SOUND ON SOUND

[ef37a]

Son was thinking of getting a "proper" Strat but then played a PRS Starla and was impressed, also interested in the Mira.

Anything known? Good, bad or ugly?

Dave.

[Humble Bee]

I have played the Mira several times and played in the same band as the owner and I can testify that it's a great sounding very well built guitar much in the SG style. :thumbup: In the same style there is also the Yamaha Revstar well worth a look.

But if he's looking for a stratish guitar it is pretty far of the mark...

[Wonks]

The Mira was the only PRS I've picked up and liked playing, but the controls felt cheap and nasty to me and I just didn't think it justified being almost twice as expensive as a basic Gibson SG which it generally resembled (at the time I played it which was a few years ago now, when they first came out).

They are what they are. You either like them or you don't. Nothing otherwise to watch out for. You once paid a lot extra for having bird inlays over the standard dots; not sure if that's still the case.

[paul tha other]

i own one..i love it love it love it....its an old 24 fret American import..but im sure its one of the cheaper ones..it holds its tune better than any other guitar ive owned..everyone ive touched has been great (a couple of pals has prs's too)

the only thing ill say is ..my one is not a strat..im sure they do strat type guitars (ie single coils) its more like a les paul or sg in its sound (humbucker type pick ups)

they have a certain something...

on the other hand i know a few guys that bought one and hated it...
after a quick google search they do strat types..not cheap though..and its a john mayer model

[Music Wolf]

I've owned five PRS guitars over the years. Three are still in my rack(s) plus one has been gifted to my son. The one I gave to my son was a direct replacement for my first PRS, which I foolishly sold.

The five were / are made up of; 2 x SE Custom Semi-Hollow (Blinddrew of this parish has the same model), 1 x SE Chris Robertson Single Cut, 1 x S2 Custom semi-hollow and 1 x Core Studio 22.

As Wonks said, you ether like them or you don't (I do). If you do like them then where they score highly over other brands is their consistency. The range goes something like (bottom to top);

SE, S2 / CE, Core, Private Stock. The Mira and the Starla sort of fit in around the S2 which is between £1k ~ £2k ish.

I'd find it pretty hard to fault my S2.

[blinddrew]

Indeed, I too have a semi-hollow SE that I bought as a replacement for an Epiphone Les Paul. I'm very happy with it.

[Sam Spoons]

Never actually owned a real PRS (American or otherwise) but I've played a few in shops. I have a replica 61 Strat, a real '75 LP Custom and my fave electric is a bitsa P90 Strat I built a fair few years ago. I guess PRS are Marmite guitars, the American ones are things of beauty and impeccably made, the Pac Rim builds are damn good too but probably suffer from prejudice/snobbishness (a bit like the equivalent Mex, Korean and Chinese Fenders only worse).

I did buy a Chinese PRS Rep to see if I liked it and I simply didn't click with it so sold it to a mate who AFAIK still has it. I might consider a US made PRS sometime but can't think what would have to go to make space in the rack :( so probably not.

Anyway, to answer Dave's question, there ain't owt wrong with PRS guitars so if it floats his boat then tell him to buy it. A mate on the sailing forum has an expression that seems apt "buying a boat is not a marriage, you can always sell it again if you don't get on" same goes for guitars.

[ef37a]

Thank you for all your thoughts gentlemen.

Son has a love/hate relationship with a Rickenbacker 330 (think that is the mod#? Like Lennon's but not quite the same) He like the playability and "that" sound but hates the wimpy pickups. A year or so ago he was thinking of chopping it in for a Gibson but didn't in the end. I am not sure if he needs to trade the Rikky for a PRS, has been earning a bit this year.

He plays covers for various gigs, Stones, Beatles, Stevie Wonder! But he mostly plays jazz in the bars and cafes.

I shall keep you posted.

Dave.

[John Egan]

Son was thinking of getting a "proper" Strat but then played a PRS Starla and was impressed, also interested in the Mira.

Anything known? Good, bad or ugly?

Dave.

Dave,
I prefer the Starla to the Mira, personally, but I love the S2 Vela - so much so that I bought one recently. It's still not "Strattish" though - more like a Tele on steroids.
Regards, John

[CS70]

I have an old SingleCut (2006 I think) and it's a wonderful guitar - but of course you pay for it.
I've tried an SE model (a Custom 24) last year in a shop and it was a thing beauty, and the price was definitely reasonable.

So definitely thumbs up from me.

Never tried the Mira and don't like much how it looks, but that's entirely subjective of course :)

[Music Wolf]

I prefer the Starla to the Mira, personally, but I love the S2 Vela - so much so that I bought one recently. It's still not "Strattish" though - more like a Tele on steroids.

The most Strat like of the PRS range is the Silver Sky (presently only available as the John Mayer signature version). I haven't tried one but reviews suggest that it is more Strat inspired, in terms of tone as well as looks, rather than being a well executed Strat copy. It's also almost double the price of a US Standard Strat.

[Hewesy]

Beat me to it Mr Wolf! The Silver Sky is the closest PRS currently offer, from what I've read they've mentioned an SE version being available in the future - but that might not be too forthcoming as it's been received surprisingly well (I say surprisingly, have you seen it?! :D )

Possibly an S2 Standard 22 with coil tap would cover a single coil tone for the odd song in a set but if he wants the proper "Strat Honk" (tm) then I suspect he might be a bit disappointed with coil tap and the usual mid heavy PRS Mahogany body tone.

But as more learned folks above have said, if he plays it, likes it, then buy it! A PRS will hold good value and who knows, he might get a good P/X on a Fender/Silver Sky in the future.

Hewesy

[John Egan]

Possibly an S2 Standard 22 with coil tap would cover a single coil tone for the odd song in a set but if he wants the proper "Strat Honk" (tm) then I suspect he might be a bit disappointed with coil tap and the usual mid heavy PRS Mahogany body tone.

Hewesy

My S2 Vela has one of the new type "D" single coil pickups in the neck position and it does sound good. It might be worth checking whether PRS make any models in the S1 or S2 range which use these pickups.
Just a thought.

Regards, John

[Hewesy]

Good feedback John, I think it's only the Vela has the P90 style pickups.

How's it sound with the coil tap?

Hewesy

[John Egan]

Good feedback John, I think it's only the Vela has the P90 style pickups.

How's it sound with the coil tap?

Hewesy

Hi Hewsey,

The coil tap is only on the bridge humbucker of course. It's a Starla humbucker - pretty jangly with both coils and bright when split, like a bright Tele. According to PRS, the neck single coil is their take on an early DeArmond - they even mocked up the pole piece height adjustment screws, purely for appearance though. The middle position with and without the coil tap is great. As I said before like a Tele on steroids.

Regards, John