Vela...convince me

Thoughts on the Velas? Looking to cop some Gretsch and Tele tones, how well does it do? Wouldn't mind y'all showing off your Velas, either. ;)

Have you tried a Starla? I have a Core model and it covers ground from a 330/Casino to a Rickenbacker, Telecaster and of course Gretsch. So much so i no longer own either of those other models. Great clean sounding with a vast aray of tones due to the coil split, for 60's or country and straight ahead AC-DC style rock or Peter Stroud/Americana with some drive. The lightweight solid body gives a real airey tone.
 
About: My Vela Reclaimed SH
This was the guitar I was not expecting to purchase, but when it was announced the specs a actually met what I was looking for in a "Strat/Les Paul/in between/all in one" guitar and then: the wood....
So I applied for one - with months to get it delivered (if at all). All of a sudden it arrived already in June and I have to decide to keep it or not.
It is actually very light, well balanced and rings nice/soft without an amp. I got an ES345-RI recently and you can hear that it is "too new"...ringing like a tin-can.
The Vela neck has no filler in it and feels "old" and you don't "stick to it" like on a Les Paul with all the paint on it.
I must admit I now don't use my 60´s CS strat any more and the Les Paul only eventually.
For some reason the Vela has become my No1 - even it is "much less value" than the other ones, I can not go wrong at anything with it.
Probably also the scale (25") is exactly my cup of tea.
The only modification: The Volume pot did cut a lot of treble out. I changed the cap and this is now much better.
No issue with brightness for me, as the tone pot works perfectly.
Setup and balance between PU settings was just perfect - many different sounds with the 3 way switch, Coil-Split and SH configuration.
I started to play a lot of Steve Morse stuff recently and with a TC flashback (clean or distorted) it just gets very close.
Most versatile guitar I have and as said: I did not expect this...Love it!
This is my 1st PRS guitar and even it is tempting to explore more of them, I am not missing anything right now.
 
About: My Vela Reclaimed SH
This was the guitar I was not expecting to purchase, but when it was announced the specs a actually met what I was looking for in a "Strat/Les Paul/in between/all in one" guitar and then: the wood....
So I applied for one - with months to get it delivered (if at all). All of a sudden it arrived already in June and I have to decide to keep it or not.
It is actually very light, well balanced and rings nice/soft without an amp. I got an ES345-RI recently and you can hear that it is "too new"...ringing like a tin-can.
The Vela neck has no filler in it and feels "old" and you don't "stick to it" like on a Les Paul with all the paint on it.
I must admit I now don't use my 60´s CS strat any more and the Les Paul only eventually.
For some reason the Vela has become my No1 - even it is "much less value" than the other ones, I can not go wrong at anything with it.
Probably also the scale (25") is exactly my cup of tea.
The only modification: The Volume pot did cut a lot of treble out. I changed the cap and this is now much better.
No issue with brightness for me, as the tone pot works perfectly.
Setup and balance between PU settings was just perfect - many different sounds with the 3 way switch, Coil-Split and SH configuration.
I started to play a lot of Steve Morse stuff recently and with a TC flashback (clean or distorted) it just gets very close.
Most versatile guitar I have and as said: I did not expect this...Love it!
This is my 1st PRS guitar and even it is tempting to explore more of them, I am not missing anything right now.

Welcome to the forum! Glad to hear you're loving your Vela. Great guitar!
 
I have posted several times about the virtues of the Vela. It's a joy to play, sounds great with almost any type of music you want to play, and once you dial it in, it stays dialed in! It sounds great though almost any amp, and I have done fly dates with just my Vela, and a small pedal board running through whatever amp they had for us in the backline, with absolutely no anxiety...it comes through every time. There are very few guitars that are that versatile.
My 2 cents? Buy one... You won't be sorry.
Just come back from a trip to England plenty of reclaimed looking velas there 2 new £500 at Ormskirk Liverpool & 1 perfect 2nd hand 3 months old with nail holes £400 good buys but the best buy was Maple neck SE models £799! cheap as chips & i guess some discount for cash at Andertons Uks no1 PRS dealer
 
You want a Tele, get a Tele.

You want a guitar that is lightweight, feels awesome in your hands, and spits out sweet tones... get a Vela. I played a used (regular model) one recently and was impressed.
 
Its an oddball as many have said. Its its own thing, its not a tele, its not a Gretch and its not a traditional PRS Custom.

I like to think of mine as an old school rock and roll guitar, it is ideal for classic rock and country, also it does well for blues. Its not a one trick pony, it has many tricks, but it is its own beast.

It is something that helps in your guitar arsenal if you need a guitar that does oddball when normal doesn't just cut it.
 
Its an oddball as many have said. Its its own thing, its not a tele, its not a Gretch and its not a traditional PRS Custom.

I like to think of mine as an old school rock and roll guitar, it is ideal for classic rock and country, also it does well for blues. Its not a one trick pony, it has many tricks, but it is its own beast.

It is something that helps in your guitar arsenal if you need a guitar that does oddball when normal doesn't just cut it.

Totally agree. It's just a fun guitar, period!
 
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