Your opinions please on a 2003 Custom 22 that I'm considering.

[Burstbucker]

Alright, I was all set to buy a beautiful 2006 Singlecut, AA flame maple top, #7 pickups, etc.. for a very nice price of $1700.00 Canadian ($1300 USD).

But then everything went sideways, I had the cash but I was hit with a big car repair bill so had to back out temporarily in hopes that the guy wouldn't sell it before I had time to scramble and sell off some of my other gear, then the clock ran out! It just sold yesterday, I don't remember ever being so bummed and disappointed at not buying a guitar ever! I wish I would have never even seen that ad. What a roller-coaster of emotions and all for nothing. Pretty depressed about the whole deal.

There is only one other PRS candidate in my general area and it's a one owner 2003 Custom 22 with a stopbar tailpiece, no tremolo bar (which is what I would have ordered myself), Dragon II pickups with 5-position pickup selector knob, dot inlays, Violin Amber finish. The guy said that he hardly ever played it since he purchased it new in 2003 and still has the paperwork for it somewhere in his house, he said that he's mostly a Tele guy and this guitar "literally has like 10 hours play on it. Up until last year he had 130 guitars and is now downsizing to 15 or 20 guitars because he's renovating his house.

Apparently it is in mint condition and never was played outside of his home.

He's firm at $1,800.00 Canadian ($1,370.00 USD). Maybe not as sweet a deal as that 2006 Single cut that I just missed out on?

He only posted one picture but it isn't very big and not a lot of detail unfortunately but if he is being honest it sounds quite a nice guitar. One thing though is that he isn't close by, it's a little over a three hour drive to get to his place but if it's worth it I don't mind the drive.

Just thought that I would post this in part o vent my frustration after having missed out on perhaps the best guitar that I would ever own but mostly to find out what you guys might think about this 2003 C22.

 

[dogrocketp]

I’d listen to YouTube videos of that model, and if you like what you hear, make the drive. This could very well be a blessing in disguise. I lost out on my dream PRS by 5 minutes. Then I bought one that I can’t EVER sell because it sounds amazing, and I wouldn’t have gotten it otherwise.

 

[Burstbucker]

OK I just went and checked out a couple of YT videos, I found one where the guy could play and the sound quality was pretty good and yeah, it sure looks like a lovely guitar!

 

[Black Plaid]

That sounds like a nice deal for that guitar. If it was me, I'd ask about the weight. I prefer the ones on the lighter side.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

That’s a good price for a CU22. But if you want a trem equipped PRS, hold out.

 

[Burstbucker]

That’s a good price for a CU22. But if you want a trem equipped PRS, hold out.

Actually, whether there's a trem or not doesn't really bother me either way. I guess the frets should be A-1 since he says that he never played it. That's a good thing.

As long as there isn't something that's gone wonky with the neck like an S curve I'd be happy.

Wood is unpredictable, I suppose that even a PRS Core guitar might develop a problem over 17 years? I know that their QC is outstanding but I've had a scare with a 2013 SG Standard '61 reissue, my tech said that there's a very slight S curve by the nut but nothing too bad yet but he stressed to keep the guitar in a case with a humidifier when not in use.

I'm thinking that that 2003 PRS will be more reliable.

 

[danktat]

The CU 22 is my guitar of choice. I have had a 2000, two 2001s, 2004 (but it had the brazilian board) and a 2007. I would jump on it at that price if the condition is what you say. And if you don't.....Find out if he is willing to ship to the USA!!!!

 

[bodia]

Yeah, that’s a good deal. I have an ‘06 Cu22, and it is one of my favs.

 

[veinbuster]

A Custom 22 is more traditional PRS than a single cut and has a very different sound and feel. The Custom would have been my first choice of PRS.

You don’t have to worry about a curved neck, unless the guitar has been abused or neglected. PRS dries all of their wood properly before building.

 

[Black Plaid]

A Custom 22 is more traditional PRS than a single cut and has a very different sound and feel. The Custom would have been my first choice of PRS.

You don’t have to worry about a curved neck, unless the guitar has been abused or neglected. PRS dries all of their wood properly before building.

My '91 has been all over the world with me, and not particularly babied, and the neck is as reliable as the day I got it. PRS does a *phenomenal* job with the wood for their US guitars.

 

[Burstbucker]

Thanks for your comments guys!

After spending a day and a half fuming about that Singlecut that I missed out on I think I'm mostly over the disappointment.

I guess a Custom 22 would be a better one to add to my collection anyway, it's pure PRS, I already have a Gibson Les Paul so maybe that Singlecut would have been somewhat similar but I don't have anything like a Cu22.

Looking at it like that at least helps dull the pain if losing out on that Singlecut. Lol

 

[Rider1260]

You can never go wrong with a CU22 you can set it up vintage or modern ( or both ) The Dragon II neck is one of the best neck pickups I have played the Dragon II Bridge is a hot one but not as hot as the HFS for me I lowered it and it sounded killer

 

[Alnus Rubra]

So when does the guitar arrive?!

 

[dogrocketp]

I have a 92 EG ll that gets played regularly. The wood on your guitar will be killer. The sound and whether or not you bond will be the whole story.

 

[Burstbucker]

So when does the guitar arrive?!

I'm working on it!

 

[Burstbucker]

I have a 92 EG ll that gets played regularly. The wood on your guitar will be killer. The sound and whether or not you bond will be the whole story.

I just got some pictures back from the guy who has this 2003 CU22 for sale and it looks like a beauty! It actually has some flame pattern in it, something that you couldn't see in the first picture that I spotted of this guitar a week ago.

I'll post them here if that's ok. If not please just remove them

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/C90AAOSw6sZeMK3A/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/fVAAAOSwQnReMK6T/$_1.JPG?
set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/Hy0AAOSwFbdeMK5~/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/dScAAOSweF1eMK5t/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/jSYAAOSw4cFeMK5c/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/orIAAOSwvxBeMK5O/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/RwQAAOSw6IJeMK4~/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/vNkAAOSwUmheMK4y/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/QBoAAOSwkoleMK4h/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/rd4AAOSwboheMK4V/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/XAAAAOSwFFVeMK4Q/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/ARYAAOSwNIFeMK4L/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/S9QAAOSwqMteMK3w/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/lt0AAOSwOX1eMK3Z/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/a04AAOSwxlBeMK3L/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

 

[danktat]

I just got some pictures back from the guy who has this 2003 CU22 for sale and it looks like a beauty! It actually has some flame pattern in it, something that you couldn't see in the first picture that I spotted of this guitar a week ago.

I'll post them here if that's ok. If not please just remove them

https://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/C90AAOSw6sZeMK3A/$_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007

Yeah. I'd play the h*ll out of that fiddle!

 

[Burstbucker]

I noticed that the hang tag says Neck: W-T (wide-thin)

This actually might not be the best news for me because I generally prefer beefier necks but it's still not a total deal breaker, just how thin is thin? That's the question. But with a guitar this nice it's kind of hard to just write it off completely just because it's not my all time favourite neck shape, I'm not totally stuck on just fat necks.

What do you guys think of this guitar judging by the pictures that I've posted?

The seller says that there isn't a scratch or chip in the guitar but it kind of looks like the guitar could use a good cleaning. LOL

 

[danktat]

I noticed that the hang tag says Neck: W-T (wide-thin)

This actually might not be the best news for me because I generally prefer beefier necks but it's still not a total deal breaker, just how thin is thin? That's the question. But with a guitar this nice it's kind of hard to just write it off completely just because it's not my all time favourite neck shape, I'm not totally stuck on just fat necks.

What do you guys think of this guitar judging by the pictures that I've posted?

The seller says that there isn't a scratch or chip in the guitar but it kind of looks like the guitar could use a good cleaning. LOL

I prefer the wide fat, but the guitar I have now has the wide thin. It took a few hours and I have adjusted pretty easily. The width of the fretboard is the same on both profiles. So the fingering is the same. You won't have to LOOK at your hands to fret the notes on either neck. There is a little less in the palm near the headstock on the wide thin than the wide fat. But they are so close that I don't have an issue being comfortable switching between the two.

 

[Burstbucker]

I prefer the wide fat, but the guitar I have now has the wide thin. It took a few hours and I have adjusted pretty easily. The width of the fretboard is the same on both profiles. So the fingering is the same. You won't have to LOOK at your hands to fret the notes on either neck. There is a little less in the palm near the headstock on the wide thin than the wide fat. But they are so close that I don't have an issue being comfortable switching between the two.

So the "thin" part is primarily more towards the nut end of the neck? Then that wouldn't be as bad IMO. Yeah, I'm guessing that I would be able to adapt enough to get along with this type of neck as long as it's not some sort of extreme, which I doubt that it would be.

There seems like the metal pickup covers have aged quite a bit but those must be nickel? I've had this happen to the nickel covers on some of my other guitars, not a big deal, just normal aging, right?

If the weather is okay this coming weekend I'll most likely be taking a drive out to see this guitar but the long range forecast right now is predicting a "weather system" moving in, doesn't sound too good. But the seller is really cool, he said not to rush, that he's certain that the guitar will still be here and that he's not aggressively trying to sell it, I only found his ad by accident, it was something that he posted locally almost three months ago.

So, it looks like a decent candidate? Nobody is spotting anything in those pictures that might be a negative? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated!