How many of you guys actually PLAY guitar?

[Rachmaninoff]

Recently I had a conversation with some friends, and we discussed the subject of the expensive guitars. Of course, PRS models were cited. The point was: many expensive guitars, with incredible tone and playability, are bought by people who have much money and zero talent; thus many of the best guitars in the world are just pieces of furniture.

So, how many of you guys actually play your PRS guitars?

 

[prs19]

Totally understand the question. For me there's just something about buying nice quality things that you believe in. PRS does that for me. I always know the limiting factor is me when it comes to playing my PRS guitars. I can't say I've had the same feelings with other makes that I've owned. While I understand the furniture connection it's almost like saying anyone that owns a sports car and doesn't take it to a track means some of the nicest cars are simply petrol consumers.

If if its what somebody likes to put their hard earned money and time into, let 'em rip even if that means hanging it on a wall and admiring it every day.

 

[IRG]

I understand the question too. And I guess I have to answer this with another question. Why do you care what others can or cannot afford, based on their abilities, or lack thereof when it comes to playing a PRS guitar? I own a SE, an S2 and a Core model. In other words, budget, to more expensive. I am an amaetur (totally), yet I had to pay taxes on my lack of abilities last year. Does that help?

I would guess that many on this forum actually play their guitars, in whatever setting that may be, and I'm guessing you do too. Congrats, we all get medals.

 

[AP515]

I agree with the above, it really doesn't matter, but I also would rather they be played more than simply admired.

As for me personally, I put "play in a band" although I'm between bands right now. I love to play in front of people, but the only thing I'm a pro at is serving up clams. I did have a gig about 3 weeks ago so I guess that counts.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Nope. I just collect guitars. I do hope to, some day, does that count for anything?

And practice. My downstairs neighbor asked if I play guitar -- I told her yes, because I didn't feel like explaining the difference between practicing and playing, but then she went on to say some very positive and affirming things, so that made me feel better about my practicing.

EDIT: Also? It's my money, you all don't actually have a say in the matter.

 

[Mikegarveyblues]

I'm torn...

I hate the idea that instruments (regardless of cost) don't get played, but....

I also believe that people are free to spend their money how they like.

Was pro until we moved and the little 'un was born.

 

[László]

I'm a pro musician, but here's how I feel about the question:

Do you think the people who are paying mega-dollars for some famous rock star's guitars are playing them? Or do you think they're in a vault somewhere?

I'm sure most of them are in a vault.

Does it matter what people do with their stuff after they buy it? No.

As much talent as you think you have, there's always someone more talented. As little talent as you think you have, there's always someone less talented.

So if you have to have talent and playing ability to buy expensive guitars, I'd guess that would leave most folks out, and PRS would have to stop making guitars. I'd rather have PRS make guitars. Regardless of whether I (or anyone else) think I have talent or not, I play PRS guitars professionally. I'm glad they're in business, and I don't care who buys 'em or for what reason. I'm good with it.

I once felt people had to "earn" their right to buy the best instruments. Then I realized, who gets to be the judge and jury for that? Who's qualified? Do I have to take a test to buy a guitar I like?

"No, Les, you're a good player, but not a great player, so you don't get that one. Settle for this one instead."

Um...no thanks. I'll stick with reality for now.

 

[11top]

Does it matter what people do with their stuff after they buy it? No.

^ THIS

I don't care if people buy them as paper weights. It's their money and their guitars.

That said, in answer to the question posed, I play in a band (and until recently two). And I play a PS SC trem piezo at gigs.

 

[VHTStark]

Couldn't have said it any better, Les. My sentiments exactly.

I play all my PRS' s and could care less if someone doesn't think I "deserve" them. I respect my PRS's, admire their craftsmanship and most important of all: I have a LOT of fun making music on them. That is what floats my boat....if someone doesn't play and collects....nothing wrong with that of it makes them happy!

 

[markintime]

I'd started playing in the mid 60's, acoustic folk, learned finger picking and at one time had just over 100 songs I could play and sing entirely from memory. In my college days I played in a makeshift coffehouse in the garage of the Methodist minister on campus. I've played in worship service for contemporary mass on campus. After that I played purely for my own enjoyment. Then life happened, but I always had an acoustic and later played for church sunday school and retreats. So I like getting up in front of people and performing. Now after a long period of rusting, I'm learning how to use a pick and play the blues, but I've not played in a band. But I intend to, before I die. So I can't answer the question any better than that. And I buy PRS for their beauty, quality, sound, and because I have good taste and appreciate the finer things of life. And if I could play violin, I'd have one of those.

 

[g.wizz]

I waited 22 years for my first PRS although I was then not playing in band and still till now and I'm a bedroom player
and like markintime i'm aspiring to play with a band before I die, still I upgraded to an AP 513 that cost me a lot to bring it
half way around the world, and I enjoy playing it and admiring it every day and that's what it comes down too really
being happy playing music and PRS does that for me... In spades.

 

[Mark Ray]

Well I play in a band, and we'll end up at about 80 gigs by the end of the year, but it's not my main source of income. Having said that, I currently have 3 PRSi and they all get rotated in and out of gig rotation. There are 4 others out there in the world somewhere that I formerly owned and I gigged them while I owned them as well. That's what they're made for!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I didn't vote 'cause there wasn't a choice for I'm a F@ckin' Rock God!

 

[tiboy]

I don't play out and likely never will. On average I play guitar 2.5 hours a day. I've probably reached my full potential and it is far below mediocre. The quality of my guitars and gear far exceeds my abilities. But the joy of playing far exceeds my quality gear.

 

[kingsleyd]

My good friend Matt Artinger once told me that if it wasn't for people who love beautiful and highly functional guitars but can't necessarily play all that well, he wouldn't be able to make ends meet as a guitar builder. A lot of truth to that, although I would add that guitar is basically a folk instrument so it really doesn't matter how well you play, it just matters that you play and put your heart into it.

I'm not a pro, nor do I gig as regularly as I probably could if I worked harder at it, but I do play out, have been in a number of different bands including my own doing my own compositions, and I do have a CD out on a real record label that still (after 12 years!) gets airplay on places like Sirius XM.

Oh, and this sweetheart of a guitar is going out on its first gig tonight. Looking forward to that quite a bit!

 

[CoreyT]

I did not see the option for living room player, so I had to put down bedroom and I do not play in mine
I do not mind paying big $$$ for quality, or even less money for SEs that can stay in tune.
And I do play all of mine too when I get them out for an extended time off from work.

I have a 2012 Gibson SE '61 Reissue I bought back then for $2K before I heard of PRS, and even though it is a nice guitar and easy to play, the thing cannot stay in tune, even with locking tuners.
I just tuned it again Thursday, and yesterday after I got home from work all the strings were sharp.
I am sure this is due to a wet neck?
I am not sure.

But my 408 and the SEs rarely need to be tuned, so that speaks for the quality of them.
One day I will have another core guitar, so I do not paying the $$$ for better quality.
And my job affords me to buy pretty much anything I want, so no worries about thinking I should not be spending the $$$ on them.

The last time I played in a band was around '74 or '75 in high school, so living room player it is.
But one day I would like to jam with others at least.

 

[Mike.boardman]

All my guitars get played. At first I kept my PS locked away but where's the fun in that?! It now has a few battles scars and I have no intention of selling it so that's ok for me. I can play and did play out regularly when I was a student at uni (on a PRS Custom 24). Nowadays it's just the odd gig - mainly a home player.

If people buy stuff to look at or collect that's fine. From what I've seen in the UK it's this sort of activity that keeps the specialist shops open and that can only be a good thing.

 

[Maertl513]

I started playing guitar by accident in 1992 as a young teenager. As a seven years old boy I was "forced" to play an instrument (I had chosen the piano likewise my elder bro had lessons in piano playing.) by parental "pressure".
Most of all Slash (and G N R) was one of my idols that time. On vacation in Bavaria we visited relatives (my father´s roots are Frankonian (Northern part). My father´s cousin played in a Bavarian folk music band. His drummer was (and is still) owner of a musical instrument shop. With my daddy I visited the shop, took a cheap but Japanese (according to the sticker on the headstock) Les Paul copy off from the wall, strummed the strings without knowledge. We left the shop with this guitar, a 20 watts two channel transistor amp, a guitar cable, and a book for DIY-learing to play the guitar.
I quitted my piano lessons, had for two years a guitar teacher before he left for his university studies.
Being a teenager I played in a local metal combo. We splitted up after all made their A levels of grammar school - instead of me, because I was the youngest member. We spread our to our "careers" becoming lawyer (singer), doctor (drummer), teacher (guitarist), and army officer (myself, aswell guitarist). Our bass player position was sort of freelancer job.
Due to the soldier´s life moving around from one assigment to the next, I remained as a bed room player. Though I had three band engangements: Band at grammar school for playing at our party regarding the achievement of our individual general qualification for university entrance, then the band at Army Officer School for musical support of the graduating ceremony, and as part of a guitar duo I played loud out at our crew venue concerning promotion to 1st Lieutenant (we celebrated that in snowy winter in a cabin in the Alps).
Starting to play the guitar I read a few guitar magazines regulary: German Gitarre & Bass, guitar, and guitar player.
I felt in love with PRS guitars seeing those adds in the magazines. I ordered PRS catalogues at German sales partner Meinl. Do you imagine those poster like PRS brochures in the 1990s? I fixed that at one of the walls of my room.
I loved the amber CU24 with birds... Too expensive.
I only got one PRS and it lasted approx. 19 years to the day I purchased this guitar. And this is a aggregation of fortune: P&G gave my wife a big pay-off, she presented me a certain part, I saw Dave Weiner introducing the 513 at Youtube, and had been infected by the model. But to me a real PRS has got a mahogany body and a maple top (minimum 10 top). A Swampy was not (and is not an option).
Defining specs: Which colour? Flamed or quilted? 10 top or not? All specs in relation to the budget.
In my home country or Europe I didn´t find a 513 MT fulfilling my specs. But in the USA. At Wildwood Guitars in Louisville, CO, USA my search ended. I found a 513 MT in Black Gold with a quilted 10T.
A few more accidents occured which made this guitar to a very special one. Somebody at the factory assembled my guitar with a left hand vibrato arm. I called the guys at Willwood, they sent me an additional right hand replacement vibrato arm and a 513 back plate with Paul Reed Smith´s signature on it.
The result of meeting Paul in person by an act of fortune at one of the big exhibition halls makes the guitar to me slightly more worth than my even more expensive masterbuilt thinline guitar. While we talked together Paul surprised me by presenting me the modification from printed circuit board to hand wiring for free. And I got a second back plate prettified with his signature and a dedication.
I would love to buy a DGT once in while but I´m very, very lucky with my 513 MT. Because of my high level of satisfaction with my PRS I´m not in hurry. This 513 is MY guitar I could express myself.
And I play it very often, although my musical ideas I recorded and "published" via YouTube meanwhile I selected my masterbuilt thinline because of its piezo pickup system (I guessed that suits even better to the more or less meditative tunes I arranged.).

I would like to play in a band, too. But time management with business issues, family and other things...
Elaborating musical ideas for your own sake is kind of very worthy recreation.
And: I don´t play my guitars in my bedroom!

 

[CVS]

I have played in a band since I retired from my "day" job. I am really fortunate that I do not have to rely on income from the band to pay "the bills". I do all of the charting and arranging for our band. This keeps me busy between practice sessions. I play all of my guitars on some kind of informal rotational basis (or in the mood basis). I have sold guitars in the past that I stopped playing for one reason or another and sit in with local pros from time to time at their gigs. I have recently taught a few over 50 year old adults how to play guitar.

 

[Boogie]

I was playing last night on a tiny stage next to a guy playing a $200 epiphone and another guy with a $2k Les Paul. Between the three of us, I had the biggest grin playing my PRS. :biggrin: I win. (Oh, and mine has some dings in it so I'm probably out of the club now)