SOLD 1989 PRS Custom(24) - Special history £2500

vettahead

I have relisted thios as my trade deal has fallen through on account of the r9 in question falling off its stand and getting a neck fracture  

Price reduced for a quick sale  so 2500 cash or 2750 trade deals.  Open to multiple guitar trades also 
 

Hey All, can't believe i'm putting this one up but here goes. Here is my 1989 prs sweet switch artist owned PRS custom, she's a bit special. Read on to find out why.

This is one of the Brazilian Rosewood era guitars with the Sweet Switch (no Papers for the Brazilian CITES for Brailian Rosewood came into effect in 11 June 1992 and this predates those rules so they they did not provide it at this early stage) The late 80s PRSs are considered some of the best guitars that Paul has ever made. This is made before the factory move to the new Maryland factory. people call these pre factory but thats a little bit of a misnomer. This guitar was made in the Virginia Avenue factory and was initially carved out with dupli-carvers and jigs and then finished by hand. Pearlworks will have used a CNC to add the birds but thats it! |All the rest is hand done after the dupli-carve. The build quality is second to none. After having owned several prs the old ones like this feel and sound so different to the newer ones its unbelievable.

The Grey black finish as not faded and the flame on it is truly spectacular (ill let the photos do the talking there.)

Heres the spec list

• One piece Mahogany Neck with Brazilian Rosewood Fretboard 
• Regular Neck Carve with Old Birds 
• 10 Top figured maple top with a solid mahogany back 
• Nickel hardware and a Tremolo bridge 
• PRS Phase I Locking Tuners 
• HFS Treble & Vintage Bass Humbuckers 
• 5 way rotary switch 
• Sweet Switch Tone Filter 
• Finished in Gray Black 
• Original PRS Hard Case

This one is possibly the best PRS Ive played. It really is a joy to use. Reason for sale? I have now acquired an 88 prs and while they both have the same neck carve the other just feels a little fatter in my hands. It took me weeks to decide what tone to move as there both fantastic instruments but so close sonically I cant warrant having 2.

Now for the super fun stuff, There is a name on the back of the headstock, Fred Sampson So i went a digging and found out its the fred sampson that penned some of bostons hit songs and I was lucky enough to contact to him! Heres what he said! ( i can supply my email correspondence if needed)

""Hello Chris! What a pleasure receiving your inquiry about your PRS guitar. Yes, it was mine. I meet Paul reed smith while working at the NAMM music trade shows beginning in 1985. I was vp of sales of rockman SR&D, Tom Scholz's company. Part of my duties where to perform sales training and guitar clinics around the world. Paul saw some value in folks seeing me with one of his guitars in my hands, so he sold me that one right after the NAMM show 1989. You'll be glad to know that it was also featured on the cover of his product catalog for that year! I remember that guitar as a drop dead beauty!""

Now i cannot confirm it was the same guitar on the cover of said magazine but Fred seems to think it was so im happy with that!

Condition is 9-10. Theres a couple of little marks in the binding and a touch of buckle rash but thats it! For its age its in fantastic condition. It's all original, nothing changed, nothing borrowed, all completely original. The case is travelled and is not in perfect order but is still perfectly functional.

Price wise I'm looking for £2500 cash or 2750 trade-wise. for a guitar of this calibre and provenance I feel this is a fair price but feel free to make offers  .

Trade wise I'm willing to listed to what you have, nothing pointy or metal though. One off custom makes ill also look at and multiple guitar trades (not 16 epiphones or 1786 squire strat type deals though) No amps either as I now have a helix and 3 tube amps so I'm well serviced in that area. Basically the trades will have to be something to be something high end.

The guitar is in blackburn and I'm more than happy for you to come and try her, I'm convinced the first to try will walk away a happy guitarist.

More high res pics available upon request!

If you have made it this far, please go make yourself a brew and have biscuit on me, you deserve it.

Moloch

This shouldn't be on here. Upload it to PornHub.

vettahead

haha Darryl  i couldn't agree more!

vettahead

cant beleive this is still here to be fair!

fretfinder

vettahead said: Price wise I'm looking for £2500 cash or 2750 trade-wise. 

????

vettahead

you think its overpriced?   honestly?

reece01204

Great guitar

fretfinder

vettahead said:

you think its overpriced?   honestly?

Nope I'm not saying that at all. I just never really get why a guitar should be given a higher trade value than its cash price.  

Beautiful guitfiddle by the way, and a good story behind it too. GLWTS. 

vettahead

allways been that way. I guess that way i can assess whether the trade is worth it?

Adam_MD

fretfinder said:

Nope I'm not saying that at all. I just never really get why a guitar should be given a higher trade value than its cash price.

I always find that weird too.  

vettahead

up

beed84

Load blown.

Dodge

80's PRS's are just the most obvious modern classic going. They're not particularly fashionable just now, so now's a great time to buy.

If I had the funds, this would sit nicely next to my 87.

Strat54

That's a lovely guitar, I had quite a few of these in the 90's but always sold them. I think I have a love/hate PRS relationship and now with my impending early retirement I'm thinking I should have another. Something about these old ones that I don't feel with the new. I know Paul famously advised everyone to sell there old ones a few years back and buy the new cos they were a better guitar but I'm not sure I buy it...now if only that was a vintage yellow! Is it a heavy one?

Dodge

Strat54 said:

...now if only that was a vintage yellow!

That is THE colour for 80's PRS. Something special about it.

This grey black one is a thing of great beauty though.

vettahead

Strat54 said:

That's a lovely guitar, I had quite a few of these in the 90's but always sold them. I think I have a love/hate PRS relationship and now with my impending early retirement I'm thinking I should have another. Something about these old ones that I don't feel with the new. I know Paul famously advised everyone to sell there old ones a few years back and buy the new cos they were a better guitar but I'm not sure I buy it...now if only that was a vintage yellow! Is it a heavy one?

not at all,  not sure on exact weight but could op it on some scales if you wanted. i have a sunburst 88 also if the colour does not  grab you, either that or theres a yellow on reverb!   its 7 k though

http://proof.ttpgp.co.uk/TTPGP/Guitars/1988-prs-Custom-24-sunburst/i-hz8GNd4

DLM

Wow. Gorgeous. @thomasross20 feast your eyes on this, Tiggs!

Sadly illegal where I am.

thomasross20

Yep, saw it. Trying not to look at other gear to prevent GAS

SimpleSimon

Adam_MD said:

fretfinder said:

Nope I'm not saying that at all. I just never really get why a guitar should be given a higher trade value than its cash price.

I always find that weird too.  

Cash is king and allows you to use the money howsoever you want, Trades often tie you into receiving something as part payment (that you may hate or may love) but possibly wouldn't have bought had you had the option of cash. The higher trade value tips the favour to the person receiving the trade with usually a little more part payment in cash or goods to a slightly higher value and acknowledges this fact.

SimpleSimon

vettahead said:

 Paul saw some value in folks seeing me with one of his guitars in my hands, so he sold me that one right after the NAMM show 1989.

You've got to give Paul Reed Smith some business kudos for singling out players in this way but then actually selling them a guitar! - not giving it away! I've heard this same tale of PRS's early days so often. This particular guitar - aside from the great back story, surely is stunning to look at and looks to be in super shape for its age. If only I had a spare £2,5k. GLWTS.

DLM

SimpleSimon said:
You've got to give Paul Reed Smith some business kudos for singling out players in this way but then actually selling them a guitar! - not giving it away! I've heard this same tale of PRS's early days so often.

Protects his brand value, innit? Sound business practice. Who dares wins and all.

Also, wis for your explanation of a higher trade value than the cash price.