Petition to Bring Back the Original Mira!

[slysendice]

I've been a big fan of the Mira ever since I first laid eyes on it, and have been saving for one for years. Now PRS have discontinued the beautiful original in favour of its ugly little brother, the S2 Mira. It's official now, the standard Mira isn't even on their website anymore.

My biggest beefs: That gross pickguard instead of the beautiful, majestic flowing one that they had originally, and the fact that they seem to have flattened the curves out (not the top carves, the actual body shape. And no, it's not just because the S2 has 22 frets. The Mira X looked just fine and it only had 22 frets and a flat top).

So this is my petition to bring back the original Mira (not really, I just want to see if anyone agrees with me).

I could always get a used one, but:

a) I'll be waiting a while before I find a white (or Sandstorm) one on the used market (I've never seen one)
b) I love getting and unboxing a brand new instrument.

So, anyone agree with me that the original Mira looked significantly better than the new S2 model does?

 

[HANGAR18]

Classic Axe has at least two original Mira guitars, new in stock.
http://www.classicaxe.com/
Tell them Danny said "Hi".

 

[prs19]

I think this one is a little expensive on eBay, but it definitely caught my eye!!!! What do you think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/291062574023?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[CantankerousCarl]

I may ultimately be proven to be in the minority, but I think my S2 Mira is a better guitar than my previous Core 2008 Mira MT W/T was.

I found my 08 to be a bit neck-divey as compared to my other 24 fretters. I also find the splits on the S2 Mira (esp. the bridge pup) to be much more usable. I am also probably bitter from the wicked dead spot it had right on "D" (worst @ D string 12th fret). That I chalk off to being an anomaly as I have had no other significantly noticeable dead spots on any other of my PRSes.

Aesthetically, I did the new shape, find it more balanced and proportional. So yes I am in love with my S2 Mira, play that one nearly every day, it always finds its way into my rotation.

You're going to pay nearly exactly the same for a used Core or a new S2, so it's all a matter of preference. I don't think you will see a resurgence of the core Mira considering how they pretty much tried to S2-it and the Starla before (the "X" variants) and from a business standpoint (quality/price/profitability) they may have gotten it right this time.

 

[László]

I loved my original Mira. Sure, it looked a little nicer. It was also a lot more money than the S2. So there's that.

 

[Egads]

I, too, like the looks of the original more than the S2. For me, it's all about the pickguard shape and it forming the pickup rings. I totally get the financial reasons, but if they can do the CU and SC with pickup rings, why not do the same with the Mira and bring back the old pickguard? That said, I haven't played an S2, so I cannot comment on the comfort, playability, and tones. I DO love mine with 57/08s for all three categories.

Slysendice, there was a special run of white Miras (I think they all had gold hardware--correct me if I'm wrong). I played one and liked it (and the matching JA-15 that was sitting next to it!).

 

[gball]

I may ultimately be proven to be in the minority, but I think my S2 Mira is a better guitar than my previous Core 2008 Mira MT W/T was.

I'll join the minority vote then. I'd wanted a Mira for a while, and around the same time I was planning to pull the trigger the S2 version came around and I preferred it so that is what I bought. I think it is a better looking guitar (aside from flamey tops, but since I am an opaque-finish kind of guy that doesn't enter into for me), better realized for the type of instrument it is, and not only do I prefer the look of the pickguard I happen to quite like the fact that it has the pickups suspended and the entire assembly can be removed as one, like a Strat. It seems to play better than the older ones to me as well and the tapped sounds are killer. I hope they keep these just the way they are - would like to get another and drop some 'bucker-sized P90's into it.

 

[Sage]

I agree that the original design is superior, but I don't think the changes are terribly drastic, and to be honest, the Mira and Starla always seemed like the redheaded stepchildren of the core PRS line. The S2 lineup really seems like a more appropriate place for them.

If you're jonesing for a white original Mira, my local shop has one: http://guitarrez.com/prsinventory/prsmirawh.html
No idea why it hasn't sold. I know those 2008 Jet White models were a limited run. If I was in the market for a Mira, I'd be giving that one some serious thought.

 

[Gnal]

Mira's are cool, I really like the MiraX I just have an aversion to blade switches which is the only reason I have not pulled the trigger on one. Personally, the discontinued model I miss most is the SC250 and now (as funds permit) I am keeping an eye out for used ones.

As for the S2 vs the old Mira (and MiraX), I feel Egads nailed it when he said the pickguard shape change is the biggest detractor to the new S2. The old guard was just simple, small and classy; the new swoopy one well... meh.

 

[Egads]

Personally, the discontinued model I miss most is the SC250 and now (as funds permit) I am keeping an eye out for used ones.

Well, Gnal, you're in luck, as the SC250 is back (as part of the Artist Package)! Of course, that probably means the price is up...

 

[HANGAR18]

I always thought of the Mira as a MUCH better alternative for those who were inclined to play a Gibson SG.
There was a time when I thought I'd like to try something different and looked at the SG's, but then I came to my senses and bought a brand new Mira.
Eventually I sold the Mira and now I favor different (bigger beefy'r) models of PRS guitars than the Mira but they are still great guitars.
I hope more SG players discover Mira's and "jump ship".

 

[slysendice]

Glad to see some people agree with me! I get that the price on the S2 is attractive. I just think it was a bad move for PRS to introduce the S2 and eliminate the original, because people like us, who think that the original seriously looked SO MUCH better, are just going to go into the used market for an original Mira (at which point it's at a similar price range to the S2 anyway), so PRS isn't going to make any money off us anymore. Maybe the Mira just wasn't popular enough, so they figured they should just make a cheaper version of it that's cheaper to make, but if that weren't the case I would think it would have been a good decision to keep the original Mira (especially because they've changed it so much cosmetically).

So that's what I'm doing, personally. I'm gonna raise some money, and wait for a white one or a sandstorm one to pop up used somewhere, then pounce on it.

 

[Whitecat]

I hate SGs yet I love Miras... go figure!

 

[slysendice]

Mira's are cool, I really like the MiraX I just have an aversion to blade switches which is the only reason I have not pulled the trigger on one. Personally, the discontinued model I miss most is the SC250 and now (as funds permit) I am keeping an eye out for used ones.

As for the S2 vs the old Mira (and MiraX), I feel Egads nailed it when he said the pickguard shape change is the biggest detractor to the new S2. The old guard was just simple, small and classy; the new swoopy one well... meh.

I totally agree, actually. While I do find the shape of the original Mira is slightly more round (which is more attractive to me - more Les Paul Special-esque), I have to say I agree that if the pickguard was the same I probably wouldn't have even noticed a change.