Why doesn't every new PRS have/need a piezo?

[Evan]

I understand that there are some who never have a need for piezo.

But I can't imagine anyone frowning upon that addition to their next guitar.

The ability to go from Paul Simon to Eddie Van Halen within 20 seconds is quite a trick.

Does the piezo take away something, or will it be something (I hope) that is feature on all upscale guitars going forward?

 

[Whitecat]

Price? How much would the price go up with every core model if they put a piezo in all of them?

 

[Evan]

Price? How much would the price go up with every core model if they put a piezo in all of them?

A completely fair point. But these are already crazy expensive guitars. Paul Reed Smith may be a genius at making wonderful guitars, but let's face it...lately he's mostly a marketing genius. He's the Steve Jobs of guitars. He spends all his time making "appearances" at vendors, where he makes a fool of himself rambling nonsensically about the "musicality" of every guitar he touches.

So he should innovate -- and he HAS!. All I'm saying is that he's onto something with the P22, and should continue in that vein of innovation (and I'm sure he can find an audience who will pay an extra $500 to have a piezo in every guitar. (Personally, I can't see myself going back.)

And yes, while I'm on the topic, Paul needs to chill out on his vendor tours and incessant "this is such a musical guitar" idiocy. It's embarrassing. He increasingly sounds like a deranged "sales engineer." Gag.

 

[justmund]

Troll much?

 

[justmund]

http://prsguitars.com/forum/showthread.php?5648-Public-Service-Announcement-Trolls

 

[László]

Yeah, I'm beginning to think the OP is trolling, but he does bring up an interesting question for debate.

Piezos add substantially to the cost. I buy higher end PRSes, but I don't think they're crazy-exoensive.

However, I don't like the sound of piezos. It's not just a matter of not wanting to pay for one. I don't even want one on my guitar. It adds to the complexity, there's all that extra plastic for the batteries, etc. For something I'd never, ever use?

No way. You want a piezo, buy one with that. I don't want it. One reason I don't have a Hollowbody II is the damned piezo.

 

[alantig]

And yes, while I'm on the topic, Paul needs to chill out on his vendor tours and incessant "this is such a musical guitar" idiocy.

Absolutely agree - who the hell wants a musical guitar? That's like a chef talking about his tasty food or a mechanic talking about how well his car runs, or a woman talking about her enticing...dancing.

 

[Jose]

First, not everyone needs it. Second, he almost already has

two hollowbody models have it ( a singlecut and double cut)

A solidbody (P-22 stoptail)

and two TREM with 22 and 24 frets !! (p22 and p24). These cover a lot of ground.

I mean, how many manufacturers have that number of models with piezo?

I personally would like to see a singlecut (a la Tremonti) with piezo but you have to admit that PRS have gone out of their way to satisfy costumer needs.

 

[LumpBlockClod]

But I can't imagine anyone frowning upon that addition to their next guitar.

no need to tax your imagination... my name is adam, and i ain't got time for no piezo... bring back HBii piezo **option**...

 

[sergiodeblanc]

However, I don't like the sound of piezos. It's not just a matter of not wanting to pay for one. I don't even want one on my guitar. It adds to the complexity, there's all that extra plastic for the batteries, etc. For something I'd never, ever use?

No way. You want a piezo, buy one with that. I don't want it. One reason I don't have a Hollowbody II is the damned piezo.

This!!!!
I'd rather have breast implants on the bottom of my feet.

 

[justmund]

The core line is not "crazy expensive", a $500 addition over every core line guitar would bump the price up significantly, and as the others pointed out, not everyone wants or needs a piezo. Consider the Private Stock line, a price point 2-3 times that of the core line, where the customer can spec pretty much anything they like. A piezo would represent a much smaller relative increase in cost, so therefore wouldn't everyone just be adding piezos? Well they don't, because not everyone wants or needs one!

I don't want one for the added complexity and cost, but also the difference in tone. If I was to spec a PS, it would be a 2-piece bridge or maybe a Paul's bridge with the brass inserts. A piezo bridge would compromise what I was trying to achieve tonally. If I want an acoustic tone I will pick up my acoustic. I don't dig the blended tones so there's no value in a piezo (for me).

Also a P22 is hardly innovative, sure it's a great take on the mag/piezo solid body but other manufacturers have been doing it for a long, long time. Parker/Music Man/Godin/Ibanez/etc etc. Heck, even I put a Fishman Powerbridge (Mann Made!) in a Strat copy over a decade ago. I don't play that guitar, I keep it because of some weird attachment to that bridge.

I'm going to not mention any of the other stuff in the OPs response, everyone deserves a second chance (I got one when I made a D of myself a while back) so hopefully we can move on and have a meaningful discussion on the point at hand.

 

[justmund]

This!!!!
I'd rather have breast implants on the bottom of my feet.

So what you're saying is, if we all chip in and buy you a P22, you'd sell it and get breast implants on your feet? I'm in. Where do I send my money?

 

[sergiodeblanc]

So what you're saying is, if we all chip in and buy you a P22, you'd sell it and get breast implants on your feet? I'm in. Where do I send my money?

Think of all the money I'd save on orthopedic inserts!

 

[sleary]

Because they are not for everybody...end of story

 

[alantig]

So what you're saying is, if we all chip in and buy you a P22, you'd sell it and get breast implants on your feet? I'm in. Where do I send my money?

Think of all the money I'd save on orthopedic inserts!

And you'd be taller when it's cold!!!

 

[CoreyT]

Alan, we think a like, I was going to post the same thing earlier, but my Kindle Fire was acting up.

 

[László]

This!!!!
I'd rather have breast implants on the bottom of my feet.

That might be kind of fun when you need a foot massage.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

That might be kind of fun when you need a foot massage.

Right? I imagine I'd get more offers for them too.

 

[nicolasrivera]

IDoes the piezo take away something, or will it be something (I hope) that is feature on all upscale guitars going forward?

If you just do a little bit of thinking in marketing term you would find the answer very quickly and very clear.

From your question i would guess you have zero experience with piezo equipped guitars because as amazing as the piezo sounds are in PRS models, you still need proper care of it onstage and FOH and that is just some folks don't want to deal with all that hassle. Besides, for stage show nothing beats having a real acoustic on a fixed stand, IMO.

 

[veinbuster]

One reason I don't have a Hollowbody II is the damned piezo.

I have a nice red hollowbody II without a piezo. It's a great guitar. I often travel with an HBII because it is compact and very hotel friendly. Acoustically it is loud enough to hear what I am playing but to quiet to bother anyone.