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A while back I realized that I wasn't playing metal anymore. I looked at my guitar collection and recognized that I had the "same" guitar in a bunch of different colors - ALL super strats. Well, I decided I wanted a change, shoot, NEEDED a change. I began moving the shredders out and replacing them with what I would call a "recording" arsenal. I started getting the standard guitars: Tele, Strat, Les Paul, Gretsch, etc. As I started doing this, I joined a prog band. The Les Paul was okay, but I wanted something a little more "high performance".
I also stopped using a traditional amp, recently. I switched to a Line 6 Helix rack with an FRFR.
With this sweeping change, I decided to get a PRS. I loved it so much I got six more!!! Here's a picture of all of them except my latest - a Custom 22 10 top in red.
Here's a group shot:
From the left: Ted McCarty DC245, SC250 w/ Artist package, SC245 57/08 Limited, S2 Vela, S2 Singlecut Standard, S2 CU22 Standard.
The first I picked up, and one that I absolutely LOVE is this S2 Singlecut:
This is an all mahogany beast. The #7 pickups are just right for my style (think Fates Warning/Jim Matheos). They sound great split, and I really like having the 4 controls. The guitar is WAY more comfortable than my Les Paul. I pulled the neck pickup knob and replaced it with a pointer knob because I always keep it rolled down to a certain place, and it is easier to tell where it's at with the pointer knob.
The rosewood on the fretboard is dark and uniform - REALLY nice wood. There is nothing about this guitar that feels cheap. I know a lot people kind of dog the S2 instruments because the hardware and pickups are not US made. Well, having some high-end PRS' along with some S2's - I can tell you, there is no noticeable difference in the way the tuners work/feel or how the bridges operate. I even like the pickups, a lot. Enough so that I search ebay and Reverb for pulled S2 #7 pickups!!
Up next is the second PRS I bought, the S2 Custom 22 Standard:
This one is Champagne Gold - totally beautiful in person. Again, this instrument is AMAZING. The #7 pickups sound SO awesome in the all mahogany guitar. This guitar is not as versatile tone-wise as the SC - it has a master coil tap and a 3-way blade. It's kind of all or nothing with this one - you either commit to the HB sound, or the single coil sound. Both sounds are GREAT, but it is sweeter to be able to blend them like on the SC.
The trem stays in tune with vicious abuse. The PRS bridge/nut/tuners are a great system. As a guy that used the Floyd for years, I don't feel that I am missing anything other than the crazy pull-ups from a recessed bridge.
Again, AMAZING neck and a nice, dark slab of rosewood for the fretboard.
I ordered the Vela and the SC245 at the same time, but the SC245 showed up first, SO, let's look at that one!!!
THIS guitar is hands-down my favorite of all of them. It feels and sounds the way I have ALWAYS thought an electric guitar should feel/sound. It is effort-less to play - you get lost in the instrument...it quickly becomes an extension of your soul. Sound-wise, it is alive. The whole guitar vibrates as you play it. The tone is smooth but subtly aggressive. I have gigged all 3 of these, and while the S2's sound full and crushing, this SC245 is transcendental. Hard to explain, but this guitar has the EVERYTHING to it.....
It is a 10 top quilt finished in McCarty Burst. It has the 57/08 pickups, which are now my ULTIMATE pickup - which sucks, because they are like $400 on the used market. They are both split-able, and sound great when split. Again, being able to blend single coil and HB tones with the 4 controls is SO versatile. There isn't a tone you can't achieve. One cool thing that I like is that the switch is wired upside down - in the "up" position you are on the bridge pickup. I like that so much I am gonna do the same on my other single cuts.
The bridge is the adjustable wrap around. I love the regular wrap around, but being to fine tune the intonation is a bonus. This guitar is pretty much in tune every where, up and down the neck. Speaking of the neck, like the other guitars so far, it has the "Wide-Fat" profile. That is a bonus for me - I spent years playing PC-1s, and while this neck is NOWHERE near as beefy as a PC-1, it was an easy transition for me, compared to going down to some of the little necks out there these days.
The inlays are the super-cool abalone, "outline" birds. Subtle and classy.
Next is the Vela....
This guitar is unique. It is really it's own thing in the realm of electric guitars. The best way to describe it is like this:
Take a Tele (twang) mix it with a Gretsch (kerrang) then mate it with an SG and you get the Vela!!!!!"
There is a cool youtube video of a guy using a Vela to sound like King's X. It is pretty spot-on. For me, this guitar reminds me of the three I mentioned. It's light weight like an SG. The bridge pickup twangs and kerrangs. The neck pickup is AWESOME!!! Personally, I LOVE Gretsch guitars, and the Dyna-Sonic single coils. PRS did a great job replicating that type of sound. The tones are balanced no matter if the bridge is split or full, not matter what the switch position is.
The sad thing, for me anyway, is that this cool guitar does not work in the live context of my band. It's a little TOO "twangy/kerrangy" for progressive rock, lol. It is, however, a killer recording guitar. It gives a different texture and maintains its personality despite the amp you run it through. It's a keeper!
Next....SC250 Artist!!!!
This guitar is functional art. It is a 25" scale single cut with the Artist package. The top is better than a 10-top, it is referred as "Artist-grade" after the Artist models from the early 90's. The fretboard and headstock overlay are Madagascar ebony - not rosewood. The birds and logo are Paua shell. It is a looker.
Thankfully it is a player too!!! This guitar is a bit more straight forward - no coil taps and straight-up vol/tone/vol/tone. The controls are even laid out in the traditional "Single Cut" way. The guitar came with SC250 humbuckers. WAY too hot for my playing style. I pulled them out (stuck them in the case) and installed gold covered Seymour Duncan "Saturday Night Special" humbuckers. WOW - the guitar went from being too overdriven to singing like a bird.
I am using this guitar live for the first time Friday night. So far, in rehearsal, it sounds very full and throaty. Nice midrange and a deep but clear bass. The highs are balanced and give just enough presence to add some bounce to the overall tone. The guitar is very reactive to tone knob adjustments, as well as volume control levels.
Lastly is the DC245.....
This guitar is unique in PRS-land. It is the traditional PRS "Custom" shape, but it has the 24.5 scale length of the Santana/SC245 and the Santana headstock shape. The neck is bound and has the vintage bird inlays. The wood grade is not "10 top" quality, but is easily equal to what Gibson use on a lot of nicer flame-top guitars. The headstock has a flamed maple overlay with the old school gold foil logo. It has the 57/08 pickups, and tulip head tuners. It was a limited edition model.
I didn't care for it at first. It looks like $1,000,000, but was a little "thin" tonally compared to the other guitars in this thread. I haven't used it with the band yet, but I have spent a lot of time jamming on it. The sound has grown on me. It is GREAT for smooth jazz/fusion-type stuff. It remains to be seen if it will be aggressive enough for the band. If it's not, that's okay - it is a MUCH more refined instrument and provides a feel/tone that I will likely grow into over the years...but, then and again, it may RIP when cranked in context!!!! I have to find out.....
Interestingly enough, I never cared for PRS guitars over the years. I would get one and then end up selling it pretty quick. I finally figured out why. I HATE their 24 fret instruments - the pick up choice (used to be the HFS/Vintage Bass) and the placement of the neck pick up. ALL of these "new" PRS' are 22 fret necks with "revised" PRS pick ups. They are more in the vintage camp than the 24 fret PRS'. I would always buy a 24 fret guitar because my Jackson's had 24 frets. I never use 24 frets so it was kind of foolish for me to never try a 22 fret PRS. Anyway, problem solved and I have a family of killer looking and sounding guitars to have some fun with!!!!
I also stopped using a traditional amp, recently. I switched to a Line 6 Helix rack with an FRFR.
With this sweeping change, I decided to get a PRS. I loved it so much I got six more!!! Here's a picture of all of them except my latest - a Custom 22 10 top in red.
Here's a group shot:
From the left: Ted McCarty DC245, SC250 w/ Artist package, SC245 57/08 Limited, S2 Vela, S2 Singlecut Standard, S2 CU22 Standard.
The first I picked up, and one that I absolutely LOVE is this S2 Singlecut:
This is an all mahogany beast. The #7 pickups are just right for my style (think Fates Warning/Jim Matheos). They sound great split, and I really like having the 4 controls. The guitar is WAY more comfortable than my Les Paul. I pulled the neck pickup knob and replaced it with a pointer knob because I always keep it rolled down to a certain place, and it is easier to tell where it's at with the pointer knob.
The rosewood on the fretboard is dark and uniform - REALLY nice wood. There is nothing about this guitar that feels cheap. I know a lot people kind of dog the S2 instruments because the hardware and pickups are not US made. Well, having some high-end PRS' along with some S2's - I can tell you, there is no noticeable difference in the way the tuners work/feel or how the bridges operate. I even like the pickups, a lot. Enough so that I search ebay and Reverb for pulled S2 #7 pickups!!
Up next is the second PRS I bought, the S2 Custom 22 Standard:
This one is Champagne Gold - totally beautiful in person. Again, this instrument is AMAZING. The #7 pickups sound SO awesome in the all mahogany guitar. This guitar is not as versatile tone-wise as the SC - it has a master coil tap and a 3-way blade. It's kind of all or nothing with this one - you either commit to the HB sound, or the single coil sound. Both sounds are GREAT, but it is sweeter to be able to blend them like on the SC.
The trem stays in tune with vicious abuse. The PRS bridge/nut/tuners are a great system. As a guy that used the Floyd for years, I don't feel that I am missing anything other than the crazy pull-ups from a recessed bridge.
Again, AMAZING neck and a nice, dark slab of rosewood for the fretboard.
I ordered the Vela and the SC245 at the same time, but the SC245 showed up first, SO, let's look at that one!!!
THIS guitar is hands-down my favorite of all of them. It feels and sounds the way I have ALWAYS thought an electric guitar should feel/sound. It is effort-less to play - you get lost in the instrument...it quickly becomes an extension of your soul. Sound-wise, it is alive. The whole guitar vibrates as you play it. The tone is smooth but subtly aggressive. I have gigged all 3 of these, and while the S2's sound full and crushing, this SC245 is transcendental. Hard to explain, but this guitar has the EVERYTHING to it.....
It is a 10 top quilt finished in McCarty Burst. It has the 57/08 pickups, which are now my ULTIMATE pickup - which sucks, because they are like $400 on the used market. They are both split-able, and sound great when split. Again, being able to blend single coil and HB tones with the 4 controls is SO versatile. There isn't a tone you can't achieve. One cool thing that I like is that the switch is wired upside down - in the "up" position you are on the bridge pickup. I like that so much I am gonna do the same on my other single cuts.
The bridge is the adjustable wrap around. I love the regular wrap around, but being to fine tune the intonation is a bonus. This guitar is pretty much in tune every where, up and down the neck. Speaking of the neck, like the other guitars so far, it has the "Wide-Fat" profile. That is a bonus for me - I spent years playing PC-1s, and while this neck is NOWHERE near as beefy as a PC-1, it was an easy transition for me, compared to going down to some of the little necks out there these days.
The inlays are the super-cool abalone, "outline" birds. Subtle and classy.
Next is the Vela....
This guitar is unique. It is really it's own thing in the realm of electric guitars. The best way to describe it is like this:
Take a Tele (twang) mix it with a Gretsch (kerrang) then mate it with an SG and you get the Vela!!!!!"
There is a cool youtube video of a guy using a Vela to sound like King's X. It is pretty spot-on. For me, this guitar reminds me of the three I mentioned. It's light weight like an SG. The bridge pickup twangs and kerrangs. The neck pickup is AWESOME!!! Personally, I LOVE Gretsch guitars, and the Dyna-Sonic single coils. PRS did a great job replicating that type of sound. The tones are balanced no matter if the bridge is split or full, not matter what the switch position is.
The sad thing, for me anyway, is that this cool guitar does not work in the live context of my band. It's a little TOO "twangy/kerrangy" for progressive rock, lol. It is, however, a killer recording guitar. It gives a different texture and maintains its personality despite the amp you run it through. It's a keeper!
Next....SC250 Artist!!!!
This guitar is functional art. It is a 25" scale single cut with the Artist package. The top is better than a 10-top, it is referred as "Artist-grade" after the Artist models from the early 90's. The fretboard and headstock overlay are Madagascar ebony - not rosewood. The birds and logo are Paua shell. It is a looker.
Thankfully it is a player too!!! This guitar is a bit more straight forward - no coil taps and straight-up vol/tone/vol/tone. The controls are even laid out in the traditional "Single Cut" way. The guitar came with SC250 humbuckers. WAY too hot for my playing style. I pulled them out (stuck them in the case) and installed gold covered Seymour Duncan "Saturday Night Special" humbuckers. WOW - the guitar went from being too overdriven to singing like a bird.
I am using this guitar live for the first time Friday night. So far, in rehearsal, it sounds very full and throaty. Nice midrange and a deep but clear bass. The highs are balanced and give just enough presence to add some bounce to the overall tone. The guitar is very reactive to tone knob adjustments, as well as volume control levels.
Lastly is the DC245.....
This guitar is unique in PRS-land. It is the traditional PRS "Custom" shape, but it has the 24.5 scale length of the Santana/SC245 and the Santana headstock shape. The neck is bound and has the vintage bird inlays. The wood grade is not "10 top" quality, but is easily equal to what Gibson use on a lot of nicer flame-top guitars. The headstock has a flamed maple overlay with the old school gold foil logo. It has the 57/08 pickups, and tulip head tuners. It was a limited edition model.
I didn't care for it at first. It looks like $1,000,000, but was a little "thin" tonally compared to the other guitars in this thread. I haven't used it with the band yet, but I have spent a lot of time jamming on it. The sound has grown on me. It is GREAT for smooth jazz/fusion-type stuff. It remains to be seen if it will be aggressive enough for the band. If it's not, that's okay - it is a MUCH more refined instrument and provides a feel/tone that I will likely grow into over the years...but, then and again, it may RIP when cranked in context!!!! I have to find out.....
Interestingly enough, I never cared for PRS guitars over the years. I would get one and then end up selling it pretty quick. I finally figured out why. I HATE their 24 fret instruments - the pick up choice (used to be the HFS/Vintage Bass) and the placement of the neck pick up. ALL of these "new" PRS' are 22 fret necks with "revised" PRS pick ups. They are more in the vintage camp than the 24 fret PRS'. I would always buy a 24 fret guitar because my Jackson's had 24 frets. I never use 24 frets so it was kind of foolish for me to never try a 22 fret PRS. Anyway, problem solved and I have a family of killer looking and sounding guitars to have some fun with!!!!
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