[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

3035.0. "Gibson/PRS/Patrick Eggle etc...?????" by CODIN::PHAYDEN () Wed Feb 08 1995 07:54

Well I'm looking for some guidance.

I've got a little cash to spare( $1,750 ) and want to invest in a nice guitar.
What I've been looking at have been 

1/ PRS Artist ( Price $2,900 - Too Expensive at that price ) 
2/ PRS Custom 22 ( I've been quoted $1780 )
3/ Gibson Les Paul Custom Plus ( Quote $1749 )
4/ Gibson Les Paul Custom ( Quote $1395 )
4/ Ibanez JS1000 or S540 series guitar ( Price $? )
5/ Patrick Eggle Berlin-UK Pro ( Price $? )


Now I've played all of them and am finding it difficult to make up my mind.
If my arm were twisted I'd break it down to the PRS Custom/GIBSON/Patrick Eggle
in that order.

I'm looking for some prices in the U.S or U.K and anyone out there could give
some views on these axe's or maybe suggest some other alternatives.
The more guitar I can get for my money the better.
 
The type of stuff I play would be pretty much across the board i.e 
Jazz/Rock/Metal/Blues


Thanks to anyone listening,

Peter.
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3035.1Not exactly advice, but...STRATA::LUCHTIs it performance? Is it expression?Wed Feb 08 1995 08:257
    The PRS guitars are beautiful and *I* absolutely LOVE the 
    way they play in my hands.  The bird inlay deal is really
    classy.  When I can afford it, one will be mine.
    
    Not for everyone, but definitely for me, 
    Kev --
    
3035.2My opinion, of courseMILKWY::JACQUESVintage taste, reissue budgetWed Feb 08 1995 10:5814
    The Les Pauls will have the best resale value. This may not mean
    much to you now, but in a few years, you may feel differant. 
    Check the want ads for prices on used Guitars. The Gibsons,
    Fenders, and Martins commands the highest prices in the used
    arena.
    
    	Another point on PRS guitars. I have heard from lot's of people
    that owned PRS's that after a while the neck scale, neck profile,
    and lack of tone controls got to be a pain in the neck and they ended
    up selling them. 
    
        Mark (I would vote for the LP Custom+ or an LP Classic+) 
    
    
3035.3secondedRICKS::CALCAGNIhow could it be otherwise?Wed Feb 08 1995 11:1314
    I'm with Mark.  Speaking totally for myself, I've never met a PRS I
    could really love.  They're nice, but something seems to be missing.
    I know that there are plenty of PRS owners who swear by em, no doubt
    a few in this notesfile, and if it feels like the one for you then
    go for it.  But *I* would grab one of the LPs myself.
    
    Just a thought, have you played the PRS and LP side-by-side?  I've
    found this type of test to be most revealing; the contrast points up
    things you might otherwise miss.
    
    Btw, I recently heard Eggle was bought out by or merged with another
    well known mfg; can't remember who at the moment.  Anyone know?
    
    /rick
3035.4MSBCS::EVANSWed Feb 08 1995 14:519
I sold my Les Paul and bought a PRS.  As others have said, your mileage may
vary.  I don't miss the weight of the Les Paul.  I like the variation I can
get out of the PRS with the 5 position PU selector (humbuckers with single
coils), but most of all I just like the way my PRS feels in my hands.  Yeah,
I dig the birds and the nice wood and all, but the way it feels in your hands
is want really counts to me.

Jim

3035.5How 'bout his Dragon IIIB: 18-grand!?!?LUDWIG::LUCHTIs it performance? Is it expression?Wed Feb 08 1995 22:438
    
    Dosen't PRS offer different "grades" of wood, like on a scale
    from 1-8 (?).  1=lowest quality, 8=finest stuff?  I could be
    wrong, but I think I read something about this somewhere 
    recently.
    
    Kev --
         
3035.6CODIN::PHAYDENThu Feb 09 1995 07:1412
Thanks, So far.

Can I ask how much you paid for your PRS Jim and which model you purchased.
Also would anyone have Les Paul $ prices from their local store just so I can
compare with my quotations and ensure that I don't get ripped off too much.

I'd like to try both guitars side by side but there are no stockists of both 
( as far as I know ) here in Ireland. If you're wondering why I'm asking for
dollar prices ,well ,I plan to visit the States soon and would like to pick up
the axe while I'm over there because 1/ Guitars are much cheaper in the U.S and
2/ There is a greater selection( Irish stores tend not to stock many high end
guitars because of their high cost and low turnover )
3035.7RICKS::CALCAGNIhow could it be otherwise?Thu Feb 09 1995 09:333
    Peter, are you coming to Boston?  EU Wurlitzer (several locations) deals
    both Gibson and PRS, you could do a side-by-side there.
    
3035.8In case you come to Boston, another place to lookBINKLY::DEMARSEEnjoy beingThu Feb 09 1995 12:042
    Mr. Music in Allston, MA (Boston) is also a Gibson dealer....not sure
    if they have PRS.
3035.9RICKS::CALCAGNIhow could it be otherwise?Thu Feb 09 1995 12:237
    btw, the current list price on an LP Custom Plus is $2499, so your
    quote is 30% off list.  So it's a fair price, but you can probably
    do better.  I suspect you might be able to get another $100 - $200
    off that here if you haggle, depending on where/when.  I've had good
    luck with Wurlitzer, quoting them a mail order price and getting them
    to come close to matching it.
    
3035.10Vote for Mr Music!MILKWY::JACQUESVintage taste, reissue budgetThu Feb 09 1995 14:159
    Mr. Music in Allston would be my #1 pick for Music stores in the Boston
    area, especially for vintage guitars and reissues. I've bought 3
    guitars from them in the last few years. They have the best selection
    I've found and their prices are reasonable. They were at the Boston
    Guitar Show last year with reps from the Gibson factory showing off
    several historic instruments as well as the latest reissues. If and
    when I hit the lottery, Mr Music will be my first stop!!
    
    Mark
3035.11MSBCS::EVANSThu Feb 09 1995 15:537
Check out the Guitar Center in Alston (a part of Boston).  They
have dozens of Gibson and PRS guitars with very competitive 
prices.  Best of all the Guitar Center will let just about
anybody play *any* guitar they have.  

Jim

3035.12 nobody's suggested this yet? EZ2GET::STEWARTfight fire with marshmallowsSun Feb 12 1995 14:428
    
    
    Peter, if you've got the time, shop for used guitars in the models
    you've selected.  You should be able to find what you want, if you're
    not in too much of a hurry.  You should also be able to save some
    significant coin!  Not to mention, the hunt is a lot of fun.
    
    
3035.13CODIN::PHAYDENMon Feb 13 1995 09:4212
Thanks for the replies so far. I'm still no wiser as to which to go for but I
tried the Gibson and PRS out at the weekend. The PRS feels great and IMO will be
the "Les Paul" in 25 years time. There's really nothing( for me ) to touch it
appart from the Gibson.

I'll try the used market but as I said , in Ireland there aren't a lot of high
end guitars floating around and even second hand they would be more expensive
than new ones in the States.

Thanks again,

Peter.
3035.14BladeRICKS::CALCAGNIhow could it be otherwise?Mon Feb 13 1995 10:496
    I remembered; Blade is the company that recently merged with Eggle. 
    Gary Levinson was actually looking to buy the company, but instead some
    sort of merger happened.  The new name for these guitars is
    Blade/Eggle.
    
    /rick
3035.15 the sun is shining here! EZ2GET::STEWARTfight fire with marshmallowsMon Feb 13 1995 11:587
    
    
    Well, Peter, the answer's obvious - fly out to LA, pick up some used
    guitars & sell 'em to your mates when you go back.  Get some sun, a
    good guitar, and have some fun in the process!
    
    
3035.16CODIN::PHAYDENTue Feb 14 1995 06:251
Sounds Good. I'm on my way already