As a firebird owner- you’ll wanna be over 6 feet tall or you’re gonna think the first fret is in the next hamlet over, mates. Lol firebird pickups and learning to use your fender tone stack are the key to a perfect life.
It opened my eyes too. Now I see why the cheapest guitar I own is the one I enjoy the most playing. (A Harley Benton DC-Junior FAT) The combination of a chunky neck with access to every single fret without hassle makes it for me.
It’s not shallow unless you disregard playability. You have to feel comfortable and you can’t have a nagging suspicion in the back of your mind that you look like a wally - Performance is a hugely emotional thing. For me, when I played a PRS I was impressed with the neck and it sounded fine. As does every guitar that doesn’t have Lego bricks for pickups. But the PRS I played had those godawful flying birdie neck inlays and the most glaring tiger maple clear blue sunburst. If you like that sort of thing, fine. But that PRS ‘look’ just screams at me - ‘money can’t buy taste’. I find that look awful, like it’s a 1970s van with some spray painted fantasy scene of a young woman with huge boobs holding a sword. Again, if that’s your thing fill your boots but I’d be hideously embarrassed to have one of those ‘shaggin wagons’ … or a typical PRS. And sure, the model in question has dot inlays and a workmanlike block colour finish, not one of those garish loud finishes but the PRS logo just screams fusion jazz-funk at me, due to association with the look of 90% of PRS guitars even if that guitar shape and fittings would be fine for me if it didn’t have that logo. I’d feel I’d be explaining myself to anyone who noticed what sort of guitar I had - ‘no, it’s not just that I can’t afford the usual PRS abomination, it’s actually a good guitar’. I have felt this way since I first saw that PRS maybe 30 years ago. And I’m too old to change my set ways…
@@julianmorriscoInteresting that. Thus far I never considered if a guitar makes me look cool. I've always thought the player makes the guitar cool, not the other way round. So maybe people just find my guitar cool, not me? And they just come to see my guitar?
Gotta tell you Colin, I was fussin around w/ headphones on doing work. I stopped what I was doing to come look at this as the sound was really good on my end. I wouldn’t mind having that guitar at all. Seriously, not sure what it sounds like in your room, but here, it is really nice.
@25:27 - The visual aspect is a great topic. This can only be why relic'd guitars are now a thing. It's a visual representation of something which "looks" well-worn and has been played (and appears to have mojo - but if you know that this is false, then you are only fooling yourself). I'm not a fan of relic'd guitars. I have a PRS SE Soapbar 2 from the same era (2005) and I agree with your summations. Great lightweight guitar which invites loads of strumming. I do think the light-weight aluminium bridge works for this. However, I have no problem with the shape so, overall, it's a great guitar for my collection.
Personally can't stand the guy either. Makes some really big claims, with no evidence to back any of it. I've never once seen a frequency response chart alongside any of his bold proclaimations.
Your epiphany is spot on. I find some guitars more comfortable to play than others. Your explanation of looking down and where your hand can reach the neck is excellent. Ernie Ball Sack strings? Never heard of this series! 😂🤣 PRS proprietary tone foam? I think you are on to something! 😂🤣
A very valid point, Colin. Of late I've come to the same conclusion as to why some guitars "sit" better on me than others, (and, yes, it's probably a sitting , not standing, issue). Of course, guitars like SGs have the related issue of players being unfamiliar with where the fret positions fall. All could be accommodated with use, to a degree, but we don't have to. Just play what we like. Thanks.
Hello, I also do have a PRS, which I don't play so often. But I like LP-style guitars, I have 3 of them a SPEAR, a HB and a Gibson tribute (used for 400 Euros). I like to play solos mostly over mp3-files. I am just a bedroom player, no pro or expert by any means.I agree to the point you made about having not a comfortable access to upper frets. I feel the same and as LPs have an "arse dive", I just change the position how I hold my guitar when sitting down. I put my guitar between my legs, like it was a classical guitar. Stability is much better and access to high frets easier too. greetings from Austria! (no, not Australia lol)
Have a 1992 PRS CE24 bought new back in the day, picked it over a Gibson LP Standard. Have owned a few other brands ever since including a couple of lower end Gibson LPs. Favorite guitar is a 2023 Epiphone 59 LP Standard.
Both the CE22 and CE24 from around that period were more functional, straightforward guitars, as I remember it. They had less ornate finishes but were still US made.
Yes, very high quality build and material with only the dot abalone fret markers. Also, the maple top isnt so ornate thats it’s almost garish. Despite being a great guitar, years on, kept looking at Gibson Les Pauls, and to my own surprise, ended up getting the Epi 59 now being my favorite for its price-value element.
At that price I'd do a reverse Ricky carve on the headstock, cut down the upper horn and put a German carve on and refinish it myself. I've played my mate's PRS which is a 12 top with birds custom shop but I preferred my other mate's custom shop Hamer. Thing is with the SE series they are not custom built so cut away and have fun. Mod it, some one will enjoy what you do. I've been highly visual all my life. We wouldn't make a life partner we didn't find attractive. Been subbing a while & enjoyed your comments.
I've owned over a dozen USA PRS guitars, and for various reasons never really bonded with any of them. I have a black SE Soapbar II identical to yours and it's my favorite PRS that I've owned. I did replace the P-90's with Pete Biltoft Vintage Vibe P-90 sized humbuckers, which sound great. Kind of funny that my $250 used SE is more inspiring to play that my old expensive USA PRS guitars were.
World Musical Instruments has a phenomenal track record when it comes to QA, as far as I have experienced and heard from others. Their fretwork seems to be almost always flawlessly done. Again, that's from my experience in dealing with one WMI Korean made PRS SE 245 (price???) and 2 WMI Korea made ESP Ltd guitars that range in price from $499-$1800... MH 401-FM and SCT 607B.
I have a 1996 PRS Custom 24 that I love, but I honestly don’t reach for it that much as I tend to favor my 87 Charvel, 86 Peavey Predator, 97 ESP Horizon, 97 Peavey Wolfgang, 89 Les Paul and 23 Fender Strat Ultra. Each of these guitars has its own unique mojo and I find that I play each one differently and feel more inspired by these guitars as opposed to my PRS. The PRS is a beautifully crafted guitar…, but it ( maybe it’s psychological) feels a bit sterile.
I'm in your boat - I just don't get excited about a PRS. Explaining why is a bit like trying to explain if you like a flavor of ice cream or not - you either like it or not.
The Soapbar II guitars aren't made today. I love wrap around bridges. I think they have more resonance than a Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece most of the time (not always). Thank you for showing how different guitars fit the body. I could see it over the years of watching others play, but your demonstration, one after another, made it very clear. I've got a Donner Tele Thinline copy and love it. Maybe it's time to try an SG like guitar. I don't want to spend the money on a Gibson or Epiphone.
Most PRS models suffer from the "neither fish nor fowl" syndrome. I'm not a fan of the 25" scale length or of the 10" fingerboard radius. If Im going to play a Gibson-inspired design, I'd prefer 24.75 and 12 . Also a lot of the models have neither the warmth and guts of a Gibson nor the clear bright spank of Fender. They are more midrange focused and sound sort of generic as a result. Finally, I've tried out some core models that had QC issues, despite PRS' reputation for having perfect fit and finish.
What about the PRS 594? Named for the 24.594 scale length which was the original scale length of the 1958 Gibson Les Paul. Ted McCarty helped design it.
Prs guitars are easier to play standing… I have a silver sky … I put fender noiseless pups in it and it really helped it … it’s the se model … stock pups aren’t that great … but that’s my opinion… when I sit down with it I play it in the opposite knee … that does make it much easier to play sitting down … as far as the looks go … I’m in the middle… but the reverse headstock looks better which is the key point ( no pun intended) that I think improved the look slightly… but it was a good video on the prs soap bar … I agree… those pups sound good 👍
The SG was one of the last guitars that I tried because I didn't love the look. I was told SGs are for tall people. I tried an SG and it fits me. I have wide shoulders and I immediately realized how other guitars make me feel bound up. Coincidentally, my favorite guitars other than the SGs have been Teles.
@@DreynoI can see why people think SGs are for tall people, like most Gibsons tje scale length is shorter than most Fenders but the way the guitar is put together the neck juts out a long way from your fretting hand than most other guitars especially if standing, you have to throw tour arm a good six inches to play cowboy chords, so can give you a feeling like your stretching. Like anything you het used to it with practice but definitely a different feeling guitar.
I had one of those but in sunburst, until recently. Great wee guitars, solid as anything. It went with some other excess gear I had to sell off, but would heartily recommend them.
My guitar teacher taught me to put the guitar on the left leg, not on the right one. And yes, it makes a lot of difference. Yet I don't play my PRS as often, as I play my other guitars. It's a great guitar, it plays well, it sounds great, it's very flexible, I do like the look, it stays in tune better, than most other guitars, it should be perfect. And I think exactly that is, what I find boring about it. It's no challenge to play, and therefore feels, as others have put it, soulless. It just doesn't have the balls to fight me.
I'm not generally a fan of PRS guitars. The neck shapes don't do it for me. I've only ever owned SE models, and that was years ago. First a Santana SE (first series). Then a Soapbar SE (also first series). Meh. But I bought a DGT SE last year, and love it. The neck shape is closer to the Gibson's I love. The pickups are very good, and the trem is super stable compared to Bigsby's and Strats. I put the SE locking tuners on it, not because the stock tuners were a problem - they weren't. But I am a tinkerer, and the locking tuners weren't expensive. So why not?
That is the most un-remarkable PRS ever. Colin, you might like PRS if you tried one of the Mcarty models that were built in the 90's. Those guitars were far and away some of the best guitars ever made
Great review and summed up precisely how I feel about PRS! Solid and reliable but don't love the look and as you say, very little association with famous guitarists who inspired me to play in the first place. Having said that I tried one of the new NF3 models the other day and rather liked it so I may yet be tempted! Cheers.
Who else is now going to do the chin test on all their guitars? I, for one, definitely will be! Nice one Col. I also totally agree that PRS's leave me cold. (no beverage or snack today - did some overdue work admin whenever you started playing - made for a good soundtrack!) 🤘
Colin, .. thanks for bringing the nuances, that I wouldn't have considered, .. like the middle fret location thing. And, this just one example, of course. We may have different tolerance levels, to certain aspects of an instrument .. but, if we're not even looking for different characteristics, when considering a purchase .. not good, is it.
I don’t hate PRS, but they don’t do much for me. Yes they seem to be well made, and the ones I have played were well made. Some of them look great. Maybe it’s the necks or the scale length or radius or something else? They aren’t bad. If a PRS was my only option I’d play one,. Each of the guitars I have all spoke to me in some way. When I picked them up and played them, something about them drew me in and I knew they were coming home with me. PRS? Didn’t happen. Including higher end ones. Maybe there’s one out there that would do that for me. Who knows? If you like them, cool. Play what you like.
G'Deve Colin, I have to agree with you amongst many others where PRS is concerned. They're beautiful guitars, they Sound great...here comes the but: Although I love the tone of the DGT, I can't get used to the smallness of the neck at the first fret. I don't have big hands or really long Fingers, but I love a nice Baseball Bat neck such as the SRV Strat or 51 Tele, 58 Les Paul. It simply feels right in my hands. I just cannot really bond with it. And like you, my guitar heros mostly play Fender,Gibson or the one or other an Ibanez (John Scofield, George Benson, and yes Satch and Vai) but when I've got my Tele, Strat, or Les Paul in my Hands, it just feels right. That's what,I believe, makes the Mojo. Have a nice Weekend Colin. Cheers from Germany
I had the silver sky se , then a 24 fret custom, but just never could feel comfortable on the neck, they were nice looking, I prefer a Strat with a not so wide neck. I did get a Strat sound out of the silver sky. 😊
Hey bro, SG's are your comfort area where SG's for me is hard to play. Currently I own a Gibson Les Paul Standard, a Fender Strat, 2 Ibanezs and a PRS core Standard. I bought my PRS used in 2006 and I feel like that guitar was made for my hand but before I got it my Les Paul was my main guitar from 1993 until I bought the PRS. I have owned several Ibanez guitars that I hated and I have played several guitars that the shape was fine but they just didn't vibe with me, so I know what your talking about bro. I love my PRS but that don't mean that everyone has to love or like them. Another good video man!
Hi Colin, glad you're well, that fat chin vertical sight, never thought about it, cleaver one. When I started playing an Sg, my initial thought: it's an odd left shift, but when realizing, where your hand lands, as a natural first grip, right in the middle of the fretboard, the light weight and the effortless fret access, was "the" game changer (Mojo) for me. Cheers.
Lol, I'm not a fan of pointy either. I fixed my Ibanez by cutting off th pointy bit on the headstock, theb giving it a bit of a reshape. Love that guitar had it over 20 yrs.
I have one of those and I have its predecessor, the "Soapbar I" as well. Both wonderful little guitars. They both have a kind of beefy "piano like" sound to me and I like that. The "Soapbar II" is one of those guitars that I really love the simplicity of and it's very "cuddly" feeling. The "Fat/Wide" neck taper is great feeling too. They both have plenty of "Mojo" and I'll never sell either of mine - I like them that much!
Two of my favourite guitarists Alex Lifeson and Al Di Meola played PRS for a while and played them well but I preferred both with their Gibson’s - I have a prs Se which is a very good guitar and has 24 frets but don’t play it as much as my Gibson and Epi’s though would recommend prs se to any intermediate player looking for a player that does most things well - mojo maybe not ! I do fancy trying a prs ce
This is a video that Paul would definately want to see. I think a statement like youve made, would get his gears turning. Ive never played but 1 prs and i liked it. But theyre not a brand im into. Tho i do wanna try a simver sky just to see if its a different take on the strat that id vibe with
Hi, where can I register to be on your forum? There isn't a sign up link that I saw anywhere on the page. Love the budget 61 SG Reissue btw, I just bought one myself. Burstbuckers sound great. I gave up on PRS for feel, don't like the necks.
Love the chin test and would have to agree with your conclusions. My son left me his Soapbar 2 to look after and I just can't get on with it or get excited about it. Shame on me as it does sound and play well. Maybe my chin doesn't line up!😮
I've never really been attracted by how PRS guitars look. However, if I was going to buy one this is probably the one I'd buy as I thought it actually looked pretty good. My problem is more with the sound. For me, I don't know what its 'thing' is. Gibsons, Teles and Strats do a thing, each of which is different. When I hear a PRS, I don't hear what it does better or worse than any of the aforementioned. It's not bad. It just doesn't seem to have its own character. Of course, it's all personal opinion but that's my opinion on them.
PRS unfortunately are victims of the era they were birthed in, the 1980's. Everything cool HAD to be pointy, and stratish. If u think about it, and look at it for a minute, the headstock is actually a TAME version of the pointy stuff that was going on at the time, but i bet they had to have it somewhat conform to the contemporary style of the time and there u have it, a vintage at heart, modern (80's) design.
The folks I know who own PRS speak about those instruments in much the same manner as I speak of Eastman Guitars. Big divide in opinions as to preferences. I don’t get it myself. For one thing, PRS doesn’t offer Lollar pickups. That ends any consideration right there ❤ PS: Lollar 🎉
I feel the same way you feel about prs .... I have a fender strat that never gets me in the groove. Great guitar but just doesn't do it for me. Prs when I've played them feels the same way to me. Probably my fault but who knows. Great video. See you next week. Cheers
You like a guitar or no. Some of it is based on tangible things like design, tone, quality and play-ability, plus your emotional reaction to it's brand, history etc. OK, fine. Don't get a guitar you don't like for whatever reason. It's your opinion, but should you go on and on about it? Really? It's not information anyone can use, is it? Tell you what, just send it to me! It will make us both feel better!
The PRS does sound awesome! I get what you're saying about the playability of the guitar. Coincidentally, while I was practicing I noticed that part of my issue with my bogeyed up left hand was the fact that I was practicing while seated. I put the guitar strap, stood up and it was much easier for me to wrangle the fretboard. As much as I absolutely love my PRS S2 Vela semi-hollow I'm not a fan of the looks of the headstock... but it works crazy good. The guitar is easy to tune and it holds the tune very well. I'm sitting with the guitar right now and my chubby chin is right over the neck PU and 22nd fret. To me, this is a PRS Thin Line Tele copy with a shorter neck. and probably my favorite guitar out of my collection to play. But yes, the headstocks are fugly. 🤣👍 Cheers Colin, have a great weekend! I think I've sold my 22' KTM 890 Adventure. Guy is swinging by later this morning to pick it up. Trying to pare down to three bikes... from seven.
I agree about PRS and mojo. I have one that I totally rebuilt to give it power. Now I love it because their pattern regular neck is a fave of mine. Excellent shape.
Looks matter. I have zero interest in Strats and Les Pauls because I'm beyond bored with the look. Still love SGs and Teles though. I also love PRS. I've recently even taken a shine to the Ibanez S series. Sometimes you want sleek and efficient, sometimes you want a club to beat your enemies with. But whatever the reason, it's gotta speak to you.
SEs have no mojo. They’re assembly line instruments. I still think you’d like an S2 Vela. Great craftsmanship, great neck, simple looks, and plenty of mojo
G'day Colin, Thanks for another great video. It was entertaining, informative, & thought provoking... enough to make me share my thoughts. I appreciate your explaination about the lower cutaway, and it makes sense to me (which should be worrying to at least one of us), but I see 2 problems with your test. 1- I think that "the fat chin test" is the wrong terminology, because not everyone has such a chin. And then some of us wear a beard, hiding any sized chin we may have. Indeed, some of us may not be able to see the fretboard for many reasons. I would like to suggest that your test, or new measurement be called the "reach around fret". Since I am an old Aussie, I prefer "reach around fret" over "fat chin test", & I can get away with saying it. 2- If we agree that the position of the lower cutaway is important to the way the guitar feels when it is played, then the weight of the guitar becomes inconsequential, because the guitar's weight is on the player's lap, not hanging from their neck. My next thought is that I seem to recall Paul Reed Smith saying that a "single pickup guitar is a one trick pony". Fans of Gibson & Epiphone Juniors, Fender Esquires, or Danelectro DC1 guitars would disagree with that. And let's not mention all of the Malcolm Young fans. I could be wrong about that (and I probably am wrong), but Mr PRS is wrong. My last thought has nothing to do with the guitar, but it has to be said. You do know that Black Magic Woman was written by Peter Green, right??? I just had to ask. Anyhow, thanks once again for the great video. Keep up the good work Andrew BTW, can you please post a Telecaster video soon? I have a Tele story that I want to share. 😃
The reason why the 80’s had to have pointy headstocks was to solve a very common problem… drummers. So when the drummer would mess up the guitarist could take care of it. (This is a joke and should by no means be taken for a fact or insult. Thank you.)
To each their own, love my Santana sig PRS, it's pure butter man, holds tunning phenomenally well..no issues, got another and its the same, like a SG, strat mix is the best I can explain it...and it's not ridiculously priced like a Gibson that has finishing issues and a G string that hates the guitar lol ..just me though...play em till the end of my days....
The ergonomics difference is correct, but remember - PRS is a BRAND, while Les Paul and SG are MODELS. PRS McCarty SE would have been closer to Les Paul/SG in ergonomics.
The more of this guy’s videos I watch the more I think he and his channel are a modern ‘missing link’ of what RU-vid would have looked like if it was in the internet era of 1996-2003 (or whatever). This is a huge compliment- internet of today is 💯 about on engagement in order to get your money. There is next to zero actual ‘content’ created by unique personalities that is not entirely focused on marketing to the viewer in some fashion. I’m not naive and I understand how things operate, it’s just great to see these style of videos
Im a massive prs fan and own several. But, i also understand that mojo overall is a function of the guitar, the gear, and the player coming together. If the player isnt inspired by a guitar/brand/version, then the mojo will never be there. I get it. I just appreciate col giving a factual review of whatever he is looking at. I cant stand sg’s, or gibsons and epiphones for that matter, but i appreciate col being able to review gear in an effective manner and i respect his skills/history.
I think if Colin reviewed toasters I would watch as he's a very likable chap, great to see hes in great form and btw tea and toast are grossly underated! Somebody should make some indepth video reviews to get the ultimate combo😂
Being a proud Canadian I owned two Godin guitars. Made in Canada, awesome build quality, real quality guitars. There were a Stadium (T style), and a Radiator (2020 version, LP style with a really stupid name lol). In my opinion, really good mid level guitars, but I just could not fall in love with them, ended up trading them both in, around a year after buying them.first the studio went towards a Epiphone Wilshire, and the Radiator went towards my Epiphone LP Junior. Took a loss on on the jr but could not be happier. Just goes to show that even if the quality is there, on nice instruments doesn't mean they are going to be "for you" so yes I traded two good North American guitars for two Chinese built ones at a loss on one but they look feel and play right for this Living Room Legend.
Aren't Fury guitars another Canadian brand? I've seen a review of a Strat-like model except it was a bit more pointy. I don't remember ever finding one 'in the flesh'.
I bought one for my son around 15 years ago when he was in High school. I loved playing it and it grew on me the more I played it. Alas he moved out and took it with him and it disappeared into the ether that was his life at the time. I truly miss it, it was the first guitar I played with p-90's. Great Video once again!
Not a PRS guy either but if this one popped up at my local shop for a few hundred I might've bought it just to have a 'PRS' in the 'collection.' It does sound good, it's obviously well made. I play standing mostly, so maybe these balance better on a strap and high fret access is actually ok. But I think you got a good deal. Cheers from Dallas! (Edited for brevity)
Your the goat mate!!! Love your show , your style , your playing and since I’m « French » you have « joie de vivre !!! » Your energy is contagious!!! If I ever go to Britain I need to drink a few pints with you 😂❤❤❤❤
I've been playing for over 60 years. I had the privilege of working through out the '70s, and just retired a few years ago. I've played pretty much every guitar brand you can think of at one time or another. I really wanted to like PRS guitars, but I just can't. And it really is a lack of "mojo", whatever that is. It's something that players have never really been able to put their finger on, but it's a real thing. I call PRS a "left-brain" guitar, because it seems to appeal to more technical, math oriented players, were Fenders appeal to more emotionally based players, "right-brain". That's probably BS, but it works for me.
😂 I wonder what it is !? Maybe it's the scale length !? I had a very old PRS se standard 22 that I loved but it wasn't as fulfilling to play as the les paul Jr. Or telecaster for example. I can only think it's the scale length.
Oh no… there’s many of us! We just don’t spend the time hating on the brand and making sure everybody hears us like most of their fans do to us for liking our brands!
Yeah, it's weird, I have a really nice PRS SE that was even Plek'd and it plays fine but it would be the first guitar I would sell out of my dozen or so guitars. I just never have bonded with it after all the time I've tried.
I owned this model, been a long time. Mine was a kinda sunburst finish, I much prefer the half moon inlays over the bird's, great video as always, love the Ernie ballsack strings comment, hilarious...
I'm the same with the PRS bird inlays. Going back 20-ish years I think that PRS had them on fewer, perhaps the more expensive models. It felt like there was something a bit artisan about them then. Now they seem to be on almost all their guitars and, to me, they look more mass produced and slightly naff. They remind me of the old ornamental ceramic flying ducks that loads people had on their living room wall that became clichéd. I'd be more interested if there was a greater choice of moons, dots or blocks, as there are on the Tremonti, DGT and Santana models. Cleaner looking and less 'fussy'.
@@paulketchupwitheverything767I mean tbf the the birds are something different than dots and there’s a sentimental reason why Paul put them on, I personally think they look really cool
I want to like PRS but I'm just not attracted to any of their guitars. My test of a guitar is: How does it play, How does it sound and lastly "but not as important" - How does look. Even if it plays and sounds great you still have to like it to some degree.
From 1 old white guy 2 another, ain't no John Lee, Buddy Guy, Lightning Hopkins "mojo" in us, ever, no matter how much we want it or practice or wish. I'm finally disappointed in a review from you....
It’s called bad taste. You guys just pay for a badly made Gibson or fender decal. All tasteless. It’s just fanboy delusion. A 245 destroys and Les Paul
I have about 30 guitars but I haven't got a PRS , but I have tried a few from time to time but I just can't get excited about them even the dearest one's the quality is great but like you I've got grey hair & don't associate them with the guitarist's I grew up with me be a mental thing . Good review as usual though.
