Home E-mail    Ordering/Contact Info     

PRS      Fender     Gibson   Ibanez  Acoustic & Ac/Elec    Misc Electric    Archtops    Basses    Lefty    Amplifiers   Misc Instruments    Guitar Effects    Keyboards Pro-Sound   Parts   Links   Repairs

 

PAUL REED SMITH (PRS) GUITARS

  1. 1993 PRS Custom 24 - Purple, with "10 top and Birds, (close-up), (front/back), (headstock), (case).  Any "flaws" in the pics are merely flash - there are no flaws.  Very desirable hand-made, old-factory model.  I don't know why folks call these "pre-factory" when Paul started production in his Annapolis factory in '85.  Do people really think that he made over 30,000 guitars in his garage before he opened his Stephensville factory in '96?  So much for my pet peeve for this month.  This model has the desirable short heel, which PRS used until 1994, as well as mother of pearl inlays (both shown here).  Many players think that the longer heel was ill-conceived which, along with the fact that they were made without the benefit of CNC machines, essentially hand-made, has driven prices up considerably over comparable '95 and later examples.  This guitar is immaculate.  I don't see a scratch or ding anywhere, no playing wear, absolutely perfect.  I hesitate to call any used guitar "mint" since a customer with a keen eye and magnifying glass can always find a flaw, but I'll safely call it 9.9 condition.  If you're thinking about buying a new CU24 with 10 and birds for $3200, you can figure it'll  be worth $1000 less if you sell it the following day.  For less money you can get this old-factory model, pre-CNC, short heel, etc., in a discontinued color for Customs.   Just $2599 for this beauty.  
  2. 2001 PRS McCarty Soapbar, (front/back), (headstock).  Understated looks for a PRS, with a plain gloss black finish, maple binding, and moon inlays - but there's nothing understated about the playability of this fine McCarty Soapbar...simply fantastic.  The McCarty Soapbar is our man Martin's favorite production PRS, and that's a pretty high recommendation.  Looking at the flame in the binding you have to wonder – why did they paint this top?  Judging from the maple banding, it’s a nice wide flamed maple and although it makes a striking binding – it makes me wonder what it would look like with a transparent finish.  Oh well, I guess PRS has more flamed maple than they know what to do with.  Wide-fat neck, original Duncan Soapbar pickups, carved maple top with mahogany back and neck.  Not clean enough for the collector with a few minor finish flaws but no scratch patterns on front or back and frets are like new.  With a new one going over $2K, here's one for the player at just $1350 - and you can have the subtle satisfaction that you’re playing a nice flametop.  Includes PRS case.
  3. 2006 PRS Singlecut SE with upgrades, (front/back), (headstock), (maple bound body).  This is *not* a USA model, just a pro logo job, looks factory original, (before/after pic) should appeal to players who want a killer Singlecut, except with more cache' than an standard SE model.  It's just looks though, nor a fantastic setup that plays as good as most USA models, but the tone is definitely first rate thanks to a pickup upgrade (pickups) with a Custom Alnico 5 bridge and a '59 neck.  Also added is a push/pull tone pot for 6 great tone choices.  This guitar is exceptionally clean and the logo was painstakingly applied with multiple coats of lacquer, wet sanding in between, and buffed to a factory gloss.  Other specs include mahogany body with a maple cap and maple binding, wide-fat neck carve, PRS tuners, PRS stoptail bridge, set-neck with comfortable rounded heel, 25" scale.  With a stock Singlecut SE at $599, this one is guaranteed to be an exceptional player with a fantastic electronics upgraded - plus the looks of a USA - all for just $75 more than a stock new one.  $675(HOLD-Bryce 7/29) includes deluxe PRS gigbag.  
  4. 1989 PRS Standard 24, (front/back), (headstock).  Nice old PRS - cool color Red Metallic - short heel, and all the other early features such as small logo, Standard Bass/Standard Treble pickups (picture), Mil-Com bridge, early PRS locking tuners, Brazilian fretboard, and Sweet Switch.  Another cool feature on this one - Paul signed the control cover, which he used to do on any guitar upon request.  Overall nice shape with just a little rash and a few imperfections in the clear coat.  Worst flaw is the tips of the headstock had finish chips touched up (pic here), quite professionally, and it's barely noticeable, plus a little finish flaking around the low-e bushing; nothing major.  The Standard 24 is probably my favorite guitar PRS ever made, and its roots go back to the original "PRS Guitar", before they had designations such as Custom, Standard, Studio, etc.  The way the pickups are aligned on the scale are much better at hitting harmonics and the overall tone always sounds more complex than the 22-fret models.  With an all mahogany body, you get a very warm and fat tone that makes practicing alone more enticing, and sounds more like a several guitars playing in unison than a single guitar.  Neck carve appears to be the "Standard" carve, in between a thin and fat and it's a great feeling neck.  This guitar appraised at $3K around 3 years ago (picture) by Garrett Park, one of the major PRS authorities located, no so coincidentally, in Annapolis MD.  For a killer player, with a serial still in 4 digits, a nice bargain that's still in the price range for working players.  Just $2700 for this awesome player in a very cool color.  Includes original PRS case and trem arm.  
  5. 1996 PRS CE-22, (pic2), (pic3).  Red Holoflake - rare Custom Color finish - in exceptionally clean condition.  Better yet, this was a NAMM show guitar (neck butt & pocket), which are claimed to be built with the utmost attention and care.  No argument here - this is an extremely well made CE, with immaculate craftsmanship and a very resonant tone due in large part to PRS's construction technique with the long neck tenon that extends underneath the neck pickup.  Overall extremely clean condition, with just a few light scratches not through the lacquer and light wear on a few saddles.  Wide-Fat neck, moon inlays, and Dragon pickups controlled by 5-way rotary for PRS's great assortment of humbucker and single coil tones.  This is only the second Holoflake I've ever had and it's a very impressive finish in person.  It was sold to a local collector a few months ago and then traded back in.  While in his possesion he had been offered over $1800 in trade from a few dealers, which points to the fact that folks are aware of the desirability of this model but I'm glad he made out better trading it back in with me since it's getting harder to find the more rare and cool stuff.  Killer player in great shape in a custom color = a lot of guitar for $1599(HOLD-Richard S 6/17).  Includes original case.  
  6. PRS Custom 24 Walnut, (full length), (pic2), (close-up 1), (close-up 2), 1992.   One of the ultimate in PRS collectability.  The VG Price Guide says "only two were made", but in fact there were three, which were assembled by the same collector and sold to me as a lot.  A phone call to PRS reveal, "well, I guess we made three then...".  Of the 3-piece collection, the Custom 22 has been sold and this is the 2nd one we're putting on the market.  All the highly desirable old-factory features:  pre-CNC and truly hand made; short heel and one-piece Mil-Com bridge.  This one has a beautifully figured Walnut cap with black-finished mahogany back and neck.  A great feeling wide-thin neck and HFS/Vintage Bass pickups controlled by 5-way rotary.  Other features are Abalone bird inlays on Brazilian fretboard and PRS and locking tuners.  Because of the Walnut, this is a little heavier than your average Custom and tone-wise, a little warmer sounding with more oomph in the mid-range.  Obviously never gigged and in collector-worthy 9.7 condition. There are plenty of limited run PRS's, one in 500...one in 250...one in 50...etc. - but this is ONE OF THREE ever made.  There were never any other Walnut PRS's made nor plans to make any in the future.  Due to the rarity and condition of this guitar, it can be the centerpiece in any PRS collection - plus it has the advantage of being an old-factory, short-heel model.  It's yours for $7500 or interesting trades. Includes original case and stuff.  
  7. 1992 PRS Custom 24 Walnut, (pic2), Okay, for around 6 months I've been promising pics of this one, the 3rd of only 3 made--ever--of PRS Custom Walnut, regular mahogany back and neck, except with a ONE-PIECE walnut top.   Back in '92 PRS produced these on sort of a whim and it was never a production model.  As I mentioned, the Vintage Guitar Price Guide says "only two produced" but we have verified with PRS that three were actually made - and I have (had) all 3.  This one required a little restoration has it had been lightly played but Martin did a marvelous job and it's in beautiful condition, around a 9.5.  This one also had the nicest top and the only one with extremely rare Flamed Walnut to boot.  Other features include all the other vintage PRS specs including:  pre-CNC and truly hand made; short heel, PRS locking tuners, one-piece Mil-Com bridge, and small logo.  A great feeling wide-thin neck and HFS/Vintage Bass pickups controlled by 5-way rotary.  It also features the older Mother of Pearl bird inlays that many collectors prefer over the later shell.  Because of the Walnut, this is a little heavier than your average Custom and tone-wise, a little warmer sounding with more oomph in the mid-range.  Due to the rarity and condition of this guitar, it can be the centerpiece in any PRS collection - plus it has the advantage of being an old-factory, short-heel model.  Includes original PRS case.  There are plenty of limited run PRS's, one in 500...one in 250...one in 100...etc. - but this is ONE OF THREE ever made.  When I came across the collection of all three, I though I'd found the holy grail.  See my PRS page for the last of this lot.  $7500. 
  8. 2004 PRS SE Soapbar Single-Cut, Serial 00851, transparent red, one of “lawsuit” single-cuts, no longer available, and the shortest run of any PRS from my recollection.  As I’ve mentioned before, PRS imports are the highest quality Korean’s I’ve seen and I’ve yet to come across any that were not top quality instruments.  This feather-weight Single Cut Soapbar features all-mahogany construction, body and neck, and a great sounding pair of Duncan designed P90 pickups.  Fans of chunky necks will appreciate the substantial feel of this baby.  Wraparound tailpiece is beautifully simple, intonates well, and is the best setup I’ve seen for hand muting the strings.  3-way switch is hum canceling in the middle position and you get a quality tone with either—or both—pickups.   PRS has been given the go-ahead to start building single cut guitars again but this one was a pre-injunction model for what that's worth and offered in perfect condition for $575.  Includes very heavy PRS gigbag - or with a quality non-PRS bag at $549. 

PRS NECK CARVE (width at nut, depth at nut)

PRS Radius: 10” on all guitars and basses except 11 1/2” on the Santana II and Custom 22/12