After I had to sell my 1992 Standard, I vowed that I would save up for a core CU24-08, it would be the nicest, most expensive guitar I'll ever own and any other guitars I bought from that day forward would be cheaper, more workhorse types of instruments.
Well, it turns out, I don't have that kind of discipline and I'd prefer to get something sooner rather than later. Plus, I've been trying to save up for a new place for years and I'd be better off focusing on that.
I do not want an SE. I had one already; it was a very nice guitar for what it was but I feel like going back to an SE after owning the early 90s equivalent of a core would be like saying I'm unworthy of the "real thing".
I like the S2 Standard; the pickguard offsets what I feel is the visual awkwardness of the asymmetrical beveled top and it gives the guitar kind of a punkish Les Paul Junior/Special kind of vibe. However, as some of you might have noticed, I'm not a fan of dots on a PRS. They did offer bird inlays as an extra cost option in 2015 and 2016; however, I guess most players/dealers were okay with the dots and for 2017 the option was dropped. So now the S2 Standards with birds have become kind of rare. I have found a few, though.
Or maybe I could save a little more and get a closer vibe to a core with a CE24. I have played them before and have liked them. Sure, the bolt-on neck will give it a different sound and the "flat violin" carve isn't as interestingly three dimensional as the arched violin the cores have*., but it has the same pickups as a Custom 24-08 (until this year, anyway) and the switching system is easier to use live than the 5-way rotary my Standard had, which I originally thought was a cool idea until I had one. The thing is, I'd strongly prefer one with a satin black neck. I feel it'd pair better with the finishes I like and feel a little bit more like a set-neck model, if not quite sound like one.
While I can't afford either of the above at the moment, I could afford them much sooner than a core. I also don't like the idea of basically being done with buying nicer instruments yet.
So what would you guys do if you were in my position? Should I find an S2 Standard 24 that has bird inlays or a CE24 with a black satin neck...or the courage and maturity to save up for what I really want, no matter how long it takes? I have seen 24-08s for less than 4K, but not too many. Plus, there is the caveat that I did play an S2 Standard 24 Satin once and it was...OK. I didn't have a lot of time with it, though.
*I know some of you might suggest a CE from the original 1988-2008 run, but I don't want anything that old.
Well, it turns out, I don't have that kind of discipline and I'd prefer to get something sooner rather than later. Plus, I've been trying to save up for a new place for years and I'd be better off focusing on that.
I do not want an SE. I had one already; it was a very nice guitar for what it was but I feel like going back to an SE after owning the early 90s equivalent of a core would be like saying I'm unworthy of the "real thing".
I like the S2 Standard; the pickguard offsets what I feel is the visual awkwardness of the asymmetrical beveled top and it gives the guitar kind of a punkish Les Paul Junior/Special kind of vibe. However, as some of you might have noticed, I'm not a fan of dots on a PRS. They did offer bird inlays as an extra cost option in 2015 and 2016; however, I guess most players/dealers were okay with the dots and for 2017 the option was dropped. So now the S2 Standards with birds have become kind of rare. I have found a few, though.
Or maybe I could save a little more and get a closer vibe to a core with a CE24. I have played them before and have liked them. Sure, the bolt-on neck will give it a different sound and the "flat violin" carve isn't as interestingly three dimensional as the arched violin the cores have*., but it has the same pickups as a Custom 24-08 (until this year, anyway) and the switching system is easier to use live than the 5-way rotary my Standard had, which I originally thought was a cool idea until I had one. The thing is, I'd strongly prefer one with a satin black neck. I feel it'd pair better with the finishes I like and feel a little bit more like a set-neck model, if not quite sound like one.
While I can't afford either of the above at the moment, I could afford them much sooner than a core. I also don't like the idea of basically being done with buying nicer instruments yet.
So what would you guys do if you were in my position? Should I find an S2 Standard 24 that has bird inlays or a CE24 with a black satin neck...or the courage and maturity to save up for what I really want, no matter how long it takes? I have seen 24-08s for less than 4K, but not too many. Plus, there is the caveat that I did play an S2 Standard 24 Satin once and it was...OK. I didn't have a lot of time with it, though.
*I know some of you might suggest a CE from the original 1988-2008 run, but I don't want anything that old.
