Experience PRS 2020 Update

[Shawn@PRS]

Valued Guest,

In the face of the evolving news around the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), PRS Guitars has made the tough decision to cancel Experience PRS 2020. The health and safety of our employees, guests, artists, dealers, distributors, and partners is our primary concern. Experience PRS is attended by our friends and customers from all over the world, and evolving international travel restrictions have also made this the responsible decision.

We are extremely sorry to not be able to celebrate our 35th Anniversary with this event, and we thank everyone who was planning to attend or follow along on social media for your support of our company. At this time, we do not have an alternative date for the next Experience PRS event. We will be discussing that over the coming months and will communicate about any future events as soon as possible. We do have some exciting gear announcements planned in coordination with this event, and we continue to look forward to sharing those with you in the coming months.

Your registration for Experience PRS was free of charge. Nevertheless, PRS will be issuing ticket return emails through the event software this week. All hotel arrangements made with the hotels outlined on the PRS Guitars event page are fully refundable with cancellation by 3/20/2020. If you have made other travel arrangements, please contact your airline or other appropriate businesses as soon as possible.

Thank you again for your understanding and support.

 

[Dead&Co]

 

[Dirty_Boogie]

Not surprised. You guys did the right thing. How about a virtual Experience, where we all peruse incredible guitars, and virtually play them, and then imagine we bought them. Then have a Paul hologram projected in our living rooms, and we can all kneel and tell him "we're not worthy!", but thank you for 35 years of incredible instruments. Who's on board?

 

[veinbuster]

It seems like a good decision. Thanks for making it far enough in advance to make alternate plans.

 

[toothace]

Bummer to have to cancel, and yes...thank you for the advance notice!!

 

[bodia]

I'm not surprised, either. And I agree, it is the responsible thing to do. Bummed that I won't get to meet a lot of forum bros. Fingers crossed that it gets rescheduled at a time that I can make it. Really bummed about having to cancel that sweet house we had rented on the Island.

 

[Buildermike]

Tough decision, but the right one. Kudos to PRS for making the decision so that people that had book rooms will be able to cancel without any fees. Hopefully those who had booked flights will be able to cancel their flights without fees in the near future.

My wallet and wife say thank God!

 

[shinksma]

Thanks for the timely cancellation news @Shawn@PRS . It is a bummer, but the correct choice under the circumstances.

So...it would appear I now have Exp 2020 guitar savings funds I can re-direct...

Actually, speaking of which, will PRS just release anything they have been working in the background as a Special Ltd edition anyway?

I guess this touches on it:

"We do have some exciting gear announcements planned in coordination with this event, and we continue to look forward to sharing those with you in the coming months."

 

[DougUSMC]

Considering that the event is still a couple of months off, any chance they'll rescind the cancellation if the "virus drama" dies down in the next couple of weeks?

 

[JustRob]

Well crap.

 

[shinksma]

Considering that the event is still a couple of months off, any chance they'll rescind the cancellation if the "virus drama" dies down in the next couple of weeks?

They won't re-plan it for the same dates - they may re-schedule it for later in the year, I suppose.

Remember, folks have to be co-ordinating their travel plans right now (or have already done so), and this issue isn't going away for at least 4 to 6 weeks, probably going to stretch through the summer. So there is no way they'd want to suddenly re-announce with only a few weeks to re-organize.

 

[Shawn@PRS]

Thanks for the timely cancellation news @Shawn@PRS . It is a bummer, but the correct choice under the circumstances.

So...it would appear I now have Exp 2020 guitar savings funds I can re-direct...

Actually, speaking of which, will PRS just release anything they have been working in the background as a Special Ltd edition anyway?

I guess this touches on it:

"We do have some exciting gear announcements planned in coordination with this event, and we continue to look forward to sharing those with you in the coming months."

Good question. I don't know for sure, but I'd imagine any guitars that have been built for the event will eventually be sold off to dealers.

 

[RallyFanatic]

I couldn’t go anyway, but I’m bummed for all of you that were going. Crazy world right now, hope everyone is safe, healthy, and washing those hands! Looking forward to Experience 2021!

 

[dmatthews]

Thank you Shawn and PRS for making the tough and some might say inevitable decision.
Here's hoping PRS remains business as usual. We are all affected in some way be it minor, or in this case in a more major way.

Cheers,
Dave

 

[WEDGE]

Let me be contrary to the general sentiment that this is a good thing.....this blows! I am so bummed. Yeah the health concerns are probably real, but I have been so looking forward to this.

I also question what happens to the 'Experience guitars', would be nice to have a crack at them before the general public since we were all supporting the event yearly.

This just sucks. Big time.

 

[ToxicDover]

Damn, this was going to be my first Experience. But, likely the right call for caution's sake. I'll be sure to catch the next one!

 

[RickP]

Yes, my first PRS Experience as well. Toast.

@Shawn@PRS Should the wife and I decide to come to Stevensville anyway, will factory tours and such still be available? I’d sure hate to fly 2500 miles round trip just to see the Best Western pool.

And, more importantly, was there a white 594 HBII in the list of guitars built for the show? If so... I’ve got dibs on it...

 

[Warmart]

Wise choice by PRS, really didn't have a choice. Sorry for all those that were planning on going

 

[CandidPicker]

Yes, my first PRS Experience as well. Toast.

@Shawn@PRS Should the wife and I decide to come to Stevensville anyway, will factory tours and such still be available? I’d sure hate to fly 2500 miles round trip just to see the Best Western pool.

And, more importantly, was there a white 594 HBII in the list of guitars built for the show? If so... I’ve got dibs on it...

Dude,

You've had your eye on that white 594 HBII for some months now...my guess is that you're waiting for one to show up in production instead of ordering...?

Regards cancellation of Experience 2020...yes, this is very much in the public's best interest. Yes, it also blows that many of us can't attend.

Consider what happens to everyday folks when they're told they must try to avoid close contact with others (including rush hour subway and train travel), or can't attend after-school sports functions because of precautions being taken by officials.

The kids are the ones who are suffering. Let's be honest: If you're going to either school or work, you're likely to wake up each day and realize that coronavirus isn't going away immediately. And that you need to take precautions against coming down with the virus.

@Shawn@PRS has informed us that in the public's best interest, and to prevent possible spread of coronavirus, it was necessary to cancel Experience 2020.

While we'd all like to maintain a light-hearted attitude towards this, sickness and potential death is a serious subject, contrary to jokes about quarantining yourself because you thought you heard a gnat cough in your room.

Yup. Sorry to say, coronavirus is no hoax and needs to be treated with appropriate concern.

 

[RickP]

Dude,

You've had your eye on that white 594 HBII for some months now...my guess is that you're waiting for one to show up in production instead of ordering...?

I was hoping one would be at the show. If you wanted an eye catching display, you’d be hard pressed to beat it.

I’ve already checked into ordering and it looks like a year at best. Now that Experience isn’t happening, I may have to swallow the pill and see how long it takes to get to the bottom of that rabbit hole.