What does AND doesn’t work for you?

[nussbajh]

With the addition of wood library guitars, PRS has some amazing combinations of different tone woods. I’m curious what woods people have found to work and not work for their ears when paired together. For instance, I have a semi hollow 594 with a Korina body, maple cap, rosewood neck, and Brazilian fretboard. It’s amazing.

This post is all about wood, so chime in regardless of the guitar being S2, core, artist, wood library, private stock… whatever. I am curious how different combinations work together.

Thanks

 

[Prs Mods too]

What works, works. What doesn't, doesn't.LOL

 

[tiboy]

I had two IRW neck PRS guitars. I loved the feel and playability of the necks, but the sound did not work for me.

 

[aphantomvaper]

My best PRS is Mahogany body with Mahogany neck!

 

[dogrocketp]

I’m more drawn to korina and ash these days, although #1 is the standard mahogany/maple cap body with a maple board/ maple neck. I have a KL 1812 that I incredible with gain. It’s all korina, so I may head down that wormhole.

 

[DISTORT6]

22 frets, Widefat necks, Stoptails, Birds.

 

[Mentalo87]

22 frets, Widefat necks, Stoptails, Birds.

This

 

[veinbuster]

It’s hard to argue against mahogany topped with maple for the body and mahogany/rosewood neck for electric.

 

[Headset]

It depends on the type of guitar but what generally works for me is:

1. Oil only rosewood neck (maple has nice feel but I don’t like the tonal characteristics)

2. Maple top

3. Thicker mahogany/korina/swamp ash body

4. 22 frets (the neck pickup always sounds “better” to me vs 24 frets)

 

[László]

My favorite PRS (and formerly Gibson) electric guitars down through the years have followed the time-tested, traditional formula:

Maple top, mahogany body and neck, Brazilian or Madagascar Rosewood fretboard. IRW if I can't get BRW or Madagascar on a particular model.

It's all that 'tone in your head' thing. I depart from it, and I'm not really all that happy. I guess I want to hear a certain thing, and despite wanting to be all experimental, I'm mostly not!

For bolt-on guitars in the past (whether PRS or others), I've gone with maple necks and either rosewood or maple fretboard. But I'm really a set-neck person. I like swamp ash bodies with a bolt-on.

The acoustics that have worked best for me have been maple back and sides, maple neck, ebony fretboard, Adirondack Spruce top. If I did more solo acoustic work, I'd add one with a rosewood back, neck and sides, or cocobolo, with the other specs the same.

I know you mentioned wood type, but I also have a preferred string type: pure nickel.

Apologies for my boring stats!

 

[WEDGE]

I like 22 jumbo frets, maple necks, mid to high gain humbuckers, weigh between 8-9 pounds, and the neck to be thinner than .85 and larger than .81 inches at the first fret. Bonus points for a single humbucker and only one volume knob.

Huge NO’s are huge necks, small frets, vintage spec humbuckers, and sticky backs of necks.

 

[nussbajh]

I’m more drawn to korina and ash these days, although #1 is the standard mahogany/maple cap body with a maple board/ maple neck. I have a KL 1812 that I incredible with gain. It’s all korina, so I may head down that wormhole.

What fretboard do you have on the Korina neck?

 

[nussbajh]

My favorite PRS (and formerly Gibson) electric guitars down through the years have followed the time-tested, traditional formula:

Maple top, mahogany body and neck, Brazilian or Madagascar Rosewood fretboard. IRW if I can't get BRW or Madagascar on a particular model.

It's all that 'tone in your head' thing. I depart from it, and I'm not really all that happy. I guess I want to hear a certain thing, and despite wanting to be all experimental, I'm mostly not!

For bolt-on guitars in the past (whether PRS or others), I've gone with maple necks and either rosewood or maple fretboard. But I'm really a set-neck person. I like swamp ash bodies with a bolt-on.

The acoustics that have worked best for me have been maple back and sides, maple neck, ebony fretboard, Adirondack Spruce top. If I did more solo acoustic work, I'd add one with a rosewood back, neck and sides, or cocobolo, with the other specs the same.

I know you mentioned wood type, but I also have a preferred string type: pure nickel.

Apologies for my boring stats!

I never find your stats boring. Thanks for the post.

 

[Bogner]

22 frets, Widefat necks, Stoptails, Birds.

+1

 

[Bogner]

I never find your stats boring.

TWHS!

 

[Bogner]

What Works For Me?

Guitars That Sound, Feel And Play Good, Stay In Tune And Have Fat Necks. I Find It A Bonus If They Have All This And Look Good As Well.

What Doesn't Work For Me?

Guitars That Don't Sound Good, Play Good, Feel Good, Or Stay In Tune And Have Thin Necks. No Matter How Good These Look, They Will Never Work For Me.

Since No Two Guitars Are Identical This Is A Case By Case Basis. Typically, I Like The Traditional Combinations Of Woods In Most Instances So Long As They Sound Good.

 

[Greywolf]

First and foremost what works is a well executed instrument . Woods ? I've either owned or built from about everything you can think of and several you haven't. Cocobolo and Koa .. anywhere

Necks . Dalbergia retusa ,Dalbergia nigra, Dalbergia maritima
Bodies ... depends on the vibe you're after .. Koa , Mahogany , Black Limba /Korina , Swamp Ash

 

[FragileThunder]

22 frets, Widefat necks, Stoptails, Birds.

It’s hard to argue against mahogany topped with maple for the body and mahogany/rosewood neck for electric.

Two great quotes that sound great together.

 

[dogrocketp]

What fretboard do you have on the Korina neck?

Rosewood. It’s a 24 fret stoptail.

 

[Greywolf]

What doesn't work ... I'm not a fan of ANY bolt on neck , no reason to hate , there are many fine ones out there , I own a few and they are OK , I just don't like the bulky neck joint .. practical but aesthetically unpleasing to me.

I LOVE a well done Satin finish , SO much easier to maintain and does show all the smudges under the stage lights. For me Knaggs does the best , they manage to nail the French polish low sheen look better ( Sorry Paul , PRS satins look a bit more hazey)