I disagree on avoiding the PRS models with switches for a lot of different sounds. Many of the sounds are useful in my opinion. I find the PRS models that are their own thing instead of trying to be another Fender or Gibson copy are some of the most interesting and enjoyable guitars I have ever played.
I agree. I bought a Modern Eagle V due to its versatility and it's a friggin tone library (17 different pickup settings). All of the sounds are unique and useable, but I also enjoy how different it sounds from other guitars in a lot of ways. I get what Ricky's perspective is, but we have a different opinion here.
If your PRS doesn't sound good to you, it's because you are playing it wrong. Paul Reed Smith himself will tell you that you are supposed to knock on it, or hit it with a mallet. PRS guitars are actually xylophones.
If I'm a beginn, I'll be agree, but after 25 years of playing and building, let me give 3 tips. 1. Check the amps, pedals or equipment you have. I owned boutique and high quality amps and my 4 PRS guitars, sounds phenomenal in any of those amps. 2. Make sure what type of guitar shape, design, you are into. Most of the type we buy guitars for the look, but we forgot to read the specifications like scale, type of neck, diagram circuit, output pickups, where is or are the switches located etc. Means, you don't exactly need to play for 1 hour to know if you want the guitar or not. 3. Based of the tip number 2, guitar brands made their guitars in certain way so people can recognize and they could be and feels different than others. So it is important that we accommodate to the guitar instead of the guitar accommodate to us, because models are designed in certain ideas or concepts.
I just got a PRS SE 594 in faded Blue Double cut in great condition for $599 with free shipping on Reverb ! The quality is in par with my Les Paul Studio !
Personally, all but one of my electrics are PRS. I agree that having additional pickup options isn’t my thing (except for the DGT. Coil split on those pickups actually works). Other than that, I buy PRS because of the build quality and neck feel. Period. However, what is my preference isn’t yours necessarily. We guitarists live in a golden age of choice. Keep rocking on, all
Agree with everything you said! And YES! My next PRS will 100% be a DGT model! I’ve heard they are absolutely unreal good, SE and CORE. We are lucky with all the choices, glad PRS works for ya! Thanks for watching!
@@rickyrayreid I was very close to getting a wood library DGT core (used, of course) when they came out with the SE, which I pre-ordered as soon as I could. Everything you hear about them is correct. Thanks for sharing!
@@rickyrayreid Might get a core DGT if I can find the right deal on a used one. Didn’t need to change the pups in the SE at all. They are terrific as is!
I do agree about buyer’s remorse, I have gotten many guitars and gone home and have buyer’s remorse, so I have taken them back .. now I really try it out before actually committing
I played a three-way switch with the coil tap and wow did I fall in love with this guitar!😍🙌 You recommend used? What if it does not come with a gig bag like they say if I buy it used?🤔😅
Glad you found one you liked! Snatch it up! Gig bags are pretty cheap nowadays so I wouldn’t let that deter you from a great instrument! Check out Mono cases (my personal favorite!) Let me know if you ended up buying your PRS!
I love the way my PRS SE guitars feel, which was most important to me. I changed my pickups immediately because they can't handle drop tuning or very much distortion. I have a Custom 24 and a CE 24.
That is a fantastic point I didn’t make in this video! Swapping out pickups is the absolute best thing to do with PRS. What pickups did you put in? Also, I agree that the PRS SE guitars are such great quality at the more “budget” price tag than any other brand. The neck,frets and finish on all their guitar models are so smooth and definitely get so much attention!
Glad you’re happy with the swap! I’ve been out of the “higher output” pickups game for a while, so I wasn’t sure what’s still popular. I’ll check out some videos on those pickups right now! Thanks!
i got one PRS mark holcomb SE, and ita amazing for metal and even other softer generas. and i also got a core PRS Mccarty Single cut. damn, is the most tasteful guitar i have ever owned, has lot of MOjo for rock and even jazz. Remember that the guitar can be 33%, other 33% the amp and how effects are treated, and the other 33% the hands.
Great video with great points! The 'Used' point really resonates with me. I bought a new PRS last year and should've bought it used. I also should've tried it before.😀
Thanks for that man! Haha we will get it next time! 🤣😅 I’m always a buy “New” guy, but the next PRS I get needs to be a used one just to save a couple thousand on the core models. Thanks for watching and the kind words!
Always play before you pay! Used is the way to go for sure. I have 5 quality guitars, all purchased used for 1/2 the retail price. Patience pays when looking for your next instrument.
@@rickyrayreid I've only ever purchased one new guitar, a Martin D-16GT. It's the most played instrument in my collection and looks well used these days. Otherwise I've purchased them used from classified ads.
i bought a custom 24 08 as live guitar, i specifically went for that model for its ability to split the neck and bridge individually, i need those tones and it works just fine, for the strat type quack though you have 3 options but for me only one of those tones gets me where i want to be, to be honest the 6 tone option push pull coil split on the CE works better but i wanted the custom 24, as luxurious as it is though, my japanese ibanez AZ is a better live guitar
No, a split humbuckerer won’t ever get that exact open sound that a real single coil has but I’ve tried a lot of these and I found that for whatever reason some of the Bare Knuckle pick ups split really well. And particular the Peacemaker. The split sound on that is just glorious and I’m not sure why. There is also a hacker sized P90 that is made by Mr. Glynn’s pick ups in New Zealand and these sound freaking amazing. Also, I would stay away from the SE line from PRS. I bought one last year and the front work was absolutely horrible. Had to have it redone by a local tech. I’m not talking about small imperfections. I’m talking about the end of the Fretz were sticking out off the edge of the fretboard such that the high string would get stuck under them, in addition to the fact that they weren’t level and crowned properly. I was shocked that something like this would come out with PRS’s name on it. I reached out to the company about this several times and they never would respond. you get what you pay for with guitars.
I haven’t tried the bare knuckle pickups yet! I’m glad to hear there’s something out there that can split better! That’s definitely interesting customer service from PRS. Sorry you went through that man! Did you ever get it sorted out?
This is the first time I’ve heard of PRS of any tier having problems. Did you return it? Due to the regular high quality control I’m guessing that would be your solution
You didn't make the effort if you never heard anything back! It's not that hard to look up phone numbers, or send out emails which I'll bet money you didn't do. Is your PRS even authentic? I've never heard of PRS having unlevel or sharp frets on any SE model. They're made in Indonesia and go through a VERY thorough process, and are shipped to the USA and inspected and set up by PRS USA so you getting what you claimed is hard to believe.
Ah yes! You know that ones definitely hasn’t been on my radar just because I’ve usually been in love with the custom 24s (because to me they’re iconic for PRS) Do you have one? What are your favorite things about it? Thanks!
@rickyrayreid Yep, I have one. I like the near hum free, really clean sounding S S pickups. PRS's Narrowfield pickups sound really good to me verses the split coil sound on a PRS guitar. The PRS Studio H pickup (bridge) doesn't have the bite that most of the Strat HSS guitars that I have played, so that may be a downside for you, but I like the warm bridge sound the Studio produces.
I should also add that I like the PRS Studio with its 5 way switch because it can produce that "quack sound" in the 2 & 4 positions. Which is something my CE24 cannot do.
Oooo that’s definitely interesting, I’ve never played the narrowfield pickups so if you say they give a more single coil sound I might like it. I actually like the Humbucker PRS pickups too (with just careful EQ of pedals) sometimes a bit too dark for me but still great! Thanks for the insight on the studio model! I’ll try to get my hands on one soon to try it out!
Its funniy how people are judging a guitar purchase only taking into account the guitar itself, yet it often comes down to what rig it is combined with. For example, Fender Black Panel-amps love single coils, real ones. Many PRS guitars sound better with gain, perticularly marshall, mesa or dumble style light to mid gain, or metal. Playing a custom 22 into a vox expecting country or brian may might be disappointed. What rig is a PRS suited for. Same with strats, they dont sound very fun into modern high gain amps etc. Combination is key.
Super valid point! It’s the whole rig that matters, and I would argue that maybe the amp is most important “tone” component. Great point and thanks for the insight and tips!
@Gaurananda108 totally Man! PRS guitars are great for rock and metal music! My main point that I would like to make is just make sure to go out and play the guitar personally and try it through your amp! (Or anything similar) that way you can get the sound you’re looking for! They’re great guitars but just try it out to find the right one! Let me know how it goes!
@@rickyrayreid Thank you for the advice, yes I know the best would be to go out and try one... I'll try to make this happen, if so I'll keep you posted ! Thanks again
If you want strat sound, then use a strat type of guitar. If you want a guitar with multiple sounds including humbuckers, that sound great and split coil for those pretty songs that you can add chorus or a nice delay to for a unique sound, then the Custom 24 is a great option. The Custom 24 08 with its switches is good if you want a brighter sound. Personally, the regular Custom 24 has a fuller slightly warmer sound, and I just prefer it. Buying used is a great idea, however new SE'a are affordable and the S2 is still alot less than the Core. However many on line stores offer 24 or 36 months no interest so if you are good with your money, you can get the color and the latest updates they offer on their guitars.
I have to agree my PRS guitar reminds me of having my car painted in a chameleon paint. It may flop to 50 different shades but there’s only one shade that appeals to me and man did I lose my ass when I sold my PRS guitar. 🤦🏻♂️
I bought a Custom 24 10 top for $3000 in 2000. I sold it in 2020 and could only get $1300 for it. 😭 lost my job during the pandemic and needed the money.
That’s weird asf, I was playing a PRS and for the first time yesterday I actually thought about buying it and this video popped up. I never searched anything up about PRS.
I’ve owned numerous PRS and am sort of a fan boy. But they aren’t for everyone. Some areas they exceed at are: Upper fret access Down tuned Versatility Style I feel list sometimes when I pick up a PRS after playing a Les Paul or Strat. There are so many accessible frets.i am lost. Songs are easier to play if you play a PRS consistently. They are angry as all H3LL downtuned and really don’t get enough credit for that. Especially if you enjoy my metal stuff. I can play Mayer, RHCP, Surf, Sabbath, GNR, AC/DC, Hendrix, papa roach, System of a Down, Ventures, Mountain, Aerosmith and even finger style /classical with small tweaks. Literally been laid a few times because a girl came up and told me how much she liked my guitar. Whether it’s the color or the birds, girls like PRS. But they are always the 2nd best option in all settings besides maybe playability. But it’s a guitarist thing. No one that doesn’t play guitar will be able to tell if it’s a strat, Les Paul, mustang etc. Used is great advice they are awful to sell but I feel like that will eventually change.
@@rickyrayreid my grandfather had one but he never let me play it, so i have no clue how it played. All I know is that it looked pretty and was expensive as hell lmao
Let me know if you agree or disagree with what I said and share some shopping tips for new guitarists! Thanks for Watching!
You're spot on with Go play it. I can go through 20 guitars I don't care for before I pick up one I like.
I disagree on avoiding the PRS models with switches for a lot of different sounds. Many of the sounds are useful in my opinion. I find the PRS models that are their own thing instead of trying to be another Fender or Gibson copy are some of the most interesting and enjoyable guitars I have ever played.
You’re right! The versatility of PRS is un-matched. It just comes down to if you like to sound/pickups.
Thanks for the insight and commenting!
I agree. I bought a Modern Eagle V due to its versatility and it's a friggin tone library (17 different pickup settings). All of the sounds are unique and useable, but I also enjoy how different it sounds from other guitars in a lot of ways. I get what Ricky's perspective is, but we have a different opinion here.
If your PRS doesn't sound good to you, it's because you are playing it wrong. Paul Reed Smith himself will tell you that you are supposed to knock on it, or hit it with a mallet. PRS guitars are actually xylophones.
Haha Dang, that’s what I’ve been doing wrong..I forgot my mallets! 🤣🤣
If I'm a beginn, I'll be agree, but after 25 years of playing and building, let me give 3 tips.
1. Check the amps, pedals or equipment you have. I owned boutique and high quality amps and my 4 PRS guitars, sounds phenomenal in any of those amps.
2. Make sure what type of guitar shape, design, you are into. Most of the type we buy guitars for the look, but we forgot to read the specifications like scale, type of neck, diagram circuit, output pickups, where is or are the switches located etc. Means, you don't exactly need to play for 1 hour to know if you want the guitar or not.
3. Based of the tip number 2, guitar brands made their guitars in certain way so people can recognize and they could be and feels different than others. So it is important that we accommodate to the guitar instead of the guitar accommodate to us, because models are designed in certain ideas or concepts.
Excellent advice! Thanks so much for sharing!
I just got a PRS SE 594 in faded Blue Double cut in great condition for $599 with free shipping on Reverb ! The quality is in par with my Les Paul Studio !
Heck yeah! Glad you’re loving it! Those SE’s can be super great too!
and its headstock wont snap..
Personally, all but one of my electrics are PRS. I agree that having additional pickup options isn’t my thing (except for the DGT. Coil split on those pickups actually works).
Other than that, I buy PRS because of the build quality and neck feel. Period.
However, what is my preference isn’t yours necessarily. We guitarists live in a golden age of choice. Keep rocking on, all
Agree with everything you said! And YES! My next PRS will 100% be a DGT model! I’ve heard they are absolutely unreal good, SE and CORE.
We are lucky with all the choices, glad PRS works for ya! Thanks for watching!
@@rickyrayreid I was very close to getting a wood library DGT core (used, of course) when they came out with the SE, which I pre-ordered as soon as I could.
Everything you hear about them is correct.
Thanks for sharing!
Thats great! Any plans to get a core DGT?
Did you end up swapping out the SE pickups or do you like the tone?
@@rickyrayreid Might get a core DGT if I can find the right deal on a used one.
Didn’t need to change the pups in the SE at all. They are terrific as is!
I do agree about buyer’s remorse, I have gotten many guitars and gone home and have buyer’s remorse, so I have taken them back .. now I really try it out before actually committing
Totally, I’ve learned that the hard way too…too many times! 😅🤣
I played a three-way switch with the coil tap and wow did I fall in love with this guitar!😍🙌
You recommend used? What if it does not come with a gig bag like they say if I buy it used?🤔😅
Glad you found one you liked! Snatch it up! Gig bags are pretty cheap nowadays so I wouldn’t let that deter you from a great instrument!
Check out Mono cases (my personal favorite!)
Let me know if you ended up buying your PRS!
I love the way my PRS SE guitars feel, which was most important to me. I changed my pickups immediately because they can't handle drop tuning or very much distortion. I have a Custom 24 and a CE 24.
That is a fantastic point I didn’t make in this video! Swapping out pickups is the absolute best thing to do with PRS.
What pickups did you put in?
Also, I agree that the PRS SE guitars are such great quality at the more “budget” price tag than any other brand. The neck,frets and finish on all their guitar models are so smooth and definitely get so much attention!
@@rickyrayreid I put Seymour Duncan Black Winters in my Custom and Seymour Duncan Distortion Mayhem set in my CE.
Glad you’re happy with the swap! I’ve been out of the “higher output” pickups game for a while, so I wasn’t sure what’s still popular.
I’ll check out some videos on those pickups right now! Thanks!
i got one PRS mark holcomb SE, and ita amazing for metal and even other softer generas. and i also got a core PRS Mccarty Single cut. damn, is the most tasteful guitar i have ever owned, has lot of MOjo for rock and even jazz. Remember that the guitar can be 33%, other 33% the amp and how effects are treated, and the other 33% the hands.
Glad you found some great ones man!! I heard the McCartys are fantastic too.
I want to give a McCarty and DGT a shot next!
Great video with great points! The 'Used' point really resonates with me. I bought a new PRS last year and should've bought it used. I also should've tried it before.😀
Thanks for that man!
Haha we will get it next time! 🤣😅
I’m always a buy “New” guy, but the next PRS I get needs to be a used one just to save a couple thousand on the core models.
Thanks for watching and the kind words!
Always play before you pay! Used is the way to go for sure. I have 5 quality guitars, all purchased used for 1/2 the retail price. Patience pays when looking for your next instrument.
Yes yes! Do you ever buy new guitars? Or stick to used?
@@rickyrayreid I've only ever purchased one new guitar, a Martin D-16GT. It's the most played instrument in my collection and looks well used these days. Otherwise I've purchased them used from classified ads.
Nice suggestions. Thank you!!!
Anyway, when I bought my SE McCarty 594 I only complied with the third. ☺
I have an SE McCarty 594 Standard and love it. This video is click bait and is basically hating on PRS for views.
Thanks for watching and I’m glad it helped ya find your PRS! Happy playing man!
i bought a custom 24 08 as live guitar, i specifically went for that model for its ability to split the neck and bridge individually, i need those tones and it works just fine, for the strat type quack though you have 3 options but for me only one of those tones gets me where i want to be, to be honest the 6 tone option push pull coil split on the CE works better but i wanted the custom 24, as luxurious as it is though, my japanese ibanez AZ is a better live guitar
I’m glad to hear you had a similar experience with the 24-08!
I’ve wanted to try the Ibanez AZ line! Which model do you recommend?
@@rickyrayreid well i have the twin humbucker prestige model, its just more my thing,
No, a split humbuckerer won’t ever get that exact open sound that a real single coil has but I’ve tried a lot of these and I found that for whatever reason some of the Bare Knuckle pick ups split really well. And particular the Peacemaker. The split sound on that is just glorious and I’m not sure why. There is also a hacker sized P90 that is made by Mr. Glynn’s pick ups in New Zealand and these sound freaking amazing. Also, I would stay away from the SE line from PRS. I bought one last year and the front work was absolutely horrible. Had to have it redone by a local tech. I’m not talking about small imperfections. I’m talking about the end of the Fretz were sticking out off the edge of the fretboard such that the high string would get stuck under them, in addition to the fact that they weren’t level and crowned properly. I was shocked that something like this would come out with PRS’s name on it. I reached out to the company about this several times and they never would respond. you get what you pay for with guitars.
I haven’t tried the bare knuckle pickups yet! I’m glad to hear there’s something out there that can split better!
That’s definitely interesting customer service from PRS. Sorry you went through that man! Did you ever get it sorted out?
This is the first time I’ve heard of PRS of any tier having problems. Did you return it? Due to the regular high quality control I’m guessing that would be your solution
You didn't make the effort if you never heard anything back! It's not that hard to look up phone numbers, or send out emails which I'll bet money you didn't do. Is your PRS even authentic? I've never heard of PRS having unlevel or sharp frets on any SE model. They're made in Indonesia and go through a VERY thorough process, and are shipped to the USA and inspected and set up by PRS USA so you getting what you claimed is hard to believe.
Click bait title and hating on PRS guitars for clicks. I love my PRS guitars. Sound great and play great.
Hope you watched the whole video and didn’t miss 0:12! Thanks for commenting and sharing your thoughts!
The 25" scale is weird sounding to me. High quality for sure, and great looks.
I've had 6 of them... meh!!
Buy a Tom Anderson!!
If you think nothing beats an HSS style guitar, maybe you should have tried the PRS Studio instead of the ones you did buy. 😉
Ah yes! You know that ones definitely hasn’t been on my radar just because I’ve usually been in love with the custom 24s (because to me they’re iconic for PRS)
Do you have one? What are your favorite things about it?
Thanks!
@rickyrayreid Yep, I have one. I like the near hum free, really clean sounding S S pickups. PRS's Narrowfield pickups sound really good to me verses the split coil sound on a PRS guitar. The PRS Studio H pickup (bridge) doesn't have the bite that most of the Strat HSS guitars that I have played, so that may be a downside for you, but I like the warm bridge sound the Studio produces.
I should also add that I like the PRS Studio with its 5 way switch because it can produce that "quack sound" in the 2 & 4 positions. Which is something my CE24 cannot do.
Oooo that’s definitely interesting, I’ve never played the narrowfield pickups so if you say they give a more single coil sound I might like it.
I actually like the Humbucker PRS pickups too (with just careful EQ of pedals) sometimes a bit too dark for me but still great!
Thanks for the insight on the studio model! I’ll try to get my hands on one soon to try it out!
Its funniy how people are judging a guitar purchase only taking into account the guitar itself, yet it often comes down to what rig it is combined with. For example, Fender Black Panel-amps love single coils, real ones. Many PRS guitars sound better with gain, perticularly marshall, mesa or dumble style light to mid gain, or metal. Playing a custom 22 into a vox expecting country or brian may might be disappointed. What rig is a PRS suited for. Same with strats, they dont sound very fun into modern high gain amps etc. Combination is key.
Super valid point! It’s the whole rig that matters, and I would argue that maybe the amp is most important “tone” component.
Great point and thanks for the insight and tips!
Beginner here : would you say a PRS would sound good on a Blackstar head+cab ? I mostly play more rock sound
@Gaurananda108 totally Man! PRS guitars are great for rock and metal music!
My main point that I would like to make is just make sure to go out and play the guitar personally and try it through your amp! (Or anything similar) that way you can get the sound you’re looking for!
They’re great guitars but just try it out to find the right one! Let me know how it goes!
@@rickyrayreid Thank you for the advice, yes I know the best would be to go out and try one... I'll try to make this happen, if so I'll keep you posted ! Thanks again
@Gaurananda108 excellent! Happy to help! If you have any other questions let me know! Good luck!
If you want strat sound, then use a strat type of guitar. If you want a guitar with multiple sounds including humbuckers, that sound great and split coil for those pretty songs that you can add chorus or a nice delay to for a unique sound, then the Custom 24 is a great option.
The Custom 24 08 with its switches is good if you want a brighter sound. Personally, the regular Custom 24 has a fuller slightly warmer sound, and I just prefer it.
Buying used is a great idea, however new SE'a are affordable and the S2 is still alot less than the Core. However many on line stores offer 24 or 36 months no interest so if you are good with your money, you can get the color and the latest updates they offer on their guitars.
I have to agree my PRS guitar reminds me of having my car painted in a chameleon paint. It may flop to 50 different shades but there’s only one shade that appeals to me and man did I lose my ass when I sold my PRS guitar. 🤦🏻♂️
Great comparison! And Mannnnn I feel ya on the value part, I was right there too haha…😭
I bought a Custom 24 10 top for $3000 in 2000. I sold it in 2020 and could only get $1300 for it. 😭 lost my job during the pandemic and needed the money.
@ man sorry to hear that, it’s tough when you hope things retain their value when you’re really in a pinch. I’m glad you made it through though!
That’s weird asf, I was playing a PRS and for the first time yesterday I actually thought about buying it and this video popped up. I never searched anything up about PRS.
The internet works in mysterious ways 🤣🤣
What model are ya looking at?
I’ve owned numerous PRS and am sort of a fan boy. But they aren’t for everyone. Some areas they exceed at are:
Upper fret access
Down tuned
Versatility
Style
I feel list sometimes when I pick up a PRS after playing a Les Paul or Strat. There are so many accessible frets.i am lost. Songs are easier to play if you play a PRS consistently.
They are angry as all H3LL downtuned and really don’t get enough credit for that. Especially if you enjoy my metal stuff.
I can play Mayer, RHCP, Surf, Sabbath, GNR, AC/DC, Hendrix, papa roach, System of a Down, Ventures, Mountain, Aerosmith and even finger style
/classical with small tweaks.
Literally been laid a few times because a girl came up and told me how much she liked my guitar. Whether it’s the color or the birds, girls like PRS.
But they are always the 2nd best option in all settings besides maybe playability. But it’s a guitarist thing. No one that doesn’t play guitar will be able to tell if it’s a strat, Les Paul, mustang etc.
Used is great advice they are awful to sell but I feel like that will eventually change.
Thanks for sharing the tips and list man! You’re totally right about the downturned and heavier music. They are killer for that!
And a great story 👏🏻🤣
They don’t hold there value because just like you said the pickups fall short and people don’t like the sound of most of them
yo whats up Ricky Im a small content creator in japan as well a college student, was wondering if you wanna collab on a song one time.
Absolutely man let’s do it! IM the small content creator, I can learn a lot from you!
I have my email on my channel page!
Tell me you post clickbait without telling me you post clickbait
Hello! Let me know where I let ya down with the video so I can improve. Thanks for commenting and watching!
GET OUT OFTHE BOX .....
lotta my friends who play don't like PRS guitars lol
I think it's a super divisive brand where I feel like people either hate/love it, nothing in between! haha
What about you? Do you like PRS guitars?
@@rickyrayreid my grandfather had one but he never let me play it, so i have no clue how it played. All I know is that it looked pretty and was expensive as hell lmao
@pleech0460 oh dang, that’s a bummer you never got to play it!
Tip no. 1 - Don't ever buy a prs guitar
🤣🤣
🍻
Might want to adjust the audio, there's a piercing shrill high treble bite to the audio. I couldn't listen, sorry.
Thanks for the input! Is there a certain part of the video or just overall EQ?
Thanks for commenting and the help!