The Incontrovertible Law of Comparative Guitar Assessment

[Proteus]

Given three examples of exactly the same model, built in the same (or near enough) batch, one will look at least marginally better than the other two, one will feel and play at least somewhat better, and one will sound better.

If the same guitar wins in two of the three categories, it's a holiday - and the guitar is likely a keeper.

If the same guitar sweeps all three categories, the angels sing. That's a lifetime Cold Dead Hands instrument there. If it happens to you more than once in your life, you can count yourself one of the Fortunate Ones.

 

[Rod/]

Well, I agree with you… I played many PRS’s (and many other brands) -till I stumbled onto my Wood Library DGT 4 months ago from John Mann’s Guitar Vault in NH and it swept all 3 categories for tone, feel, weight, looks and mojo.. Well that’s 5…..
It’s in my picture on the left.. I’ve sold off a number of guitars since the purchase because they’re simply inferior to the DGT for the above reasons, and the single coil & humbucker tones make it a very versatile electric. Clean, crunch or overdriven. It excels at all of them….and being a lead guitarist, its tones for solos are superb….

 

[DISTORT6]

Given three examples of exactly the same model, built in the same (or near enough) batch, one will look at least marginally better than the other two, one will feel and play at least somewhat better, and one will sound better.

If the same guitar wins in two of the three categories, it's a holiday - and the guitar is likely a keeper.

If the same guitar sweeps all three categories, the angels sing. That's a lifetime Cold Dead Hands instrument there. If it happens more than once in a lifetime, you can count yourself as one of the Fortunate Ones.

That’s why I’m here. These guitars do it more so than any other brand I’ve tried, played, or owned. They just flat out work for me.

 

[Proteus]

Oh, no argument. And yet...even with the uncanny consistency in components, build integrity, fit-n-finish, and setup - certainly among the best in the industry, if not the best - no two "identical" PRS guitars look or sound, well...just the same.

And I realize I'm generalizing (at least about PRS) from a small sample pool, but why are the lookers so seldom the sounders?

(I don't think this question has an answer. It's just rhetorical commiserating.)

 

[Tucson Thump]

Oh, no argument. And yet...even with the uncanny consistency in components, build integrity, fit-n-finish, and setup - certainly among the best in the industry, if not the best - no two "identical" PRS guitars look or sound, well...just the same.

And I realize I'm generalizing (at least about PRS) from a small sample pool, but why are the lookers so seldom the sounders?

(I don't think this question has an answer. It's just rhetorical commiserating.)

Are you comparing strictly new guitars, and not something that has been played in for a number of years?

 

[Proteus]

I am. I've had many opportunities to do such comparisons (with various brands), over nearly 40 years. Every rule has exceptions, but this one has held pretty tenaciously.

 

[Warmart]

So this is the ILCGA? Have you checked for copyright violations with garment worker unions?

 

[László]

Given three examples of exactly the same model, built in the same (or near enough) batch, one will look at least marginally better than the other two, one will feel and play at least somewhat better, and one will sound better.

If the same guitar wins in two of the three categories, it's a holiday - and the guitar is likely a keeper.

If the same guitar sweeps all three categories, the angels sing. That's a lifetime Cold Dead Hands instrument there. If it happens to you more than once in your life, you can count yourself one of the Fortunate Ones.

With PRSes, I find that a setup will make a good feeling instrument a great feeling one, and they all feel pretty darn good to start with, so that's less important to me. If it's a Core instrument, I care a lot more about the tone. In fact, I've bought plenty in the 'wrong' colors, without a tight curl, etc.

With a PS or Artist, looks become more of a thing, because that's part of what I'm being charged for, but even then, it's gotta sound fabulous.

Nonetheless, I completely agree that when you get all three - yes, the angels sing!

 

[Rider1260]

Guitars have to earn a spot on my walls only the best survive , and by best I mean the ones that sound best when I am playing them ( tall order because I'm not that good )
I have owned "better" guitars but the ones I have at the moment are hard to beat.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

I’m going to need to see a spread sheet, or at least slides. Do we still do slides here?

 

[DISTORT6]

I’m going to need to see a spread sheet, or at least slides. Do we still do slides here?

Yes. And film strips <beep> and overhead projectors.