My added comments for the sake of having them documented.....
When the DC 594 was released, I was like "Meh." I went and tried it because of how EVERYONE was raving about it. Couldn't dig it. Tonally? Yeah, it's great. Aesthetically? NOPE - just can't convince myself to play it. There is just something psychologically blocking me from the 4 knobs and switch on the horn with the old PRS body shape.
Did I go online and trash PRS and the guitar? No. My life moved forward. I spent the money on another PRS that I would enjoy (think that's when I grabbed the Paul's Guitar). Essentially, I viewed me not liking the 594 to being MY LOSS, lol.
When the SC594 was released I thought it would probably be better for me. Nope. Just didn't gel. Too bad, too, because sonically it fills a void I want. Can't explain what is blocking me - maybe the scale length? I have NEVER been a G guy. One day I'll grab one used and ad it to the herd, but not right now. The stash of what I have is getting the job MORE than done. A LOT of people dig that guitar though, so good for PRS!!
I WANT them to sell guitars so they will be around to release a model I am interested in...
Now, the Mayer guitar.....
Yeah, I had a few things to say about that one, lol...
I will admit that I didn't "get it" at first. BUT, aside from a couple of comments here among fellow fans, I didn't say too much. Instead, I grabbed my PRS Book and did some reading. Then I noticed that PRS has really attempted "F" flavored guitars all along. Some more "traditional" some more "original" - but the utilization of building techniques that "F" has used over their history HAVE been employed by PRS.
These guitars ALWAYS eventually seem to fade away, some faster than others, but they vanish from the line.
Why?
Well, it's simple. Guys that play that type of guitar WANT that type of guitar. My brother falls into that category. He is more of a casual player than I am - he has ONE guitar and ONE amp. He plays ONE type of music. His gear is ALL Vintage. Let me tell you his story to illustrate my point....
My brother is younger by two years. He LOVES 60's Instrumental music, mainly surf. He is a surfer. He plays surf guitar. He drive a turquoise and beige 55 Plymouth Station Wagon in near mint condition. He is CONSTANTLY getting melanoma cut out of his body. Last week it looked liked his back was slashed with a sword....
Gear? (The part we care about, right?) Yeah, yeah....hang on....
That is a tale unto itself. It will explain other aspects of other things that I won't be bringing up, and some dots will be able to be connected....
I started playing young - like 11 years old. I had a Neon Yellow Ibanez. My brother decided he'd sneak play that Ibanez and learn. He got pretty good for a while. We'd go visit Grandma and Grandpa over the summer. For the most part we didn't like it, except that Grandpa played electric guitar - he was a Country guy from the 50s and 60s. He had old stuff. It sucked for me because I was metal guy, but it was HEAVEN for my brother. We DID learn to appreciate other forms of music, and learned rockabilly, blues, country, bluegrass, slide - all this stuff that helps me NOW, but was pointless as a metal head kid, lol. My brother ATE IT UP!!!
Grandpa got REALLY sick. As we were the ONLY grand kids that played guitar, we got to choose from his gear. Grandpa was a strat-man. He had two. A maple board guitar and a rosewood board guitar. He had a few amps of different sizes - I guess as venues got bigger, he just bought bigger amps and kept the old ones. (I'll share details in a minute). Everything he owned was "F".
Grandpa passed. We were sad, and in no real hurry to "claim" or inheritance. When the time DID come, it was pretty simple. My brother took the maple board (he liked maple) I took the rosewood (I liked rosewood). Guessing from what I know about "F" guitars, and what grandma says (she's still alive), my brother has a '55 that was bought used in 1960. I got a custom color (black over burst) '62 Rosewood that Grandpa bought new.
My brother only wanted ONE amp - the brown Showman. Dick Dale used one, so must he!!!! I took all the rest of the amps. Put most in storage, kept them together for years adding to the group ever so often when something cool would come up.....another story for another time.
"Yeah, cool. You got a vintage S when your Grandpa died. Lucky you!!"
Well, bringing it back to PRS....
My brother can play his "F" with his eyes closed. That single guitar is an extension of who he is as a player. Shoot, you could probably cut his hand off and he'd STILL be able to play it with his mind. In my years as a player, guys that are married to the "F" S are like my brother - if it varies from Leo's design they don't want it. It is perfect and Leo got it right the FIRST try. That is my brother's frame of mind....
PRS builds their OWN version of that TYPE of guitar (DC3 anyone??) and PRS players dig it, but not too many - IF ANY - hardcore "F" S players. It's too different. Same with the 305.....well, ANYTHING PRS has done up to the Mayer guitar.
But now????
Dude, the Mayer guitar is TOO close to the "sacred" S (not really, PRS always does some clever things to "improve"). BLASPHEMEY!!!!!! They (PRS) ALWAYS WERE COPY-CATS!!!!! BAHHHH!!!!! and so on.....
Yet, the guitar is flying off the assembly line. WHY???? Because NOW it is close enough that dudes like my brother can go, "Ahhh, vintage radius and frets. Nice. Sounds good. Looks like MY guitar, but I can take it outside - AND it's priced ok." PRS FINALLY has the 3 single coil guitar he/they have been trying to make since forever.
It gets better than that, even.... I HATE the S and I am 99.7% I will buy one, lol. Why? Because it sounds amazing. I will AT LEAST be trying one out.
There is NO elephant in the room. My post has no point other than to waste time, space, and energy. But I feel accomplished for having typed it!
