Finally joining the Santana club!

[sergiodeblanc]

As a bottom feeder I don’t even know what I’d do if I were trying to get a Santana shaped object from PRS nowadays.

 

[ZoomP]

I will return it. Had a Santana I that has cloudiness getting worse over the years. It bugged me regardless and finally sold it. Get yourself a nicer piece. I feel those finish chips allow moisture to go in between the coatings and will get worse over time.

This is not a rare model. Life is too short to worry about such imperfections. Go and get another piece!

 

[guitar_man_man_man]

I will return it. Had a Santana I that has cloudiness getting worse over the years. It bugged me regardless and finally sold it. Get yourself a nicer piece. I feel those finish chips allow moisture to go in between the coatings and will get worse over time.

This is not a rare model. Life is too short to worry about such imperfections. Go and get another piece!

After playing it for a few days it’s definitely a model that I want in my collection. Fits nicely between my HBII and Custom 24 and is just soooo comfortable. But to your point, it is definitely in rough shape and I’m even finding some tuning instability. So I think I’ll probably be doing as you suggest - returning and waiting for a nicer specimen in a color I like in the low-to-mid $2k range. I’m just not sure if an opportunity like that will ever materialize given how much new santanas are and where the market is currently

 

[SinSir]

waiting for a nicer specimen in a color I like in the low-to-mid $2k range. I’m just not sure if an opportunity like that will ever materialize given how much new santanas are and where the market is currently

They pop up. Not as frequently as some other models but III show up in that range more than out of it. Sometimes less too. I watch for Santanas all the time.

 

[guitar_man_man_man]

They pop up. Not as frequently as some other models but III show up in that range more than out of it. Sometimes less too. I watch for Santanas all the time.

That’s encouraging! I’ll just have to keep an eye out and hope I can beat all the Santana fanatics around here to the punch

 

[sergiodeblanc]

They pop up. Not as frequently as some other models but III show up in that range more than out of it. Sometimes less too. I watch for Santanas all the time.

Word! I don’t watch religiously anymore, so it good to hear that there’s something around $2k occasionally.

I’d still keep that Santana III though, I refuse to live a Santanaless life a single day more than I have already.

 

[okstrat]

I'm in the USA Santana chase also... played a 25th at a Guitar Center that was 100 miles or so away. Loved the tone, the playability... but it was MUCH more damaged than pics on the website showed. And at $3299, I think I had better options. Sure was nice feeling though.

I'm starting to think Guitar Center doesn't do well with their online pics and descriptions. The one saving grace is that you can send it back, or I believe you can even return it to your local GC if you have one. I did that once with a red Custom 24 I bought on vacation and just didn't bond with it. Returned it to my local GC within the 30 day window and all was good. Can also have GC purchases shipped to your local GC, so if it gets damaged in shipping or anything funky you can deal with it right there.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I'm starting to think Guitar Center doesn't do well with their online pics and descriptions.

Starting?

 

[SinSir]

Starting?

They've recently upgraded from a flip phone to the boost mobile "smart" phone

 

[okstrat]

Starting?

I was being sarcastic. The only good thing about guitar center in my opinion is that the employees sometimes have used gear priced too low.

 

[ZoomP]

Btw, I've finally fixed my Santana itch with a West St Limited Edition! Now that is one guitar you must try out if you ever come across one. I will never sell mine for sure.

 

[okstrat]

Btw, I've finally fixed my Santana itch with a West St Limited Edition! Now that is one guitar you must try out if you ever come across one. I will never sell mine for sure.

Yep, been looking at those online and had no idea they existed until I visited this board. They are right at my price limit and I'll be honest, I really prefer figured maple and different colors but the idea of something being built like the old days appeals to me greatly. No disrespect meant to fans of the West St editions. It has me conflicted. I also really like neck binding too, so the retro models are the most appealing to me currently. But the West stuff is so much rarer. Decisions decisions!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Yep, been looking at those online and had no idea they existed until I visited this board. They are right at my price limit and I'll be honest, I really prefer figured maple and different colors but the idea of something being built like the old days appeals to me greatly. No disrespect meant to fans of the West St editions. It has me conflicted. I also really like neck binding too, so the retro models are the most appealing to me currently. But the West stuff is so much rarer. Decisions decisions!

West St.>KL33>Santana

 

[okstrat]

West St.>KL33>Santana

BTW, saw one of your group Santana pics on the gear page. Holy moley! Great stuff.

So in what ways are the West's better than KL33s and those better than the Santana models? My reticence regarding spending around $5k for a West vs $3k to 4k (and up) for a core retro is basically the money. My guitar buying lucre is generated from gigs (I play 4 to 6 times a month) and trading/selling old gear. Made a deal with the wife years ago unless we had an emergency, gig and gear money stayed with gear and my paycheck goes to household. It's kept the peace for decades!

Part of me digs the stripped out/back to basics vibe the KL33s have, but I really like the PRS flame tops and amazing finishes too. Then again, I have a Korina McCarty w/braz board and it's probably one of the best sounding PRS I have...

One nice thing about this conundrum is that no matter which one I choose, it's still going to be awesome. I played my SE Santana at rehearsal last night, it sang like a bird. Really looking forward to upgrading.

 

[Simon Says]

$2k refin, $400 case and and you have a perfect second hand Santana for $4300 ono

 

[SinSir]

KL33 for the win. Such an amazing guitar

 

[Emmanuel]

do not really get why PRS do not offer these traditional inspired models (WS, KL33, Santana without fretboard binding) any more but I do not have access to PRS marketing studies, thus I give up..
The other ''big-2'', do it quite well: other than the modern line-up offerings there is the custom shop ones (all being very close to the original thing).

 

[okstrat]

do not really get why PRS do not offer these traditional inspired models (WS, KL33, Santana without fretboard binding) any more but I do not have access to PRS marketing studies, thus I give up..
The other ''big-2'', do it quite well: other than the modern line-up offerings there is the custom shop ones (all being very close to the original thing).

I prefer the neck binding personally. It's just on the Retro, anniversary and MD series, right?

 

[Simon Says]

KL33 for the win. Such an amazing guitar

Not getting KL33 for £1500 locally a couple of years ago is a regret I will never be able to shake off

 

[SinSir]

Not getting KL33 for £1500 locally a couple of years ago is a regret I will never be able to shake off

I feel you. Same happened to me. Then this one popped up closer in better condition for the same price. I offered what I was buying the other one for and at first the guy said no, but a few days later he called me and said let's do it.