Help determining value and models of several early PRS guitars

[Rocky1818]

Hi everyone,

I received these guitars as a gift many years ago and am trying to determine the rough values of them so that I can try to sell them. I'm an intermediate guitarist and play each one on occasion (I honestly love how they all sound) but I want to reallocate some of my funds so that I have a bit less in guitars lol. I plan on keeping one of the guitars- I like how the limited edition plays the best, but I have a feeling that it is also the most valuable so I can probably settle for one of the others.

Anyway, they're all in fantastic shape. Stored in a smoke-free home that is fully climate controlled (heat, a/c, humidity).

I'm also trying to figure out what the models of them are exactly. My current understanding after googling is:
-Light blue is a 1986, possibly a pre-standard? The case has "Sputnik Halo" marked on it, which looks like was an Ohio band in the 90's (SN 6 1232)
-Black is a 1990 limited edition, #178/300 (SN 0 9730)
-Gold is a 1989, not sure the model (SN 9 7142)
-Not sure on the bass. I think 1989 setneck? (SN990594)

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I've been running in circles looking around online and haven't come up with any good idea yet.

Also, Happy Thanksgiving.

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[Jazzedout]

I'll try and help:

1986 Pre Standard (Are you sure it isn't white pearl color?) If it is light blue I've never seen one before. In any case great color!!

1990 Limited Edition Stoptail Quilt with Handsigned headstock
LIMITED EDITION: 1990 - 1991. Signature grade woods, semi-hollow body with cedar, redwood, or maple top, gold hardware, tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece (a few tremolo equipped guitars were made), signed and numbered, only 300 made.

1989 Gold Top: Probably a one-off or an early Limited Edition that didn't make it due to the top not being of high quality when stained?
In any case a look under the bridge pickup should reveal some more... Is it apprx. the same weight as the quilt one? (Semi-hollow?)

1989 Set neck Bass:
CURLY BASS-4/CURLY BASS-5: 1987 - 1991. Maple top, mahogany back, rock maple neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard, moon inlay, 3 single coil pickups, I hum canceling; optional: bird inlays, 10-top, gold hardware, quilted top.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

$2000
$3500
$1850
$1600

 

[sergiodeblanc]

The gold top is cool AF.

 

[bodia]

Sweet guitars!

 

[ScottR]

The gold top is cool AF.

100% agreed!!! WANT!

 

[alantig]

The gold top is cool AF.

100% agreed!!! WANT!

Looks like I got here too late - all the good comments have been taken!

 

[Symphox]

Lucky guy. I would use your serials to find out exactly when these were built and check out Reverb for comparisons. I use: https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-prs_eng.php

Regarding prices, your 1989 Set-neck gold top for example, I would bet is at least $3500. These set-necks were $1500 in 1989. Inflation adjusted thats $3150, and something tells me these guitars out-perform inflation as pieces of ART.

Good luck!

 

[DISTORT6]

Great collection.
The 86 Pre Standard reminds me of the first PRS I actually played. Same year and color, only difference would be birds on the one that I played.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Regarding prices, your 1989 Set-neck gold top for example, I would bet is at least $3500. These set-necks were $1500 in 1989. Inflation adjusted thats $3150

If only life worked like that.

 

[bodia]

If only life worked like that.

Preach

 

[Rocky1818]

Thank you guys for the replies! And jazzedout especially, that's a huge help. On the pre-standard, yes it is a light blue, not a pearl white. My phone camera makes it seem a bit less blue than it is- but it definitely is on the lighter side. On the gold top, the old hold it in one hand and the limited edition in the other hand tells me that (I think) it is the slightest bit heavier than the limited edition... But I will get a scale and stand on it with each and see what that tells me.

While we're at it since you guys were so good with the others, can you confirm my thoughts that this one other bass I have is a 1988 setneck? I don't plan on selling it but might as well ask while I'm here. It's also a light blue color, but even lighter blue than the guitar.

https://ibb.co/6mGg1bF
https://ibb.co/1dpzdtC

 

[veinbuster]

Inline

I like this enough to steal it from you, so don’t invite me over.

No screws/bolts at the neck joint means set neck.

 

[SinSir]

Killer gifts then and now! Wow!

 

[brado]

I don't know how anybody could put a price on that goldtop until we know exactly what it is. To my knowledge the limited edition was the first and only PRS guitar with a TOM bridge until years later. What jazzedout surmised makes sense although it doesn't seem to me something PRS would do. For all we know this could be an aftermarket conversion. PRS won't have records for 1989, but maybe there is something written in the pickup cavities.

 

[dogrocketp]

Why not keep the two light blue guitars as a set?

 

[Jazzedout]

I don't know how anybody could put a price on that goldtop until we know exactly what it is. To my knowledge the limited edition was the first and only PRS guitar with a TOM bridge until years later. What jazzedout surmised makes sense although it doesn't seem to me something PRS would do. For all we know this could be an aftermarket conversion. PRS won't have records for 1989, but maybe there is something written in the pickup cavities.

I believe it was easier to get one-offs / special orders back then when the company was smaller.
To my eyes this is not an aftermarket conversion, since the guitar should have a different neck angle than the trem models, for the action to be correct.
Maybe it is a one-off, a Limited Edition prototype, or an artist built. again only the inside of the bridge pickup cavity could reveal more.
Check out that one for example:
https://reverb.com/au/item/29477211-paul-reed-smith-prs-custom-24-redwood-1990?locale=en-AU

Although the redwood top is a limited edition feature, it doesn't have a handsigned headstock, or any writing on the back stating it is an LE. Special order? LE reject? Who knows...
One thing I forgot to ask the owner. Is the body the same thickness as the quilt one? If it is the same it is probably semi-hollow as well.
If it's not as deep it should be solid-body.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I don't know how anybody could put a price on that goldtop.

Regular price for what these go for, minus a little less than half because no birds or fancy top because people are lame?