Here’s how the supply chain works. The dealer sees a factory rep and orders 4 of model Y, 5 of model A , 6 of model B. The order then goes to the factory, where it is put in line behind other orders that have already been placed. If an item is extraordinarily successful in number of units sold, you have a back order. Now what to do?
If you’re PRS, you know the success of the company depends on the highest quality product made by skilled employees payed a living wage. When the factory was shut down during the pandemic, The EMPLOYEES STILL GOT PAID! How many other businesses can say that? So...now we’re slowly and safely re-opening the factory, following CDC guidelines to keep everyone alive and healthy. The back orders are mounting because of loss of production. If you cut corners, and push guitars through the factory, you lose what made you special in the first place, which is the highest level of quality obtainable. But there’s still the back orders.
There is cash flow to be managed, new product to be developed, new employees to be properly trained, and on it goes. Because of the necessity of doing things correctly, the back orders cannot be suddenly made to disappear. These are skilled craftsmen making things with an incredible amount of handwork. The factory mantra is” make it better”, and they do. Shawn@PRS can give you an estimate of the length of time it takes to make the average guitar. You’ll be surprised at how long it is. I would suggest that you go to the PRS channel on YouTube, and watch all the factory videos.
Your S2 594 will be a work of art. The fretwork will be spectacular, the woods will be dry, it will stay in tune, and it’ll sound great. IMHO, there isn’t anything at that price point that touches it for quality. I’ve been playing over 50 years, and used to play other brands. Then I discovered PRS, and sold all my electrics that weren’t.
PRS has MSRP on all their products. They cannot control how much the retailer charges, aside from lowballers who ruin it for others. It’s supply and demand, plain and simple. If there aren’t enough, the price goes up. If there are too many, or the product doesn’t sell, the retailers lowers the price. Notice I said the retailer, not PRS. When the guitar is sold to the retailer, it’s out of the factories hands. That’s how it works.
There are trolls who show up on the forum, and start threads with titles like “I’m not happy, the company sucks”. We are protective of the brand. It Is special, and so are the forum members who vary from professionals to hobbyists. Everyone is welcome, and we’ve all met some people on here who are personally and/or musically amazing. The knowledge and humor are unsurpassed. People do favors above and beyond, because everyone here is worth it. Les will tell you whatever he knows (which is a lot) without hesitation. There is tremendous respect for a good reason. Just remember, nothing can grow in poison ground.
