PRS collides with Fender

[glyderslead]

Just seen the new John Mayer guitar advert on Anderson’s site.

I really liked PRS guitars up until now, everything about them was top notch.

I don’t know why I like Fenders as much as I do. Well, I don’t like some of the original features such as 7.25 neck, skinny frets, string trees to correct a design fault, screws instead of glue to put the neck on, volume knob in the way so it can turn down accidentally. But the general styling is perfect and later models put a couple of these things right. Yes I have Fenders and Squires and really like the versions I have.

BUT ...........

Mix a Strat body ....slightly altered ....with a PRS neck.......slightly altered....and you have in my opinion a genuine Marmite guitar. Just like a road worn guitar.......you either love them or you don’t.

So what do you say about this instrument?

I’m for “Nay”

Mick

[garyallen]

I like prs guitars,I'm not big on anything that Mayer endorses,he gets more praise than he deserves.

[shawbridge]

According to Martin barre (Jethro tull)he uses a PRS guitar as his main instrument, nearly every you tube clip shows him using a PRS to good effect.
pete

[bill]

Hi,
I presume you mean Andertons - John Mayer Silver Sky

Doesn't seem to be anything new. The 'tremelo' arm can only be bent downwards so no use for authentic Shadows.

Bill

[sixchannel]

The second dawning of the age of Aquarius perhaps - "when Jupiter collides with Mars - - -"
Nurse! Nurse!
to me its just another Frankencaster - make one up yourself out of the well known auction site bits.
I guess it makes him feel good but does it make all THAT much difference really? I suppose if you only play just ONE guitar ever then you get used to it exclusively but if you change about and use other guitars as well, unless you are uber-sensitve to "feel" then whats the point?
End of Rant!
Ian

[garyallen]

That's a good rant Ian, regards gary

[baz]

Hmmmm!!!..........for me the PRS neck and strat body look totally unsuited to each other........... A sunburst body with grain visible would perhaps look more compatible.

There's obviously a lot more to these guitars than the looks however but I wonder how different these can sound compared to the existing PRS single coil/bolt on models.

John Mayer is undoubtedly a great judge of the finer details of the tonal characteristics of a guitar. I am always impressed by his superb touch in the majority of his recorded material and he's a fine fingerstyle player as well.

Don't think I'll be ordering one just yet.

Baz


PS having checked the PRS website they seem to have dropped the previous single coil bolt on.....cant remember the model # but definitely recall Guitarist reviewing them............

PPS The 305

[scanners]

John Mayer was an all Fender man, Strats and Blackface amps, it seem PRS have thrown a lot of cash his way, I saw his very expensive signature amp at my local store, not worth the money IMO $10,000 Australian and that was on the cheap side!
Matthew

[peterbower]

Agree about the PRS guitars, great guitars but expensive, The one criticism I read in Guitarist magazine years ago was, they thought Paul Read Smith was trying to give the guitarist a guitar that would give the guitarist a Gibson and Fender sound from one guitar, but it never quite got there. Having said that, its a fab guitar in its own right, but has it got a signature sound like a Fender Strat. No.

[mickey228]

I recently bought a Fender Strat to pay Shadows music. Before this I bought a PRS to play Santana music. They are quite distinct guitars, each commanding its own quality and unique sound. John Mayer says on You Tube that the PRS is a hybrid between a Fender and a Gibson - well that's a matter of opinion. It depends on the type of music you're interested in playing. Like Santana who worked with PRS designers to create the signature models named after him, John Mayer later also worked with PRS designers to create his PRS model called the "Super Eagle". This is the PRS way to work with well-know guitarists and at the same time promote their products. PRS usually gives each famous guitarist who helped design a signature model one of their custom made signature guitars.

[mickey228]

Hi Ian,

Yes, a good rant! That's good support for the Shadows. I've just joined Charlie Hall & Friends. 

Michael

[peterbower]

I found 2 guitars IMHO, that can possibly be a good alternative to Fender, A Blade, and a Music Man silhouette plus a G&L Legacy/Tribute as a possible 3rd choice and of course, Welcome Michael to the forum

[nessmonst]

Aw come on guys --its just another strat with a funny headstock
Gibson/Epiphone tried this a few years back with a resounding lack of sucess imho!!
Head down
Regards
David

[andyj47]

hi fellas,fender strat why would you want anything else ?

[peterbower]

I see Gibson are in administration, I'm not surprised in a way as they never really moved on and progressed like Fender have

[allclaphands]

The Fender Stratocaster is so iconic and established as one of or even the leading guitar
it is not a suprise or wonder to find that others would try to make there own different
version of it putting artists names to the make of a certain model of guitar as become a
trend which seems to appeal to some people.

Pete

[glyderslead]

Hello Gents.

Lots of interesting comments being made on this subject.

Here is another thought: what would they say in the classical world if a noted violin player decided that he or she wanted a custom violin........one without the fancy waist and a headstock based on a two a side banjo? A sort of Stradi-bange! Just an idea.

Mick