First time prs buyer doubts!!!

[Tono]

Hi there,


I am not happy to post this publicly but truth is that I'm struggling to get info on a PRS Cu24. I live in an European country where there is only one PRS authorised dealer. I have been there a couple of times and they do not seem to know much about options, finishes and in general about the whole process of ordering a prs.


I am set on a custom 24 with hfs/bv pups, jade color, hybrid hardware and regular pattern neck, being this the easy part. This is a guitar that they do not have at the moment (actually, they do not have anything post 2010, which may respond to the fact that they believe prs changed hands and guitars are not as good as the were before) so after trying to sell what they got, I have asked them to contact prs.


What I would want to know is if 'special finish order' means that I can order something like the following without hitting the artist package category or the below are options only available in AP mode. Thanks God, I can afford the guitar but I would not like to pay more than I should because of not having a valid reference to prices.


- is there any chance to get ebony fretboard.
- is there an option to go for jade burst and if so, to decide how much burst I like. Cannot see jade burst in available colors on the website but there isn't much information about what special finish order means (at least I could not find it).
- options like pickups, hybrid hardware are chargeable? I take they are, same as with ten top but they were not able to confirm or to get me an idea as to how much.
- is there any way to see a guitar before ordering it or at least to send a pic showing what is that I'd like to get (kind of a more generic question).


I am happy to give prs a call and try to find out about this but I thought I would give it a go here first - hopefully these questions are silly for some of you and can be answered easily!


Thanks a lot and happy playing!




Ps: apologies if this should be posted somewhere else, I have been searching the forum but could not find an answer.

 

[László]

- is there any chance to get ebony fretboard.

Artist Package only on CU 24 or limited edition run (like an Experience model, etc.)

- is there an option to go for jade burst and if so, to decide how much burst I like. Cannot see jade burst in available colors on the website but there isn't much information about what special finish order means (at least I could not find it).

Anything not on the standard color chart would probably be an up-charge. No to deciding how much burst you like without going Private Stock ($$$). If I were you, I'd talk to a US dealer and see what's available. As I understand it, some can ship to Europe.

- options like pickups, hybrid hardware are chargeable? I take they are, same as with ten top but they were not able to confirm or to get me an idea as to how much.

Artist Package, or just what is listed as an option on the standard spec sheet.

- is there any way to see a guitar before ordering it or at least to send a pic showing what is that I'd like to get (kind of a more generic question).

Private Stock. $$$ to do it with PRS in advance, is the only way. However, some dealers might have something you want in stock, or could at least understand what it is you want by looking at a picture.

Since you appear to have very specific desires, your best bet is an Artist package.

 

[rugerpc]

Welcome to the forum!

All of your questions are reasonable. Any authorized dealer should be able to answer them or at least get your answers easily through their contacts/sales rep at PRS.

The fact that your dealer doesn't know or is unable to answer your questions says to me that it is time to find a new dealer.

I'd start here on the forum: Authorized-PRS-Dealers

Using the private message system, I'd ask if they ship to your country. Once I found one that could ship to you, I'd ask all the questions you have above. I'm sure they would be happy to assist you!

 

[Tono]

Hi again,

Firstly, thank you so much to both of you!

You are right, I got a fairly good idea of what I want, and now I know that it will have to be an artist package, even with the subsequent $$$!

These exact questions are the ones I put forward yesterday but that just did not seem to know the answers to any of them. They looked in the internet but instead of looking into prs site, they checked thommann's... (!)

Regarding US dealers, customs here are a bit of a problem. They tend to keep guitars for a couple of weeks and not always handle them with due care, so if something comes broken neither customs not the dealer would be responsible, which is why I was trying to go through a local dealer (unfortunately, THE only local dealer...). Getting a fractal axe fx out off the customs took me over two weeks of paperwork and some good money.

Anyway, I will try to get in touch with another European dealer to see if they can help, I am happy to travel and get the guitar on a weekend trip from another country.

Something out of curiosity is pricing. Thank God, I believe I can afford going private stock but how will I know that the dealer is not overcharging unreasonably? It feels weird to spend a good amount of money on something unseen, I take non-returnable and with no apparent price reference.

I guess that is why we all end up in forums like this one, right? : )

Thanks again, guys, you've helped a lot!

 

[rugerpc]

I hope you find a better dealer nearby. It is definitely worth the legwork to find one who knows what he is doing.

Which leads me to the option of a Private Stock. Within reason, you can get your guitar built to your exact specifications from the woods chosen to the electronics, hardware colors and finish.

BUT, you need a dealer who HAS DONE IT BEFORE. This is an area where previous experience by the dealer is absolutely essential. Ask the dealer how many Private Stock guitars they have had built for customers. Ask them for pictures!

I have not done a Private Stock yet, but when I do, you can bet I'll use a dealer who has been there, done that.

 

[Tono]

You are so right, I do not feel comfortable doing this without the advice of someone who supposedly should be helpful. They said they will call me on Monday, so perhaps there is someone else in the shop who knows how to manage this.

If not, I will go to the uk and find someone in there, I am sure there will be many more dealers than here, where unfortunately there is only one for the whole country...

Wish I was in the US and could visit many of them!!!

Thanks, rugerpc!

 

[Therinx]

You are so right, I do not feel comfortable doing this without the advice of someone who supposedly should be helpful. They said they will call me on Monday, so perhaps there is someone else in the shop who knows how to manage this.

If not, I will go to the uk and find someone in there, I am sure there will be many more dealers than here, where unfortunately there is only one for the whole country...

Wish I was in the US and could visit many of them!!!

Thanks, rugerpc!

If you can get to the UK, try Andertons.

 

[Tono]

Thanks Therinx, I have seen a lot of reviews by them on YouTube and they seem to know what they do, so I will drop them a note. I travel fairly often to the UK for business so may even visit them in person to see what they have got in stock.

I talked yesterday to the local dealer... no progress whatsoever.

 

[Tono]

Hi All,

I have finally had an answer from my local dealer. As you were correctly saying...

Since you appear to have very specific desires, your best bet is an Artist package.

In particular, AP seems to be the only option to get an ebony fretboard on a CU24. The remainder options or extras are fairly standard (p'ups, hardware and color), so that should not be a problem. I have read that going AP entails better looking woods (arguably better sounding woods as well) and obviously a somehow finer instrument. Difference in price between 10-T with hybrid hardware and AP is not as much as I was expecting. However, when they broke down the price for me, figures did not tie back to the total so there must be some (significant) room for negotiations here.

I take we cannot talk about prices in the forum, but if someone has an AP and would not mind receiving a PM with some details, I would really appreciate to get feedback on this - If I could use those potential savings to customise a bit more the AP, that would be great.

Thanks anyway for all the guidance above! (still exploring all your other suggestions).