I can't decide between a Gretsch or a PRS.

[Whitecat]

The answer is blindingly obvious; list all of the Gretsch-playing blues or punk rock players you can think of.

Hint: you might be looking for a long time.

Tim Armstrong. Even has a sig model.

 

[drdoom8793]

Yeah, I'd go for a Starla. Definitely has a Gretsch-y vibe, and can cover a lot of bases. Heck, Brent Hinds from Mastodon uses an old Core Starla with the stock pickups switched out.

 

[jcha008]

I understand the indecisiveness regarding which brands to choose, but asking between a Gretsch and PRS on a Official PRS forum will primarily garner replies leaning towards PRS almost all the time. People are definitely open minded, but PRS is king around these lands. For good reason too .

 

[bluenova]

I was in the same boat a couple years ago. Couldn't decide if I wanted a Gretsch or something else. I ended up with this something else...

 

[László]

Tim Armstrong. Even has a sig model.

Ha! WTF do I know?

I'd still get the PRS.

 

[matonanjin]

So your asking this in a PRS forum? Did you ask the same question in a Gretsch forum? Were the answers dramatically different?

But I tend to agree with all the answers above. I can go with a Gretsch for blues. But for the other music genres you listed as being interested in I can definitely see a PRS before the Gretsch. Good luck on your search!

 

[Duffy]

I would get a PRS, even an SE model before a Gretsch. I think the Gretsch sound is some kind of country music thing but not desirable to me like a telecaster. With this idea in my mind I would unhesitatingly get the PRS.

Blues music is a vibe. You can play it on any guitar, even super junk guitars, as many of the blues greats started on. But I'm sure that I dig playing blues with a PRS and a good tube amp and nice overdrive pedal. Might as well have a great guitar. Even the SE's are very nice with a great amp.

 

[goat-n-gitter]

I think the Gretsch sound is some kind of country music thing but not desirable to me like a telecaster.

Duffy, I agree with most of what you said, and I would certainly choose a PRS over a Gretsch if I could only have one or the other, but sound wise, Gretsch's have made some of the greatest tones in rock history - how about all of the Who's "Quadrophenia" and "Who's Next" for starters (don't even get me started on the Beatles and British Invasion)! They're certainly not "just" country guitars - Just Sayin'

 

[Duffy]

Duffy, I agree with most of what you said, and I would certainly choose a PRS over a Gretsch if I could only have one or the other, but sound wise, Gretsch's have made some of the greatest tones in rock history - how about all of the Who's "Quadrophenia" and "Who's Next" for starters (don't even get me started on the Beatles and British Invasion)! They're certainly not "just" country guitars - Just Sayin'

I'm mainly talking about the tone I hear when I play one. Neil Young plays one, a top end model, as well as many others. I dig the PRS sounds much better.

 

[TroyBaer]

So your asking this in a PRS forum? Did you ask the same question in a Gretsch forum? Were the answers dramatically different?

Indeed he did, over on GretschTalk. It went about the way you would expect.

 

[matonanjin]

I Neil Young plays one, a top end model, as well as many others. I dig the PRS sounds much better.

I think most of Neal Young's playing and recording has been actually done with "Old Black", a Les Paul painted black. He traded a Gretsch to Jim Messina for it.

 

[Duffy]

I think most of Neal Young's playing and recording has been actually done with "Old Black", a Les Paul painted black. He traded a Gretsch to Jim Messina for it.

Oh yeah? He traded the White Falcon for that? That Old Black works well for him. Of course an old black cast iron frying pan would probably work very well for him.

 

[matonanjin]

I don't know what the "White Falcon" is. I just know he plays Old Black and he got it as I described.

And yeah, he could string a frying pan and sound better than I ever will!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

What's a Gretsch? You mean like the drum company?

 

[Duffy]

You might want to look at a picture of a White Falcon if you have never seen one. I don't desire one but it's a serious looking guitar.