No PRS' Played Around Here at ALL-I'm the Rare Bird

[Rockmark]

I am in the San Diego area. I know and have played w many guitarists down here over the years. Many worked all the clubs and casinos around. WHAT IS THE DEAL. I never see anyone, not anyone w a PRS. I feel like am the only one except for (Ronnie Lee) an endorsee that plays a PRS. Do they not have the right rep or any on this coast? Every new guitarist I end up playing with comments on how nice my PRS's are but they all have Fenders, or knock offs or Gibsons or Ibanez.
And no one has ever knocked the sounds of my guitars. In fact I take my board everywhere and when I have it all going I even get a happily raised eyebrow from some others once in a while. Granted, further north in Orange and LA counties I have seen a little more PRS use. But not much at all. Not like in the east and other parts of the country.
I may be one of the biggest PRS proponents exposing others in this geography. In fact after thinking about this I should call Paul and have him send me some samples to seed around the county for more exposure. Jus' sayn'.
What's it like in your geography. Do the stores have big inventories of PRS and do the salespeople seem to know anything about them. I feel like I have personally taught many sales folks in music stores out here all about PRS and the models and history. Or does your area seem like what I have run up on. Do you have to go a major distance to see a PRS? Are you the Rare Bird in your town??? I can imagine this lack of knowledge and use occurring in small town situations but San Diego? Your thoughts?

 

[SundanceSanDiego]

Hey Rockmark - I'm in Encinitas (North County San Diego), and agree with the low visibility of PRS here...not sure what it is. MusicStore Live/PitBull Audio is practically the oasis in SoCal for PRS sightings. Can't really speak to the usage by artists in the area but take your word for it...next time Paul comes to MSL for demo videos, maybe we can get the store to do some promo work and get a crowd, especially if Paul is willing to play.

 

[Rockmark]

Hey Rockmark - I'm in Encinitas (North County San Diego), and agree with the low visibility of PRS here...not sure what it is. MusicStore Live/PitBull Audio is practically the oasis in SoCal for PRS sightings. Can't really speak to the usage by artists in the area but take your word for it...next time Paul comes to MSL for demo videos, maybe we can get the store to do some promo work and get a crowd, especially if Paul is willing to play.

Hi Sundance, good to see a neighbor here. Welcome also as a new poster. We did have Paul here once, El Cajon Guitar Center w Howard Leese. I believe it was around 2008 when PRS was really ramping up and they were doing "Road Shows". I brought a Dragon and there were about 8 rows full of maybe 50 people drooling. Then Howard played it on a little stage for them which was a good experience. I ended going home w a Leese PS golden Eagle. Gas hit again and it was right there in front of my face. In those days walls at GC were packed w PRS's of all kinds in quantity. Now it's good luck finding any good ones on the wall for selection.

 

[merciful-evans]

PRS are common in the uk. In fact, its mandatory to get a PRS every 3rd guitar you buy. The Musician's-Union will branch any instance of non compliance.
This is enshrined in law by the Stripey Guitar Act under the Blair-administration.

 

[littlebadboy]

Same in my area in Northern Illinois. I have only seen one person play a PRSi at our church. People come and go when I sell some of my gear. In our short chats, none among them had a PRSi either.

Interesting...

 

[elvis]

I'm in NoCal. Lots of people here own PRS based on resales, and we have a couple decent dealers, but I'm the only one I've seen gig them.

 

[Rockmark]

Interesting re N Ca. I do know that at least 3 or 4 major artist live in the Bay area and play PRS for decades. Carlos, Howard Leese, Neil Schon, Tommy Johnson and a few others. In S. Cal. the majority of big artists still are into Gibson and Fender. Go figure. PRS is soooo much better overall.

 

[WA Paul]

The Guitar Store in Seattle carries a large inventory of PRS at all times and most folks there are quite knowledgeable about them. They’ve done some great WL runs the past few years. Ask for Ted - he’s the man! I wish they would stock PS ones, but you can order them and they are great to work with - here is my proof

The other local stores not so much. At the local GCs they’ve nearly vanished except for a couple of SEs and maybe a couple of core ones - was much better about 10+ years ago.

I don’t get out much these days due to my chronic illness, so no idea on what the locals use. Historically, like most places, G & F seem to dominate.

 

[elvis]

Interesting re N Ca. I do know that at least 3 or 4 major artist live in the Bay area and play PRS for decades. Carlos, Howard Leese, Neil Schon, Tommy Johnson and a few others. In S. Cal. the majority of big artists still are into Gibson and Fender. Go figure. PRS is soooo much better overall.

Agreed, though they don't actually play here that much, other than Carlos.

I was thinking more clubbing bands. I see only ESP/LTD plus the F and G brands.

 

[elvis]

Actually we had a band open for us three or four years ago with a guitarist who played an SE. So there's that.

 

[Rockmark]

Agreed, though they don't actually play here that much, other than Carlos.

I was thinking more clubbing bands. I see only ESP/LTD plus the F and G brands.

I was thinking more on the line of an exposure to the brand thing. Since they are know by everyone up north as residents maybe more of the local musicians up there have payed more attention to what the big guys are using. Interesting that you stated the working bands up there are not into PRS either. I want everyone to play PRS!!!!

 

[BWV548]

I'm in NoCal. Lots of people here own PRS based on resales, and we have a couple decent dealers, but I'm the only one I've seen gig them.

Really? Who are they? Danville Music is the only one I know that carries more than a couple. Bananas at Large seems to typically have 1 or 2 at best. Which shops am I missing?

 

[elvis]

Really? Who are they? Danville Music is the only one I know that carries more than a couple. Bananas at Large seems to typically have 1 or 2 at best. Which shops am I missing?

The various GCs have them come and go. Guitar Showcase is better. You might check Gelb as well.

 

[ScottR]

The Guitar Store in Seattle carries a large inventory of PRS at all times and most folks there are quite knowledgeable about them. They’ve done some great WL runs the past few years. Ask for Ted - he’s the man! I wish they would stock PS ones, but you can order them and they are great to work with - here is my proof

The other local stores not so much. At the local GCs they’ve nearly vanished except for a couple of SEs and maybe a couple of core ones - was much better about 10+ years ago.

I don’t get out much these days due to my chronic illness, so no idea on what the locals use. Historically, like most places, G & F seem to dominate.

That one gets me everytime bro.

Keep playing if there ia anyway humanly possible my man!

 

[elvis]

The Guitar Store in Seattle carries a large inventory of PRS at all times and most folks there are quite knowledgeable about them. They’ve done some great WL runs the past few years. Ask for Ted - he’s the man! I wish they would stock PS ones, but you can order them and they are great to work with - here is my proof

The other local stores not so much. At the local GCs they’ve nearly vanished except for a couple of SEs and maybe a couple of core ones - was much better about 10+ years ago.

I don’t get out much these days due to my chronic illness, so no idea on what the locals use. Historically, like most places, G & F seem to dominate.

Is that a P245 Trem?

 

[László]

Interesting! I see lots of them in Detroit area bands.

 

[jak3af3r]

They're hit and miss in Nashville. Most people play a Tele or LP but I'll take my McCarty just to be different if I'm playing in town.

I think some of that has to do with that really long thread Les and I were explaining why producers want to see a certain guitar. Like you can't be "Nashville" unless you're playing a Tele in one of three colors: blonde, black, or sunburst it seems.

Good on you for being the outlier. You might start a trend.

 

[elvis]

Like you can't be "Nashville" unless you're playing a Tele in one of three colors: blonde, black, or sunburst it seems.

Being a tele guy, I can tell you that blonde, black and sunburst are the responsible colors. Those other colors are likely to show up unmotivated, unprepared or drunk. If they bother to show up at all. Avoid the blue ones at all cost

 

[jak3af3r]

Avoid the blue ones at all cost

That's funny because the Tele I get the most compliments on for looks and tone is ice blue metallic but I only bought it because of the neck, I don't care for the color.

 

[WA Paul]

Is that a P245 Trem?

Yes, with an all Braz RW neck. I originally wanted an SC594T with piezo, but they wanted an up charge for the CNC programming. I sacrificed the 0.094” and went with the P245T instead, but added the Pattern Vintage neck carve.