PRS - Fashionable again?

Philly_Q

bluechargeboy said:

PRS always makes me think of The Hollies, which makes me think of "He Ain't Heavy", which is now stuck in my head. So cheers for that.

Looks a bit like one of those photo-ops of an MP visiting an urban music project and trying to get down with the kids.  Except he's holding the guitar properly.

Collings

professorben said:

impmann said:

bluechargeboy said:

PRS always makes me think of The Hollies, which makes me think of "He Ain't Heavy", which is now stuck in my head. So cheers for that.

I thought he played a 335 back in the day?

I like that Custom, though... not too blingy. 

Looks to be an older one from the sweet switch instead of a tone control. 

I believe Tony Hicks has one of the first PRS guitars that came into the UK via Chandler's in the mid 80s.

Think the particular guitar as a vintage yellow one.

ICBM

Collings said:

I believe Tony Hicks has one of the first PRS guitars that came into the UK via Chandler's in the mid 80s.

Think the particular guitar as a vintage yellow one.

I think I saw that guitar - the yellow one - in Chandler's in early 1986. It was supposedly the first one in the UK. It was in the shop next to a flame maple/wicker grille Boogie - the complete package for the professional musician that year!

I had no clue about the brand of course, but it looked nice and if I remember rightly was £1500 - an impossible amount of money for me at the time, I'd just spent everything I had (AKA my student grant) on a 1970 Les Paul Deluxe for £320 .

guitars4you

ICBM said:

Fishboy7 said:

Al di Meola is pretty cool

Especially with that rainbow coloured one.

Although the science geek in me is infuriated by the colours being in the wrong order .

I recall a visit to the PRS factory experience show/event, when such guitars were released  and recall some dude asking the exact same question about the prism being arse about face as such

guitars4you

ICBM said:

Collings said:

I believe Tony Hicks has one of the first PRS guitars that came into the UK via Chandler's in the mid 80s.

Think the particular guitar as a vintage yellow one.

I think I saw that guitar - the yellow one - in Chandler's in early 1986. It was supposedly the first one in the UK. It was in the shop next to a flame maple/wicker grille Boogie - the complete package for the professional musician that year!

I had no clue about the brand of course, but it looked nice and if I remember rightly was £1500 - an impossible amount of money for me at the time, I'd just spent everything I had (AKA my student grant) on a 1970 Les Paul Deluxe for £320 .

Live Aid USA and Santana playing a PRS was my first experience of such a guitar - that night I knew nothing of PRS but quickly found out that Chandler had the sole distribution - Sounds Great were then an early stockist

I recall chatting to Chandler's about stocking such guitars, but they would struggle to supply me with any more than 1 or 2 a year - this was around the 86/87/88 period

Recall Phil Hilbourne, Geoff Whitehorn + Tony Hicks as early UK players - All musicians and not dentists or doctors - It is sad/wrong, that today they are perceived as a rich mans tool, by so many - Yet the initial interest in such guitars came from musicians, who were fed up with 'mediocre' Gibson Guitars of that era

RaymondLin

bluechargeboy said:

PRS always makes me think of The Hollies, which makes me think of "He Ain't Heavy", which is now stuck in my head. So cheers for that.

It's like I am seeing double.

stonevibe

I always think of Custom Shop 'relic' guitars as guitars for dentists and lawyers.

soma1975

The least fashionable guitars ever. 

Philly_Q

guitars4you said:
Recall Phil Hilbourne, Geoff Whitehorn + Tony Hicks as early UK players - All musicians and not dentists or doctors - It is sad/wrong, that today they are perceived as a rich mans tool, by so many - Yet the initial interest in such guitars came from musicians, who were fed up with 'mediocre' Gibson Guitars of that era

I remember Phil Hilborne had a strange looking PRS with a red top and a white back - always wondered if it was originally all white and he had the top refinished.  I also remember being impressed that Dave Burrluck - the early champion of PRS in the guitar mags - actually owned one.

Collings

ICBM said:

Collings said:

I believe Tony Hicks has one of the first PRS guitars that came into the UK via Chandler's in the mid 80s.

Think the particular guitar as a vintage yellow one.

I think I saw that guitar - the yellow one - in Chandler's in early 1986. It was supposedly the first one in the UK. It was in the shop next to a flame maple/wicker grille Boogie - the complete package for the professional musician that year!

I had no clue about the brand of course, but it looked nice and if I remember rightly was £1500 - an impossible amount of money for me at the time, I'd just spent everything I had (AKA my student grant) on a 1970 Les Paul Deluxe for £320 .

I had one at the same time Tony had his from Chandlers but mine was maybe even before Chandlers had theirs. I swapped a 62 refinished Strat for it from someone in the USA. I wrote to PRS at the time asking them some details about it and Paul sent me quite a lot of info along with copies of reviews from USA papers etc.

Grocer_Jack

Tony Hicks was best known for playing Rickenbackers (6 and 12 string) in The Hollies in the 60s. Also 335 a bit. 

shaunm

I really hope they are cool and that coincides with me buying one. 

You are all welcome

Twinfan

Philly_Q said:

guitars4you said:
Recall Phil Hilbourne, Geoff Whitehorn + Tony Hicks as early UK players - All musicians and not dentists or doctors - It is sad/wrong, that today they are perceived as a rich mans tool, by so many - Yet the initial interest in such guitars came from musicians, who were fed up with 'mediocre' Gibson Guitars of that era

I remember Phil Hilborne had a strange looking PRS with a red top and a white back - always wondered if it was originally all white and he had the top refinished.  I also remember being impressed that Dave Burrluck - the early champion of PRS in the guitar mags - actually owned one.

Phil - that one's in "Bonnie Pink" and it was a standard finish, although it's a finish not used very much these days.

I couldn't care less if PRS guitars are cool or not.  I play in an 80s covers band - musical integrity and coolness are not high on my list.  Having a fun and cracking night out in a local pub with a guitar that sounds great, feels great, plays great and stays in tune is most important to me!

I also play a Marshall, that's probably shockingly uncool too 

guitars4you

Twinfan said:

Philly_Q said:

guitars4you said:
Recall Phil Hilbourne, Geoff Whitehorn + Tony Hicks as early UK players - All musicians and not dentists or doctors - It is sad/wrong, that today they are perceived as a rich mans tool, by so many - Yet the initial interest in such guitars came from musicians, who were fed up with 'mediocre' Gibson Guitars of that era

I remember Phil Hilborne had a strange looking PRS with a red top and a white back - always wondered if it was originally all white and he had the top refinished.  I also remember being impressed that Dave Burrluck - the early champion of PRS in the guitar mags - actually owned one.

Phil - that one's in "Bonnie Pink" and it was a standard finish, although it's a finish not used very much these days.

I couldn't care less if PRS guitars are cool or not.  I play in an 80s covers band - musical integrity and coolness are not high on my list.  Having a fun and cracking night out in a local pub with a guitar that sounds great, feels great, plays great and stays in tune is most important to me!

I also play a Marshall, that's probably shockingly uncool too 

I find it interesting that Boss and Marshall have probably appeared on every stage in the world . Yet in today’s hand built boutique world, both are considered nothing better than Ford or Vauxhall by so many

interesting how such perceptions have changed 

Whitecat

I see Boss as more like Toyota - rarely all that interesting but reliable, safe and does the job you need it to do with a minimum of flash. 

guitars4you

Whitecat said:

I see Boss as more like Toyota - rarely all that interesting but reliable, safe and does the job you need it to do with a minimum of flash. 

I agree about such a perception. Doesn’t mean the boutique model does a better job. But they are more interesting to talk about

Philly_Q

Twinfan said:

Philly_Q said:

I remember Phil Hilborne had a strange looking PRS with a red top and a white back - always wondered if it was originally all white and he had the top refinished.  I also remember being impressed that Dave Burrluck - the early champion of PRS in the guitar mags - actually owned one.

Phil - that one's in "Bonnie Pink" and it was a standard finish, although it's a finish not used very much these days.

Cheers Dave.  I can see why it's rare, it looked very odd!

Grampa

dazzajl said:

Nope. Not fashionable now and I don’t think they ever will be. 

Fashion is for young people, PRS are not. 

Thank goodness for that, I am neither fashionable nor young.

Having picked up a guitar for the first time ever in January this year at the tender age of 57 (bucket list) I had no idea about brand snobbery or even what constituted a good or bad instrument. I was very lucky in being able to try numerous different manufacturers and styles of guitar to basically find what felt and sounded right to me without having to worry about what anyone else thought. I came very close to buying a couple (both LP's) before picking up a friend's PRS McCarty 594, game over, it just felt and sounded right, as well as pretty much overshadowing everything else when it came to build quality. I've since added a Modern Eagle Quatro and can't see me ever selling either, as much as I enjoy looking at other makes and models GAS really doesn't exist in my universe.

Fashionable??? I honestly don't give a toss, I just know they work for me.

Jonathanthomas83

PRS are superb guitars. I love my 24.

steveledzep

I have a Custom 24 SE and I love it.  It plays better than Stork.