Could use some input on deciding which PRS to get!

[Annaxes]

When i was about 10 I went to my first guitar lesson and the teacher was using a prs. I've been craving one ever sense but some where along the lines i ended up with a American standard strat which i just sold on a whim. I have $800 to spend so i thought about getting a SE with some upgrades! im going off to college so it looks like this is gonna have to last me a while! I am thinking about The Zach Mayers or the 24. I play a lot of Alternative, to rock, Like some Phish, but i do like my hard rock/grunge just as much. I played a SE once a long time i loved the feel but thought the pickups could use a bit more? Something a bit more open. Much help is appericated!

 

[Mixstar]

IMO the best thing to do is go and play a few, what's right for me isn't necessarily right for you.

 

[markintime]

^^^^ This. But the SE CU24 covers a lot of ground, and if you went the Standard route, you'd have the extra money for modding, IMHO.

 

[shinksma]

Yeah, the PRS models in the SE line offer a lot of different takes. The ZM and CU24 are certainly two of my favorites, though! What might sway you is whether you want a trem bridge or fixed bridge. Since you had a strat, you might prefer to keep a trem, so the CU24 would be an obvious selection - plus it "looks" more like a strat than the SC bodies like the ZM.

 

[CantankerousCarl]

I would definitely check out the SE Standard line - with an MAP of $500 and real-world selling for below that, I agree with Markintime that you have alot of room left over for upgrades. IMO the SEs like the Std24 with SE HFS/VB sound pretty darn good out of the box, better than they did years ago, and the coil splits are quite good as well. Hard to beat, and solid as hell - one should last you all through college even if you beat the loving snot out of it!

You might stretch your budget a bit and go for an S2 Standards - the pickups are more articulate than the SE ones, plus you get locking tuners, etc. Alot of places are offering nice financing now on them, so you might be able to work something out!

Happy shopping!

 

[Annaxes]

Yeah, the PRS models in the SE line offer a lot of different takes. The ZM and CU24 are certainly two of my favorites, though! What might sway you is whether you want a trem bridge or fixed bridge. Since you had a strat, you might prefer to keep a trem, so the CU24 would be an obvious selection - plus it "looks" more like a strat than the SC bodies like the ZM.

I actually don't like terms at all. I had that strat for almost two years and the little sticker to put the wammy bar in never came off lol

 

[shinksma]

OK, so if you don't like trems, then I would most certainly suggest the ZM or Bernie Marsden (for a single cut look) or the new CU22 or CU22 Semi-hollow in the SE line. They all have fixed bridges.

Or, if you want to save some coin and forego the maple cap, go with the SE Standard 22. That has a nice look to it.

 

[dsenoj]

An S2 Mira isn't much above your price range. You could probably find one used. Nothing wrong with a ZM either.

 

[AP515]

The ZM, The Bernie, of the SE245. Not necessarily in that order. Play them and decide.

 

[11top]

The Zach is a cool SE.

 

[Tassos]

I believe that you will find your new PRS in one of the 4 different models that the new SE Standard series offers. I found mine on SE Standard 245 Tobacco Sunburst and i am very happy.

 

[shinksma]

I believe that you will find your new PRS in one of the 4 different models that the new SE Standard series offers. I found mine on SE Standard 245 Tobacco Sunburst and i am very happy.

And welcome to the PRS club! You need to post photos of your new guitar!