The ultimate, quintessential and timeless PRS guitar?

[veinbuster]

Is that the Violin Prototype?

Sure is.

 

[Aahzz]

The thread title to me says, paraphrased, "what is the first guitar that comes to mind if you ask the average guitarist about PRS". That is, hands down, the Custom 24. For most people who know about guitars in general, but aren't necessarily the PRS fans that we are here, the first PRS they think of is the CU24. Is it my favorite? Nope. Is it the best? Subjective, and not for me. But, is it the quintessential essence of PRS? Absolutely.

 

[]-[@n$0Ma☩!©]

I've owned many PRS's, including half of those you mention, but never even held a 24 in hand.

Don't beat yourself up too badly.

I (ignorantly, apparently) always thought it was more of a metal guitar.

What are you really after? Are you just a collector looking to add a desirable guitar to your portfolio or is this a tone hunt? If the answer is 'I just want to own the ultimate, quintessential, and timeless PRS guitar', it's going to be a CU24 all day long (just like the poll shows). That's the one that started it all.

But Paul is the one driving changes in the line-up and I haven't seen him playing a CU24 with his band (unless its a demo for the instrument) in a very long time. That's because he wants to play the one that is the pinnacle of PRS achievement (which was your second question). In this case (and for roughly a decade) its a 408-twist on the 25" scale, 22-fret, McCarty (AKA the Paul's Guitar).

And then you tossed out "ultimate example of guitar evolution that retains attributes of the vintage voices we love". While the CU24 and PG are capable of conjuring vintage voices, most of us immediate associate that with humbucker-based McCarty. This is especially true for the 24.594" scale McCarty. But you clarified "while moving everything forward as only PRS has been able to achieve" and nobody is combining vintage tones with the incredible feel of rosewood necks like PRS. Certainly not on this scale.

Bottom line: I recommend taking a big step back before concluding anything from your poll results. I think 66% of your verbiage points toward the McCarty camp. So I end as I began... what are you really after?

 

[vchizzle]

Pretty easily the custom 24 IMO. A melding of tones and to this day, their best seller.

 

[Silvertree]

Modern Eagle 1

BRW necks rule

I’ve said before and I will say it again, if there is a prettier guitar than the DC I’ve never seen it.

 

[alantig]

I've owned many PRS's, including half of those you mention, but never even held a 24 in hand.

Don't beat yourself up too badly.

@]-[@n$0Ma☩!© is right. That’s a job better outsourced to others.

 

[mr_spoons]

I love my 24, but it's got to be the DGT for me, I find it's tones both quintessential and timeless.

 

[bodia]

what does he know?

To keep his car doors locked?

 

[bodia]

What baseball player is the best hitting, best fielding, nicest guy in MLB?

Know what I’m sayin’?

Mike Trout?

 

[sergiodeblanc]

To keep his car doors locked?

Maybe now he does.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

uh......no.

WIN!

 

[László]

Will this question be on the test?

 

[Tonart]

PRS guitars have a unique tonal characteristic. If you listen long enough, you’ll recognise it. I’ve observed that tone comes out most strongly in a doublecut stoptail configuration. That to me, is the quintessential PRS. The rest are bells and whistles.

That said, some bells and whistles can be very significant. For example certain necks like Pernambuco, Brazilian rosewood, Honduran Rosewood, Peruvian mahogany etc.

 

[MC58-In-SC]

My 24-08 with all its switching options has such a palette of tones at the fingertips. Pretty much the same as the 35th Anniv. switching options... I just liked the more subdued look of the 24-08 vs. The 35th's bird headstock and location of the pickup selector switch

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Will this question be on the test?

Ironically, the first thing I thought of when I read this question, was my Philosphy teacher in college. I swear he used to intentionally word questions in a way that made you think he was asking more than one thing per question, and trying to trip you up whenever he could. Let’s just say he and I didn’t get along.

 

[Deleted member 5962]

Mike Trout?

That could be correct.