The PRS Signature that never was....

axisus

Ugly. I think they put the wrong components together.

guitargeek62

TStevepage said:

The one signature I wish did come about was this 

For Eddie Van Halen

Are we sure that's a PRS?

The heel and neck looks very different to a typical CE model, much more like a Fender neck with a 3x3 headstock instead. The logo's odd too - I think this is probably a DIY build in the style of a PRS, no?

Incidentally, I have seen an 80s PRS Standard 24 with a single bridge humbucker, PRS trem with uproute, and EVH written inside the pickup cavity. I think it was in midnight blue metallic iirc, though it might've been a multifoil model.

Moe_Zambeek

The VH one looks like a Variax. 

The EJ one is interesting. I like a Mosrite as much as the next man, maybe more actually, but that’s more Bender Distortocaster than Mosrite.

RaymondLin

Stevepage said:

The one signature I wish did come about was this 

For Eddie Van Halen

I wonder if this is how they end up with PRS SE One.

Philly_Q

guitargeek62 said:
Are we sure that's a PRS?

The heel and neck looks very different to a typical CE model, much more like a Fender neck with a 3x3 headstock instead. The logo's odd too - I think this is probably a DIY build in the style of a PRS, no?

Incidentally, I have seen an 80s PRS Standard 24 with a single bridge humbucker, PRS trem with uproute, and EVH written inside the pickup cavity. I think it was in midnight blue metallic iirc, though it might've been a multifoil model.

It could be a prototype using the Fiore style neck joint rather than the CE type.  There were a few other bolt-ons before the Silver Sky and Fiore which had a more Fender-like neck joint than the CE, but I forget the names.

guitargeek62

Philly_Q said:

guitargeek62 said:
Are we sure that's a PRS?

The heel and neck looks very different to a typical CE model, much more like a Fender neck with a 3x3 headstock instead. The logo's odd too - I think this is probably a DIY build in the style of a PRS, no?

Incidentally, I have seen an 80s PRS Standard 24 with a single bridge humbucker, PRS trem with uproute, and EVH written inside the pickup cavity. I think it was in midnight blue metallic iirc, though it might've been a multifoil model.

It could be a prototype using the Fiore style neck joint rather than the CE type.  There were a few other bolt-ons before the Silver Sky and Fiore which had a more Fender-like neck joint than the CE, but I forget the names.

Aye, potentially - but I don't recall seeing another CE-based model (e.g. SAS et al) that had the rounded-off corners on the fingerboard too, that would be a strange change to make for a one-off prototype.

You're right though about the heel, that was done first on the DC3, NF3 and Brent Mason models prior to the Fiore and SS; obviously they all used a different body shape than the CEs, along with a flat-top and forearm carve rather than a full carvetop.

sgosden

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/the-edward-van-halen-evh-prototype-prs-1-of-2.8656/ ;

I watched a little video about this a while back, that I can't find. 
sounds like another example of PRS going after a big name, but it not working out. 

two guitar made by knaggs himself. the second prototype might still be in Eddie's collection. 

Philly_Q

sgosden said:

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/the-edward-van-halen-evh-prototype-prs-1-of-2.8656/ ;

I watched a little video about this a while back, that I can't find. 
sounds like another example of PRS going after a big name, but it not working out. 

two guitar made by knaggs himself. the second prototype might still be in Eddie's collection. 

Fascinating!

And there's that neck heel. 

bobacco

Philly_Q said:

guitargeek62 said:
Are we sure that's a PRS?

The heel and neck looks very different to a typical CE model, much more like a Fender neck with a 3x3 headstock instead. The logo's odd too - I think this is probably a DIY build in the style of a PRS, no?

Incidentally, I have seen an 80s PRS Standard 24 with a single bridge humbucker, PRS trem with uproute, and EVH written inside the pickup cavity. I think it was in midnight blue metallic iirc, though it might've been a multifoil model.

It could be a prototype using the Fiore style neck joint rather than the CE type.  There were a few other bolt-ons before the Silver Sky and Fiore which had a more Fender-like neck joint than the CE, but I forget the names.

I’d eat my own face for a Fiore. Maybe because I’m a Lettieri fanboy, but mostly because it’s just a good looking machine!

guitargeek62

sgosden said:

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/the-edward-van-halen-evh-prototype-prs-1-of-2.8656/ ;

I watched a little video about this a while back, that I can't find. 
sounds like another example of PRS going after a big name, but it not working out. 

two guitar made by knaggs himself. the second prototype might still be in Eddie's collection. 

Neat! That explains a lot  

https://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/the-edward-van-halen-evh-prototype-prs-1-of-2.8656/

Quick Specs:
- 25.5" scale length
- Custom-carved, bolt-on, flame maple neck & fretboard (check out the rounded corners at the 22nd fret)
- 1-piece Swamp Ash Body with deep "Dragon Carve" top that was hand-carved by Joe Knaggs
- Peavey-license FR Tremolo with D-Tuna (there is some speculation as to why; originally had a genuine FR)
- Very unusual (and thick) neck heel
- EVH-style pickup cavity with hard-mounted, custom-wound, McCarty humbucker (8.8k, Alnico II)
- No neck pickup, no tone pot, & no pickup selector switch
- Relocated output jack (moved down a few inches to the bottom of the body)
- 12" fretboard radius

Look at those tuning keys!

Philly_Q

Interesting that it has a McCarty pickup, I know his original Frankenstein guitar had some kind of PAF type from an ES-335, but I think the later Music Man and Peavey guitars had something higher output?

Strat54

Seems like I am a 'content' provider now for Music Radar lol....

https://www.musicradar.com/news/was-eric-johnsons-unreleased-prs-prototype-guitar-the-precursor-to-the-silver-sky

randella

Moe_Zambeek said:

The VH one looks like a Variax. 

The EJ one is interesting. I like a Mosrite as much as the next man, maybe more actually, but that’s more Bender Distortocaster than Mosrite.

Hah dammit, I was just thinking it reminded me of something! I like it though, minimalist vibe. Not sure about the slant humbucker, I know it's an EVH thing but it doesn't quite sit right visually.

OT, but the only time I ever saw a Variax onstage was in the hands of the guitarist in the Mars Volta circa 2004. Do Line6 still make them?

stickyfiddle

Moe_Zambeek said:

The VH one looks like a Variax. 

The EJ one is interesting. I like a Mosrite as much as the next man, maybe more actually, but that’s more Bender Distortocaster than Mosrite.

Yes!!! Remarkably so, in fact. 

KrisGee

I would've loved that if I hadn't quit drinking 6 months ago. 

impmann

There are a few one off Variaxes I was involved with - I seem to remember one being built for Eddie but whether it ever got finished/sent to him I don't know. I know there were huge challenges at the time in getting a Floyd to work with the piezos reliably... they sorted it later for the JTV89F.

Steve Howe (him of Yes) has a fabulous 24fret 335-alike that I worked on with no pickups and the Variax circuitry - albeit with Graphtech Ghost saddles on a TonePros bridge. It was a one off that at one time was slated to be a production thing... never happened though. Shame - very cool instrument.

Jerry Donahue has a V700 in amber with a one-off maple neck - thats a gorgeous thing. Its very much like an old Fender in feel - as you'd expect!