Whats your favorite flame top on any particular PRS guitar? I have had more luck with quilt personally, but this would be the best curly maple top I’ve ever seen: The contrast, the width, the definition, the consistency, and the way it curls and curves as it fans out to the sides. Amazing! Anyone who has access to this guitar: DIBS DIBS DIBS DIBS DIBS!!! Photo courtesy of the PRS Collection 2014 webpage.
My favourite 'ever' would be 9 0697. I've only seen it in pictures (BOTB, page 62/63) but I love how it's clearly been used and abused over the years. It's #6 on my 2018 guitar shopping list after Eldon's gold Strat. PRS-wise I used to own this one, which is an '88 Sig. I think it looks great in this picture. I know where it is and would like it back.
Yup I saw that amazing top. Here’s something similar. Technically this one is a burl top, but ‘flamed’ in an extreme angle. Kinda like an all-in-one.
I have to say, finding that perfect flame is very rare. Finding it coincident with other general specs you want - impossible! Even if you build a PS from scratch and choose a perfect looking slab, it will change by the time they carve it down. I’ve found flame thats close to perfect, only for there to be 2 f-holes in it. Quilt is much more forgiving...
I’ve seen this one before. Brilliant. ‘Paul’s special top’. And you may not believe it, but I had a hunch someone might post this very guitar. Double like!