ISO Paul's Guitar with a Satin or Rosewood neck (or stoptail 408)

[DaveDaveDave]

Hey all,

BLUF, I'm looking for a core stop-tail PRS guitar that has a 408 style neck pickup with any kind of non-glossy surface on the neck.

Has there ever been such a thing, outside of a Private Stock guitar? I search Reverb all the time, but haven't found anything.

I have an ME1, which I love, even though I don't always get along with the wooly bottom end. For me, It's the best feeling guitar ever, hands down. It's a lifer guitar.

My 408 Wood Library Semi-Hollow is also a lifer guitar. It's got an IRW neck, and I LOVE the pickups. I've installed a tremel-no, as I'm a fixed-bridge player at heart, and I LOVE the tone of this guitar above all. However, my intent going to bring this guitar back to stock because I really want to grow into more study of tremolo, My playing style is too incompatible though, e.g., double-stop bends, alternate tunings and such. I basically would LOVE a stoptail version of this guitar.

I even bought a Paul's Guitar SE and satin-ized the neck with the old Brillo pad technique. I love this guitar too, but it doesn't sound near enough to the 408 that I play it regularly. It's purpose is as the "Stunt double" in dive bars, vacations at the beach, etc....

I *think* that I'd prefer the 408's neck pickup over the PG, but the neck-alone pickup tone is the least important.

Do y'all know of a Paul's Guitar (or 408 model) that had both a stoptail and a non-glossy neck? Are PRS roasted maple necks satin or unfinished?

Or should I just Brillo-scrape an old 408 Signature Limited neck like I did on me SE? </cringe> I'm thinking that it's a lot more easily reversible on a nitro finish, so there's that.

Any and all input appreciated!

 

[Black Plaid]

Do you have a NOS ME1 or the OG with the RPs?

If it's the latter, you might think about swapping the neck PU for a 57/08, I've found them a fair bit more sparkly than the RPs

 

[Bogner]

My Guess Is You Would Find A Rosewood Neck Before Finding A Satin Finished One. It May Not Be As Cost Effective As You Wish But If You Find The Ideal Guitar You Could Always Send It Back To PRS For A Satin Finish To Be Applied. That Would Be Less Than A PS.

 

[DaveDaveDave]

My Guess Is You Would Find A Rosewood Neck Before Finding A Satin Finished One. It May Not Be As Cost Effective As You Wish But If You Find The Ideal Guitar You Could Always Send It Back To PRS For A Satin Finish To Be Applied. That Would Be Less Than A PS.

Interesting idea.... would work out great if I found a beater/player 408 stoptail!

 

[DaveDaveDave]

Do you have a NOS ME1 or the OG with the RPs?

If it's the latter, you might think about swapping the neck PU for a 57/08, I've found them a fair bit more sparkly than the RPs

Thanks for the idea - I've been thinking of doing that too.

 

[bodia]

My Guess Is You Would Find A Rosewood Neck Before Finding A Satin Finished One. It May Not Be As Cost Effective As You Wish But If You Find The Ideal Guitar You Could Always Send It Back To PRS For A Satin Finish To Be Applied. That Would Be Less Than A PS.

Interesting idea.... would work out great if I found a beater/player 408 stoptail!

This is a solid plan. I had a Cu22 with a total refinish that they did the neck in black with a satin feel. I also had a Santana that I sent in to have the neck and back changed from blue to white. They also did a satin finish on that one, at my request.

 

[goof1073]

You need to dig for them, but I've seen some Wood Library Paul's Guitars out there with maple necks (some roasted also).

 

[RC Mike]

The Signature Limiteds weren’t nitro like the PS run. They were V12. I have no idea how V12 handles having the gloss taken down, but it’s a really hard external finish. It may lead to some finish lifting where you don’t want it.

I’ve got a Signature Limited that’s a hardtail with a satin nitro finish. The fellow I bought it from had PTC strip off the V12 and change it from Ezra Verde to Orange Fade in satin. Feels delightful!

 

[DaveDaveDave]

The Signature Limiteds weren’t nitro like the PS run. They were V12. I have no idea how V12 handles having the gloss taken down, but it’s a really hard external finish. It may lead to some finish lifting where you don’t want it.

I’ve got a Signature Limited that’s a hardtail with a satin nitro finish. The fellow I bought it from had PTC strip off the V12 and change it from Ezra Verde to Orange Fade in satin. Feels delightful!

Oh wow, what a lucky find! That’s exactly the kind of find I’m looking for, and they’re super rare indeed. Congrats!

I’d love to see a pic, BTW!

 

[DaveDaveDave]

You need to dig for them, but I've seen some Wood Library Paul's Guitars out there with maple necks (some roasted also).

I meant to ask this as well. Are PRS’s roasted maple necks always satin?

 

[goof1073]

I meant to ask this as well. Are PRS’s roasted maple necks always satin?

I don't recall ever seeing a roasted maple neck that had finish applied to it (i.e. gloss), or a non-stained maple neck. Now inversely, stained maple necks are almost always finished (gloss) with some exceptions. There are also RW necks out there on a Paul's Guitar or 408s = Really just need to keep on looking and in some cases opening adds as they don't always state what the neck is made of.

 

[László]

I meant to ask this as well. Are PRS’s roasted maple necks always satin?

Rosewood necks seem to all be unfinished, which makes sense, it's an oily wood. I've had a couple; there's a little more lower midrange oomph to the tone. Maple is treated differently.

PRS infuses satin maple necks with a finish; but their maple necks could probably go either gloss or satin.

They'd only have been originally available as dealer-spec'd Wood Library runs, Artist Package, or Private Stock.

 

[RC Mike]

Oh wow, what a lucky find! That’s exactly the kind of find I’m looking for, and they’re super rare indeed. Congrats!

I’d love to see a pic, BTW!

Such a sweet, sweet guitar. I haven’t given it enough time since I got it in April. I’m loving the middle position with the neck humbucking and the bridge split, through a Matchless Kemper profile.

Of course, tonight I thought I’d make just a little tweak to the setup. Next thing I know, I’m changing the bridge height just a smidge. Popped the D string bringing it back up to tension. I suppose that’s the motivation I need to do a full setup.

 

[DaveDaveDave]

Such a sweet, sweet guitar. I haven’t given it enough time since I got it in April. I’m loving the middle position with the neck humbucking and the bridge split, through a Matchless Kemper profile.

Of course, tonight I thought I’d make just a little tweak to the setup. Next thing I know, I’m changing the bridge height just a smidge. Popped the D string bringing it back up to tension. I suppose that’s the motivation I need to do a full setup.

Beauty!

 

[DaveDaveDave]

Dang it - I came across this one: https://loviesguitars.com/product/k...6e08cd7450cbbdddc64c6cf2e8891f6d48747c6d56d2c

It was listed as in-stock, but the photo gallery wasn't loading. I emailed them to ask about photos, and got a prompt response that it was no longer available.

Since I started this thread, I also found a previous sale of a Paul's Guitar w/ Rosewood neck that had sold... so they *do* exist after all. https://eddiesguitars.com/product/e...2fh2DHpOwe5uGJl2HhZKgmjfnOR_R1o_wFohdIRshxs6l



Guess I'll just have to keep hunting.

 

[DISTORT6]

Guess I'll just have to keep hunting.

You need to wear camo so you can sneak up on them.

 

[bodia]

Guess I'll just have to keep hunting.

Good luck!

 

[Argus_Floyd]

The Signature Limiteds weren’t nitro like the PS run. They were V12. I have no idea how V12 handles having the gloss taken down, but it’s a really hard external finish. It may lead to some finish lifting where you don’t want it.

I’ve got a Signature Limited that’s a hardtail with a satin nitro finish. The fellow I bought it from had PTC strip off the V12 and change it from Ezra Verde to Orange Fade in satin. Feels delightful!

"PTC"?

 

[RC Mike]

"PTC"?

PTC - PRS Tech Center

Maryland-based Manufacturer of Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, and Accessories.

prsguitars.com

 

[Argus_Floyd]

PTC - PRS Tech Center

Maryland-based Manufacturer of Electric Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, and Accessories.

prsguitars.com

Thanks