The "Forum" Guitar

[jfb]

I'm picking up the torch. Give me a bit of time to revisit threads, gather my notes and get something together.

 

[Egads]

I know there have been a few reboots, so I'll understand if no one wants to try again. I was thinking we could post a series of very simple polls and narrow down the specs that way. If we do this right, each step would narrow the list down. Those who are definitely out based on a certain spec would stop voting. Those that have a preference, but would be OK with a spec that wasn't their first choice would continue on. We could see where we had big drop-offs and possible use that for a revisionist model.

Here's a quick example:
POLL 1: Santana or Standard bady shape
POLL 2 Semi-hollow or Solid
POLL 3 Mahogany or Maple Cap
POLL 4 408s or standard Hunbucker-sized pickups.
POLL 5 neck material
...etc...

Thoughts?

 

[hippietim]

Rich elitist reporting for duty.

 

[László]

As the founding member of the League for Elitist Snobs ("LES"), let me propose this alternative; I'm happy to pick up the phone and make the request to PRS if Hans opts out:

NS-14, as per factory spec, but lose the Floyd and substitute a standard PRS trem. Totally droolworthy. Who's in?

 

[JustRob]

I know there have been a few reboots, so I'll understand if no one wants to try again. I was thinking we could post a series of very simple polls and narrow down the specs that way. If we do this right, each step would narrow the list down. Those who are definitely out based on a certain spec would stop voting. Those that have a preference, but would be OK with a spec that wasn't their first choice would continue on. We could see where we had big drop-offs and possible use that for a revisionist model.

Here's a quick example:
POLL 1: Santana or Standard bady shape
POLL 2 Semi-hollow or Solid
POLL 3 Mahogany or Maple Cap
POLL 4 408s or standard Hunbucker-sized pickups.
POLL 5 neck material
...etc...

Thoughts?

2 ideas so far have really excited me and made a Forum guitar a must have instead of a want. One was replicating the idea of Chris's "The Paisley" in some form, and two was the \m/ pickups. I have heard confirmation of the praises for them from another 1st hand witness, and it would be the ultimate in cool if they were made available to us in the forum 1st. :five::top: to whoever put that in play in Rev 3.

 

[jfb]

I have spent the last 2 hours 40 minutes going over all of the info we have regarding this project. I have also researched what's currently available from PRS at the $2000-2500. While I looked at other price points I focused on this one given the results of our price poll. I will report back later as I have work meetings for which I need to prepare.

 

[themike]

Hans - don't give up on this project... it already has your blood, sweat and tears ingrained in the project and I will not be a part of it until it comes to fruition with you at the helm.

SORRY!!! I didn't mean to cause any problems with what you are doing. Don't let my comments stop your progress. I was just chiming my thoughts in with others that would
like a more inexpensive SE model. Maybe, we could work on a SE model next.

You didn't mean to cause any problems by referring to the group of people designing and planning to purchase a forum guitar as rich elitist snobs? PRS guitars have been US made using quality materials since 1985 - Im glad you like the SE line but that is NOT what the company is known for.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I'm picking up the torch. Give me a bit of time to revisit threads, gather my notes and get something together.

Jesse,

Thank you for your commitment to this community and to this project.

I woke up this morning to several texts, some email, and even more PM's. I'll admit, I was pretty disgusted when I threw in the towel and went to bed last night. People sometimes forget that mods have lives too. We have jobs (not always safe from layoff), marriages (not always safe from strife), children (not always safe, happy, and healthy), and more tolerance than most people should be required to have (which is not always impermeable). Last night I lost my cool and kicked the proverbial dog. For that I am sorry.

We spend tending to this forum - following discussions - reading the subtext over long-periods of time to get a feel for what people are really saying. We do it because we believe we can do this better than its been done before. Our goal from the outset has been to repair the fractured community, to restore the self-moderating community that once was, and to share a little joy with regard to our collective affinity for PRS Guitars. When I read comments from people saying that "this is one of the most respectful guitar forums [they've] ever visited", I know all of the hard work (most of which is incredibly subtle to those who just skim the discussion) is paying off.

But lately... I see a few people poisoning the well and it REALLY pisses me off. There are people who seem to come here and see how much they can get - or how much they can away with. I do not understand this mentality in any form. I see a lot of taunting going on lately as well. People are posting completely harmless comments and then saying "Gee, I hope I don't get banned for this" or "this will probably get the thread locked by saying this... ". What's that all about? On the flip side, we have people posting things that aren't harmless at all and saying "gee, I hope this doesn't get the thread locked." Well of course it will. Should we just ban people instead locking the thread? Do we give up on the idea that we all grow? That we all have the potential to learn from our mistakes? That people might come to know, love and protect a community they once treated with disdain? I think about my own selfish behavior and taunting posts when I joined BaM in 2006. I sure am glad Jamie, Big Mike, and Frankie were tolerant. I didn't always agree with them but they were big enough to accept me the way I was instead of taking the easy road and clicking the ban button.

Those lessons must be applied. So I ask you... should I just ban the offenders or do we lock threads to help shape the discussion? Do we become the monster we're trying to destroy? I hope not.

I agree, there have been a few more threads than usual locked around here lately. In my opinion, it's because there are a lot of people testing boundaries. The rebel in me understand that need but some people seem to be on a mission. And they know that I don't want to so they take advantage of the situation. That's not fair. It's bad enough that we have people logging on under multiple usernames to continually grind their axe. I don't have to deal with that too. But... it comes with the territory.

Let's talk about those boundaries for a moment. Do you know how much porn is available, for free, on the net? Why do we need it here? Look, I'm a straight guy. I like hot chicks too. I like photos of hot chicks. I LOVE hot chicks with guitars. We can have a thread called Hot chicks with PRS guitars but how long to do you think it would be until someone posted a photo that went too far? Given all the bear poking going on in the last few weeks, I'd guess it would happen on page one. That SUCKS because the thread would get locked and then someone who'd love to see this place fail would say "Hey look, another thread got locked. What a shocker."

Lame. Lame. Lame.

I totally get the need to find out other ways we might all be connected. It's human nature. But there should be some BASIC sensibility that we, as grown-ass-men (and a few ladies) should apply.

Look, this site isn't trying to be all things to all people. If that's what you want, go to the gear page. Its an AWESOME web site for all things gear-related and you can discuss just about anything you want (but even they have boundaries). There are also lots of places to discuss guns. I am a legally documented, gun carrying, supporter of the 2nd amendment. I can and will use that right to protect my other rights. But THIS is not the place for me to argue over those rights. This is the place for me to argue over a forum guitar. So let's argue over a forum guitar and not all the money-grubbing capitalists who somehow managed to screw you over (again), shall we?

Moving forward...

I've met with Jack (President of PRS Guitars) on three occasions about this project. There are NO promises on the table from PRS guitars but I haven't been told "no" yet. There are details I can't share yet; things I think you guys will be pretty happy about IF we get the green light. But we have to agree on a SINGLE set of specs for about 25 guitars or this isn't going anywhere. People are going to have to let go of the idea that they're going to get a forum guitar that exactly matches what they would build for themselves through the PS program. And the SE guitar WILL NOT HAPPEN. It's too expensive for a short run. There must be compromise on specifications. I have let go of many things I want for myself. To such a degree, in fact, that I might not buy one at all. But this guitar isn't about me. It's about doing something together.

Now, I need a head count on Rev 3. In or out?

 

[AP515]

Hans - don't give up on this project... it already has your blood, sweat and tears ingrained in the project and I will not be a part of it until it comes to fruition with you at the helm.

+1 I think we are getting close. We can use you.

Before we reset, let's give Rev 3 more time. We have 11 (I think), and it's been lest than 24 hours. I think the main selling points are the \m/ pups and the Metal paint job. Will the \m/ pups take the 408 wiring? That might be cool without adding cost, and bring in a few more commits. A DC 22 body with a classic knob layout might be better for the 408 wiring and get more commits, but PRS will have to say if it adds cost. I think the woods are fine, I haven't heard many negatives about the fretboard and neck woods.

Maybe we could do a poll on the layout options for Rev 3 and see if we get past the magic 20 number.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I'm picking up the torch.

Cool! This project could use an extra hand, it was really close to coming to fruition which I think is what lead to Hans' discouragement. It's amazing to think that the company would even consider doing a special run of guitars, and if the showing of hands would have continued.... maybe by monday there would have been enough people interested.

I pledge to not muck up this process with anymore crazy talk of lucite guitars, and I feel as though the SE version should be considered out of reach by all of us. We already know by now that there is no way an SE would be economically feasible for such a short run, so let's put that to bed once and for all.

I tried my hardest to not reply to the whole "snob" thing, but I guess I'm too weak to let that one go...

Face it! PRS is a luxury brand of electric guitars. SE's are way cool, but they are kind of like Lagerfeld or Missoni for Target; they make a luxury brand available for mere mortals without the means for the core brand. Would you go on the Ferrari or Rolls Royce forum (Is there one?) and complain that they don't make cheaper cars? There is a reason why PRS guitars are pricey , and they are for people who demand more from their instrument.

I sold everything I had to purchase my first PRS twenty years ago, since then I purchased two SE's and practically pulled my second USA PRS out of a dumpster. I'm a total "elitist snob".... just one on a budget.:girl: Participating on this forum requires nothing more than participating on this forum. You (and/or I) do not need to purchase a forum guitar to be a valuable member of this forum, just love the guitars and want to talk about them man...

Oops. sorry, I was writing this while the discussion was still happening.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I'm good, Brother Sergio. Read post 548.

What's the current count?

 

[WEDGE]

I am out of rev 3, but will say yes to rev 2 if it gets traction..........that PS pic of the green one really swayed me big time to the idea and look of that f hole.......would love to see it with option to have the new prototype pups though.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Current count (for Rev 3) is 14.

 

[aduayer]

I just wish Rev 3 could the standard control lay out. But as I said before, I am in for Rev 3, Rev 2 or Rev 1!

 

[11top]

Not interested in no figured maple cap. NOT trying to sway anybody, just helping with your count.

 

[cjmwrx]

Not interested in no figured maple cap. NOT trying to sway anybody, just helping with your count.

Perhaps an option can be made for a maple top if chosen? I agree with 11top here, it would be nice to be able to slap a maple top on if we so choose.

Come one folks, we need 11 more.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

Adding maple will raise the cost and screw with the logic of opaque finishes.

I'll add that back in for Rev 4 (along with standard control layout) if Rev 3 continues to languish.

 

[Tosca]

Adding maple will raise the cost and screw with the logic of opaque finishes.

I'll add that back in for Rev 4 (along with standard control layout) if Rev 3 continues to languish.

I'm in for rev 1,2,3 or the anticipated 4. I still think a 408 style pickup in a standard size (like I suggested on post #465), call it a "Forum-08" would be popular, and I'd love to have a piezo Trem option...but I'm on board regardless.

 

[jfb]

I'm in pretty much regardless of what we do.

Admittedly I would prefer a McCarty electronic layout. The DC22 seems bunched up too far away for my tastes.

And if we go all hog I'd love to see a holoflake finish. Open to pretty much any color...red, white, silver, black...trying not to say blue for Sergio's sake.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I'm in pretty much regardless of what we do.

Admittedly I would prefer a McCarty electronic layout. The DC22 seems bunched up too far away for my tastes.

I'm hearing that a lot. Rev 4 (the final Rev) will have more of a standard control layout.

And if we go all hog I'd love to see a holoflake finish. Open to pretty much any color...red, white, silver, black...trying not to say blue for Sergio's sake.

The finish department won't do flake anymore. For anyone. I've begged. Not gunna happen.