Just bought a Vela

[gtrdave]

So, the guitar I was actually looking for when I purchased my S2 Standard 24 will now be in my possession in a few days.
I found a great deal on a slightly used Vela and I can't wait until it gets here and is in my hands. I love the quirkiness about that guitar, from the offset design to the mismatched pickups to the pseudo-vintage style bridge. I realize that it's been a polarizing axe since it's release and I'm definitely on the love and not hate end of the spectrum.

Sadly, though, as one comes home, one must also go, so my Fender Pawn Shop '72 guitar will be leaving. It, too, is very quirky, but it's been a great guitar for the 5 years or so that I've had it. I just need something more diverse than what it's capable of and the Vela should easily achieve that.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Rad!

You know, I haven’t really heard any hate on the vela.

 

[bodia]

Vela! You'll dig it!

 

[gtrdave]

Rad!

You know, I haven’t really heard any hate on the vela.

It's out there on the internet, mostly from people who have never even played one. What happens is they see the pickups and see the bridge and immediately start comparing it to a Gretsch or a Tele without recognizing that it's meant to be neither, but uses minor elements of both to be something different. And I like different.

 

[n24re]

I love mine....such a unique instrument...it fits a gap I never knew existed. I can play AC~DC or Brad Paisley covers with it...really a neat range of sounds.

Oh....and Brian @ Brians Guitars is doing a Private Stock Vela...I am watching that build very closely!

 

[veinbuster]

Vela=good

I approve of this upgrade.

 

[gush]

I love mine....such a unique instrument...it fits a gap I never knew existed. I can play AC~DC or Brad Paisley covers with it...really a neat range of sounds.

Oh....and Brian @ Brians Guitars is doing a Private Stock Vela...I am watching that build very closely!

What???? PS Vela good lord.

 

[xjbebop]

The Vela has become my favorite PRS model.... the most unique they offer.

 

[Wakester]

it's funny how we find what we really were looking for, when we look for something else.
I was looking at the 2017 SE custom 22 and found my 30th anniversary custom 24 instead. Better deal in my opinion. Congrats, can't wait for the pics.

 

[Boogie]

The Vela could easily be a dessert island guitar. Of course, there’d have to be electricity and a Super Dallas and 2 4x12 cabs, and a Klon, but hey, it’s my Island so don’t judge.

Anyway, I’ve come really close to swapping out the bridge pickup a couple of times but when you sit and really listen to it, you can’t deny the cool. It’s 5+ lbs. of cool in a 1 pound bag.

 

[Fro]

It’s about time.

 

[gtrdave]

It’s about time.

I know, right. I mean, it's been 5 months since I first heard of the model and was inspired to pick one up...

 

[Boogie]

I just noticed that autocorrect changed my opinion of the Vela from “ok to be alone with only this guitar in a remote place” to “I want to eat it like a sweet treat after dinner”. On second thought, being on a dessert island doesn’t sound so bad either.

 

[gtrdave]

The Vela has landed...

In buying it I realized that I do not have a black guitar, so not only is this unique to my collection in it's shape and electronics, it also fills a hole in the color spectrum.

I got this used via Guitar Center online and it was a killer deal (sub-$700), but the only bummer was that the store of origin could not find and therefore did not ship the original S2 gig bag with it. It was listed as including a bag in the original description, so my local GC made good on the deal and gave me a used-but-nice SE gig bag that was in their 'extra' pile of unclaimed cases.

 

[Glide-bpm]

Sweet!!!

 

[gasmansteve72]

Ohhh I need to get 1 of these soon myself.. Congrats bud she looks sweet in black..

 

[toothace]

Need me some Vela!

 

[bodia]

Outstanding! You're gonna dig it!

I gotta say, that's one thing that frosts my hide about GC. I bought a used Majesty from a California GC (shipped to Chicago) a couple of months ago. It showed up wrapped in bubble wrap in a box. No case, even though the listing said there was one. I called the originating store and talked to the manager. Fifteen minutes of hold time later he tells me they'll ship the ORIGINAL case free of charge...ya think! I bought a brand new Bernie from the local GC in 2012. "Hey, shouldn't this have a case, or bag, or something?" .... "Sorry, no. But, we can sell you one." Grrr..........

Off my rant!

Enjoy the Vela!