I have a PRS DGT which I think is great, but as a conventional type of chap (have 2 strats, 330, tele) I am increasingly drawn to an r8, mainly because there's a lot about, look great and they aren't completely crazy price-wise. However, this irrational desire isn't based on any experience of an R8. In fact, I borrowed my brother's early 70's les paul for a year and never used it. Plus, according to the blurb, Doug Grissom and PRS himself spent years putting together the DGT pickups to match DG's vintage 335, and they know more than me. And, theDGT is beautifully built and the same construction as an R8. So, am I wasting my time even thinking about it?
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I sold the DGT, it was a lovely guitar, versatile, should have been a keeper, but like you i'm drawn to the old look.
I have had at least 10 LP's from CS to Studio but TBH none are a patch on this 2017 R8.
Sometimes ya gotta scratch that itch
The R8 is a wonderful guitar but the main issue I had with it was that I found the Custombucker bridge pickup to be a bit spiky sounding overdriven, the DGT bridge pickup is more rounded and fatter in tone to my ears, but they are close.
The neck pickup sounds fuller on the R8 while the DGT is bit more SG sounding on the neck pickup, they both sound good.
The weight of the R8 I had was 8lb 13oz, the DGT I have is very light at 7lb which I prefer.
I prefer the neck profile of the DGT and love the jumbo frets, but I prefer the nitro finish of the R8.
All I can suggest is you try one before committing to change, ergonomically the R8 is very different feeling guitar.
There was talk about this at the time of the release - I was at the PRS USA launch of this, when he spoke about the tone of his old 335 - He then took questions from the audience and someone asked if the 335 sounds so good then why not just play it - Dave's answer was that it was a bitch to play
To some, the DGT is the PRS that offers more 'soul' than others - I'd say more versatile/flexible regarding its tonal character than an R8, but as with any guitar, teh what suits you is a matter of taste
20/30 years later, after buying/selling/playing 100's of LP's I have only ever owned one for more than a few months - A 57 Gold Top Tom Murphy that I've now played for over 10 years, so yes I've have found one that I like - And that is the first one in 40 years or so - But I still find it hard to handle compared with a DGT, or a Modern Eagle that I tend to favour within the PRS range - Does a DGT or ME nail the LP tone down to the nth degree ? - Maybe not - But there are many variations of tones within many Gibson LP's, so I'm more than content about what the PRS can offer
All played well for a Gibson after trying a few to get one that was completely shonkily put together.
But I still don’t find them comfy for extended playing.
Maybe I just prefer the double cut shape over single cuts.
I do prefer the 594 over the DGT mainly due to the neck shape but every DGT I’ve played has been very good.
I always say I won’t buy another Gibson yet still end up talking myself into it saying the next one might be as good a PRS.
If you're used to and love the DGT sound then the R8 might sound a bit lumpy to you, and the Les Paul neck pickup position is a less versatile sound, but if you were worried about versatility you wouldn't have lots of guitars ! :-)
The DGT is the far more playable of the 2 (a little lighter, ergonomics better) but sometimes you just need your LP