Champagne Electrics CE24&22's

[sergiodeblanc]

Cool guitar!What pups in your old guitar Sergio?I saw today they sell a Hiland model in Stockholm.Me wants but it sells for alot of swedish krona.I would love to have a bolt-on CE or Hiland.There is something about bolt-on guitars.

HFS and VB in the old CE, they were the first passive pickups that got me to finally ditch EMGs. I would love to check out a Hiland too, there are a lot of unique features on that model.
I am convinced that there is magic in the neck joint of PRS bolt on guitars, my low E string is just HUGE compared to any of my set neck or neck-through guitars.

Here are both of my CE 24's.

My first PRS, this red one from '04. This one has been with me through hell and back, and I don't see myself ever giving it up anytime soon. I don't use it so much as a live guitar now that I have a custom 24 with a blade switch that's easier to use, but it's a staple in most if not all of my recorded material.

And here's a 1993 CE I managed to snag while I was in undergrad.

Great lookin' guitars John! My CE24 always beats out every other guitar I own when it comes to recording. For years I alternated between a myriad of Les Paul's and my one CE, I'm proud to say I have learned my lesson and will never buy a Lester again! (unless it's just for looks.)

 

[_pete_]

I had a really nice alder CE24. One of the many I wish I could get back.

 

[sleary]

My ce 22

 

[Egads]

This looks like my first PRS. My top wasn't as nice, though. It was Alder/Maple and was one of the best playing guitars I've ever played. A really pretty SC250 came up and the the CE had to go. Now, the SC is gone and I wish I had the CE back.

Sergio, I definitely agree about the alder vs. mahogany. The alders are special.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Sergio, I definitely agree about the alder vs. mahogany. The alders are special.

Yeah they are, I'm not sayin' anything against the mahogany version as I totally dig my CE22!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Seems like there has been a whole bunch of CE love happenin' lately so I'm bumping this thread. I wanna see and hear all about your CE guitar(s)!!!

 

[gush]

Very nice looking CEs. I have neen very curious about this model and may sell my LP to make room for one.

Can anybody tell me how SA/ maple top sounds compared to adler/maple top?

 

[sergiodeblanc]

 

[Egads]

Dude? Who have you been hiring for the photo shoots. They're coming out great. :vroam:

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Dude? Who have you been hiring for the photo shoots. They're coming out great. :vroam:

Thanks! I'm getting a little better after I ditched the iPhone.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Thanks! I'm getting a little better after I ditched the iPhone.

The camera on my IPhone 3GS sucked. The 4s I just put in the drawer wasn't great but it was much better than the 3GS. This iPhone 5S I just got has an exceptional camera.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

The camera on my IPhone 3GS sucked. The 4s I just put in the drawer wasn't great but it was much better than the 3GS. This iPhone 5S I just got has an exceptional camera.

I have a 4, but I've seen people take really nice pics with 'em... My ancient Canon Powershot seems to jive a little better with me.

 

[Shawn@PRS]

All of the photos for the first 9 months of the Private Stock Friday thread were taken with a 4. They weren't bad, but the 5S takes much nicer pics.

 

[László]

Sergio, I love that you value and work on your guitars like this.

 

[Shawn@PRS]

Speaking of Champagne Electrics, this CE was built for Alex Lifeson. It has a Baggs X bridge on it. This is a '97 model and made before we developed our piezo trem.

 

[themike]

Nice! Something about Tortoise shell that I always dug but didn't know why haha

 

[John Beef]

One of my all time guitar heroes, Ralph Spight from The Victim's Family plays a CE. I was just watching some videos online of him and digging it. Wish I had the spare cash at the moment to pickup a beater CE22 with a wide fat. I've got a nice set of round bobbin 59/09s waiting for the right home. Really don't need another guitar through. Sort of conflicted here.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

All of the photos for the first 9 months of the Private Stock Friday thread were taken with a 4. They weren't bad, but the 5S takes much nicer pics.

Yeah, those look nice! It's definitely my skill set, I can take like maybe one decent photo out of ten with my phone.

Sergio, I love that you value and work on your guitars like this.

Really don't need another guitar through. Sort of conflicted here.

Thanks Les. It was "spring cleaning" time for guitars over the weekend and I had a spare set of lampshades that needed to go somewhere.. I kinda felt guilty swapping the old knobs out, they've had twenty years of good times on 'em!

I feel you John. Somehow I wound up with seven PRS and SE's over the last year, buying stuff is fun but I think the secret of life is maintenance... This particular CE wasn't getting too much play-time over the past year because of new purchases which is lame. I won't say I forgot about it , but after taking it for a spin again I was reminded how much I love it. ...It's in pretty gnarly shape though!

 

[CantankerousCarl]

Serg, those shots are great...you can see all of the "Sergio-love" everywhere on that CE.

I also cannot believe I missed a chance to post pics of my CEs...must be slipping, or near senile...

 

[CantankerousCarl]

...so I am going to rectify that...

Not a terribly interesting story, but the 1990 CE Maple Top below was actually my first CE that started the love affair. I was on a GASsing binge, and looking for a sub-1K "beater" and a rather grainy shot of this CE, used for $899, popped up on a major chain website. It was a completely impulse purchase, and went against my better judgement...I did absolutely no research on it, didn't get a serial #, had no idea what year it was, no additional photos...NOTHING. Maybe that was the onset of the senility? Before I got cold feet and asked for pics & a S/N it was on its way to me.

A few days later, it arrived...I opened up the case...OOOhh what do we have here? "WTF is this thing fake I thought?" upon seeing an all-black neckplate with little stamped numbers. Then I saw the electric signature. Then I noticed the distinct lack of bolts under the bridge saddles...

Then, I squealed. An actual squeal. My wife threw open the door and came running downstairs...and I just held up the guitar and pointed to it with a giant s***eating grin on my face. Eyes rolled. Head shook. Back upstairs.

Then I plugged her in. Then, SHE squealed. HOLY CRAP! This was the absolute loudest, bad-assed, rudest, wonderful guitar I had ever heard. And hardly a mark on her.

This axe started a sub-collection of CEs, including another alder / maple top, an all-alder, and a hog / maple top. I still laugh out loud when I pull this one out of the case and plug it in. My other CEs sound amazing, and I do lean firmly toward the alder camp - but this one ROCKS. And for that price I damn near stole it.

I know Serg that my Scarlett one is your favorite, but this is the one that started it all for me, and probably the one I would grab first (at worst second) in the "burning house" scenario...