So Paul is an eccentric innovator that treats his employees like family and works on improving medical technology as a side project? Dude is a national treasure.
@will joe I've told this story before, so bear with me. Steve came to a small venue near me (1014 seats, I'm not kidding) for the 'Passion and Warfare' 30th anniversary tour, and he played it like it was a sold out stadium, because he's such a professional. His fans are just that, fanatical, and it was a great show in an intimate setting. To add icing on the cake, after changing and toweling off afterwards, he came back out to the front of the stage and chatted with the 30-40 people who were still milling around. He was so humble and personable to those people, and the looks on their faces told the story. Pure class.
I sold a few of my PRS now.. I have left a PRS Private Stock Vampire Floyd and a 97 CE24. Ever since I got a couple Shabat guitars I am thinking about selling my PRS... I think I'd keep the CE if I could get what I paid for the Vampire. My 4th Shabat is coming soon for my 50th birthday.
No doubt about it. I have more PRS guitars in my 16 guitars than any other single brand. Why? Unsurpassed quality, craftsmanship & tone. PRS guitars blow away any other, IMO. I have 4 core models: Custom 24-08, Custom 22 & 24, 594 McCarty + an Artist, MC-58. Each one, breathtaking.
I never gave a single thought about PRS guitars. I’m 42 years old, just to show that I’ve witnessed a huge part of his timeline as PRS. I’m also from Maryland. Never saw them as something that fit what I like, even though they really do. It’s my own fault. Now that he has become so much more prevalent in these types of videos, I am enthralled! I see something I don’t think many, if any do. He is clearly Asperger’s syndrome autistic. My brother has all the same mannerisms and dedication to his perseveration as Paul. It’s a passion for people in the boat of Asperger’s. I’m soo impressed this man has made a career as he has and built this company with insane quality control that is unparalleled. I’ve never even heard of Qc issues with a PRS product. I love this man and am going to make my next guitar a PRS!
Not only does he produce the best guitars on the planet, but he takes care of those who actually make them, and treats them like assets to the company and not numbers or liabilities. I wish more people were as classy and had this kind of integrity. I love the ones I own.
What Paul said at 14:45 about bringing back every guitar and updating them, says a lot about him. He's a real craftsman and takes pride in the product he puts his name on. And his analogy of the race car or Stradivarius constantly being in the shop is true. It's not just to fix damage, it's to make the tool better. He want's all the guitars he makes to be better than they were when he sold them originally. Impressive.
Everytime I watch or hear Paul talk about his views on the world, on life, on his work and on what matters, I feel the urge to buy a PRS guitar just as a way of telling him that I wholeheartedly agree.
I just bought a PRS (SE) a couple of weeks ago. And after hearing what you said about keeping your employees employed and safe...I couldn't be happier. It's almost fate I clicked on this video as I spent the afternoon arguing with the HR department from a job I was let go of back in March....they let me go, and I didn't hear anything for over 5 months from them. They called me back and offered me 3 days work over the next 2 months. I said "No thanks" as it wasn't worth my time. What did they do? They went and issued me another Record of Employment saying I quit, thus negating the ROE they had issued saying I was laid off. Now hearing your story, I know you are the kind of an employer that is setting the right kind of example and I am glad I spent my hard earned $$$ on one of your guitars (and it sounds amazing too). Thanks for being down to earth and taking care of people!
oh and one more thing as if it really was fate LOL...I've been learning guitar for 2 years, and I play on a game called Rocksmith. It has 1500 songs or so that I cycle through....right after watching this video and making my comment I loaded up the game to relieve some stress . I told the game to randomly pick songs for me for 1 hour and I would play them. I kid you not the first song that popped up was by Steve Vai....(What are the chances since I only have I think 2 songs by him???)...LOL I was so amazed I had to tell the wife the whole story!!!
I was on a flight from LA to Chicago when 747's were the rage. An "Old Hippy" was in the front row 2nd class facing the front partition, by himself in 3 seats. In the other 2 seats were a guitar case (electric guitar) and a very beat up Vox AC 30. This was in the 70's. I just know that this musician had paid for 3 seats and no damned luggage handler was going to touch his tools of the trade... so to speak. Didn't talk to him, but I am sure he was a professional. The amazing thing to me was I could smell old nitro when I walked past his row... that put a smile on my face.
I met mr PRS in the early 2000s, he signed a catalogue I had and was genuinely the nicest CEO I've ever met, I still have it today and was amazed he took the time to talk to me.
These two guys are some of the nicest, down to earth geniuses you will ever meet. Btw my USA and import PRS instruments have been the best money I have ever spent.
PRS guitars are awesome. I've always wanted an american made PRS. Just don't have money to get one. And Steve is one of the greatest guitar player's ever. These long distance calls that Paul does. They are cool , you get a chance to learn a lot.
If these aren't the two most genuine, charming, endearing people in the music industry, I don't know who are. This conversation was so intimate and wonderful, I could have watched for an hour. It was so cute that Paul was obviously bashful about the work that his imaging company is doing, and the way that he cradled his guitar as he was talking about it was delightfully human.
Wow! I love my USA made 2002 PRS Custom 24 , but having heard this really interesting conversation between two real guitar gods (a player and a builder) I am more proud than ever of being the owner of such a beautiful and amazing instrument. Thanks a lot Mr. Smith.
Like Steve, Ibanez RG's are so comfortable for me because I've played them for so long. I wish PRS would make one for Steve. I'd buy it in a hearbeat. A PRS built RG-esque guitar (doesn't have to be pointy but the controls have to be in the right place!) would be a dream guitar for me.
Two down to earth genuine caring human beings. Masters of their crafts. Steve Via is one of the greatest guitar players that ever walked this planet and Paul Reed Smith is the creator of one of the finest guitars ever made.
That may be my favorite to this point. 2 total geniuses at what they each do, with a common thread between them. I would be super interested in seeing what guitar Paul would make for Steve. Would be totally out of Paul’s comfort zone but I know he would somehow rise to the occasion. What do you say Paul, make him a guitar and see what he thinks?
Ive found a new admiration for Paul. He has serious integrity i have alot of respect for that. I unfortunately dont have a PRS in my collection. This has really inspired me to change that! it definitely helps that they are insanely beautiful. Thanks for the vid it was fantastic
Fascinating!!! Steve Vai always amazing... No end to the many facets of Paul always amazing!!!Truly a visionary!!! While Steve calls him the watchmen of the integrity of the instrument and Paul humbly calls himself the repairman... Outstanding!!!
Steve is a businessman just as he one of the best of the best player and musician. he will never do an interview without having a deal and this deal is probably his signature acoustic which I am game for. love the interview.
I saved my butt off too buy my prs custom usa 24 the day it arrived too my home in Australia i instantly fell in love with my guitar as cliche as it might be after watching this video im more than impressed about pauls genuine care of his staff a rare commodity today and the legend Mr Vai who inspires me to play and too realise music has no boundaries except the one's you create for yourself 😎🤘
Hey you guys Steve & Paul, I'm blown away by the intelligence and humanity revealed in this chat. While the common social media can be so mean, so low, you two have raised the bar for more than just guitars sound and music. Thank you so much for sharing this with us, I'm proud to hold a guitar in the brotherhood.
This is the First I've Seen of These True Heart Values Expressed By Mr Paul-RS' What an Awesome and Priceless Spirit He Intentionally and Valiantly Projects and Protects! Wishing Unconditional Blessings To Both These Amazing Gentleman -Mr. 'Here Lets Intentionally Make This Way More Awesomer ! Steve Vai' and Mr."Good Call,'And Lets Make The World A Way Better Place Simultaneously 'Because We Can!' Paul Reed Smith! - Always!🎼🎸🌎🌍🌏🎸🎼
Hi Paul just brought a CE 24 . Just wanted to say it is honestly as close to perfection as I have ever played . Absolutely fantastic . Brought from Thomann delivered to UAE . Brilliant service . Im will buy a JEM next :)
Having met Paul a few times, I can say he's one of the nicest people in music, isn't afraid to be a little colourful with his language ;) , and he's a prankster too, as we learnt with my uncles se custom 24, pretending to throw it in PMT Manchester, that was a "fun" moment, so much knowledge though , such a clever switched on guy, the things id do to get 30-60 minutes to just sit down and talk with paul, or steve for that matter and learn more about guitar etc, would be interesting to hear his thoughts on my current setup also :) Keep it up Paul, doing a great job
And this is why I'm a total PRS nut. I love the enthusiasm Paul has for the guitar and his operation, I love how they never seem to rest on their laurels and they keep innovating, the guitars themselves are great. I have three SE's, one fourteen years old and it still plays like day one. They really seem like a company that gets it, that has a sense of concern for their craft.
"My whole career seems to have come to me on a silver platter" NO! You put in the work to be ready when an opportunity came along you could make more of it than was there initially. Hard work makes a LITTLE luck go a long way.
Most excellent description of how to filter out undesirable noise or distortion in images. I did a work contract in Hanover, Maryland a few years back and wanted to tour the PRS factory near there. I studied three years towards and Electrical Engineering Degree and work in the high Tech industry. It is quite refreshing to see this technical side of your character, and a different viewpoint of Steve Vai's character. I own and watched the movie Crossroads last night, as Steve is one of my favorite guitar players. I could have seen one of my early influences, Jimi Hendrix live. Steve's playing and musical history and knowledge is amazing. I'm a wannabe guitar player since 1969, have played on stage, and currently own a Marshall DSL100H Full Stack, Gibson Custom Standard Les Paul and an acoustic/electric 12 string Takamime. I also would love to own a PRS next, as another one of my guitar heroes and early influences is Carlos Santana since 1969, and the quality of PRS itself.
What a great conversation guys! That little black plastic record blew me away at the time. I hung out with John F a few months while going to GIT ... up until he got the RHCP gig. He would play Steve's songs so good. BTW does PRS make the CE lefty?
Two of my favorite people in the industry! Paul - I purchased one of the 35 Anniversary SE's back in May, and I'm quite happy with it. I've heard how hard you've been working to keep your employees, and it made me even happier that I was able to support your business. One day, I might grab a core series Custom 24 (but I'm just a math instructor who can't play very well... it'll be a while!)
That start riff and chords...💖 The sound is incredible..! Very Welcome Home sounding and so fat, clean and Bell like..pure gorgeous tube tone and playing...just incredible..👌👍🤘🤘🤘🤘
I just got it!!! After all these years.... the logo on Steve's hat is a "V" and it goes through a prism and then it's a EYE!!! Thus, Vai... Geez, why did it take so long?
I remember Guitar Player magazine and those little records were called “Soundpages”. I remember distinctly that Steve’s Soundpage was Blue Powder. Absolutely blew me away.
Paul, I have a 1987 Custom that I bought brand new. And I wouldn't ask for a single update or change. I appreciate your comment around the 16:00 mark, but I couldn't ask for more. And I applaud you keeping the lights on for your people in these trying times.
Paul is such down to earth great guy i glad to see he is so dedicated to his guitars i just wish i could afford one I lost my job do to ulcer colitus 2 surgery and 1 to go couldnt make it back to work so many complications Im glad to see Paul treats his employees good
Paul treats everyone the the same? Woah.... I must have missed understood his "lefties are fickle" comment and the fact he refuses to offer a lefty Silver Sky (actually try getting any lefty apart from an SE) So no, Paul might well come across as a "nice guy" but to say he treats everyone the same is simply wrong
@@billgarland4918 I have two leftie PRS's a custom 22 and an original EG the latter came from the factory with Lindy Frailin Domino pickups that were specifically designed for right handed guitars, Paul obviously thought they were "good enough" for lefties. He would get pre orders for a run of 2,000 lefty Silver Sky's tomorrow so it's not an economic decision and PRS has one of the most high tech guitar building facilities in the world so production shouldn't be a problem (pretty much every other company that makes strat copies can do it) It simply seems that Paul has a problem with lefties and it makes him look a rather petty. As for his "private stock" comment........ that's Huber money😉 BTW Joe Knaggs is even worse than Paul! Something must have gone down in Maryland
This is the correct answer (Blue Powder). Source: I still have the Soundpage. He recorded it for Carvin as a demo for the X-100B, and it was released on "Passion & Warfare" a few years later. He re-mixed it, but didn't re-record anything on it.
@@johnjonestheman Wrong. Guitar Player Magazine soundsheet #1 is The Attitude Song and came out in October 1984. Blue Powder was the Guitar Player Magazine soundsheet from 1986. I have the first one ...
