PRS - Killing Fullerton in my mind

[andy474x]

i played my strat the other day. Holy crap, did it sound thin. Not in a good way. I've been digging the split coils on my S2 satin lately, especially now that I appreciate the depth and fullness they have compared to the singles in my strat. I suspect it has a lot to do with wood and finish - my Fender has a metallic finish that's probably a mile thick. It's so obvious after comparing the two guitars, how much more low end resonance the S2 has. Now I'm just wishing it had a single between the two humbuckers, for those in-between tones.

Can't believe I'm saying I like split humbucker tones more than singles. I've officially drank the Koolaid. Although, I suspect that real singles in a PRS would impress me yet again.

 

[garrettb]

It's all about those resistors. They do wonders for the split tones, IMO. And your S2 guitars are just a few swipes of a router away from accommodating a middle pickup. The mahogany construction of the PRS guitars definitely helps with the fullness.

My one actual Fender guitar is among the weakest in my collection. I may refinish it one of these days. It's a '95 Am Std and the factory finish is practically indestructible. The skinny maple neck with the two-way truss rod doesn't help, either.

 

[polarbipolar]

Can't believe I'm saying I like split humbucker tones more than singles. I've officially drank the Koolaid. Although, I suspect that real singles in a PRS would impress me yet again.

Come on! What's not to believe here? Tone is such a subjective matter that you can't really say that one is better then the other

Though I must say that I LOVE my strat and my jazzmaster too for what they are. Yes, they do sound thin in comparison, but that's what they're supposed to sound like, right? You get loads definition and dynamics instead!
So I, personally, am not really "the thicker the better" guy, otherwise I would stick a couple of EMGs in some plastic broomstick and be fine with it...

 

[RonnieD]

I've finally given in, after several years of "trying", to fully and truly appreciating the fact that PRS guitars are indeed deadly sounding instruments! They were (are) in my mind always at the top of the heap quality and build wise, but I could never actually gig for any length of time and keep interest aurally until the arrival of the DGT. Since then I've dipped my toes into the Private Stock pool as well and am also digging models such as the DC 245. More importantly however, it was only after I gave up the notion that PRS had to sound like a "F" or "G" type guitar for me to enjoy it and gig it exclusively. In other words, I "surrendered" I guess, and now I fully appreciate the tonal palettes that are PRS. I still enjoy other brands for the great instruments that they are, and thankfully I also fully appreciate now what PRS guitars are: "Damn Fine Instruments" that are not only destined to be family heirlooms and are killer sound wise as well!! I'm not there amp wise yet, but one step at a time I guess...
RonnieD

 

[markintime]

I've finally given in, after several years of "trying", to fully and truly appreciating the fact that PRS guitars are indeed deadly sounding instruments! They were (are) in my mind always at the top of the heap quality and build wise, but I could never actually gig for any length of time and keep interest aurally until the arrival of the DGT. Since then I've dipped my toes into the Private Stock pool as well and am also digging models such as the DC 245. More importantly however, it was only after I gave up the notion that PRS had to sound like a "F" or "G" type guitar for me to enjoy it and gig it exclusively. In other words, I "surrendered" I guess, and now I fully appreciate the tonal palettes that are PRS. I still enjoy other brands for the great instruments that they are, and thankfully I also fully appreciate now what PRS guitars are: "Damn Fine Instruments" that are not only destined to be family heirlooms and are killer sound wise as well!! I'm not there amp wise yet, but one step at a time I guess...
RonnieD

Very well put, RonnieD. It puzzled me as well, why some would want to make any instrument sound like a "F" or "G" type when all they had to do was to buy one. At the same time, I do get why you would want the quality and perfection of construction of a PRS. But along with that, you also get the same quality and perfection of the SOUND of that PRS. Look at how many videos we've seen of the man explaining his unending quest for a great sound. HE is not trying to duplicate someone else's work! He's building on those foundations with the intent of improving and providing the best possible product for us hungry tone demons. Personally, I'm gonna keep ridin' that horse... and hope he never drops.

 

[Alan Manning]

I've finally given in, after several years of "trying", to fully and truly appreciating the fact that PRS guitars are indeed deadly sounding instruments! They were (are) in my mind always at the top of the heap quality and build wise, but I could never actually gig for any length of time and keep interest aurally until the arrival of the DGT. Since then I've dipped my toes into the Private Stock pool as well and am also digging models such as the DC 245. More importantly however, it was only after I gave up the notion that PRS had to sound like a "F" or "G" type guitar for me to enjoy it and gig it exclusively. In other words, I "surrendered" I guess, and now I fully appreciate the tonal palettes that are PRS. I still enjoy other brands for the great instruments that they are, and thankfully I also fully appreciate now what PRS guitars are: "Damn Fine Instruments" that are not only destined to be family heirlooms and are killer sound wise as well!! I'm not there amp wise yet, but one step at a time I guess...
RonnieD

Here Here!

 

[László]

Andy, I had a Strat and a Tele in the studio arsenal throughout the 90s because "everyone needs those tones, too." But I shied away from playing them, because I didn't like the feel, and didn't particularly relate to the tones. So I got Tom Anderson versions. Same result, though I did like them better than Fenders.

At some point around 2002-3, I listened back to my best work, and it was all done on a PRS. It occurred to me that the clients didn't care which guitar I played, they just wanted the playing to be good. So I went all-PRS, that's what I do my best wok on.

In 26 years of doing ad sessions, only one client has ever requested a particular guitar; some guy wanted me to play a Rickenbacker 12 string on a track. I had one, so that was that. But it was the only time.

I'm not saying that's going to be true for everyone. It's clearly not. Folks have to do what floats their boats. For me, that's PRS.

 

[fender1punk]

I find that I use my tele as much as my PRS, but I can't bear to part with my strats, all five of them. My Les Paul on the other hand, can't wait to trade it for another PRS.

 

[Jimi D]

I find that I use my tele as much as my PRS, but I can't bear to part with my strats, all five of them. My Les Paul on the other hand, can't wait to trade it for another PRS.

I've owned five Gibby LPs over the years but my ZM SE with Burstbuckers is hands down the best LP I've ever owned; my last two Gibsons were sold within weeks of installing those pickups in the ZM.

I still have a great Tele and a killer Strat (albeit HSS with a Floyd) but of the 14 electric guitars in the house, those two Fenders are the only ones that don't say "Paul Reed Smith" on the headstock.

 

[dogrocketp]

My two strats sit unplayed for 3 years. My ears got used to my various PRS and nothing else sounds "right" except my archtops when I play jazz. I played an LP for 25 years. Everything changed when I got a cheap used PRS SE Singlecut as a backup. That was the start of trouble. I have 3 P90`s and several others. Les is gone bye, bye. So is almost everything else.

 

[Mixstar]

I love my 2012 American Special HSS Strat, it rocks. I also love my 2009 Les Paul Standard, it also rocks. I also love all four of my PRSi and Godin 5th Ave, they rock as well, they're all different and all great. I don't get this wanting to make a PRS sound like a Strat or LP, if you want that tone/feel buy one. I acoustically tone check all my guitars all the time, I reckon if a guitar is good acoustically it won't be far off when plugged in.

FWIW - I have to agree with Mark Knopfler though, the Strat body contour is a piece of carved art. I look at mine from all different angles and it just looks so, I dunno how to describe it, "space age"?

 

[squirrel211]

I have to EQ my amp differently with my strat than I do my Cu24. What's good for the goose in this scenario, isn't good for the gander.

I used the Cu24 almost exclusively since I bought it in May 2014, but my strat, Tele, and believe it or not my SE 24 are all popping up for songs during shows. The strat has a completely different sound and allows me to get clean tones with my Plexi-Super Lead styled amp, where the other ones don't. The Tele has a defined beef on the lower strings that lend it to cutting through the mix with our keyboard player. The SE bridge pickup is hotter and tighter than the 57/08's, so it gets the call for playing the rock-ier stuff when I need to palm mute. This allows me to forego pedals almost entirely; which makes me happy!!!