PRS new owner - what should I know?

That's a lot of tips, thanks. My main reason for strap locks in the past had actually been ease of taking the strap on and off, plus peace of mind (even if the fears are erroneous). I'm unlikely to ever be in a recording situation, so any rattle isn't a big issue. Also, I've never noticed a rattle with them. Maybe because I feel much more comfortable playing standing up even when practicing, so there's always some tension in the strap so no rattle?

As for the PRS cleaner, I'll look out for it next time I'm in a shop. Is that just for the immediate look of the guitar being all shiny? Or does it help with long-term upkeep?


Nice thought, thanks, but I'm UK based. Ordered my Heistercamp today.

Also, the S locks won't rattle. They're put together well. If anything, the posts that you pull up to unlock is a little on the stiff side. Almost makes it a two hand job to get the strap on/off.
 
What should you know?



That you have stepped up to the ledge.
That you have opened the gate.
That you will hear that little red devil on your shoulder constantly whispering in your ear, “You need another”.
That you have entered “The PRS zone”.
Thank you Rod Serling:D
 
;-) The only real accessory that you really need now is a quick mind that comes up with a repeated but good excuse fo yet another guitar to the missus, or sig other...It sharpened my skills for sure...;-)
 
As for the PRS cleaner, I'll look out for it next time I'm in a shop. Is that just for the immediate look of the guitar being all shiny? Or does it help with long-term upkeep?

It just cleans and shines. I only use it once or twice a year, because I find the damp microfiber/dry microfiber regimen works well enough.

I’m in the US, and lots of custom strap makers are here, but I’ve never seen quality like Heistercamp’s. I liked my strap so much I immediately bought one for my son.

For those who use stock PRS strap buttons, they will cut the buttonhole slit a bit longer, but it turns out the standard Heistercamp pull up leather is so thick it can’t fit (I use mine with a different make bass), but Heistercamp tells me that their softer leather straps will fit.

I’m going to order another couple of them. I’ve got a few Richter straps from Germany that are also noteworthy in quality.
 
There's been a lot of joking (possibly with truth behind it) on this thread, about "you'll want more PRS guitars".
Don't get me wrong, I love mine so far. But I don't understand why people would want lots of them. Why split your money into several excellent guitars, when you can pool it all into one heaven-sent one. Even if you can afford multiple exotic PRS, you must still have a favourite. So would there be an occasion where you'd choose to play one that isn't your favourite? Or for the price of a collection of 6 core PRS, I could get something truly special and one-of-a-kind.
As mentioned already, I'm just an occasional hobbyist, not a serious player so there could be something I 'just don't get'. But if I were to buy another guitar, surely it'd be something totally different to what I already have?
 
Anytime someone mentions new straps I jump in here with this. The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is the poorest place in the United States. It tops the charts in every statistic one doesn't want to top. Poverty, unemployment, diabetes, alcoholism, etc.
Lakota Leathers provides a little bit of economic stimulus for people desperately in need. But I wouldn't ask you to purchase one just to help; "All Lakota Leathers straps are 100% guaranteed to be the softest, strongest, and most comfortable strap you will ever use." I have one on every guitar. Unbelievably comfortable.

Congratulations on the new PRS.
I’m going to order my next couple of straps here. Thanks for sharing!
 
There's been a lot of joking (possibly with truth behind it) on this thread, about "you'll want more PRS guitars".
Don't get me wrong, I love mine so far. But I don't understand why people would want lots of them. Why split your money into several excellent guitars, when you can pool it all into one heaven-sent one. Even if you can afford multiple exotic PRS, you must still have a favourite. So would there be an occasion where you'd choose to play one that isn't your favourite? Or for the price of a collection of 6 core PRS, I could get something truly special and one-of-a-kind.
As mentioned already, I'm just an occasional hobbyist, not a serious player so there could be something I 'just don't get'. But if I were to buy another guitar, surely it'd be something totally different to what I already have?

@dogrocketp is right - they all have different sounds. And there are different colors, too. Different numbers on the back as well.

For me, it's all about which guitar is right for the task at hand. I have a PS, and your description is right - it is truly special and one-of-a-kind. It is also not the right tool for every job. Each model has its own unique qualities - a feel that makes you play a certain way, a sound that another guitar doesn't quite get, a certain emotional attachment, or it may just be the way the whole package comes together. The PS is absolutely my favorite, but I have other guitars that get a lot of playing time. There are some that don't get nearly as much, and a lot of times when I pull one of those out, it's "why don't I play this more?", and then it goes back in the case or rack and five or six months later, I repeat the process.
 
Each model has a different sound, so you have to have several. My S2 custom 24, SE Custom 24, and CE 24 all sound completely different. Thusly, I need them all.

@dogrocketp is right - they all have different sounds. And there are different colors, too. Different numbers on the back as well.

For me, it's all about which guitar is right for the task at hand. I have a PS, and your description is right - it is truly special and one-of-a-kind. It is also not the right tool for every job. Each model has its own unique qualities - a feel that makes you play a certain way, a sound that another guitar doesn't quite get, a certain emotional attachment, or it may just be the way the whole package comes together. The PS is absolutely my favorite, but I have other guitars that get a lot of playing time. There are some that don't get nearly as much, and a lot of times when I pull one of those out, it's "why don't I play this more?", and then it goes back in the case or rack and five or six months later, I repeat the process.
Fair enough. There are certainly enough people taking the path of many guitars that there must be some joy in it. I worry for the day that desire comes calling for me.
 
There's been a lot of joking (possibly with truth behind it) on this thread, about "you'll want more PRS guitars".
Don't get me wrong, I love mine so far. But I don't understand why people would want lots of them. Why split your money into several excellent guitars, when you can pool it all into one heaven-sent one. Even if you can afford multiple exotic PRS, you must still have a favourite. So would there be an occasion where you'd choose to play one that isn't your favourite? Or for the price of a collection of 6 core PRS, I could get something truly special and one-of-a-kind.
As mentioned already, I'm just an occasional hobbyist, not a serious player so there could be something I 'just don't get'. But if I were to buy another guitar, surely it'd be something totally different to what I already have?


I have 5 cores myself and everyone is a different instrument. The 594 is a vintage Les Paul type, the 509 is a more a super-strat, the Custom 24 is a modern double humbucker guitar and the archetypical PRS, the Hollowbody ii is a hollowbody (obviously) and offers a Piezo and the Special Semi-Hollow is an incredibly versatile and very different humbucker guitar to all the others I own.

A Strat is very different from a Les Paul. One has a 25.5" scale, trem bridge, 3 Single coils etc and the other is a double humbucker, 24.75" scale, fixed bridge guitar. Split the HB can get a more stratty like SC tone but they are still different sounding. Then you have P90's, Filtertrons etc, active and passive as well as low turn, low output and hot pick-ups, solid, semi-hollow, hollow body guitars, Extended range/baritone guitars, 6, 7 or more strings etc etc. It doesn't matter how much you spend, you cannot get all these sounds (or even most of them) in one guitar.

You can spend 10k+ on a Les Paul type but that won't help if you need a Strat and chasing the Gilmore/Hendrix tone. It won't help if you want/need to do those Tremolo dive bombs, flutters or other tricks these allow that Steve Vai or numerous 80's rock songs have, you aren't going to get the country telecaster sounds or Gretcsh tones from it either. The pick-ups may be great for certain types of music but

I am not saying you yourself needs a wide range of guitars to cover a wide range of tonal options but having a few does give you a greater tonal palette to paint your music with. There is a reason a lot of guitarists have more than 1 guitar because 1 guitar is quite limiting if you want to get certain sounds. I know professionals may need more 1 of the same instrument because they need a back-up in case a string breaks or different tunings as you can't stop mid gig to replace a broken string (unless you are BB King) or retune your guitar but If you want to sound like Gilmore's Comfortably Numb solo one day and then play some Angus Young or Slash solo the next, you need more than 1 guitar.

I am sure you have heard the expression that guitars are tools and having the right tools for job can be important - even for a hobbyist. You may get by with just 1 sharp knife in the kitchen but if you enjoy cooking a lot, you will need more tools than that and even have specialist knives for certain jobs. I am a hobbyist too when it comes to guitar playing and have multiple tools with each having its role in my collection, each providing something I can't get from the other guitars I have.

Even very similar guitars like the Custom 22 and Custom 24, where the only difference seems to be the number of frets, sound different in 4 out of the 5 different pick-up switching because the position of the neck pick-up is different so has a different sound even though the Pick-ups are the same. A silver Sky and a 594 are very different like a Fender Strat and Gibson LP are - both of which are different from the Cu22 and Cu24, different from the HBii and 509 etc. This is why you can have multiple PRS guitars and not have 2 instruments the same. Maybe for you, the differences between some models are not significant enough to warrant purchasing or the style/genres of music you play can be achieved on one guitar but each to their own. The vast array of guitars though offer something unique that adds to the tonal palette a guitarist has to be creative with and its impossible to cover all those in a single instrument...
 
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