Al Di Meola and the SC245 Trem

[ViperDoc]

I just dug up a couple of shots I took from the front row of Al Di Meola's tour-opening concert in Clearwater, FL back in February. He has always sat in the aisle of guitar greats for me, and hearing him play live was as serendipitous as it was spectacular. I discovered he was playing there at the Capitol Theater and I just happened to be in town on business. I called and snagged the LAST ticket, a front row VIP seat. Nice.

He opened the show with an oldie-but-goodie tune whose name I don't recall, but they were all reading sheet music as they played (first show of the tour), and they still sounded tight. That tune was played on a Gibson Les Paul that had clearly been a cherished and well-played guitar over many, many years. It looked its age, and really sounded great through a Fuchs Overdrive Supreme amp onstage.

But just after one song, he put the LP down and slung a PRS SC245(?) Trem in black with zebra pickups, and the tone merchants came to sell their wares for the rest of the night. If anyone knows the specs of this particular guitar, I'd be interested to know what they are. The guitar just took the show to another level. Lay your PRS forum bias down and still, this SC was just gorgeous to listen to in the hands of the gypsy king. If you have a chance to catch him in concert, I'd highly recommend it.

 

[László]

You are so right about DiMeola, what a great musician, as writer, player, band leader!

The guitar looks the business, doesn't it?

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I've been seeing him about every other tour since Cielo e Terra. Absolutely one of my favourite live musicians ever.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I loved him so much I bought an Ovation acoustic (84 Collectors Series) back in the day, and learned a few of his acoustic songs on it.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Cool! I like Al. He was the majority of my fusion period.

 

[RedGuitars]

I thought he dropped PRS...

 

[Huggy Love]

Al is easily in my top 5.

 

[ViperDoc]

With the disappearance of the Prism guitar, I thought the same thing. He has lots of Gibson photos on his website, so maybe he transitioned back. All I can say is, the black SC rocked the house entirely. He only Gibbed for one tune.

 

[G-Man]

Return to Forever is my favorite super group and Al is great.

 

[Huggy Love]

Return to Forever is my favorite super group and Al is great.

+ one.

 

[Spikedog007]

Not sure but maybe he's playing a SCT? But the 4 controls says that it's something different. I can't tell by the picture, was it a PS?

I personally never got into Al's electric music (love his acoustic work) but I will say the PRS Al Di model is a phenomenal guitar in all aspects. It's McThick with a trem, has the perfect neck carve and of course the 57/08's sound glorious, plus, the paint job is cool! I don't mind that they discontinued it either, makes me feel special that I have one.

 

[RedGuitars]

Not sure but maybe he's playing a SCT? But the 4 controls says that it's something different. I can't tell by the picture, was it a PS?

I personally never got into Al's electric music (love his acoustic work) but I will say the PRS Al Di model is a phenomenal guitar in all aspects. It's McThick with a trem, has the perfect neck carve and of course the 57/08's sound glorious, plus, the paint job is cool! I don't mind that they discontinued it either, makes me feel special that I have one.

The prism color scheme was not in my wheelhouse. But I saw some one offs in solid colors that were essentially poor mans ME's with white back. McTrem with 57/08's? Doesn't get much better.

 

[ViperDoc]

Not sure but maybe he's playing a SCT? But the 4 controls says that it's something different. I can't tell by the picture, was it a PS?

I personally never got into Al's electric music (love his acoustic work) but I will say the PRS Al Di model is a phenomenal guitar in all aspects. It's McThick with a trem, has the perfect neck carve and of course the 57/08's sound glorious, plus, the paint job is cool! I don't mind that they discontinued it either, makes me feel special that I have one.

The header had Pauls sig, but I'm not sure how they classify endorsee guitars from PS guitars. With all those specs, I thought the Prism was a special weapon. That's cool you have one. The SC he played at the show was much different, aside from being an SC body, it had the LP control layout and uncovered zebra 5708 (I would guess). I called it a 245 but it could have been a 250. It just sounded supreme, man.

I concur on the acoustic preference as well. My favorite guitarist of all time is the late Paco De Lucia. That guy was a f6cking wizard. If he played electric, I bet he'd rock a PRS. John McLaughlin too, man. Talk about from another planet...

 

[Brad737]

I love Al. He has so many incredible tunes. I'm amazed he isn't more popular than he is.

 

[ViperDoc]

I love Al. He has so many incredible tunes. I'm amazed he isn't more popular than he is.

It's fine, he's got all the 50-something groupies he can handle.