyone really needs, especially the working musician. I own an older Core McCarty, the newer SE guitars (while not having the full Flamed Maple tops, only a thin veneer over a basic Maple top) are even better with the newer designed coil tap design. What Amazing Guitars! With a PRS, you don't have to hunt through 50 different guitars to find "That One" that "has the Mojo"! They all have it!
I love em. I share the opinion that others have that "lack of mojo" really means that their QC is top notch and they all sound the same.
If you like the sound then you can rest assured you will get it by buying one.
For some people the "hunt" for a Fender or Gibson is part of its charm - the investment of time creates a sense of accomplishment... like building an Ikea cabinet. So "mojo" essentially means - "I had to work for the sound I wanted and that makes it better". 🫠
@@LumaTo TRUTH!
I visited Casino guitars a couple years ago and wanted to support them by buying a guitar. I had a 2k budget and Jonathan suggested a 35th anniversary S2 custom 24 at 1649$. At the time I had a pulled muscle in my thumb and it hurt to play so I held it strummed a few chords and asked them to ship it to me back in Seattle. At first I was on the fence and initially wanted to trade it in on something else but I gave it a year and now it's in my top 3-4 that II love to play. Since then I bought a SE Silver Sky and I've gotta say without a doubt it's the Best Buy for any guitar under 1000$. I've played some core's and private stocks and they are stunning but I don't think at least for me that they hold their value as much as vintage Fenders or Gibsons . Also id like to add that buying from Casino has been a great experience and as much as I like to support my local independent stores I would buy from Casino sight unseen and trust them to always have my best interests in mind
I have been really considering a PRS lately, so maybe this is the sign I’ve been looking for. Great video! Thanks guys
If the price is holding you back, I learned the hard way waiting too long to getting my first, you can't afford not to have one, it transformed my tone and playing.
@@flybynight1929 I definitely can’t afford anything higher than the SE line at this time. I keep reading and talking to people, seeing videos etc about the DGT and honestly I cant get it off my mind. I may have to just pull the trigger
Got my first "real electric guitar", PRS DGT SE, its hard to describe how good it is other than it's hard to put down. I don't have a good reference for good quality guitars but this DGT model feels really good and put together with care. Very happy with my purchase. Great bargain.
I think I have five PRS guitars. The most memorable one I own is the ltd. ed. semi-hollow Vela made from reclaimed Brazilion Mahagony, Brauna Preto and Peroba Rosa woods. It sounds killer.
I recently bought an SE Custom24 after being impressed by the SE Hollow Body I got a couple of years ago.
These guitars are superb. The Custom24 is my favourite already over a Gibson SG Standard, and a Fender Tele.
Im excited to see the day when you post a video with your new prs!!🤟
I got my first PRS this year, a "Dead Spec". Oh my..........the first step down the rabbit hole. Thanks for the amazing video!!
Thanks for a really detailed video.. I own a PRS SE custom 24-08 in Eriza Verde.. love it. The thing I noticed first was the fit and finish.. I could only imagine how nice a Core series or wood library must be.
My first foray into PRS was to buy a 2012 Experience CU 24 in Autumn Sky w/ a Private Stock neck/Eagle inlay headstock. A couple years later and various other guitar purchases, I came across a Wood Library DGT, in WB, Korina neck, Cocobolo board. Both guitars are incredible to play and pretty much flawlessly constructed. I enjoy them and they’re worth every dollar I paid for them.
Loved PRS even before owning one, Mark Tremonti is my favourite musician. I have myself an SE277 which is fantastic and I have a Les Paul I put Tremonti pickups in it. Sounds great!
Great video! And as Baxter pointed out, adding PRS USA pickups to an SE keeps the prices down. I really love the 58/15 "S" in my SE 594, though, so I haven't messed with it.
Love this video!!!
Great video.i love them all. I even have PRS guitars 4 SE, and 1 S2.
Great presentation. Thanks Baxter!!!
I bought my first PRS back in 1992. They only had core models back then. Even today over 30 years later, it still amazes me when I play it. It got even better with age.
PRS guitars are very nice. Too nice IMO . I like my old guitars with all their wear , dings and scratches. If I got a PRS all I would do is worry about damaging it.
My first guitar was an Holcomb SE in 2019. I now have 5 PRS. 3 SE’s & a nebula & Luna ice silver skys. I’ll probably be getting a DGT SE & NF53 SE if they ever release one. Love me some PRS
Thank you guys for what you’re adding to the guitar community.
The PRS Pattern Thin Neck is my favorite neck of any guitar brand. My first PRS was a PRS CE 24 Semi-Hollow and my latest is a Custom 24 Piezo both which have the Pattern Thin Neck and play like butter. Snagged both New on Reverb for deeply discounted prices. 🤟
Great review of the mighty PRS. That tour 21:25 video did look like you actually snuck in there 😂
Studio looks great. Love the lighting. Baxter is in a very formal mood today. 😂😎
Good presentation Baxter! You could do this for many of the manufacturers. Gretsch and Guild may be a good one too!
I have the Zack Meyer SE and love it.
2019-21 Introduced a 35th Anniversary Custom 24. Great design touches with a small MOP Eagle on the headstock and mini toggle switches for coil splits, like Paul's Guitar and the current C24-08.
My first PRS was the newest model due to it's affordability...the SE CE 24 Standard Satin ! Love it !
I bought a Blue Custom 22 PRS ‘lefty LTD’ in 2011. Left handed PRS core models aren’t easy to come by. It’s a very nice guitar if not as raucous as a Gibson.
In 2021 I opened my case and a big bit of plastic fell out. At first I thought something had broken off, but it turned out to be a Paul Reed Smith signed tone pot cover that I had not noticed in the case for ten whole years. I just always took the guitar out, put the bar on and played the thing without investigating the case compartment more.
SouthPaws Unite!
PRS is #1!
Got rid of a heavy Gibson LP for a PRS Silver Sky SE | Piano Blk | Mods - Red Tortoise Shell PG | Gotoh Vintage tuners| and it's fabulous to play!
Well done, thank you.
There is one more category (I moved to Stevensville before the factory was built): employee guitars.
I just hope they give Baxter a private stock guitar for this video!! Best PRS breakdown ever!
Epic Video..... nuff said!!!!! ❤
I love how the Dragons are so elusive they didn’t even get talked about in a buyers guide. Holy grail guitars!! 👌✨
The DGT series (core or SE) are fantastic guitars! Great neck profile, fantastic pups (especially the core line). The DGT SE is one heck of a guitar for the money.
I am lucky enough to own 3 core models and lucky enough to have bought one from Baxter and the boys, what a great experience, these guys are the best. Thank you Casino. The Ohio guy
Great video reference!
I have a PRS SE Custom 22 in charcoal that I bought from Ryan at Sweetwater. . I still love my Esteban in basic black even though it is an acoustical.
Just Gorgeous, especially @ 19:16 !
shoutout to Jimena! Great person and killer player. \m/
A few years ago I bought an entry-level import SE Custom 24. It might just be the best feeling, well constructed guitar I own. It's not my favorite guitar (the scale and fretboard radius throws me off a bit), but it's still a quality product - so much so that I've considered selling it a few times to help finance other purchases...but it's so well made and was so inexpensive that it just didn't make sense to get rid of it. 🙂
Yeah owned a bunch of se PRs went to visit casino guitars on a trip during thanksgiving and bought a 10 top studio😮
Are hinting about offset PRS guitars on the drawing board?
I want a PRS Hollowbody II so baaaddd. I’ll have to save for the next 10 years though. Maybe one day.
Sweetwater monthly payments man!
Leo Fenders involvement in ‘Fender is over by 65’ or so and it changes hands from mega corp to mega corp for the next 30 years, Gibson has also changed hands many times and its arguable that Heritage guitars are truer Gibsons than Gibson. In short, yer Dad’s guitar Co. is really a faceless mega corporation that has its hands in all kinds of doo doo. Paul Reed Smith on the other hand, is alive and involved in every decision. It’s an easy choice for me. I used to have multiple Stratocasters and Telecasters and an odd Jazzmaster and Jaguar, now I have 2 Stratocasters and 3 PRS and I rarely if ever pick up the Stratocasters unless I want to sound like Ritchie Blackmore and even then its rare because the Silver Sky does it and so much more. YMMV but guitars are based on physics not magic and Paul understands that. Plus you dont need a luthier when you get a PRS they are ready to go out of the box, Fenders almost always need a luthier.
Great video! PRS guitars are some of the nicest on the market and the engineering and quality that goes into them are amazing. Their expensive price tag is worth the value in my opinion. I even got to experience it 1st hand by visiting the factory during their PRS Experience and on a dealer tour. It’s just a shame I have never been able to bond with them. I have played countless models, owned a Core Custom 22 and a SC250 just were not my thing. Still awesome guitars.
I've owne6-7 of these over the years and I've never bonded with any of them. The sad thing is I have a hard-on for a McCarty 594 🤔 I think. I need to get my hands on one. Can anyone tell me if that veneer is on top of a maple cap or if it is sitting on top of the mahogany body?
I have two S2's (a McCarty and a Vela), and I believe they are every bit as good as the core models. I hope my next PRS is a CE semi-hollow.
The CE semi hollow is great.
The Vela is such a great guitar.
Have you seen the fireburst finish in person? Pretty sweet. There's a nice video showing how it's done.
As much as I’d love to have a custom private stock from PRS I don’t think I’d ever use it if I saved for one. I’d be afraid of messing it up. I’m currently saving up for a core but might save just a little longer for a wood library. I just need to do a little more research on getting the color and finish I want on the 594. I want a satin finish on the neck and I want the body in the violet blue burst. The birds I want the hollowed out look but not sure if I want them in abalone or some other color.
My Silver Sky SE is my favorite PRS to play and I love the sound. My 35th Anniversary SE is my least favorite in those terms. (I almost hate it). How do I use that information to pick my next PRS?
So I recently bought a Core "Special" Semi-Hollow body.... an amazing guitar that I didn't think could get better... at $5600 it was not cheap... then I made the mistake of holding and playing a Private Stock selling for $15999 and OH MY GOD... I don't think it's possible to make a nicer guitar.
I've only been playing for 2 years, have no idea what my 'playing style' is. Wonder how long it takes to figure that out?
A major issue new PRS buyers get trapped is the 22 vs 24 fret models. Too many players buy a 24 fret and are upset it doesn't sound like a Les Paul... this is due to pickup placement pushed by the frets; remember 24=SG and 22=LP tones. Also, the S2 line using import pickups was because PRS saw too many players auto-swapping pickups so they put lower priced but good performing pickups in the S2 line. Also, be sure to adjust pickup heights, bass/treble tip, and screw poles by ear for the best guitar tone.
Cant forget prs was brendan frasiers guitar of choice in airheads as well
You dont have to buy a core to get a excellent gigable guitar. The prs se swamp ash, they are killer and versatile, you can play everything from country to heavy metal. All in one guitar, acoustic like sounds with coil split aswell as tele like sounds, to full on rawk with humbuckers. It is a machine. Jack Higginbotham did a killer job with the swamp ash special, neck heel , you can reach them upper few frets without your hand getting fatigued. Smoothest trem system ive ever used, over my cores. Almost like a bigsby sounding.
I also have my eye on one of the cheaper Tremontis
Prs one of the best.
At what stage do you get a maple to and not a veneer?
I wonder if the private stock that ruined it for Baxter was the vela with triple pickups
Love my Core Custom 24 and 594, they compliment each other and have not needed any mods whatsoever. First tried a students’ CE24 and it blew all my other guitars away, I immediately traded them to get my first one. Can’t lose with PRS, just have to find what you like with great vids like this. 🤘🏻
I wish they had a CE or S2 option for us left handed players $2K-3k range.
Indeed. I was a guitar player for years but now..
I have too many hand injuries and my 10 Top sits in its case unused. (sigh)
What sucks about their necks is that when you play one in the store, they never have the neck type listed on the tag and the employees don’t know either. So you have to go home and research it afterwards, but it might be from an older year when the necks were a bit different.
I went to the store with a buddy back in 2002 to buy the line 6 POD. He bought a PRS. A red burst, Santana looking model. Can't remember the price. It was a very nice guitar. I got to play it a few times. This was back in the day when i really couldn't call myself a guitar player. I didn't know any songs, rarely practiced because i thought chords were too hard, and was getting more into DJing (which i actually used the POD for). But I still remember that nice PRS.
the se line is great for the price
I finally found a PRS I like but don’t have the money for one.
One thing I saw that was incorrect. Both the S2 and the CE's have hardware that is not US made. As mentioned, the CE's have American electronics.
I like the 25” scale length.
For me, the pattern vintage necks on the McCarty models are the hot ticket. Only the SE .594 singlecut, has a Standard all mahogany option in vintage cherry. They raised them back up to $799, but that's still a great buy. I payed much less and modified mine heavily. All in, I'm under $1000 U.S. including a Gator deluxe TSA chainsaw case and Schaller straplocks. Everything got upgraded except the pickups which are the excellent 58/15 LTe low turn with 3 wires for coil tap.
I bought a Zack Meyers then had to look him up
I would love a PRS Custom 24, but it’s the $5.500 price tag that just puts me off.
PRS hasn't seen fit to offer the SE DGT in Dark Cherryburst.....bummer...it's their most beautiful finish.
So, that leaves me with figuring out my second choice. Probably will be one of those 24-08 jobs. Maybe an older Paul's Guitar with Fire Red.
Love the way the PRS line was presented here. Very informative, professional and without hyperbole.
Hey did PRS ever divulge why they moved their offshore production from WMIC (very good reputation) to Cor-Tek (chronic and severe human rights violations)? I can't even consider one now until we understand what happened; I do the research so I avoid buying the guitar equivalent of a blood diamond. I know most people don't care, but I do, and I vote with my wallet (and I buy a LOT of instruments). This is why I don't own a PRS yet while I own 15 guitars either built by or directly branded Samick (very good reputation).
I absolutely love my `96 PRS Cu22, great guitar! But good investment? I dont think so. I bought it second hand 20 years ago for around $2k it still worth around $2k today, even after all the inflation ;) Even PRS Dragons are loosing the value.
Eh, to be fair, Gibson and Fender are vastly overvalued.
This video aged quick. Now that 2024 S2 models include USA electronics and pickups its equivalent to Fender American series…making the PRS Core models equivalent to Fender Custom Shop…regarding price and quality that is.
I have a '96 Custom 22 10 top,a '08 Custom 22 Rosewood neck and a '09 Custom 24...they are all incredible. The S2 are horrible compared to the.. the SE are definitely worth the money but you notice the difference for sure
Read an article today, Paul has released a new line of tuning keys for his guitars. he honestly believes that everything that touches the strings affects the tone. SO it looks like the '24 models are coming out with these new tuning keys. Which proves you correct, by the time this video came out Paul had changed something about his guitars.
Those look bad, and plastic isn't an upgrade. Seems like Paul's bored and looking for problems that aren't there, especially with their guitars. They were already balanced.
@@Scott__C It's plastic? You have a better monitor than I do. I was thinking they were made of some secret sauce, or tusq 🤔 Maybe the hopes and dreams of failed guitar players everywhere.
@@MrSmiley1964 Ha! I'd think if it was some special creation, there'd be a 20 minute video just about how they came up with it. Not mentioning it is why I think it's just plastic.
@@Scott__C Well I am sad, I was hoping for at least wild Rhino horn
Wild White Rhino has a brighter tone while Wild Black Rhino is known for its darker tone.
@@MrSmiley1964 LOL
PRS are great guitars, I have several, but man over the past few years they've really upped the pricing. Just a few years ago, the CE was under $2k, now they're almost $2700.
Oh, and having Pattern and Pattern Regular make the neck profiles confusing. And those new plastic tuning pegs are a misstep.
Which one has the best tonewood? 😆
Baxter and Jonathon. I like your videos, but I still like your old studio way better.
Thanks For Sharing 🎸🎸🎶🎶
Funny thing about the tuning. I can't ever keep my CE24 in tune.
Interesting, I have 3 of them and they are rock solid.
@@gkott78 I wonder why. I suspect they may need to be tightened or something. Everytime I go to rehearsal, the G & B go way out of tune. My mexican strat by comparison, has *no issue* w/ this at all. $450 mexican strat? Solid tuners. $2500 PRS CE24? Jank af.
@@tylerk1013make sure the tuners screws are all tight, and the strings are set right in the bridge, if it's not those things it has to be the nut. If you've put heavier strings on it they probably don't fit 100% perfect in the nut, you might have to widen the slots just a tiny bit or have a guitar tech do it.
Weird mine has been the most tuning stable of all my guitars.
One day...oh yes..one day....
I've owned PRS USA guitars. I have a problem with a guitar company (PRS) charging this much money for a guitar that has no binding, (Gibson guitars still have binding on all but the lower end models). Binding the neck and body is labor-intensive, and, thus, costly. IMO, PRS USA deliberately doesn't do binding, except on really expensive or exceptional models, because they save money this way. Money they take as profit. Not money that is passed on to the customer as savings. That's my problem with PRS USA.
Every PRS i own i had to buy new case’s for them because the ones that come with the guitar are ridicules heavy and crappy clasps
PRS metal. Which one?
The Dustie Waring model is probably the most metal focused, it looks the part too.
Besides the aforementioned Waring model, the Tremonti sign. model, the Custom 24 Floyd or the Mark Holcomb model.
But the normal Custom 24 is also a great metal guitar, specially if it has the older HFS/VB pickup set.
I disliked the Se PRS guitars I've played. I did play a Core last year that was great. We get what we pay for
There's another way to break this down if you want to compare it to Gibson.
The Gibson standard line is comparable to the SE line with the exception of quality control. Gibson doesn't have any.
the Gibson custom or Deluxe line is comparable to the S2 & CE line with the exception of the quality control. Gibson doesn't have any.
Gibson custom shop is comparable to the Paul Reed Smith core non ten top line..... With the exception of quality control...... Gibson doesn't have the expertise to match The quality control that PRS puts into the se line but they try at their custom shop level.
PRS 10 top Core line has no Gibson equivalent.
PRS wood library has no Gibson equivalent
PRS private stock......
Bitch please 😂
Paul is just showing off now.
Dude!! REALLY heavy cases! It's like carrying a Honda Accord in a box!! Why TF are their cases so heavy!?😅😅
I now right, i had to buy 2 new case’s for my 2 PRS because I can’t stand the ones that come with it.
Baxter gives out a bunch of info about PRS, but not in a way that Joe Strummerist can use to choose an axe! I would not show this video to someone shopping for their first good guitar.
Baxter you’re great!
PRS? Yeah no.
Buyers guide should just say buy a Gibson 😎
Why?
Whay would you buy an inferior guitar, that has crappy QC, ergonomics, tuning stability and costs a crapload of money?
A real musical instrument shouldn’t be cheap. That’s a global marketing technique to think cheaper is better.
They sound amazing but I don’t care for the way they look. 🤷🏻♂️ shame. They are so well made and I like Paul and his sense of humor and his passion as a luthier. Just not my vibe.
They aren't pretty like an ES, but Paul being the leader, makes me want to support them. I like private, founder-owned companies, over giant faceless companies like fender.
There does seem to be quite a few options now. I'm surprised you don't see one which you vibe with.
I like the way they look, but don't like the way they feel. Too many gloss and painted necks, and they're often too thick for me.
The do have solid colour options
@thesmellycatjazz I feel like maybe you haven't played the right one. The make a wide thin neck. The make that neck in a satin finish on the CE24.
"I don't know if he has a home" 😅
$1,000+ guitars should never come in a gig purse. That's one reason i won't buy a PRS guitar.
I'll never buy one. Too expensive. Cheaply made pots.