Gibson Les Paul to PRS....which one?
- Thread starter Scott Robertson
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I think the first thing I’d recommend is to identify a price-range. That’s the biggest part of narrowing down.
After that, it gets easier. You want a thinner neck and a double-cut body, so that’ll likely lead you to a 24-fret guitar. You can find older CE22s and Custom 22s with a Wide-Thin neck, but they’re not as common.
Wanting a thinner neck takes you away from most anything with McCarty in the name.
After that, it gets easier. You want a thinner neck and a double-cut body, so that’ll likely lead you to a 24-fret guitar. You can find older CE22s and Custom 22s with a Wide-Thin neck, but they’re not as common.
Wanting a thinner neck takes you away from most anything with McCarty in the name.
GratefulGuitars
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I own several PRS Guitars and concur with the advice that you have to go play them for yourself. My only advice is that you find a dealer with a wide selection of PRS gutars (Core, S2 and SE models). Many of the "big box" guitar stores do not have a wide enough selection. There are boutique guitar sealers who have special realtionships with PRS. For example, Brian's Guitars in CT may be one of the biggest PRS dealers in the NE outside of dealers in Marlyland. In the midwest, Sweetwater also has a wide selection. I have never been there in person, but I assume you can make a visit. I recently purchased a Core Semi-Hollow Special. An amazing instrument. Brian's had FIVE for me to try. That was invaluable to me when purchasing a guitar like that.
If you're trying to stay as close to the LP as possible, you are likely to want the 594. It has the same control layout and the neck isn't a baseball bat. If you don't mind a different control layout, there are many models that might click for you. As has been said, it's worth the trip to a pusher ... uh ... retailer near you that has many and try them all.
lostbirds
New Member
Big +1 for DGT, I would definitely try one out. Great PAF tones, larger frets make for easier bending especially on 9-10s, full C shape, not too thin or thick IMO. I bought and sold one and kinda regret it, thing had amazing sustain. Body is thicker than cu22 or 24, more similar to a Les Paul.
My next rec would also +1 a custom 22. Will seem slinkier than a DGT or Les Paul and you can get the thinner neck you might be looking for.
PRS has all their neck specs listed on the website. Have you measured your own guitars specs and figured out why you like it or at least, know what you’re used to? It’s kind of a fun and informative process to get a set of calipers and measure nut width, neck depth at 1 and 12, and string spacing, it’s helped me on deciding and learning what necks will and won’t work for me.
Herr Squid
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Want to start with a slim neck? I'll second the recommendation of an S2 594 Thinline, keeping in mind that it's a the closest thing in spirit to an SG that PRS offers. That'd give a really good taste of what the PRS thing is about, albeit all their other models will have a bigger neck and thicker body.
Mozzi
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Chunky is relative - its not that Chunky compared to some, but it is the 'thickest' neck that PRS make. Its only slightly thicker than their Pattern neck but has an asymmetric carve and rolled edges so it feels more 'broken' in and not that thick at all to 'me'. The McCarty 594 is the closest in terms of familiarity of layout. The Switch and Pots are orientated the same way - all others have differences. It also has a similar style bridge.
They do a Thinline 594 in the S2 range with a different neck carve but I'd still recommend trying the Pattern Vintage for yourself as you are the only one that can determine if the neck feels too 'chunky' for you - even though its not that thick or wide compared to some guitars with 'chunky/baseball bat' necks.
I'd say that the 594 also comes with more a PAF (early HB) type Pickup which isn't as hot as burstbuckers and 'classic' Les Paul's so it does depend on the 'Les Paul' tone you are looking for. You may want a more classic/modern LP sound rather than the Vintage creamy PAF LP the 594 delivers.
Floyd_Argus
Student of the game
Can you not goto a store that carries a good variety of PRS models and try a number of them for yourself to find a Neck Profile you like? Anyways, if you want a slim profile, the Wide Thin neck profile of the SE Series of models fits the bill.
I made this exact same move a few weeks ago. My old LP Standard had the fat 50's style, my current LP Studio has the slimmer 60's neck. I bought the 594 and whilst it is on the chunkier side, it is supremely comfortable to play. Wouldn't hesitate to recommend the 594.
Bringing the guitar p0rn here!new blues to pay the dues
Philo694
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My penny's/10 cents worth. I had an American made Les Paul Standard 2008.
I wanted a change so I tried a PRS SE Custom 24 - 08 as I read they were good. Only £599 compared to LP £1899. I instantly loved how the PRS played, the amazing pickups plus the number of different sounds and the setup was perfect from unboxing.
Sold the LP and never looked back.
My advice would be start with something around £600-700 mark and try out the PRS SE neck profiles.
This is just my experience/thoughts and I hope it helps you.
I wanted a change so I tried a PRS SE Custom 24 - 08 as I read they were good. Only £599 compared to LP £1899. I instantly loved how the PRS played, the amazing pickups plus the number of different sounds and the setup was perfect from unboxing.
Sold the LP and never looked back.
My advice would be start with something around £600-700 mark and try out the PRS SE neck profiles.
This is just my experience/thoughts and I hope it helps you.
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