Help choosing the perfect gift - USA PRS

[creamintheblues]

Hey good people, my Father has a special birthday coming up and the family have clubbed together to buy a special gift - a USA PRS - he's been lusting after them for a good few years now but would never treat himself to such luxuries. I play a bit of guitar and have tried out a few but I don't don't really know enough to decide between the following which I can get for around the same price so cost isn't the issue:

Custom 24 Experience Artist Package with 59/09, and
Paul's Guitar

As far as I can tell both would do the job VERY nicely. The custom 24 may be more versatile and Paul's more authentic vintage sounding (????).

He plays mostly Blues Rock (a lot of British 60s Blues some SRV stuff) and Pink Floyd.
He already has a G&L ASAT Classic Bluesboy Semi-Hollow, a Standard Strat and a Vintage LP style V100.

I'd love to hear either opinions or just a simple vote.

Thanks in advance guys.

 

[László]

Both are great guitars. If he likes traditional humbucking pickups, and a longer scale length, go with the 24. If he prefers a shorter scale length and pickups that split beautifully, the Paul's can't be beat.

 

[megaboogie]

Both great choices! I usually recommand a CU22/24 for the first PRS but going by the music he plays he might fit better with Paul's guitar or a DGT which is a blues rock machine.

 

[Majje63]

Go for Pauls Guitar or 408 for the versatality

 

[creamintheblues]

Thanks guys, he's not used to a longer scale length and I must say I found playing the 24 a bit strange as I'm not either but you can't get much from 20 minutes noodling. I hadn't considered the DGT which falls around the same price point but that's only because the quality of the wood on both the the Artist 24 and Paul's is first rate, the Artist's Ebony Fretboard is very sweet and looked the business.

Interesting to see Majje63 voting Paul's for versatility, I was thinking that this option might have been more limiting than the 24. I guess that's why I've found myself on this forum.

Thanks for the early replies.

 

[veinbuster]

For what you describe him playing, I would go with the Paul's.
The pickups and switching options make it a very versatile guitar.

 

[leeasam]

the 22 frets which he would be used to vs 24 and the fact that the Paul`s guitar can get about any tone you want.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeGs8-t-8F4

 

[Hopeful Sinner]

Get him a PG!!! It'll be special and they are tone machines!!!

 

[andy474x]

If he won't mind it not having a trem, Paul's Guitar is a killer axe!

 

[bluefade]

Both are great guitars. If he likes traditional humbucking pickups, and a longer scale length, go with the 24. If he prefers a shorter scale length and pickups that split beautifully, the Paul's can't be beat.

Aren't the scale length for the 24 and pauls guitar the same ?

 

[alantig]

I'd vote the PG if he doesn't use a trem, 408 if he does. You can pimp the 408 with an Artist Package (if you have time to order it), but really, they're stellar guitars even in the non-AP format.

 

[jfb]

For what you describe him playing, I would go with the Paul's.
The pickups and switching options make it a very versatile guitar.

My man Pete knows what's up...and the Paul's have insane tops.

 

[leeasam]

Aren't the scale length for the 24 and pauls guitar the same ?

yup I think they were referring to neck length with 2 more frets. I am really used to 22 fret guitars so when I play 24fret one I get a bit goofy up the fret board.

 

[alantig]

You know what, the 22 vs. 24 fret comment is a good one. Until I got my CU24, I never realized that I used the end of the fretboard as a cue sometimes when playing up in the wheedly zone. I realized it when I started missing the high Ds. I'm over it now (mostly), but it had never crossed my mind before that, even when using a 21-fret Strat.

 

[Hopeful Sinner]

...and the Paul's have insane tops.

Word...

 

[creamintheblues]

Thanks for the input, it looks like the PG is a clear winner.

The decision is made more difficult by each guitar being about 300miles apart so not easy to compare. The lack of Trem is my only concern with the PG (also not sold on the aesthetics of the taps), the Ebony fretboard and extra frets are enticing on the 24. If it was a straight shoot between a 24 and a PG I'd have gone PG in a heartbeat but the Artist Package with Ebony and gold hardware on burnt almond is every bit as good looking as the PG and those 59/09 pickups are mean - a very tough call.

 

[creamintheblues]

Do all PGs have Artist Grade tops?

 

[László]

Aren't the scale length for the 24 and pauls guitar the same ?

Yes, you're right, what I meant to say was that the 24 fret neck feels different from the 22 fret neck. Dunno why I put it that way.

 

[Hopeful Sinner]

Do all PGs have Artist Grade tops?

Yupp

 

[jfb]

Word...

See what I am saying. That top is silly good.