Get the best – invest in PRS
Granted, there are different brands of guitars on the market, but the PRS is somewhat different. There are only a handful of manufacturers that have high standards and take much care to ensure the perfection of the appearance and the performance of the instrument itself. Apart from the arthritic approach to coating, spraying and buffing the guitar, PRS is well-known for the quality of wood used in making each guitar. Whether it is a standard model or a top-grade model, anything less than stunning would not do with PRS. If for some reason a guitar happens to have a small imperfection, the guitar is permanently destroyed. This clearly shows that the PRS has a very high standard and they don’t settle for anything less than the best.
Cleaning tips – how to take care of your PRS guitar
Whether you are going for a top-notch PRS guitar model like the PRS SE Custom 22 and PRS SE Mark Holcomb or a budget-friendly model like the PRS SE 245, it is important that you take good care of it, to ensure that it remains in a perfect working condition and last long. Below are some cleaning tips that might come in handy.
- Try not to expose lacquer finishes to synthetic, surgical rubber tubing for long, as it may react adversely with the lacquer.
- Carefully wipe the bridge, neck, and string with a lint-free material before and after use.
- Wipe metal parts with a dry polishing cloth. Don’t spray any cleaning agent like glass cleaner on it as they contain silicon and abrasives that may damage your guitar. Only use cleaning agents made exclusively for guitars.
- Don’t expose your guitar to excessive cold or heat for a long time. Extreme heat and sunlight can make the well-crafted woods in your guitar to look faded. While cold weather may not adversely affect the finish of your guitar, it may cause serious damage to the neck, binding, and inlays of your instrument.
- Regularly tighten all screws and check tuning machines and strap-pins.
- Take your guitar to a local guitar technician annually for a complete overlook.
- Carefully dress the frets each time you change strings.
- Avoid things that can damage or scratch your guitar.
Price tag for Paul Reed Smiths guitars
While some PRS guitars are pricy like the PRS SE Custom 22 others are affordable like the PRS SE 245. The SE models, which are reviewed in this guide are affordable than the PRS models.
Below is an estimate of what to expect from the 3 main different categories of PRS guitars.
- Private stock and core models 1800usd and above
- SE model $300 to $1100
- S2 midrange model $1000 to $1500
If you are new to guitars, it would be wise you settle for an acoustic or electric guitar under 500 dollars of some other brands, or a cheaper PRS model like the PRS SE 245. As you get better, then you can go for fairly expensive models like the PRS SE Tonare T50E or the PRS SE Mark Holcomb.
The following features will help you choose the perfect RRS guitar
Choosing the first PRS guitar that catches your attention isn’t really a good ideal, as it might not meet your unique needs and preferences. To make an informed decision and narrow down the best one that will be good for you, we have to consider features like the model, frets, scale, accessories, warranty, and tone wood to arm you with the information you need to choose the perfect PRS guitar.
Acoustic or electric
Acoustic
While you have the freedom to use a type of guitar you like, we recommend that you use Acoustic guitars especially if you are new to guitars as they are beginner friendly, easy to use, and can be learned relatively quickly. Acoustic guitars are meant for learning finger placement and cords as well as for understanding how to amplify sounds.
Pros of Acoustic guitars
- You don’t need electricity to use them
- They are portable
- You don’t need a lot of equipment or accessories other than a guitar pick to use it.
- The strings won’t hurt your finger.
Electric guitars
Electric guitars are perfect for those who are pros and those who have mastered the basics. When choosing an electric guitar, it is wise you give your attention to the craftsmanship and quality its components rather than the type of wood used to make it.
Pros of electric guitars
- You can plug in headphones into it.
- Holding down the electric guitar chords is relatively easy
Tonewood
Wood is one of the main materials for guitar crafting. The role of the wood is to hold the guitar together, as well as, to help it produce great tones. Tone wood can produce sharp sounds and deep overtones.
Since all woods are not suitable for creating guitar parts, it is important that you pay close attention to choose the right type of tone wood. Below are the three main type of wood used in crafting.
- Ash – Most economical wood type sustains notes and chords
- Mahogany – It is strong and durable. It also produce a full sound
The PRS SE Custom 22 and PRS SE Mark Holcomb are made from this type of wood.
Maple
- They are mainly used for fret board and the neck
- They produce very clear sounds
Model
This is a very important feature you should give careful consideration before making a purchase. As you know, all PRS guitars aren’t made the same and certainly won’t perform at the same level. If you are a professional guitarist looking to take your guitar playing game to a new stratosphere then you should go for top-notch models like the PRS SE Mark Holcomb or the PRS SE Custom 22. On the other hand, if you are on a greenhorn or you are still learning how to play, then the PRS SE 245 will be good for you.
Guitar neck
Just like no two guitarists are the same, guitar necks also vary. While there are different guitar makers out here, there are only 3 factors that determine the level of comfort a guitar neck can offer. They are as follows;
- The Profile (Shape, width and thickness)
- The neck joint (the way and manner it connects to the body)
- The wood (number of pieces and type)
Wood
Below are some wood used in crafting the neck of a guitar.
- Mahogany
- Basswood
- Maple
- Rosewood
- Pau Ferro
The neck joint
The neck joint is the area which the neck is attached to the body of the guitar. The neck joint should be able to withstand stress and pressure created when strings are tensioned. Since the neck joint can affect the tone of the guitar, it is carefully designed to offer superior comfort and balance for electric and acoustic guitars.
Pickups change the sound
This is another important feature you must give careful attention to, as it can determine the nature of the sound that a guitar will produce.
There are two common types of pickups:
Single-coil pickups
This was used in making the first electric guitars. A single-coil pickup has a single coil of wire and magnet.
How single coil sound like?
Single coil pickups have a transparent, thin and cline sound.
Humbucker (double coil) pickups
Unlike single-coil pickups, humbucker pickups have two coils and several magnets.
How double-coil sound like
Double coil pickups have a warm and smooth sound and are perfect for Rock and blues.
While having the freedom to buy a guitar with a single or a double coiled pickup, it is best you go for one that has a combination of a double and single pickup.
Frets
This is an important part of a guitar that influences its tone and playability. If a guitar is smooth, comfortable to play and can be used to do pull-offs and hammer-ons effortlessly, it means that the frets have been properly dressed and perfectly matched.
Scale
Scale length basically the vibrating length of the string of a guitar is determined by the distance between the bridge and the nut saddle. The scale length of a guitar influences the quality of the notes produced, as well as, the tension of the string.
Modern electric guitars like the PRS SE Custom 22 and PRS SE Mark Holcomb, which come with a scale length of 25.5 inches, can produce a clear and distinctive tone.
Accessories
Irrespective of the type of guitar you want to buy, it is important that you do some research to learn if it requires additional accessories to work. While some guitars come with accessories, others don’t. To save yourself from spending extra cash on accessories, you have to carefully check if the guitar you plan to purchase come with basic accessories it needs to work properly. If it doesn’t, then you should look for one that comes with accessories.
Warranty
Since PRS guitars are made from superior quality material and are carefully put together by professionals, you can be sure that that will last for a very long time. That said, it is still wise you buy models that are warranty protected. This way, if something were to happen to it, stops functioning properly, or has a factory defect, and then you will be covered.
Do well to read the details of the warranty of the guitar you want to purchase to get a picture of the type of protection it offers.
Feel free to add something you think is important and relevant, and please mention some of the products reviewed as examples in the buying guide, where appropriate.
Enjoyed the review, but the 24 and 22 fret models have always been the staple for this company. You may not have had access to a 24 fret model. I enjoyed the review because all to often, the SE series is compared to the core series and not to the market that either line caters too. You didn’t mention the coil split which gives single coil options. You also state that you can tackle any kind of music but had a rebuttal stating many players say that the pickups don’t do as well with old school jazz or blues. Oh, the title says high end. High end PRS guitars are considered the CE model (considered moderately priced) up through Private stock. The CE model is listed in the bolt on range at 2k most core models start at 3k.