Private Stock Questions

[Dead77guitars]

Hi guys, I'm here to do some research on the private stock guitars. I have a couple questions if someone would be kind and help me out.

Do you get to personally pick out the wood your guitar is built with at the vault?

Also, do you think prs would put "super eagle" style electronics on a guitar? I wasn't sure since the super eagle was limited.

Lastly, has anyone built a semi hollow McCarty 594? How did it sound?

Thanks in advance.

 

[toothace]

If you go to the vault with your dealer yes. Or your dealer can Skype/IM you while they are in the vault.

I believe it's already been done, so yes also(someone correct me if I'm misremembering)

There are a couple in the works...see Brian's latest Vault photos. Not sure if any have been completed.

 

[Dead77guitars]

If you go to the vault with your dealer yes. Or your dealer can Skype/IM you while they are in the vault.

I believe it's already been done, so yes also(someone correct me if I'm misremembering)

There are a couple in the works...see Brian's latest Vault photos. Not sure if any have been completed.

Thanks,

I still have to save a little more, but the experience of going to the vault and meeting the people making the guitar and picking out the wood would help justify the price to me. I would remember that for the rest of my life.

There should be a thread for people to review there private stock builds.

 

[Boogie]

If you go to the vault with your dealer yes. Or your dealer can Skype/IM you while they are in the vault.

I believe it's already been done, so yes also(someone correct me if I'm misremembering).

You are correct. They've had a direct line to Australia on at least one occasion. I witnessed the disembodied head (on an iPad) of Timmy W in the vault.

 

[Dead77guitars]

Thanks guys, anyone else with advice on creating a ps build?

 

[Tosca]

There should be a thread for people to review there private stock builds.

There are many such threads...here's a few I could locate quickly...

http://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/before-and-after-wood-to-guitar.2878/

http://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/npsgg-co-co-monster-santana.16278/

http://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/psngd-before-and-after-meet-yenita.6045/

 

[garrettb]

There are two semi-hollow PS 594 doublecuts on Reverb right now, both from forum members.

I feel like the trip to the factory with the dealer to help pick out the woods would be a must for me.

 

[Dead77guitars]

There are two semi-hollow PS 594 doublecuts on Reverb right now, both from forum members.

I feel like the trip to the factory with the dealer to help pick out the woods would be a must for me.

I agree, I don't think I would pay the ps price without picking out the wood in person.

I'm a little bummed, prs said they wouldn't put the super eagle electronics in any other model. I hope they just mean the John Mayer pickups. I love the coil splits and preamp idea.

 

[Dancing Frog]

I have done it both ways, picked the wood and had the wood picked out for me. It depends on the guitar, but at some point in the private stock build you'll have to relinquish control and trust the artist. I got some things that I didn't want on my first build where I supervised the build more closely, but they turned out to be better choices in the end. I also got somethings that I didn't know I wanted that honored the concept that I had set forth. None of these small changes resulted in additional costs.

There are ways around the prohibition on JM electronics, like figuring out what he did and asking for it in pieces. You don't necessarily have get a JCF preamp. If you've had experience with another one, I'd go with that one.

 

[Dead77guitars]

I have done it both ways, picked the wood and had the wood picked out for me. It depends on the guitar, but at some point in the private stock build you'll have to relinquish control and trust the artist. I got some things that I didn't want on my first build where I supervised the build more closely, but they turned out to be better choices in the end. I also got somethings that I didn't know I wanted that honored the concept that I had set forth. None of these small changes resulted in additional costs.

There are ways around the prohibition on JM electronics, like figuring out what he did and asking for it in pieces. You don't necessarily have get a JCF preamp. If you've had experience with another one, I'd go with that one.

That's really good advice. Thanks. I'll have to research onboard preamps. I was also thinking of having a Keeley Java boost and I Ibanez tube screamer on switches too. Can you take effects electronics and put them in a guitar?

 

[Tosca]

Can you take effects electronics and put them in a guitar?

It CAN be done...I have personally seen a tube screamer PRS put in an artist's own personal guitar. I have requested this (an onboard pre-amp) recently from PS and PTC and they wouldn't do it. I think they are just so busy now that they have to draw the line somewhere. PS build times are approaching 9-12 months (and dedicating more highly skilled personnel to this effort cannot make the most sense from a business perspective). I'm actually amazed that they've been able accommodate amateurs like myself with outlandish custom requests for so long. There is no other premium builder anywhere near the size of PRS that would/could allow the choices they make available. Imagine walking into a world class restaurant and having the chef let you select the ingredients, recipe and specific cuts of meat to cook for you!!! I feel very fortunate for the crazy customized ideas (Piezos, Roland midi pickup, mini-toggles for pickup variations and "blower" switches, P/P tone/vol knobs for split/series/parallel...etc...mixed body/neck options from different models...etc...custom radii, frets...etc) which PRS has performed for me (including the three they are working on now). I can only imagine the volume of crazy requests they get, simply because they're always willing to listen to customers. Quite certain they've had a good chuckle at a few of my ideas.

To Paul, Paul, Tina, Shawn, Matt, Skitchy, Eric...and dozens more I haven't personally met..thanks for always doing all you can...and probably more than you should.

 

[Dead77guitars]

It CAN be done...I have personally seen a tube screamer PRS put in an artist's own personal guitar. I have requested this (an onboard pre-amp) recently from PS and PTC and they wouldn't do it. I think they are just so busy now that they have to draw the line somewhere. PS build times are approaching 9-12 months (and dedicating more highly skilled personnel to this effort cannot make the most sense from a business perspective). I'm actually amazed that they've been able accommodate amateurs like myself with outlandish custom requests for so long. There is no other premium builder anywhere near the size of PRS that would/could allow the choices they make available. Imagine walking into a world class restaurant and having the chef let you select the ingredients, recipe and specific cuts of meat to cook for you!!! I feel very fortunate for the crazy customized ideas (Piezos, Roland midi pickup, mini-toggles for pickup variations and "blower" switches, P/P tone/vol knobs for split/series/parallel...etc...mixed body/neck options from different models...etc...custom radii, frets...etc) which PRS has performed for me (including the three they are working on now). I can only imagine the volume of crazy requests they get, simply because they're always willing to listen to customers. Quite certain they've had a good chuckle at a few of my ideas.

To Paul, Paul, Tina, Shawn, Matt, Skitchy, Eric...and dozens more I haven't personally met..thanks for always doing all you can...and probably more than you should.

Thanks for the reply. The effects would just be icing on the cake.

You have three different PS guitars on the way!? If you don't mind me asking, what are you having build?

 

[Tosca]

Thanks for the reply. The effects would just be icing on the cake.

You have three different PS guitars on the way!? If you don't mind me asking, what are you having build?

Ha...no...I wish!
Just one PS (see my recent N5FD thread)...still hashing out specs so not ready to disclose...but will be mostly a SC594..."plus".
The other two are PTC projects...one an NF3 overhaul...similar to my "Brent-Monster" project (had requested a built in pre-amp for this...but had to go to option #2), and a refin/refurb/reset on my PTC modified HB2.

 

[Dancing Frog]

That's really good advice. Thanks. I'll have to research onboard preamps. I was also thinking of having a Keeley Java boost and I Ibanez tube screamer on switches too. Can you take effects electronics and put them in a guitar?

Yes, but the history of effects built into guitars is kind of <vocal expression of disdain> for lack of a word. It immediately brings up images of Gibson's lackluster Firebird X release which actually blue toothed to a floor board for controlling them which sort of defeated the purpose. There have been other artists that have done this on their iconic guitars, Brian May's Red Special for instance, but have eventually torn them out leaving an oddly shaped hole and an interesting story behind. There have also been other production guitars with built in EFX, practically one a decade since the 60's; but none have really caught on.

Based on my own experience with my PS, I think these are the issues for any kind of creative electronics installation. First, they may steal tone. Anything you put in the signal path has the possibility of affecting guitar's tone, even things marked "true bypass" are not always true and also add noise. Then, there is the controls issue. Any extra switch that you put on a guitar, for any purpose, is a blind control, because it's not facing you. You'll need to consider laying it out in a manner where you can find the right control by touch and not put it in place where it's always getting hit by accident. That's something that PRS will want from you as part of the initial contract for the build. Finally, recognize that when you incorporate advanced electronics into a build, you have essentially pretty much locked yourself into it, because the guitar has been built around it. If you decide that you don't like it later, you've left an oddly shaped hole and interesting story behind. So, you better be sure it's not going to be a passing fad or immature technology which is what actually killed those production models. Well, that and cost and weight.

 

[Tosca]

Yes, but the history of effects built into guitars is kind of <vocal expression of disdain> for lack of a word. It immediately brings up images of Gibson's lackluster Firebird X release which actually blue toothed to a floor board for controlling them which sort of defeated the purpose. There have been other artists that have done this on their iconic guitars, Brian May's Red Special for instance, but have eventually torn them out leaving an oddly shaped hole and an interesting story behind. There have also been other production guitars with built in EFX, practically one a decade since the 60's; but none have really caught on.

Based on my own experience with my PS, I think these are the issues for any kind of creative electronics installation. First, they may steal tone. Anything you put in the signal path has the possibility of affecting guitar's tone, even things marked "true bypass" are not always true and also add noise. Then, there is the controls issue. Any extra switch that you put on a guitar, for any purpose, is a blind control, because it's not facing you. You'll need to consider laying it out in a manner where you can find the right control by touch and not put it in place where it's always getting hit by accident. That's something that PRS will want from you as part of the initial contract for the build. Finally, recognize that when you incorporate advanced electronics into a build, you have essentially pretty much locked yourself into it, because the guitar has been built around it. If you decide that you don't like it later, you've left an oddly shaped hole and interesting story behind. So, you better be sure it's not going to be a passing fad or immature technology which is what actually killed those production models. Well, that and cost and weight.

Not saying I disagree with anything you've said here. Whether the builder or you yourself dream up a non-standard/traditional wiring scheme...there's always the risk you may not like it over time, or from the builder's/resale perspective it may not be popular/desirable down the road. However...that's how new and awesome new models and special "one-of-a-kind" instruments are born. It's a little weird that someone who loves the 513 model so much would have a negative view of such attempts at innovation.

 

[coyote]

David Bowie's guitarist from the I'm Afraid of Americans era had effects built into the guitar, including a ring modulator.

Such a guitar IMO would have to rely almost entirely on its electronics for tone, because most of the wood would be gone and the cavities stuffed with wires and switches and circuit boards and batteries.

 

[Dancing Frog]

Not saying I disagree with anything you've said here. Whether the builder or you yourself dream up a non-standard/traditional wiring scheme...there's always the risk you may not like it over time, or from the builder's/resale perspective it may not be popular/desirable down the road. However...that's how new and awesome new models and special "one-of-a-kind" instruments are born. It's a little weird that someone who loves the 513 model so much would have a negative view of such attempts at innovation.

I was more trying to balance things from a historical perspective. I am all for innovation, but there are pathways that have been trodden and pathways that haven't. I think it's important understand what has gone before and where it's likely to go when one is thinking about sinking a lot of money into something and why people have traditionally have or have not selected a path. It's about understanding the pros and cons. I considered both when spec'ing mine and made the determination that what I'd get out of advanced electronics was more than I had the potential to lose.

 

[garrettb]

Sounds like the kind of thing to experiment and prototype with on a less expensive instrument.

 

[Whitecat]

BilT Guitars in Iowa does built-in effects on one of their standard models, so it's completely achievable. One important consideration is how you power them... batteries won't last long with many of them.

 

[Tosca]

It's about understanding the pros and cons. I considered both when spec'ing mine and made the determination that what I'd get out of advanced electronics was more than I had the potential to lose.

Thank you, I feel I've learned so much about what is possible, and what works vs what may not from thoughtful posts by you and others here. I've very carefully considered any custom build/modification made to my own instruments...that consideration intensifying as the value/cost of an instrument rises. I haven't tried to sell any of my more customized instruments, though I've gotten interest in several...and had others utilize similar specs for their own. I haven't seriously regretted any...yet. To me each instrument is a very personal thing...and if adding a special, non-standard feature (within reason) is likely going to increase my enjoyment in using it...I'm not going to let potential resale value stop me. You almost always take a hit on reselling a guitar...and I'm much more likely to sell one because I'm bored with it.