How and when did you first learn about PRS guitars?

[Steph]

Hi everyone! I'm a brand new owner (from last Dec.) of a fantastic 2010 CU24 "10 Top", built early 2011. Got a really great deal from the folks at TGSCAN for this nice baby... Happy 2013!!! Yeah! Yeah!

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I saw my first PRS guitar from a Guitar Player mag I bought in 1986, not too long after I got my first guitar. I think it was the second guitar magazine I ever bought. The very beginnings of my love affair with guitars. Unfortunately, I don't have my original copy anymore. Here's the cover:

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Yep, it was Big Al Di Meola that introduced PRS guitars to me. I just never forgot that picture. It really stuck in my mind. I think it might have been the birds. Yeah, it probably was the birds. And maybe the carving.... Yeah, the carving too...

And now, 20+ years after, me too can have that little grin on my face while I show off MY PRS....

So, how did you get to know there was something called a PRS guitar?

 

[László]

In 1991, I went to my local guitar shop to buy a Les Paul, and the owner said, "We just started carrying this new brand, you really ought to try it as long as you're looking for a new guitar."

I was hooked the moment I got it in my hands and heard it.

 

[RedGuitars]

Storyville concert in Louisville KY in 1996, a few weeks before the release of A Piece Of Your Soul. I asked the guy next to me what kind of goldtop David Grissom was playing...

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Late 80's. My best friend's big brother was in a popular (regionally) rock band and he never shut up about them.

I swiped his prized PRS mug - which I later confessed to. I broke the cup so I couldn't return it.

He's now a Sales manager for Peavey so it's nice to see him at NAMM each year.

 

[sleary]

Ever since Paul put an ad in guitar world (could be a different magazine though) . I think it was around 85-86 ,thought to myself " this guy is going places" , I was right, yep I should get royalties lol. Didn't get my first USA until later 2012 , damn hooked now.

 

[Steph]

In 1991, I went to my local guitar shop to buy a Les Paul, and the owner said, "We just started carrying this new brand, you really ought to try it as long as you're looking for a new guitar."

I was hooked the moment I got it in my hands and heard it.

Funny thing is, I got a "hands on" experience of a PRS guitar quite recently. Back in the days (mid 80'), I was a "EVH frankenstrat" wannabe. PRS didn't have the look I was fetching for. It was the Kramer days! And for a 16 years old kid, the look of Al Di on that cover was not the coolest thing you could find. After that, I played jazzboxes and acoustics for the past 15 years. Only recently did I really get re-interested in playing solid body guitars. So I was also considering a Les Paul, since I already had my fake strat from my teen years, and was looking for something that played more like an archtop jazzbox. The choice was easy and obvious.

 

[David Eaton]

Guitar Player Magazine, Spring 1982, Charlie Christian was on the cover and there was a nice article on Paul inside. I was 14 and lived in Annapolis and thought "hey, he's in Annapolis also!" Took close to another decade before I was able to get my first PRS guitar.

 

[Steph]

Great! Love the responses. Nice meeting you all.

I received my 2012 Thank You Gift last monday. And I also bought the PRS story book recently. So I'm all up to my ears in PRS right now.

Thank you PRS. Way to go to making me feel part of the family. An "Experience" it really is! A lot more than just buying a guitar.

 

[DISTORT6]

Mid 80's, Sam Ash in Paramus, NJ. I was 16 and just starting to play.
First thing that hit me were the birds in the fret board and then the most beautiful tops. Don't forget the pointy and painted metal guitars were HOT at the time, so this was quite the revelation to me.
I still get that feeling when I open my cases. I think that's pretty cool how it never faded or went away. roud:

 

[Mike Duncan]

Virginia Beach, well really Norfolk, AL&M had a HUGE Custom 24 painted on the front of the store.

 

[John Beef]

I saw them for the 1st time at AL&M in Norfolk VA in 1992. I could tell they were beautiful guitars, but I was 15, and the price tags were super scary to me. I didn't even want to touch one.

Then in 94 I was in a band with a guy who had a EG in blueburst with a pearloid pickguard, one HFS humbucker and two Fralin dominoes.

I played single coil bolt on guitars for many years, and in 2006 I went to get a humbucker guitar, thinking SG. Played a couple of those and hated the tones I was getting. Les Pauls sounded nicer, but the PRS Custom 22 won out all around for tone and playability. I hadn't considered PRS up to that point, but the proof was in the pudding.

 

[Goldtop]

Welcome and congrats on your guitar. It's a beauty.

There was a thread very similar to this one some time back. (I searched for it but didn't find it.) It was interesting. Maybe someone else can locate it if it hasn't been deleted?

Goldtop Lloyd

 

[Aeetus]

I had a Yamaha YSG, it was a fantastic guitar and it was said to have been designed for Yamaha by a certain Mr. Paul Reed Smith. How true it is I don't know, but it was a great guitar that quite closely resembled a PRS double cut. Should have kept that guitar but I still see and play it from time to time as I let my mate have as he kept begging and begging! I swore then on hearing about the PRS connection that I would own one in the future.... and now I do :rock:

 

[veinbuster]

I first noticed them when I saw the original dragon hanging in a store I visited in Plano Texas.
That got my attention and I followed them and visited them in stores until I could afford to buy a CU22 with dragon pickups from...TGS when the store was much smaller and so was the owner (he says while ducking).

 

[QueenCityGuitars]

The only PRS dealer in Cincinnati during the '80s was Buddy Rogers Music. The first PRS I ever played was an '88 or '89 Custom 10 top with birds in Gray Black. I loved the non-locking tremolo that stayed in tune and loved the stain and top but remember saying, "What's with the birds?" to the salesman. :dontknow: Anyway, I started teaching there in '90 and bought a maple top Signature Limited in Vintage Sunburst. I sold that in about a year or so to fund an Artist I that I owned and played for years. It's been PRS for me ever since.

 

[Steve59]

First learned of them about six years ago when my son bought an SE version. Since then I've trailed a few and finally ordered one for myself. It's been something I've thought about for a few years but never expected to spend that much for a guitar; until now...

 

[Steph]

Welcome and congrats on your guitar. It's a beauty.

There was a thread very similar to this one some time back. (I searched for it but didn't find it.) It was interesting. Maybe someone else can locate it if it hasn't been deleted?

Goldtop Lloyd

Thanks Goldtop!

 

[slang05]

Ward Brodt Music Mall in Madison WI 1993... Walked in to buy a Jackson or something and they guy told me to try the PRS guitars. I remember him saying he'd get me a great deal if I liked one. I had 0 interest..wanted a metal guitar! But he insisted and handed me an Emerald Green Custom 24, 10 Top w/birds and started playing. My expectations were low cause I loved "pointy" guitars with a Floyd Rose and was just playing it to get the salesman (whom I liked and trusted) off my back. Well, I fell in love..but I remember thinking it was way to expensive and thought no way was I getting it. The salesman came back and I told him I liked it and if it was a helluva deal I'd take it. He said, well they are amazing but we can't move them (Madison is a great town, but I bet they are all into grunge right now, wayyyyy behind the times) I'll let you have that one for $500 + tax. I peed a little, bought it and loved it! Needed cash really bad a few years later and had to sell it.. Think I got more than I paid out of it..but I loved that guitar..Didn't get another one til about 12 years later when my girlfriend and I walked into a Guitar Center in St Louis to look around. She asked me if I could have anything in the store what would it be..and I wisely pointed to a Whale Blue Custom24, birds, 10 top, and said "THAT ONE!" She walked over to the salesman and said "excuse me, we'd like to buy that guitar".. That was the moment I decided to marry her! lol

 

[Steph]

I first noticed them when I saw the original dragon hanging in a store I visited in Plano Texas.
That got my attention and I followed them and visited them in stores until I could afford to buy a CU22 with dragon pickups from...TGS when the store was much smaller and so was the owner (he says while ducking).

lol

 

[slang05]

I received my 2012 Thank You Gift last monday. And I also bought the PRS story book recently. .

When did you mail your stuff in for that?I am going out of my mind waiting for mine!