Sorry for the novel:
I always take a different tact with the what to buy advice. This is my general approach to most guitar buying, but more PRS specific…
We can point in all kinds of directions, but the very best instruction is to put your hands on as many guitars in shops as you can. I just don’t see any good in limiting someone’s horizons.
Is this for playing standards and covers, or are you using it as a tool for creating your own material? If original, shop for you. If playing existing material, look to the tools of those creators for inspiration. If looking for a swiss army knife, that limits things somewhat.
If back when they were getting big, Mike Einziger had gone onto a forum saying what general genre his band was, and went by what a forum told him to buy, do you suppose he would have ended up playing a PRS Archtop, which kind of helped define the band and his musical identity for a while?
With PRS, some shops are better than others, but if they know you are there genuinely looking, most will be accommodating. If not, find better shops where possible. Some are downright dangerous for the wallet. Contacting you out of the blue when they know they have something really special that is right up your alley...
but that’s a post for another day.
A killer way to experience a lot of different guitars is at meetups.
I fear these have become less common, but 25+ years ago, in the stone age of music forums, we would try and stir up interest for regional get togethers. It’s how I met Jamie, Shreve and a whole host of other folks that loved PRS, way back when. And as a bonus, we got to check out each other’s guitars, amps, pedals and such. So depending on where you are, maybe reach out on here, or even the Gear Page or Facebook? See who might be interested. Check out stuff in person, pick the brains of the folks that own that gear.
If PRS is universally known for one thing as a manufacturer, it is consistency. So if you play a Custom 24, and then play a DC 594, a Tremonti, a Santana, Custom 22, Studio, Standard, Hollowbody, Pauls Guitar, etc, assuming a guitar is the normal specs. Whatever model you end up liking, if you buy one later, chances are the one you find will feel just as grand in your hand. If you get the luxury of playing say 4 Custom 22s in a big shop, do it. All guitars are slightly unique to the sum of their parts, but that is often splitting audible hairs, and subtle weight adjustments. With minor setup tweaks, or major open heart surgery (pickuos, etc) one can oush those tools in all kinds of ways.
I mention the “normal” build, because there are a lot of one off and short run variations floating out there now. PRS allows for a lot of little micro-runs from dealers. Just be mindful of the specs when trying guitars out. Occasionally a guitar that would have a mahogany body and neck could be korina, or it might have a solid rosewood neck, or whatever. So as long as you pay attention to what you like, and what you don’t, you’ll do just fine.
I personally find it so hard to ask for general advice on what guitars will do a type of music.
These days I like to go by feel. What feels right in my hands? What neck shape, scale length? Bridge under my right? Do I want a trem or no? From there I plug in and listen. Beyond that, I find different guitars “take” me different places, creatively.
In my experience, just about any guitar will do “the thing” to one degree or another. It all comes down to the player, those little nuances of what YOU want to hear and the bigger issue of YOUR hands and ears.
I’ve had so many people suggest guitars online, that I absolutely could NOT get along with, I don’t do that.
And there’s the “common” knowledge that certain guitars don't do X. So like, you can’t play “metal” on an archtop. To which I point to Geordie Walker (rip), who spent his entire career absolutely crushing audiences with a fully hollow big body ES-295 archtop with P90s in Killing Joke.
IMO the “common knowledge” doesn’t mean anything. All are tools. Find the tool that fits you best. And when you do, if you play a guitar that feels so good that you don’t want to hang it back up on a wall, buy it. Don’t think, just go for it. When the lightning strikes, don’t question why.
Once you are really familiar with PRS and their offerings, it opens up a whole other avenue, and that is used guitar buying. These days I only ever buy used guitars. I am not bothered by a guitar that has been played (some people really want pristine jewelry, and that it totally cool, I’m not that guy), and I am a tinkerer by nature. So I don’t mind if I get someone else’s seconds. As long as there’s a deal to be had, and it is in good playable condition. And right now there are some pretty massive deals to be had in the used PRS market.
Just last weekend I went up to Chuck’s and bought a brand new PRS Private Stock case for $175, because it had a small scratch on it. I don’t blame them at all for replacing it. The guitar that it belonged to is still on their site for a hair under $15k. But I digress… the deals are out there, as long as you know what you want.
PRS guitars can get really pricey really fast. First hand experience is tremendous, and a lot of great memories can be made along the way. IMO, don’t rush it. Enjoy the journey. Take your time and fine The One.
It probably won’t stay The One, as there are too often others. But realistically, some folks find that the PRS isn’t for them. And that’s fine too. But better to figure that out for yourself.
My .02¥
\m/
