First time playing PRS

[clasbtenn]

Good day to you all,
I finally got to play, in our local Guitar Center, a couple of different PRS guitars this past weekend. I have a ps on order, but never played any PRS before. (yeah, I know, it's f%^&ed up for sure)
The guitar I played was a 2008 SC 245 with a satin rosewood neck, and board, mahogany body, and quilt top with a trem. It was very heavy, and I was not inspired by it at all. Too much treble accent and bottom for my tastes. I prefer a more balanced tone overall.

I also played a satin S2 and liked it better for the tone and feeling of the pattern neck and full fret board access.

Then I was lucky to find a $329 Music Man Eddie-styled guitar with an asymmetrical neck. Amazingly enough, I liked the feel and the way the neck allowed easier access to the higher strings. When I went back to a regular carved neck, it felt like the bottom part of the neck, where the high strings are, was kind of getting in my way on the palm of my hand.

The salesman told me more companies are offering asymmetrical neck shapes. I was told Fender is offering one on a tele.

This asymmetrical neck shape was what was preventing me from making up my mind on whether or not to order a 594 or a regular McCarty.

Currently, all of my guitars are 25 1/2" scale and all have only one volume control, one tone, and a blend dial for pickup combinations. I felt that the 594 would offer me the most variation from these guitars over the McCarty. It was a tough decision for me, as I liked the McCarty, but decided that the versatility of the 594 in the end, would be the better choice. I used to play LP's for many years, but don't have a Gibson now, and since the 594 is PRS's version of a late 50's burst, I believe it is the right choice.

 

[bodia]

Good day to you all,
I finally got to play, in our local Guitar Center, a couple of different PRS guitars this past weekend. I have a ps on order, but never played any PRS before. (yeah, I know, it's f%^&ed up for sure)
The guitar I played was a 2008 SC 245 with a satin rosewood neck, and board, mahogany body, and quilt top with a trem. It was very heavy, and I was not inspired by it at all. Too much treble accent and bottom for my tastes. I prefer a more balanced tone overall.

I also played a satin S2 and liked it better for the tone and feeling of the pattern neck and full fret board access.

Then I was lucky to find a $329 Music Man Eddie-styled guitar with an asymmetrical neck. Amazingly enough, I liked the feel and the way the neck allowed easier access to the higher strings. When I went back to a regular carved neck, it felt like the bottom part of the neck, where the high strings are, was kind of getting in my way on the palm of my hand.

The salesman told me more companies are offering asymmetrical neck shapes. I was told Fender is offering one on a tele.

This asymmetrical neck shape was what was preventing me from making up my mind on whether or not to order a 594 or a regular McCarty.

Currently, all of my guitars are 25 1/2" scale and all have only one volume control, one tone, and a blend dial for pickup combinations. I felt that the 594 would offer me the most variation from these guitars over the McCarty. It was a tough decision for me, as I liked the McCarty, but decided that the versatility of the 594 in the end, would be the better choice. I used to play LP's for many years, but don't have a Gibson now, and since the 594 is PRS's version of a late 50's burst, I believe it is the right choice.

Glad to hear you're comfortable with your choice!

 

[clasbtenn]

Thank you Jim.
I'm getting more excited after trying those PRS guitars out. I needed to be able to see how different models felt in order to know what I would be most comfortable with. Even though I was not inspired by that particular single cut, it doesn't mean that another single cut would leave me feeling the same way. I had been thinking of whether to add a rosewood neck, and now I know that mahogany is the right choice for me in this particular case.

 

[Maertl513]

How about trying out a 513? It has a 25 1/4" scale, body shape is supposed to come from a McCarty, it´s versatile - like a 594 - but you have to invest much lesser money.

 

[clasbtenn]

MaertL513,
Thank you for the info.
I was thinking of the 513, but as versatile as it is, I have 3 XOX Audio Tools guitars from Milan, and a Vigier from Grigny, France that do all the things a 513 does.

I wanted something farther away from my other guitars so I don't have too many all doing the same thing, but thank you.
Stephen

 

[Maertl513]

Then you have got already a very distict collection of guitars with a bunch of XOX and Vigier. Sure your guitars could do all the things a 513 could do (This is in fact spread out generally: a electric guitar requires an amplification for getting the different sounds/tones.), but they won´t be a PRS guitar
You have to define, what means farther away from your current axes!

 

[vchizzle]

I'm interested in that 594 pattern vintage neck shape, curious if I'll feel a noticeable difference.

 

[László]

One thing worth mentioning is that if you played a 2008 SC with a trem, it was a Tremonti or a Singlecut Trem, not an SC245. It wouldn't have had the 2 piece bridge, etc., that's on the newer models, nor would it have had more recent pickups like the 57/08s, 58/15s, etc. And in the case of the Tremonti, the neck shape would have been the Wide/Thin instead of Wide Fat or Pattern.

The CU24 S2 would have the Pattern Regular neck, which is narrower than the Pattern neck.

A salesperson who knew more about PRS would have alerted you to these differences. In any case, before plunking down your dough on a PS, you might want to try a guitar with a Pattern neck.

Caveat emptor! You still might have some homework to do, grasshopper.