Could I get some education between the 513 and Brent Mason Signature?

[Raymond]

I am just doing some reading on what may be the next PRS on the horizon, not sure yet but upon some reading I came across this Bren Mason sig

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_guitars_detail.asp?stock=13031511145768

and

this regular 513 (bargain!)

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/electric_guitars_detail.asp?stock=px-EH127XF10176

both have single coil and humbuckets, but apart from that, what are the differences ? Except th eBrent Mason Sig looks like a Strat !

Thanks

 

[justmund]

Quite a few differences, BM vs 513:
Korina body, Maple bolt on neck vs Hog body, Maple cap, Hog set neck
"408" buckers vs 513 buckers (no volume drop with the 408s when going to single coil mode)
5-way and "coil split" mini-toggles vs 5-way and 3-way mode switch (single coil/clear humbucking/heavy hum bucking)
etc

 

[Raymond]

So the BM is essentially a 408 signature model?

 

[justmund]

Not quite, there's the extra "305" single coil in the middle plus a couple of parts missing from the 408 which Brent Mason didn't want (Sozo Mustard caps I think)

 

[jfine]

I have a Brent Mason, and I've tried 513's, not side-by-side unfortunately! The Brent Mason has better humbucking sounds, I think--I'm not crazy about the heavy humbucking sounds on the 513; the clear humbucking ones are better. The bridge single-coil sound on the 513 is quite good--more "fat-Strat" than Tele, but I'm a Tele player, and the Brent gets closer to that, but it still doesn't quite nail it; it's still good though. The Strat-like combinations involving the middle single-coil with either the neck or the bridge single-coils are equally nice on both, with the 513 maybe having a slight edge with a tiny bit more bite due to the maple top. The Brent's neck humbucking setting is much better than either of the 513's--my Brent Mason sounds almost like a jazzbox on the neck pickup. And as justmund pointed out, there's no volume drop on the Brent Mason when switching from humbucking to single-coil--there is on the 513. The 513 is prettier with the maple top, but my Brent Mason looks cool too--whitewash on korina with a rosewood fingerboard. I like "furniture" guitars as much as the next guy, but there's a functionality to the Brent Mason that I like a lot. I wouldn't get rid of the Brent Mason to get a 513, but I'd like to maybe add one to the herd at some point. If I had to choose--well, I did--I've got the Brent Mason. They are kind of hard to come by, though--I got mine sight-unseen.

 

[Raymond]

I have a Brent Mason, and I've tried 513's, not side-by-side unfortunately! The Brent Mason has better humbucking sounds, I think--I'm not crazy about the heavy humbucking sounds on the 513; the clear humbucking ones are better. The bridge single-coil sound on the 513 is quite good--more "fat-Strat" than Tele, but I'm a Tele player, and the Brent gets closer to that, but it still doesn't quite nail it; it's still good though. The Strat-like combinations involving the middle single-coil with either the neck or the bridge single-coils are equally nice on both, with the 513 maybe having a slight edge with a tiny bit more bite due to the maple top. The Brent's neck humbucking setting is much better than either of the 513's--my Brent Mason sounds almost like a jazzbox on the neck pickup. And as justmund pointed out, there's no volume drop on the Brent Mason when switching from humbucking to single-coil--there is on the 513. The 513 is prettier with the maple top, but my Brent Mason looks cool too--whitewash on korina with a rosewood fingerboard. I like "furniture" guitars as much as the next guy, but there's a functionality to the Brent Mason that I like a lot. I wouldn't get rid of the Brent Mason to get a 513, but I'd like to maybe add one to the herd at some point. If I had to choose--well, I did--I've got the Brent Mason. They are kind of hard to come by, though--I got mine sight-unseen.

Thanks very much for that input, I may have to go have a play with that BM, it is literally 10 min away from my work. £2,000 though, that’s $3,000, is that a good price? Given that UK has a 20% tax on top of the US prices.

I am still thinking about a 408 too. Not fully decided yet.

 

[Raymond]

I just came across this !

http://worldguitars.co.uk/brent-mason-tri-colour-sunburst-new/

Maple neck though, that's different on a PRS.

 

[jfine]

Raymond--the maple fingerboard is standard on the Brent Mason, but rosewood is available as an option--that's what I have on mine.
Price-wise, I'm not sure--I just went on the PRS website where they used to have a 2013 US price list, but it's gone. My recollection is that the Brent Mason retailed at a hair over $3000. I don't know what the exchange rate is, or UK customs and taxes--2000 pounds might be about right. I got mine through an online retailer who also has a brick-and-mortar store, and I paid around $2100 for it about a year ago. I checked your link to World Guitars and didn't see a price--you could always call them and find out. Looks like a nice one--that 3-color burst looks cool! If there are two Brent Masons in the UK, you can at least get a consensus on the price. I would say that you definitely need to go try one, especially if it's ten minutes away from your work.

 

[Raymond]

Thanks jfine.

The price on the World Guitars for tha tone is £1799, so £150 difference but that is an ex-demo hence the lower price. I actually prefer the rosewood fretboard copy but the burst on the other...decisions.

I would go take a look at the white one near me next week when I get a chance. I guess it is lucky that is so close, apart from these 2 Brent Mason I don't believe there are another one in the country !

 

[Whitecat]

So the BM is essentially a 408 signature model?

It's more like a mashup of the NF3 and the 408. The woods/construction are the same as the NF3.

With regards to that one from World Guitars, I would ask if it's actually being sold as used rather than new. Even if it is 'ex-demo' the line about the refusal to deduct the VAT indicates to me that it's not new. I guess it's only an issue if you want the factory warranty.

 

[Raymond]

Good point about the warranty as PRS only deal with the original owner. The line do says it is ex-demo, so technically it isn't new.

I prefer the white one with Rosewood fretboard anyway, and it's 10min from work as opposed to 2 hours drive (petrol costs) to World Guitars so the price difference in the end would be less than £150.

 

[Whitecat]

Good point about the warranty as PRS only deal with the original owner. The line do says it is ex-demo, so technically it isn't new.

Dealers can sell ex-demos as "new" and extend the warranty to you. The only reason this one would be VAT deduction exempt is if it's not stock from PRS. Genuine new stock, even 'ex-demo' would be VAT exempt for those who qualified. If I had to guess I'd say he sold it for a short while and then took it back as a trade-in perhaps outside of the usual return policy he might have to help out another customer. He then can't legally call it new, but it's something that spent most of its life in his shop anyway so perhaps he can charge a bit more calling it "ex-demo" rather than used...? Just a theory.

If you look at WG's shop photos, virtually all the guitars they sell could be considered "ex-demo" as they're all out on display for anyone to try!

Anyway, it's neither here nor there if you're going for the white one. Post pics when you get it!

 

[Raymond]

Haha, it'll have to be next week or so. Hopefully it'll still be there.

Side point, I never looked into this... but has PRS stopped making the NF3 and DC3 ?

 

[Whitecat]

Side point, I never looked into this... but has PRS stopped making the NF3 and DC3 ?

Yes.

 

[Raymond]

Wow, that's a shock, particularly the DC3 since I see that name pop up a lot. I thought it was short for DGT but obviously not. It's strange that a guitar that seems so well received is discontinued.

 

[Raymond]

Damn! The guitar is now in Glasgow! Someone must have requested it up there to have a try....