2000 PRS Custom 24 vs 2024 Gibson Les Paul Standard & Ibanez Prestige RG652AHMFX - I am not selling the PRS!

[HowieJams]

I was really thinking of selling my 2000 PRS Custom 24 core, I am a Gibson fan boy, I admit it.
Last night I had the house to myself and decided I better make sure I am not making a mistake.

So I figured I would compare it to its closest rival in my collection, a 24 fret Ibanez Prestige RG652 and my Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s Goldtop.

I cranked up the gain and let all three guitars do what they are made to do, rock.
Sure, they are versatile and can do anything, but when I decide to keep a guitar, it needs to rock.

So I turned on my Friedman Little Sister Combo and went for it.

This PRS is not going anywhere.

Video starts with the Gibson, Ibanez at 2:00 and PRS at 3:45.

 

[László]

The backing track is very loud in comparison to the guitars, so I could barely discern a difference between them. Given that, they all sounded equally good. After the first listen, I skipped back and forth and the sound was still consistently very similar.

With that much gain in the amp, of course, it's often hard to tell one guitar from the other in a mix. I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference on a bet. I'm sure they felt and responded differently, and probably sounded different in the room to you, the player.

Gain does often obliterate the differences between guitars, because you're hearing way more amp, with the amp's generated harmonics, the compression of the midrange, the fuller bass, etc.

I should also mention that you play really well!

PS - It just occurred to me that maybe you wanted to demonstrate how similar they all sound through a gained-out amp, and I completely missed the point.

 

[HowieJams]

The backing track is very loud in comparison to the guitars, so I could barely discern a difference between them. Given that, they all sounded equally good.

With that much gain in the amp, of course, it's often hard to tell one guitar from the other in a mix. I wouldn't have been able to tell the difference on a bet. I'm sure they felt and responded differently, and probably sounded different in the room to you, the player.

Gain does often obliterate the differences between guitars, because you're hearing way more amp, the amp's generated harmonics, the compression of the midrange, etc.

I should also mention that you play really well! But it all seemed six of one, half dozen of the other, just listening.

My videos are definitely not professional, I don't test volumes before hand, some vids are better, some worse.

As for gain, I love gain, I was mainly making the decision on how the guitar felt in my hands and the PRS felt great.
Actually, they all felt great, but yes, with that much gain it is mostly amp.

If I would have done the video based on other types of tones, the Gibson would be my favorite by a landslide.
I am not a huge fan of the other humbucker tones out of either of the PRS or Ibanez, but their capability to do nice single coil tones is a plus.

In summary, I am not parting with any of them, but for rocking they are all great.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

An interesting shoot out between three quite different guitars.

You have a really good quality camera and the audio sounds high quality too.

I’d be really interested to see a camera angle that shows both you and the guitar.

a few tweaks to your presentation and you could be making some really top videos.

I know it’s for fun, just tell me to shut up if you want.

As Les says, you play very well.

I’d be interested to hear the same shoot out through the Marshall. Which I believe you have.

 

[HowieJams]

An interesting shoot out between three quite different guitars.

You have a really good quality camera and the audio sounds high quality too.

I’d be really interested to see a camera angle that shows both you and the guitar.

a few tweaks to your presentation and you could be making some really top videos.

I know it’s for fun, just tell me to shut up if you want.

As Les says, you play very well.

I’d be interested to hear the same shoot out through the Marshall. Which I believe you have.

Thanks!
Just using my Iphone 13.
I was actually going to do the video using the Marshall DSL40CR and my Friedman Little Sister Combo, but the Friedman sounds so much better I just went with that.
I have other videos showing me playing, I could just turn and face the camera, but out of habit I face my amp.
I think I am going to be selling the Marshall, so I need to do a video of it.
I have another Friedman (Pink Taco V2) on the way, so I am selling one of my Quilter amps and the Marshall.

 

[bodia]

Great playing! I wouldn’t sell any of them either

 

[HowieJams]

Great playing! I wouldn’t sell any of them either

Thanks, they are all staying. I'll even keep my acoustic that I never play.
I cut down from 15 guitars to 7, it is a nice amount of guitars.
I could seriously cut down to 4 and be happy, but there are times the Ibanez, PRS, and even the Martin acoustic scratch an itch the Gibsons can't.

 

[László]

Thanks, they are all staying. I'll even keep my acoustic that I never play.
I cut down from 15 guitars to 7, it is a nice amount of guitars.
I could seriously cut down to 4 and be happy, but there are times the Ibanez, PRS, and even the Martin acoustic scratch an itch the Gibsons can't.

I recently downsized to four, including the acoustic. I kept a couple of PRS Private Stocks (Singlecut and Acoustic), a DGT, and an Anderson vintage-style Tele I got for an ongoing project.

I'm actually pretty happy with 4!

I wasn't playing my acoustic much for a while, only to discover recently that my hands had gotten weak, so it's now difficult to play. I'm playing it quite a bit now in an attempt to get my hands back into shape. I think it's an aging thing (I should probably be dead at my age).

"Laz, 'aging' doesn't begin to describe you, 'already aged' is more apt. You're only hanging around to annoy everyone."

"Annoying everyone is the best part of being old."

 

[HowieJams]

I recently downsized to four, including the acoustic. I kept a couple of PRS Private Stocks (Singlecut and Acoustic), a DGT, and an Anderson vintage-style Tele I got for an ongoing project.

I'm actually pretty happy with 4!

I wasn't playing my acoustic much for a while, only to discover recently that my hands had gotten weak, so it's now difficult to play. I'm playing it quite a bit now in an attempt to get my hands back into shape. I think it's an aging thing (I should probably be dead at my age).

"Laz, 'aging' doesn't begin to describe you, 'already aged' is more apt. You should be dead at this point, and you're only hanging around to annoy everyone."

"Annoying everyone is the best part of being old."

I would be happy with just my 4 Gibsons, but having the PRS and Ibanez isn't hurting me and I do enjoy them also.
I just can't explain that special feeling when I pick up one of my Custom Shop Les Pauls or Custom Shop SG, it just feels like home.
The Martin my son-in-law plays whenever he comes over.

 

[László]

I just can't explain that special feeling when I pick up one of my Custom Shop Les Pauls or Custom Shop SG, it just feels like home.

I completely understand! I played Gibsons for a long time. Nothing wrong with them at all. I learned to play on a '65 SG Special back when it was new and belonged to my brother. My son has it now.

A PRS felt right in my hands from 1991 on, and I liked the tone, so I switched. I bought a Custom Shop 335 in the '00s, and it sounded sweet, but I couldn't relate to the Gibby ergonomics after being a long time PRS player. Though it wasn't here long, overall it was a nice guitar and it's easy to see why people love them.

When I ordered the PS acoustic (Tonare Grand) I got it with a maple body and neck because I always liked Gibson's maple SJs and J200s. I couldn't find one I wanted to buy, but I'm sure good ones are out there.

 

[HowieJams]

I completely understand! I played Gibsons for a long time. Nothing wrong with them at all. I learned to play on a '65 SG Special back when it was new and belonged to my brother. My son has it now.

A PRS felt right in my hands from 1991 on, and I liked the tone, so I switched. I bought a Custom Shop 335 in the '00s, and it sounded sweet, but I couldn't relate to the Gibby ergonomics after being a long time PRS player. Though it wasn't here long, overall it was a nice guitar and it's easy to see why people love them.

When I ordered the PS acoustic (Tonare Grand) I got it with a maple body and neck because I always liked Gibson's maple SJs and J200s. I couldn't find one I wanted to buy, but I'm sure good ones are out there.

It's all about what feels and sounds right to each individual player.
I never bash another players preference.
There was a time I only owned PRS Custom 24s.
Then I went through a Telecaster phase.
I always come back to Gibson Les Pauls.
This time I am sure I have it right.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

I recently downsized to four, including the acoustic. I kept a couple of PRS Private Stocks (Singlecut and Acoustic), a DGT, and an Anderson vintage-style Tele I got for an ongoing project.

I'm actually pretty happy with 4!

I wasn't playing my acoustic much for a while, only to discover recently that my hands had gotten weak, so it's now difficult to play. I'm playing it quite a bit now in an attempt to get my hands back into shape. I think it's an aging thing (I should probably be dead at my age).

"Laz, 'aging' doesn't begin to describe you, 'already aged' is more apt. You're only hanging around to annoy everyone."

"Annoying everyone is the best part of being old."

Same. I have my acoustic, a semi-hollow, Santana and a single coil guitar.

I’ve kind of got my tonal bases covered.

 

[László]

I’ve kind of got my tonal bases covered.

Makes sense.

I'm sure I could do just fine with one electric and one acoustic. There's a certain 'window dressing' thing I feel when I have more on hand; like, 'what do I need all this for'.

On the other hand, there's also an 'I'm having a nightmare that I'm stark naked sitting on the toilet in the middle of my high school hallway during a class change' counterbalance when I feel when I don't have enough stuff to feel secure.

Having of the stuff gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling of security. Probably foolish, but there it is.

"You're the only person I know who's had that recurring nightmare, dude."

"Actually, you're my recurring nightmare far more frequently."

 

[Prina]

Nice video: great guitars, great amp, great playing.

Nothin' wrong with an LP phase and a Tele phase. Mine lasted about 30 & 15 years respectively. Long ago, the real thing was usually the only choice.

2 years ago started with PRS with some killer medium-scale humbucking/P-90 singlecuts.

 

[HowieJams]

Nice video: great guitars, great amp, great playing.

Nothin' wrong with an LP phase and a Tele phase. Mine lasted about 30 & 15 years respectively. Long ago, the real thing was usually the only choice.

2 years ago started with PRS with some killer medium-scale humbucking/P-90 singlecuts.

Thanks!
Can't go wrong with any of the above guitars, some fit us better than others for whatever reason, and that can change.