Moondog Wily
Howlin' At The Moon!
I echo what Les has said regarding all of these answers being right! It really comes down to what you want and what you value as an individual.
My first PRS was in February this year (2021 McCarty 594 HBII Wood Library). I purchased that specific guitar for two reasons. First was, I have wanted a PRS for 25+ years, but could never justify having one based on my lack of ability and frequency of guitar playing. Considering both of these elements had changed significantly in the past 2 years, I felt it was time and began searching in Dec '20. Second was, I wanted a one-piece top and this had one piece top and one piece back (here are some photos - second post on that 4th page - post #62). After searching for about 6 weeks for the PRS to buy, it took me less than 30 minutes to pull the trigger on this one. After receiving it and playing it, I could not be happier. It is the guitar that I play the most every single day.
My second PRS (Core CU24 10 top) was purchased 3 weeks later. I loved that first one so much after playing it, that I understood the fandom of this brand. Although I am not a great player (probably just shy of good), I can feel the difference and wish I would have played one of these 25 years ago when I first became aware of them. They are an inspiration to play and got me to buy a second one just weeks later. I like the feel better of the neck on this one than my HBII, but I like the low weight and the tones of the HBII better. This second one also had a finalized date on the hang tag that was on my birthday, which led me to the third one.
My third PRS (PS CU24 2021 Winter NAMM) was purchased largely due to the fact that it had a special day on it's headstock. I would not have purchased this PS if it did not have this day on the headstock ;~)) That said, this guitar is phenomenal!!! Two things (beyond beauty) that stand out for me on this PS are the fretboard feel and the tone. The fretboard is Hormigo wood and like a maple board, it seems to have some kind of coating on it. Whatever the case is, between that wood, whatever it is coated with and the PS frets, sliding on that fretboard is like greased glass. Sooooooooo easy to slide up and down the neck (although I wish the neck itself was a satin finish and I may make it so once I find the balls to alter my PS)! The tone is the other element that sets it apart from my other PRSi! Simply incredible! Best playing and sounding guitar I have ever touched ;~))
So that said, my opinion is that, with the identical treatments (same fretboard wood, same pick ups and electronics, etc.), a WL guitar can sound and feel 95% or more, as good as a PS. Question is, can you find a WL guitar that has the combinations you want! If you can, get a WL and you can buy two of them for the price of a single PS. If not, and you have to have wood X and pickups Z, go PS!
As for case queens, I will never buy something that I do not intend to use for it's purpose, and I generally do not buy pricey stuff that I do not want to keep for life. Am I paranoid about dings and scratches, swirls, etc.? Of course! But that will not stop me from using them for the purpose they were bought for. If I am not able to play guitars some day, these works of art will be hung on the walls of my domicile so I can appreciate their beauty, I do NOT intend on ever parting with any of these three (or my two Martin's, 1989 Steinberger, my two Harley's, etc.) for any reason. I will be putting them in my will to go to some children's music program when I pass away as I think young musicians should be able to experience what a guitar is supposed to feel/sound like!!!
I will be speccing my first PS build late this year, and I am thinking it is going to be an Angelus, but am still on the fence as I need to play one first, but that will mean taking an airplane somewhere to do so ;~(( Best of luck with your search and know that, regardless of the path you take, all PRS gitfiddles are at the top of their respective games!!!
Happy GAS'in'!
MW
My first PRS was in February this year (2021 McCarty 594 HBII Wood Library). I purchased that specific guitar for two reasons. First was, I have wanted a PRS for 25+ years, but could never justify having one based on my lack of ability and frequency of guitar playing. Considering both of these elements had changed significantly in the past 2 years, I felt it was time and began searching in Dec '20. Second was, I wanted a one-piece top and this had one piece top and one piece back (here are some photos - second post on that 4th page - post #62). After searching for about 6 weeks for the PRS to buy, it took me less than 30 minutes to pull the trigger on this one. After receiving it and playing it, I could not be happier. It is the guitar that I play the most every single day.
My second PRS (Core CU24 10 top) was purchased 3 weeks later. I loved that first one so much after playing it, that I understood the fandom of this brand. Although I am not a great player (probably just shy of good), I can feel the difference and wish I would have played one of these 25 years ago when I first became aware of them. They are an inspiration to play and got me to buy a second one just weeks later. I like the feel better of the neck on this one than my HBII, but I like the low weight and the tones of the HBII better. This second one also had a finalized date on the hang tag that was on my birthday, which led me to the third one.
My third PRS (PS CU24 2021 Winter NAMM) was purchased largely due to the fact that it had a special day on it's headstock. I would not have purchased this PS if it did not have this day on the headstock ;~)) That said, this guitar is phenomenal!!! Two things (beyond beauty) that stand out for me on this PS are the fretboard feel and the tone. The fretboard is Hormigo wood and like a maple board, it seems to have some kind of coating on it. Whatever the case is, between that wood, whatever it is coated with and the PS frets, sliding on that fretboard is like greased glass. Sooooooooo easy to slide up and down the neck (although I wish the neck itself was a satin finish and I may make it so once I find the balls to alter my PS)! The tone is the other element that sets it apart from my other PRSi! Simply incredible! Best playing and sounding guitar I have ever touched ;~))
So that said, my opinion is that, with the identical treatments (same fretboard wood, same pick ups and electronics, etc.), a WL guitar can sound and feel 95% or more, as good as a PS. Question is, can you find a WL guitar that has the combinations you want! If you can, get a WL and you can buy two of them for the price of a single PS. If not, and you have to have wood X and pickups Z, go PS!
As for case queens, I will never buy something that I do not intend to use for it's purpose, and I generally do not buy pricey stuff that I do not want to keep for life. Am I paranoid about dings and scratches, swirls, etc.? Of course! But that will not stop me from using them for the purpose they were bought for. If I am not able to play guitars some day, these works of art will be hung on the walls of my domicile so I can appreciate their beauty, I do NOT intend on ever parting with any of these three (or my two Martin's, 1989 Steinberger, my two Harley's, etc.) for any reason. I will be putting them in my will to go to some children's music program when I pass away as I think young musicians should be able to experience what a guitar is supposed to feel/sound like!!!
I will be speccing my first PS build late this year, and I am thinking it is going to be an Angelus, but am still on the fence as I need to play one first, but that will mean taking an airplane somewhere to do so ;~(( Best of luck with your search and know that, regardless of the path you take, all PRS gitfiddles are at the top of their respective games!!!
Happy GAS'in'!
MW
