Much diff between a core/private stock?

[11top]

Part of the private stock difference is the whole experience of visiting the factory, exploring the wood library, and hanging with and picking the brains of the good people there. How do you place a monetary value on such an experience and memories?

 

[kingsleyd]

Part of the private stock difference is the whole experience of visiting the factory, exploring the wood library, and hanging with and picking the brains of the good people there. How do you place a monetary value on such an experience and memories?

Exactly.

It's innaresting: I have four PS guitars (although one is FS at the moment) and, of the four, the one for which I did the whole visit-the-factory, pick-the-wood, pick-Paul M's-brains routine is the one with which I have the strongest emotional relationship. Even though I didn't ever intend it to be a "main guitar" and it's probably the least well-suited of the four to what I play day-in and day-out, from a purely sonic perspective.

In comparison, one of the other PS guitars is much closer to how I would have spec'd a "main guitar" had that been my mission at the time. It was the product of a lot of discussion and evolution of ideas with a friend who is a PRS PS dealer (and had significant input from Paul M as well) but it was NOT specifically my guitar from the get-go and I had no direct involvement with the order/build process. It's a great guitar and I probably play it the most, especially when it's time to play with my band, but the emotional connection isn't there to the same extent.

Now, if I get a couple of hundred gigs down the road with the latter one, maybe things will start to feel different...

 

[Maertl513]

Part of the private stock difference is the whole experience of visiting the factory, exploring the wood library, and hanging with and picking the brains of the good people there. How do you place a monetary value on such an experience and memories?

But this all is limited to life either in MD (or being US residential) or having that couple of bucks to conduct this trip from abroad.
I have a custom order guitar made by a luthier 700 km away from my home. For taking over my guitar I drove 1.400 km in approx 13 hours, but spend 3 hour with my luthier.
I don't know how PRS keeps its PS customers in touch whilst phasis of genesis. My luthier e-mailed nearly on daily basis with pictures and description of work he did or he is about to do next.
He installed a homepage-based construction documentary (it's still online), and in the end he presented me this as a book incl. handover-takeover "ceremony".
Being witness of the genesis of custom made/luthier made instruments it's like joining giving birth.

 

[13bats]

Will Prs do this for any model
For instance I prefer the bolt on Ce 24 can I get custom color and different upgraded neck inlays
Like the birds outline in silver like the old ones ? Or is this only the cu 24

 

[vchizzle]

But this all is limited to life either in MD (or being US residential) or having that couple of bucks to conduct this trip from abroad.
I have a custom order guitar made by a luthier 700 km away from my home. For taking over my guitar I drove 1.400 km in approx 13 hours, but spend 3 hour with my luthier.
I don't know how PRS keeps its PS customers in touch whilst phasis of genesis. My luthier e-mailed nearly on daily basis with pictures and description of work he did or he is about to do next.
He installed a homepage-based construction documentary (it's still online), and in the end he presented me this as a book incl. handover-takeover "ceremony".
Being witness of the genesis of custom made/luthier made instruments it's like joining giving birth.

Well, I think you have to have a little perspective of the amount of guitars being built and how many people are involved in the process, right? There's efficiancy to consider. Depending on the number of instruments being built, that kind of service can be a full time job for one(or more) person. I think finding a dealer that will keep you updated to your liking is key. Have to be realistic on expectations in terms of the size/scale of the company you're dealing with. I was extremely happy with my PS experience and I did fly half way across the country for that personal interaction at the beginning of the build process. That part of it was really important to me. I'm not by any means a "wealthy" individual so my build was very important and I factored in the time and money to travel to do that part of it.

 

[The Fight]

I have an older Ibanez Artist that I will never get rid of. It is a fluke. I would put this guitar up against any American or hand built instrument. Yes I have done a lot of upgrades to it, but the neck, feel, action and balance of the guitar are incredible. Just the fact that someone cared when they put this one together. PRS seems to care about them all. IMO.

My Friend had an Ibanez Artist, it was the best guitar any of us had ever seen, we all loved it. I had gotten my 96 cu24 a little later and fell in love with it. I thought the PRS sounded so much better and the action/feel was out of this world in comparisons. A few months ago my friend found out that his Ibanez is worth $14,000 and sold it, apparently it is a rare Japanese 1980's something.. I always thought it was a cool guitar.

 

[Maertl513]

@vchizzle,
Thanks for your response. My luthier is a one-man-workshop with an output of up to 25 standard solidbody guitars (the "classic" three role models Tele, Strat, LP). My guitar was extremely complex to built. He guessed if he has to built that as a series, he only would produce less than 7 a year. The pricing would crush through the ceiling to raise money for a living.
The interaction between customer and producer is core, it´s that kind of service making a relationship special and foremost eternal (As an outcome don´t forget the worth of recommendation by mouth and word.).
One of my friends runs a one-man-workshop, his coup is that Mr. Billy Gibbons purchased last year one of his stock guitars and ordered a second one according to his specs. Recently, while touring Germany, the luthier was very proud to handover Billy his custom order. Out of the box Billy played the concert with his new guitar. Indeed he´s a collector, and a numerous of luthiers worked out a guitar for him.

Even PRS PS Division has a quite lager scale (personnel/output) those individual and direct B2C-service makes 1+++. I don´t know, if Hunter and his collegues of Customer Spt Service have that as an additional job supporting PS customers.

 

[jeffgoobs]

Will Prs do this for any model
For instance I prefer the bolt on Ce 24 can I get custom color and different upgraded neck inlays
Like the birds outline in silver like the old ones ? Or is this only the cu 24

Yes. They'll do whatever you want with any model, or help you design a new one. The only restriction is your wallet (and asking them to do things that are not physically possible... "I want a guitar that hovers in front of me!!" or whatever.)

 

[rbell1979]

Yes. They'll do whatever you want with any model, or help you design a new one. The only restriction is your wallet (and asking them to do things that are not physically possible... "I want a guitar that hovers in front of me!!" or whatever.)

Unless of course you asked them if they would build a 12 string wood resonator....that answer is no sadly......but one day I hope!

 

[László]

So far it looks like the answer is "no" with caveats, but on the other hand if we vetted our personal relationships as well as we vetted guitars...

I think the answer is "yes" with caveats. It's certainly yes for me.

so should I ask them for tips on dating or just guess the answers myself and get out there and date/marry the first specimen that comes available who I like? After all, the only way to find out is to play with a few.

Well, what do you think will give you the best information? Asking your friends for tips, or simply going out with some women, being yourself, and seeing who you like?

The point is, how are you going to know if all you have is second-hand information? To modify an old saw slightly...talking about tone is like dancing about architecture.

 

[11top]

Will Prs do this for any model
For instance I prefer the bolt on Ce 24 can I get custom color and different upgraded neck inlays
Like the birds outline in silver like the old ones ? Or is this only the cu 24

Are you asking if PRS will make any PRS model in PS? Assuming that is your question, I have (or have had) the following PSs:

CE (with two interchangeable necks)
Swamp ash special (bolt on)
2 Miras
Starla
NF3
double neck
CU 25.5 scale

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I have an older Ibanez Artist that I will never get rid of. It is a fluke. I would put this guitar up against any American or hand built instrument. Yes I have done a lot of upgrades to it, but the neck, feel, action and balance of the guitar are incredible. Just the fact that someone cared when they put this one together. PRS seems to care about them all. IMO.

I have one like that too! It is a 1979 model and was my high school graduation present. My first "real" guitar. GREAT guitar!

 

[Dancing Frog]

Do any of these differences (such as tone or mojo) change the sound in any measurable way coming out of the speaker assuming the guitars are being played in a similar manner and with similar setup? I am following discussions like this one with interest while I strive to figure out what higher end PRSi I should bring home (and in what order).

I did measure a spectrum when the PS515 came in, because I couldn't believe how much more bright and resonant it sounded. I compared that to both of its progenitors, an experience P22 and a maple necked 513, both through the pick ups and without. The only difference with the 513 was that it had a rosewood board instead of a maple one. I found the spectrum was shifted to the right a bit with a tad less low mids and a lot more presence. That was much more than I thought the difference between maple and rosewood fret boards should be. I also measured decay time and also found that the PS had a significantly longer decay time than the regular 513 maple. I'd love to run a complete apples to apples test some day.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

I did measure a spectrum when the PS515 came in, because I couldn't believe how much more bright and resonant it sounded.

Cool! ...like a waterfall plot, or...? So how did you do that?

When you figure out the magic formula that correlates a set of measurements with bad tone, good tone and better tone, please patent it, since a lot of guitar manufacturers will want "in" on that secret.

I think it's a foregone conclusion that luthiering is an art, not a science, but it can involve elements of science to improve the process, neh? Things like sustain time (which PRSh frequently mentions in his talks) and taking an MRI of the wood to search for knots or whatnot.

 

[13bats]

Are you asking if PRS will make any PRS model in PS? Assuming that is your question, I have (or have had) the following PSs:

CE (with two interchangeable necks)
Swamp ash special (bolt on)
2 Miras
Starla
NF3
double neck
CU 25.5 scale

Thanks , thats exactly what i wanted to know ,I honestly love the CE with the pattern thin neck bolt on but would love to get one like this blue green glow color .
obviously first thing is the CE carve is shallower so it won't be as 3D and i expect that ,but i love the color and similar pattern. I expect first off I would have to get a top 10 top then the color

http://willcuttguitars.com/paul-ree...-stock-2895-custom-24-blue-green-smoked-burst

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Part of the private stock difference is the whole experience of visiting the factory, exploring the wood library, and hanging with and picking the brains of the good people there. How do you place a monetary value on such an experience and memories?

Lollers. I'm a very practical person (and not much of a people person), so my immediate reaction to this was to cringe. Not that I find the idea of this distasteful, I just wouldn't cite it as a selling point, for all the people who buy private stock guitars without this part of the experience, I don't think they're getting any less of a guitar.

 

[11top]

Lollers. I'm a very practical person (and not much of a people person), so my immediate reaction to this was to cringe. Not that I find the idea of this distasteful, I just wouldn't cite it as a selling point, for all the people who buy private stock guitars without this part of the experience, I don't think they're getting any less of a guitar.

I agree those without the trip aren't getting any less of a guitar. But that's my point. Many want that experience and will pay a premium for it. Have you noticed how many "used' PSs are on the market now? And yet many will pay a bunch more for a new one. Admittedly, some do so to get exactly what they want, but there are a LOT of choices in the used market now.

 

[Dancing Frog]

Cool! ...like a waterfall plot, or...? So how did you do that?I think it's a foregone conclusion that luthiering is an art, not a science, but it can involve elements of science to improve the process, neh? Things like sustain time (which PRSh frequently mentions in his talks) and taking an MRI of the wood to search for knots or whatnot.

Actually, I used the tone matching block in an Axe-FX II XL. Took a sample of the PS515 and a sample of each of the two other guitars were I was playing the same thing. The tone matching block generates a differential EQ curve when you tell it to match the samples. I did it on several different pick up configurations on the 513's and compared piezo tones with the P22. I also close miked the 513's unplugged.

 

[Dusty Chalk]

Many want that experience and will pay a premium for it.

Yeah, see, I just don't get that. But as I said, I'm not a people person.

 

[clasbtenn]

Impossible to ever determine, as with people, guitars are all individually different, one-to-the-next...unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on your personal views.

There are no absolutes.

I just ordered a Vela, after having to cancel my last order for one, due to the guitar not being available yet. Will it be the great guitar others feel it is? Only I can judge that, and it may or may not be better then other Velas out there...but it BETTER BE!