bodia
Authorities said.....best leave it.....unsolved
Apparently, I don't know Jack...
I see what you did there
Apparently, I don't know Jack...
Apparently, I don't know Jack...
Whoa! That is hilarious - I agree, that is a b-stock that should have sold as a b-stock. I have an SE single cut cherryburst that is a b-stock, with a similar top mis-match, but nowahere near as mis-matched as that guitar. I think somebody at PRS SE QC just said, hmmmm, and crossed their fingers.So I posted this on Reddit and tons of people suggested sending it back and it shouldn’t have left PRS QC etc... I’d love to hear what PRS owners think. I love the finishes on PRS guitars I see online but, I don’t have a dealer local. I typically purchase everything online and this is the first time one upset me. The sales engineer said he’ll personally screen the next one in different light then there professional photo booth. The pictures in the Imgur album start with the S.W. photos they provide me prior to shipping and then photos I took when it arrived today.
https://imgur.com/a/nRl8X
PRS doesn't do "B-stock".Whoa! That is hilarious - I agree, that is a b-stock that should have sold as a b-stock. I have an SE single cut cherryburst that is a b-stock, with a similar top mis-match, but nowahere near as mis-matched as that guitar. I think somebody at PRS SE QC just said, hmmmm, and crossed their fingers.
My apologies. I meant returned to the dealer, and sold as open box.PRS doesn't do "B-stock".
It is quite possible when the guitar was being QCed that it looked a bit uneven, but that has never been a claim for the SE line - there are no "10 tops", there is no promise of even bookmatching in "normal" lighting conditions. There are a ton of SE guitars that do have fantastic symmetry - I have a few. But I've seen my share of those that don't. If it had been photographed by SW in a manner that made it appear closer to the reality of the OP's photos, it still would have sold, to someone who didn't mind the asymmetry.
So a bit of a bummer, but a solvable problem - SW will swap it out for one that looks better to the OP.
EDIT: if you look at the OP's photos, the ones taken with flash that are more straight on seem to more closely match the SW shots - still a bit uneven, but you can see the flame is relatively symmetrical. But as other have posted, if you look from above or below, it will tend to favor left vs right - that is just the nature of how "curly maple" reacts to lighting and point-of-view.
I don't think that's really done either for PRS. I only see them marked as 'used' or 'demo'.My apologies. I meant returned to the dealer, and sold as open box.
I think that is what I just said. Any guitar returned to any dealer is for them to sell any way they want. Some have open box, some have scratch and dent, etc. I tried to apologize for using incorrect nomenclature, so whatever.I don't think that's really done either for PRS. I only see them marked as 'used' or 'demo'.
. I’ve never had a dual volume knob guitar and I can see that getting annoying. Switch placement and scale length are different for me and will take some getting used to.
This “Barber pole effect” is common in bookmatched pieces of veneer. The blade creates a “loose” side where the pores are opened and “tight” side wher the pores are compressed. Depending on the type of wood and the stain used it will be more or less obvious. It looks the most obvious on tightly flamed veneers and lighter stain colors...but it is always there to some degree. (I can see this effect on every flamed top SE I’ve ever owned or held in person, it’s much more subtle to absent on quilted or spalted maple veneers) Different lighting and angles will accentuate or lessen the contrast between the two sides in a photograph. Understanding this, and having much experience with SW and PRS, I would not consider it a lapse in quality control or deliberate attempt by either company to misrepresent their product. Products made of wood are going to be subject to the laws of natural variation and unpredictability. That being said...I believe both companies will always “make it right” if a customer is unhappy for whatever reason.
What the Boss said!It’s a book match. The photos at Sweetwater were taken under controlled lighting.
Note that in my post I did say it’s “GC with better service and selection.” In fact, go into a GC, and of course you see and play the guitar in person, something you can’t do with mail-order, but I digress.
I’ve bought from Sweetwater since the 80s. I still buy studio gear from them, most recently a month ago. I’ve bought a ton there, and still will when they have hardware I need.
SW has a good return policy, to be sure. But they can’t come within a mile of someone like Jack Gretz, or some of the other dealers if your guitar has a problem that needs fixing. Not even close!
I’ve had a lot of PRSes. Sometimes a pot, or switch, or some darn thing goes bad. With Jack, I talk to the owner; a call tag is emailed to me same day, and the guitar gets picked up, no waiting, no issues. Smooth.
If Jack can fix it, it’s done the day he gets it, and it’s shipped back to me that day. And the repair is immaculate. If it needs to go to PRS, it gets sent there instead of his shop. Note that Jack is a luthier who’s built hundreds of guitars, not some dude working anonymously in a big service department.
Try that with Sweetwater; it doesn’t happen. As I said,I know because I’m their customer for lots of studio gear, and have been since the 80s!
If i’m Interested in a guitar, I get a video clip from Jack of the exact guitar being played through a PRS amp like one I have, to get an idea of how it sounds. Jack’s return policy is same as SW. The pics on Jack’s site - as with other top dealers all over the country - are of the exact guitar you’re looking at.
But the level of PRS knowledge, dealing with the owner, speed of service, etc.? Jack knows my taste. More than once I’ve been interested in a guitar, and he’s said, “That one’s not for you, Schef. You won’t like it.” No one from SW will tell you that.
Jack’s not the only one. I believe there are a few dealers out there that are better. If you disagree, great, no skin off my nose. Just trying to share some advice based on long experience with SW. The OP asked for opinions, that one’s mine.