Fake PRS Custom 24 20th Anniversary?

[aletmv]

I'm interested on buying this PRS Custom 24 20th Anniversary listed on craigslist
The seller says it was repainted by an authorized PRS technician. Logo was redone. Original Color "Solid Black" (?)

This would be my first PRS, so I'm not very trained on spotting possible clues. This are the things that i find somewhat "odd"
Sketchy serial font
TRC was changed
Standard birds (not the 20th Anniversary ones)

What do you guys think?

 

[aletmv]

 

[fsjeter]

FWIW,

Because I'm not claiming to be a PRS expert but that's not a very good job for a "PRS Authorized technician" IMHO. You called out some significant red flags. That "redone" logo is pretty sloppy around that "®", not to mention it's was unsuccessfully listed on eBay three times. I hope it's the same person and you're both in Florida.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/nightscry11/m.html?_ipg=50&_sop=12&LH_Complete=1&rt=nc

 

[HANGAR18]

Run away! Run away!

 

[aletmv]

Thanks for your input fsjeter. Contacted PRS support yesterday. They told me repainted guitars are not easy to verify, and according to the serial, the original color was Gray Black

Apparently is the same person and we're both in Florida

I found another examples of the logo that looks just as this one

Also, I found in one of the listings this pic, showing the back of the neck without a serial.

 

[rugerpc]

Hang tag says "20th Anniversary", but no 20th anniversary birds?

No way I'd buy it as a 20th Anniversary. I'm guessing that the hang tag is from another guitar. Have the seller take pics of the inside of the pup cavities.

If it were VERY inexpensive, I might buy it as a project guitar....

 

[aletmv]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but 20th Anniversary birds were an optional upgrade, right?

 

[HANGAR18]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but 20th Anniversary birds were an optional upgrade, right?

I wouldn't think so.

 

[Drew]

I wouldn't think so.

Birds were optional. I believe you also can get a regular CU24 this year without the 30th birds or appointments.

 

[shinksma]

As Drew mentioned, IIRC the 20th Anniv Birds vs Regular birds vs Moons were all available options. It was just rare for anyone to choose regular birds over the "special" 20th anniv birds, I suppose.

 

[aletmv]

Thanks for clarifying that guys

Ok, so the seller sent me a picture from another PRS to show me the original color. It was a Grey Black one. This was confirmed by PRS Support as the original color
He's going to send me pictures of the pup cavities as well...

 

[Egads]

If you do go through with it, it should be a bargain, or I would say skip it.

Also, make sure YOU pull the pickups before handing over money.

 

[shinksma]

Thanks for clarifying that guys

Ok, so the seller sent me a picture from another PRS to show me the original color. It was a Grey Black one. This was confirmed by PRS Support as the original color
He's going to send me pictures of the pup cavities as well...

If the seller wants anywhere near the price that was asked on eBay, I would skip it.

There are far too many Cu24s running around with original non-10-top finishes for not much more money, or even roughly the same price if a solid color is OK. I'd want to discount it at least 30% or more. If it was refinished by PRS themselves (the PTC) then that would maintain the value, but third party? No way...

Just IMHO. But I don't think I'm too unique in that viewpoint.

 

[aletmv]

Seller told me authorized service did the paint job, I'm going to ask for the receipt or some proof of that
We agreed on $1350...If I can confirm its originality, I think it's a pretty good deal for the money, right? Or maybe it just makes it more suspicious hehe...really curious about this one!

 

[shinksma]

"Authorized" doesn't mean "PTC". I don't even know what it means, frankly. Did PRS Customer Service comment on that aspect at all?

You won't be severely over-paying at that price (don't be surprised if a Mod deletes your price from your post), but it isn't a bargain either.

 

[aletmv]

PRS Customer service were not that helpful...this was the reply I got from them

"Thanks for contacting PRS Guitars.
Repainted guitars can be difficult to verify, if the serial number is correct it appears the original finish was gray black."

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I think it's pretty dope lookin'.

 

[Drew]

After looking at the pics, I have some concerns. Its a legit hang tag from appearance but the special order "20th anniversary" should mean you get the birds. The 3 way switch is rather odd. I think only the CEs and the artist package (for that time) guitars got the McCarty switching option. The rosewood grade on the board looks like nothing I've seen on a CU24, with its rather awful looking appearance. I say run on this one. There are tons of well priced CU24s out there that aren't sketchy like this one. I'll go out on a limb here but I'd say it was originally a CE that someone painted and glued the neck in. The hang tag is probably from one of the dudes other guitars.

 

[AP515]

It is curious that it has gold hardware. The 20th Anni package didn't come with gold hardware so it would have to have two special orders to get the gold hardware. The hang tag didn't say S.P. gold hardware. I think the idea that the hang tag isn't for that guitar is correct. I wouldn't buy it unless he came way down on the price. Too many things don't pass the smell test.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Seller told me authorized service did the paint job, I'm going to ask for the receipt or some proof of that

Same authorized service that put the tuners in crooked?