looking for my next one....

[henryjurstin13]

I'm kinda feeling like I'm getting the bug to get a new guitar, and PRS is usually what gets me excited. I still don't own a 335, and almost bought a Reverend Gristlemaster... but, I'm really comfortable/familiar with PRS. I'd love some suggestions, as maybe I'm overlooking some options. Budget is $2k-ish, I'm totally fine with player grade used stuff - dings & dents don't bother me at all. I've seen ToneGeek's CE24 with a middle humbucker, and it intrigues me. I've only played a Special Semi-Hollow once, but that one didn't seem to be different enough from what I've got to justify the price (maybe I need to play one again/adjust middle pickup height?).

Own:
McCarty Archtop
2002 McCarty
DGT
Silver Sky
SE SAS

What I like/want:
satin neck (torrefied looks like $$$)
quacky sounds (similar to a strat #2 & #4)
neck humbucker tones
versatility & pickup options
I like the body carve of a core
stoptail or trem (neither is a necessity)

What I don't like/want:
pickup hum
floyd rose
super flat fretboard radius

 

[RedGuitars]

My avatar guitar.

 

[henryjurstin13]

My avatar guitar.

Get outta my head..... I literally started searching the BM models about 3 minutes ago! I'm not even joking.... advice or anything noteworthy on the BM?

 

[FatFingerBlues]

Cu24-08

 

[bodia]

It doesn't meet your likes/wants, but a Santana is always the correct answer.

 

[JasonE]

For what you like, it sounds like you have what you need. I know I am not helping with the enablement.

 

[Stephen J.]

My avatar guitar.

I was going to say that.

But since the core body shape is desirable, I say MEV.

 

[SinSir]

Older core SAS..slap a freeway in there and a set of 5708..perfection. I did end up going with a 5815LT in the neck of mine but flip a coin on that vs the 5708 neck.

Mines a 97 and those early years mostly have killer flame in the neck. Keep the push pull/pull on the tone pot and adding a 6 way freeway gives you every tone imaginable with ease. Of course has a core carve. It's easily my most versatile guitar. Can get close or close enough to about everything out there.

Here's my NGD thread and post #21 is how it still sits today.

NGD OG SAS Swamp Ash Special

I've been after a SAS for a while. Heck I've wanted a swamp ash guitar for even longer. The blue ones always get me going, but when I stumbled on this '97 sunburst locally I had to pounce. Right now I have it set up with Porter pickups, an Alnico H90 (humbucker p90) in the neck and WRH (wide...

forums.prsguitars.com

 

[RickP]

Core NF3s are made of Unobtainium these days, but they do cover the sounds you reference in the OP. Based on that and the core carve, I’d say that the Studio is your guitar. Variety of tones, nice neck tones with quack in the 4 spot, no hum, available as a stop tail. You might have to touch up the neck tones get the satin feel. The cost would be you challenge, at least since Covid-pricing became a thing.

Perhaps the SE NF3 might be a cheaper chance to take. If you can scare up a core NF3 or 3 pickup Narrowfield model, grab it!

 

[Stephen J.]

advice or anything noteworthy on the BM?

I like mine over the NF3 and DC3 because it has the Pattern/WF neck profile. I find it more comfortable to play than the standard PRS body shape. The sound is great. I also have a Paul’s Guitar and an MEV. The bridge pickup of the Paul’s Guitar sound better than the BM and the MEV single coil sounds better than the BM, but I don’t think either are substantially better than the BM. I also prefer the feel of the satin maple on the BM over the gloss necks on the PG and MEV. With all three guitars, I tend to like the single coil mode, especially with the neck pickups.

 

[Monahan]

"...What I like/want:
satin neck (torrefied looks like $$$)
quacky sounds (similar to a strat #2 & #4)
neck humbucker tones
versatility & pickup options
I like the body carve of a core
stoptail or trem (neither is a necessity)

What I don't like/want:
pickup hum
floyd rose
super flat fretboard radius

Well then, that's an easy one:

It checks all the boxes you listed above:
- Satin neck
- Quacky sounds in positions 2 & 4
- Versatility & Pickup options: Narrow-field pickups, 5-way switch, push/pull tone knob
- Stoptail
- Narrow-field humbucking pickups
- No Floyd
- 10" radius is not "super flat."
- Used prices in the $ teens, new a few hundred more (depending)

So that's my suggestion based on your criteria.

Now, if you want something REALLY special:

The NF53 is far and away my desert island guitar.

A lot of folks online dismiss this guitar (the MK as well) as just another Tele clone, but 99% of them have never even played either guitar. Yes there is an element of the Telecaster there, but these guitars are so much more.

Both of these seem to be flying under the radar; PRS did a few promotional videos at launch in 2023-- then basically moved on. YouTubers did the basic reviews, and with very few exceptions forgot about them altogether. SO, that means these guitars can be found cheap used, and there are good deals to be had used if you're patient and look around.

One thing that surprised me about the NF53 is how interactive the pickups/electronics are-- there's A LOT of tones you can coax from these two pickups.

They may look like Telecasters, but in truth they're Resto-mods:

At the very least they are worth consideration

Best of luck in your search!

 

[henryjurstin13]

@Monahan I texted one of my buddies last week, telling him how much I wanted to go check out a MK. ON THE LIST!!!!

 

[dogrocketp]

Looks to me like it’s time for a 24 fretted with 24/08 wiring.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Core NF3s are made of Unobtainium these days, but they do cover the sounds you reference in the OP. Based on that and the core carve, I’d say that the Studio is your guitar. Variety of tones, nice neck tones with quack in the 4 spot, no hum, available as a stop tail. You might have to touch up the neck tones get the satin feel. The cost would be you challenge, at least since Covid-pricing became a thing.

Perhaps the SE NF3 might be a cheaper chance to take. If you can scare up a core NF3 or 3 pickup Narrowfield model, grab it!

Look what came up for sale here recently-

PRS NF3 Original 1st USA Guitar + OFHC | eBay

Stunning ORIGINAL PRS NF3 from 2012. Impossibly hard to find one of this ans a much sought after Guitar by session guitarist and players that want a guitar with the ultimate variability.

www.ebay.co.uk

 

[RickP]

Look what came up for sale here recently-

PRS NF3 Original 1st USA Guitar + OFHC | eBay

Stunning ORIGINAL PRS NF3 from 2012. Impossibly hard to find one of this ans a much sought after Guitar by session guitarist and players that want a guitar with the ultimate variability.

www.ebay.co.uk

Wow! That's a steal, especially in the UK. It would be worth it even for a USA buyer at that price. I'll be gigging both of mine Saturday night... such good guitars!

@henryjurstin13 Give this one a close look. One for sale, and at a decent price, is rare as hen's teeth these days.

 

[bodia]

Look what came up for sale here recently-

PRS NF3 Original 1st USA Guitar + OFHC | eBay

Stunning ORIGINAL PRS NF3 from 2012. Impossibly hard to find one of this ans a much sought after Guitar by session guitarist and players that want a guitar with the ultimate variability.

www.ebay.co.uk

That's a pretty good price

 

[scramble59]

2012 core NF3, natural gold korina, maple fingerboard with bird inlays and open-back tuners, now listed on Craigslist Baltimore.

Sorry, I can't seem to figure out how to post a photo.

'Just in time for Christmas'

 

[Stephen J.]

2012 core NF3, natural gold korina, maple fingerboard with bird inlays and open-back tuners, now listed on Craigslist Baltimore.

Sorry, I can't seem to figure out how to post a photo.

'Just in time for Christmas'

https://baltimore.craigslist.org/msg/d/phoenix-paul-reed-smith-prs-nf3/7812463225.html

 

[Greywolf]

oh that would be the ticket!

 

[TFC]

Swamp Ash Special Narrowfield would be worth considering. Three Narrowfield pickups gets you some quack and with the core body style and a satin neck. There is one on Reverb right now in your price range.

But I would never discourage anyone from getting an NF3. More quack than the SAS, but Strat body style instead of PRS. Lots of versatility.