Highest Earning PRS Guitar

[andy474x]

About a week ago I caught a documentary in my youtube feed about Nile Rodgers... I had no idea who he was, that was before my time, but it was really interesting and I knew a lot of his songs. I had a feeling someone on here had probably caught it too, and indeed Shawn had posted it a month or so ago and I missed it somehow. Anyways, they mentioned that Niles' strat has been used on an estimated $2 billion in record sales... wow!!!

So that got me wondering, who has a guess for the PRS guitar that has been used on the most recordings, dollar-wise? I honestly have no idea, maybe there's an obvious answer, but my guess would have to be one owned by Mark Tremonti, his sales with Creed, AB, and solo must be pretty insane. Except he has a crap ton of PRSi, and I don't know if he uses one main guitar for recording or several, so maybe the sales are really spread out over guitars. Second guess Carlos Santana, but the same situation as Tremonti with a lot of guitars. Anyone else want to venture a guess?

 

[Gnal]

I'd guess Tremonti as well. His Charcoal Burst with the Dimbag Sticker is his main Drop C# guitar. I am fairly certain that was used on all three AB records (4th in the works) as well as the Tremonti solo album. Not sure what he used in Creed, thier first album he had an LP... then his first PRS Sig was an Adjustable Wraptail.

My understanding is that most of his PRS are in different tunings or backups for those alternate tunings.

 

[jfb]

Carlos Santana. Then Mark Tremonti. That's my guess.

 

[JustRob]

Saw a Shinedown concert on Palladia. Zach Myers used a parade of PRSi, and I'm sure they've sold a lot of copies, but I'm not sure it was on one guitar or where he would rank.

 

[geese_com]

I would guess what ever Santana model he used on the Supernatural album. That must have sold a ton.

 

[clcwarlock]

I wouldn't rule out Linkin Park, they sold a lot of albums also.

 

[Em7]

My bet would be on Carlos Santana. Carlos has a custom PRS that Paul built for him during the 33 West Street days. I believe that he used that guitar to record Supernatural, which was a huge multinational selling album that charted in ten different countries. The album went 15 times platinum in the U.S. alone. I do not know if Carlos used the guitar on Shaman, but that album went double platinum in the U.S.

Supernatural	Released: June 15, 1999 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	AUS: 4× Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: 2× Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] CAN: Diamond[SUP][18][/SUP] FRA: 2× Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] NLD: 2× Platinum[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: 4× Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] SWE: Platinum[SUP][26][/SUP] SWI: 4× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: 2× Platinum[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 15× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]
Shaman	Released: October 22, 2002 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	11	4	2	3	8	6	15	1	15	AUS: Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] FRA: Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] GRE: Gold[SUP][29][/SUP] NLD: Gold[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] NOR: Gold[SUP][30][/SUP] SWI: 2× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: Silver[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 2× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]

 

[markie]

Carlos & Howard Leese have recorded with mainly one PRS since the early 80s. Tom Johnston (Doobies) since about 86ish

 

[Em7]

Carlos pretty much put PRS and Mesa on the map.

 

[clcwarlock]

My bet would be on Carlos Santana. Carlos has a custom PRS that Paul built for him during the 33 West Street days. I believe that he used that guitar to record Supernatural, which was a huge multinational selling album that charted in ten different countries. The album went 15 times platinum in the U.S. alone. I do not know if Carlos used the guitar on Shaman, but that album went double platinum in the U.S.

Supernatural	Released: June 15, 1999 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	AUS: 4× Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: 2× Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] CAN: Diamond[SUP][18][/SUP] FRA: 2× Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] NLD: 2× Platinum[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: 4× Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] SWE: Platinum[SUP][26][/SUP] SWI: 4× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: 2× Platinum[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 15× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]
Shaman	Released: October 22, 2002 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	11	4	2	3	8	6	15	1	15	AUS: Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] FRA: Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] GRE: Gold[SUP][29][/SUP] NLD: Gold[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] NOR: Gold[SUP][30][/SUP] SWI: 2× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: Silver[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 2× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]

Year Album details Peak chart positions Sales Certifications
US
[16] AUS
[17] AUT
[18] BEL (FL)
[19] GER
[20] IRL
[21] ITA
[22] JPN
[23] NZ
[24] UK
[25]
2000 Hybrid Theory
Release: October 24, 2000
Label: Warner Bros.
Formats: CD, CS, LP, Download
2 2 2 3 2 6 2 19 1 4
World: 24,000,000[26]
US: 10,063,000[27]
FRA: 312,523[28]
US: Diamond[29]
AUS: 5× Platinum[30]
AUT: Platinum[31]
CAN: 5× Platinum[32]
GER: 5× Gold[33]
NZ 5× Platinum[34]
UK: 4× Platinum[35]
2003 Meteora
Release: March 25, 2003
Label: Warner Bros.
Formats: CD, CS, LP, Download
1 2 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1
World: 16,000,000[26]
US: 6,000,000[27]
FRA: 445,899[28]
JPN: 187,000[36]
US: 4× Platinum[29]
AUS: 4× Platinum[37]
AUT: Platinum[31]
GER: 3× Platinum[33]
JPN: Platinum[38]
NZ: 2× Platinum[39]
UK: 2× Platinum[35]
2007 Minutes to Midnight
Release: May 14, 2007
Label: Warner Bros./Machine Shop
Formats: CD, LP, Download
1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
World: 8,000,000[26]
US: 3,000,000[40]
FRA: 226,442[28]
JPN: 362,000[41]
UK: 504,830[42]
US: 2× Platinum[29]
AUS: 2× Platinum[43]
AUT: 2× Platinum[31]
GER: 3× Platinum[33]
JPN: Platinum[38]
NZ: 2× Platinum[44]
UK: Platinum[35]
2010 A Thousand Suns
Release: September 8, 2010
Label: Warner Bros./Machine Shop
Formats: CD, LP, Download
1 1 1 2 1 3 1 2 1 2
World: 2,000,000[45]
US: 840,000[46]
JPN: 149,000[47]
US: Gold[29]
AUS: Platinum[48]
AUT: Gold[31]
CAN: Platinum[49]
GER: 3× Gold[33]
JPN: Gold[38]
NZ: Gold[50]
UK: Gold[35]

 

[Em7]

I know that Carlos has sold over 100 million units. However, I am not sure how many units he was sold since 1981 when he recorded Zebop! with Howard Leese's Golden Eagle. The problem with the ratings outside of the United States is that they are not RIAA ratings; therefore, they are not equivalent (e.g., platinum in the United Kingdom denotes 300,000 units whereas as platinum in the United States denotes 1,000,000 units). Carlos has recorded eleven studio albums since 1981.


Studio Albums

Zebop!	Released: April 1981 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD	9	14	12	2	20	23	3	9	—	33	FRA: Gold[SUP][19][/SUP] US: Platinum[SUP][21][/SUP]
Shangó	Released: August 1982 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD	22	33	9	—	26	13	3	12	—	35	US: Gold[SUP][21][/SUP]
Beyond Appearances	Released: February 1985 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD	50	57	24	—	44	—	11	20	9	58
Freedom	Released: February 1987 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD	95	83	16	—	—	—	16	22	8	—
Spirits Dancing in the Flesh	Released: June 1990 Label: Columbia Format: LP, CD	85	—	28	—	66	—	—	—	19	68
Milagro	Released: May 1992 Label: Polydor Format: CD, CC	102	—	31	41	51	—	—	—	11	—
Supernatural	Released: June 15, 1999 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	AUS: 4× Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: 2× Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] CAN: Diamond[SUP][18][/SUP] FRA: 2× Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] NLD: 2× Platinum[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: 4× Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] SWE: Platinum[SUP][26][/SUP] SWI: 4× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: 2× Platinum[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 15× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]
Shaman	Released: October 22, 2002 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	11	4	2	3	8	6	15	1	15	AUS: Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] FRA: Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] GRE: Gold[SUP][29][/SUP] NLD: Gold[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] NOR: Gold[SUP][30][/SUP] SWI: 2× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: Silver[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 2× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]
All That I Am	Released: October 31, 2005 Label: Arista Format: CD	2	36	6	19	20	12	18	29	5	36	AUT: Gold[SUP][24][/SUP] SWI: Gold[SUP][27][/SUP] US: Gold[SUP][28][/SUP]
Guitar Heaven	Released: September 21, 2010 Label: Arista Format: CD	5	5	5	9	24	2	9	17	5	15
Shape Shifter	Released: May 15, 2012 Label: Starfaith Format: CD	16	—	29	71	63	—	—	—	8	49

 

[themike]

I think Alex Lifeson and Rush might be a contender for this. Also, are we counting guys like Brent Mason who have probably played on 2524523 albums that have sold 2325 billion copies combined?

 

[jbliguori]

About a week ago I caught a documentary in my youtube feed about Nile Rodgers... I had no idea who he was, that was before my time, but it was really interesting and I knew a lot of his songs. I had a feeling someone on here had probably caught it too, and indeed Shawn had posted it a month or so ago and I missed it somehow. Anyways, they mentioned that Niles' strat has been used on an estimated $2 billion in record sales... wow!!!

So that got me wondering, who has a guess for the PRS guitar that has been used on the most recordings, dollar-wise? I honestly have no idea, maybe there's an obvious answer, but my guess would have to be one owned by Mark Tremonti, his sales with Creed, AB, and solo must be pretty insane. Except he has a crap ton of PRSi, and I don't know if he uses one main guitar for recording or several, so maybe the sales are really spread out over guitars. Second guess Carlos Santana, but the same situation as Tremonti with a lot of guitars. Anyone else want to venture a guess?

Be aware: Niles Rogers uses a Tokai strat and Music-Man Amps, a Fender strat is a later gig just for $$$$

 

[jbliguori]

I think Alex Lifeson and Rush might be a contender for this. Also, are we counting guys like Brent Mason who have probably played on 2524523 albums that have sold 2325 billion copies combined?

Lifeson primarily used PRS guitars in the later-half of the 1990's, also he has a gig with Gibson

 

[garrett]

My bet would be on Carlos Santana. Carlos has a custom PRS that Paul built for him during the 33 West Street days. I believe that he used that guitar to record Supernatural, which was a huge multinational selling album that charted in ten different countries. The album went 15 times platinum in the U.S. alone. I do not know if Carlos used the guitar on Shaman, but that album went double platinum in the U.S.

Supernatural	Released: June 15, 1999 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	AUS: 4× Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: 2× Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] CAN: Diamond[SUP][18][/SUP] FRA: 2× Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] NLD: 2× Platinum[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: 4× Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] SWE: Platinum[SUP][26][/SUP] SWI: 4× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: 2× Platinum[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 15× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]
Shaman	Released: October 22, 2002 Label: Arista Format: CD	1	11	4	2	3	8	6	15	1	15	AUS: Platinum[SUP][23][/SUP] AUT: Platinum[SUP][24][/SUP] FRA: Platinum[SUP][19][/SUP] GRE: Gold[SUP][29][/SUP] NLD: Gold[SUP][22][/SUP] NZL: Platinum[SUP][25][/SUP] NOR: Gold[SUP][30][/SUP] SWI: 2× Platinum[SUP][27][/SUP] UK: Silver[SUP][20][/SUP] US: 2× Platinum[SUP][28][/SUP]

If we're talking about sales of recordings using a single, particular guitar, I'd say Carlos has that on lock assuming you're right.