1985-87, Birds or no birds?

[The Guitar Surgeon]

I am looking at possibly purchasing a 1985, 86, or 87 PRS, and I am not trolling for offers for a deal. I have an eye on several guitars from various dealers. I found an 85, VY, no birds. How much value to the birds add? Anyone care to give me a little insight into a fair price for said guitar? The market has changed quite a bit and prices have fallen. I'm doing my research, but your opinions are respected. I am thinking of it as a collector's piece, even though I play all my guitars. This one would not go in a glass case, it would be played, but also kept until I die, or just before. I would simply like to own a PRS from this era. Any thoughts? Should I go birds only? I usually don't ask these kinds of questions b/c I buy guitars that speak to me, but I won't get a chance to play any of these prior to purchase. Would you buy one from this era without birds? I'm leaning birds, but I have a line on one without and it's hard to find 1985 PRSi for sale. Thoughts?

Thanks,

Bob

 

[markie]

You will likely wish you would have gotten one with Birds at a later date, should you choose otherwise now .......

 

[shinksma]

I agree with Markie: if you like birds, chances are you will want the exact same guitar but with birds if you settle for dots now.

My HB Spruce has dots (moons), and the only thing I'd like to change is to have birds - but the price I got it for made it far too easy to "settle" for now. Eventually I will get a HB II, and it will have birds.

 

[dogrocketp]

Bob, Go birds. I'll never part with my 2007 Mira, because it's a remarkable guitar. I still want another one with birds.

 

[Pfloyd57]

The birds are one of the hallmarks of a PRS, and certainly one of the most noticeable to the casual observer. It's what caught my attention back in the early '80's. Don't settle for less than what you want, or you won't be completely satisfied in the end. Then you'll wind up spending even more to finally get what you originally wanted in the first place.

 

[The Guitar Surgeon]

Thanks for the responses. I just didn't know if getting a 1985 PRS for about $6K without birds was a good enough deal or not. The ones with birds seem to be more than $8K. I didn't think birds would add that much, but I guess on an iconic guitar like an 85 VY, it probably could. Any other thoughts are appreciated.

Bob

 

[Brad737]

Bob,
If you're talking about the yellow "85" at Guitar Center, it's a 1986 with a smudged serial number. PRS only made 400 guitars in 1985. That serial number places it around Spring of 1986. Nice guitar, but misrepresented.
Good luck,
Brad

 

[markie]

Bob,
If you're talking about the yellow "85" at Guitar Center, it's a 1986 with a smudged serial number. PRS only made 400 guitars in 1985. That serial number places it around Spring of 1986. Nice guitar, but misrepresented.
Good luck,
Brad

Hmm, better check some other things as well....................... IIRC

 

[Brad737]

Yeah, pretty sure the volume pot was switched at some point as well.

 

[The Guitar Surgeon]

I saw that one. There's one available to me elsewhere. I had called GC on the other. I had a lot of questions that could not be answered by the person on the phone, so I held off on that. I do appreciate all the input and you guys looking out for me on that one. I might wait for the birds. The first PRS I ever saw or played was a white one in 1988. It was hanging in a shop in San Antonio, Texas called Rock World Music. I was 18, first semester in college, and trying to do contract labor for shops doing setups, repairs, and refrets. I walked in and saw it on the wall and saw the birds. I immediately asked, "What's that?" The guy took it down, let me play it, then took me to the back and gave me some VCR tapes and literature on PRS guitars. I was in love. They have been my favorite guitars ever since. I didn't buy that white one, but I lusted after a PRS for 10 years. When I finished grad school and passed my doctoral candidacy exams and finally made a little money, I bought my first PRS in 1998. It was a brand new VY CU24 with birds. I play it still, along with 5 others I own. I've been saving some $$ and sold some lower end gear, I'm hankering for a 1985, 86, or 87 for the right price. I saw a Bonnie Pink with her signature going for about $4K, but I think it's gonna go over my budget. Anyway, thanks, folks. I appreciate the input.

Bob