KThaxton
New Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2021
- Messages
- 86
So, I joined just over a year ago.....but I've been too lazy to type this up and more importantly....too lazy to go through the whole picture posting rigmarole....but it's time.
Name is Kendall, I'm 51, live in Utah and have played since I was roughly 13....but don't let that fool you, I'm still not any good. I worked in a music store for about 4 years in my late teens early 20's, First doing piano deliveries and minor guitar repair, then combo sales and guitar repair.
As the 80's being my music formative years, I was always a Charvel/Jackson and Ibanez guy. I remember seeing PRS show up but didn't pay a whole of attention. Then at the Winter NAMM (1992?) when the first Dragon appeared, I took note. I've always appreciated the wood and appearance of PRS...but again....80's guy. Then for whatever reason a few years ago, PRS's kept popping up in Sweetwater and other adds on Facebook. They started to speak to me, as you all understand, and so I started to learn the models.
As I mentioned, I am not really a good player and I have a couple sort of expensive hobbies so Core is not in my near future....so as I learned about SE's I decided it was time....and I had not bought a new electric in 30 years! I had a Charvel from my music store days and made a trade with my brother in law for another Charvel about 15 years ago....so big dry spell. So I in the fall of 2021 I talked the wife into an early birthday/Christmas and bought an SE Custom 24-08. Absolutely love it. Made all the usual upgrades....locking tuners, lampshade knobs, Pure Tone Jack and a Switchcraft 3-way toggle (this was very welcomed and needed).
Kind of a side story.....since I was getting back into guitar a bit more seriously (I told the wife, I buy gear, I get motivated, since she is a musician, she's ok with this!)....and since I am not a good player but still enjoying looking at them, having this new guitar prompted me to want to remodel our basement to more appropriately display them (except the acoustics, they stay in their cases). Painted everything, hung wooden planks, lighting (of course!) and new carpet, this guitar ended up costing me a lot of money!
Around late summer of last year.....I started getting the itch again and the SE 245's price is hard to ignore....so once again, I nicely asked wifey for another early birthday/Christmas present. She was on board....bless her heart. Initially, I was looking at the all mahogany standard but then the charcoal burst began to speak to me. I realized how it can be difficult to find a visually stunning piece of flame veneer so I was keeping my eyes peeled and selection was pretty low....and I am impatient.
Anyway, late September, I got a text from my Sweetwater sales rep, saying "secret sale, all guitar stuff, but you have to call". I didn't really think they'd discount a PRS, but thought it was worth a try. I called....and he said he'd knock a $100 off, so I couldn't pass this up. Their site said they had one in inventory, visually, it was ok and wanted the deal so I pulled the trigger. However, sales guy said they sold it and they were out of stock until October 5th so I said put me on the list.
Oct 5th came around and I got a text that said, "now expected November 30th". So this was an exercise in patience. However, 2 weeks later I am mountain biking in Moab with my son and get a message saying they have "one" and it's mine if I want it. I'm thinking "great, only one, so I can't choose my favorite and I am too impatient to wait". After getting to good cell service (again, biking in the desert), I called asked if I could see it on their site he says "hold on, I'll email pics to you". Then says "oh this one is beautiful". I'm thinking....right mr. sales guy. I get the email, and it was perfect! (to me anyway). So I pulled the trigger.
I feel so lucky, because a week or so later, other models showed up on their site and quite frankly, were some of the most uninspiring grain patterns I had seen.
I also did the same mods as my Custom 24-08....except.....I though the amber lampshades would look good as they kind of tie in with the maple edge grain...but I think I like the stock ones better so I put them back on. Love this grain with its odd pattern on the lower bought.
Anyway, that was long winded!
Name is Kendall, I'm 51, live in Utah and have played since I was roughly 13....but don't let that fool you, I'm still not any good. I worked in a music store for about 4 years in my late teens early 20's, First doing piano deliveries and minor guitar repair, then combo sales and guitar repair.
As the 80's being my music formative years, I was always a Charvel/Jackson and Ibanez guy. I remember seeing PRS show up but didn't pay a whole of attention. Then at the Winter NAMM (1992?) when the first Dragon appeared, I took note. I've always appreciated the wood and appearance of PRS...but again....80's guy. Then for whatever reason a few years ago, PRS's kept popping up in Sweetwater and other adds on Facebook. They started to speak to me, as you all understand, and so I started to learn the models.
As I mentioned, I am not really a good player and I have a couple sort of expensive hobbies so Core is not in my near future....so as I learned about SE's I decided it was time....and I had not bought a new electric in 30 years! I had a Charvel from my music store days and made a trade with my brother in law for another Charvel about 15 years ago....so big dry spell. So I in the fall of 2021 I talked the wife into an early birthday/Christmas and bought an SE Custom 24-08. Absolutely love it. Made all the usual upgrades....locking tuners, lampshade knobs, Pure Tone Jack and a Switchcraft 3-way toggle (this was very welcomed and needed).
Kind of a side story.....since I was getting back into guitar a bit more seriously (I told the wife, I buy gear, I get motivated, since she is a musician, she's ok with this!)....and since I am not a good player but still enjoying looking at them, having this new guitar prompted me to want to remodel our basement to more appropriately display them (except the acoustics, they stay in their cases). Painted everything, hung wooden planks, lighting (of course!) and new carpet, this guitar ended up costing me a lot of money!
Around late summer of last year.....I started getting the itch again and the SE 245's price is hard to ignore....so once again, I nicely asked wifey for another early birthday/Christmas present. She was on board....bless her heart. Initially, I was looking at the all mahogany standard but then the charcoal burst began to speak to me. I realized how it can be difficult to find a visually stunning piece of flame veneer so I was keeping my eyes peeled and selection was pretty low....and I am impatient.
Anyway, late September, I got a text from my Sweetwater sales rep, saying "secret sale, all guitar stuff, but you have to call". I didn't really think they'd discount a PRS, but thought it was worth a try. I called....and he said he'd knock a $100 off, so I couldn't pass this up. Their site said they had one in inventory, visually, it was ok and wanted the deal so I pulled the trigger. However, sales guy said they sold it and they were out of stock until October 5th so I said put me on the list.
Oct 5th came around and I got a text that said, "now expected November 30th". So this was an exercise in patience. However, 2 weeks later I am mountain biking in Moab with my son and get a message saying they have "one" and it's mine if I want it. I'm thinking "great, only one, so I can't choose my favorite and I am too impatient to wait". After getting to good cell service (again, biking in the desert), I called asked if I could see it on their site he says "hold on, I'll email pics to you". Then says "oh this one is beautiful". I'm thinking....right mr. sales guy. I get the email, and it was perfect! (to me anyway). So I pulled the trigger.
I feel so lucky, because a week or so later, other models showed up on their site and quite frankly, were some of the most uninspiring grain patterns I had seen.
I also did the same mods as my Custom 24-08....except.....I though the amber lampshades would look good as they kind of tie in with the maple edge grain...but I think I like the stock ones better so I put them back on. Love this grain with its odd pattern on the lower bought.
Anyway, that was long winded!
