Any interest in a PRS 335/345/355 type guitar?

[DawgBone]

I will say the PRS Hollow Body 2 was probably the most versatile of the bunch already mentioned here.
The problem was the neck size was too small for my tastes.

I ran into Paul Reed Smith at a local guitar shop some years back and explained this to him. His answer was to go to Private Stock.
Which started at $10k at that point in time.
My response was I’m a musician not a magician! He just laughed,so I went on back to Gibson Historic ‘ 58 ES-335

I've been looking closely at the SE hollowbody II's and it looks like they have a wide fat neck. I just don't know if I want to spring the dough for something that isn't really what I want but I do want to at least give one a good shakedown run through my rig.

[jads57]

Tried one locally,very disappointed in the small neck size. Maybe it’s the shoulder size being small,but didn’t like it at all.
An ES-335 has a certain pronounced midrange in its characteristic tone. Before CNC was used so extensively,you needed to play as many as you could find to get a good one!

[Litterick]

Not sure where you get this idea since they are already building semi hollows already, albeit more along the lines of an LP. Also, PRS is one of the Neo Soul guitarist's instruments of choice and a 335 is also highly favored in that genre. It seems like a good time for them to produce one.

Perhaps they are happy with the semi-hollows they make. Perhaps they do not want to copy Gibson.

[Litterick]

I remember how people were laughing at the silver sky. I found it laughable too at the time but I don't think anyone is really laughing now.

I am still laughing. The Silver Sky is ridiculous.

[Greywolf]

I have a few Semi Hollow PRS's , they are their own thing . They are extremely versatile and the quality is far above the 3 Gibson Custom Shops I own . That being said , I have no problem playing and enjoying the Gibby's .

As a Luthier my only big complaint with the 335 is the top jack , Heritage was smart enough to move it the side , a LOT less jack repairs for us folks.


Wood Library runs have some delightful features at several grand less than Private Stock prices.

For Trad Jazz I use my Heritage H575 -C with flatwounds, for Fusion .. PRS all the way .

[DawgBone]

I am still laughing. The Silver Sky is ridiculous.

The SE version is one of their best selling instruments per reverb. *shrugs

[Christian Miller]

there are a couple of Neils out there ..

Ok that’s quite a nice guitar I will admit


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[Woodstove]

These are nice:

Agreed

[nyc chaz]

I am still laughing. The Silver Sky is ridiculous.

I bought a Silver Sky when it first came out.Outside of a 63 Strat that a friend of mine owns,it's the best Strat i ever played.The guy who is laughing is Paul Reed Smith all the way to the bank.

[Greywolf]

Joe Knaggs who headed PRS Private Stock for 2 decades branched off on his own and makes great instruments .
Still hand carves his necks because he enjoys it...

His take on the 335 is carved not lam and very sweet it's called the Sheyenne . I have a Kenai P90 custom and it's delicious.

[DawgBone]

Joe Knaggs who headed PRS Private Stock for 2 decades branched off on his own and makes great instruments .
Still hand carves his necks because he enjoys it...

His take on the 335 is carved not lam and very sweet it's called the Sheyenne . I have a Kenai P90 custom and it's delicious.

I wasn't able to find that guitar listed on the Knaggs website. Out of production maybe? I found one called the Mayflower that is similar but looks like a custom built model. Can't say I'm crazy about that tailpiece.

[DawgBone]

Ok that’s quite a nice guitar I will admit


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Comes in to bag on PRS, winds up liking PRS. LOL

[Hammertone]

The Edwards brand offers some lovely ES-3x5 style guitars, fitted with top-quality Gotoh and Seymour Duncan hardware. Carved maple tops and backs, mahogany blocks, inexpensive, and excellent guitars. They are easy to find in Japan new and used, and sellers are happy to ship them anywhere.

[Oscar67]

I bought a Silver Sky when it first came out.Outside of a 63 Strat that a friend of mine owns,it's the best Strat i ever played.The guy who is laughing is Paul Reed Smith all the way to the bank.

Personally I would have preferred it if PRS hadn’t made this guitar, even though as you point out it’s very very good. I tend to prefer their original designs such as the 594 HB-II and the JA-15. But hey, the Silver Sky is the guitar that Fender refused to make for John Mayer. So he called Paul. What you gonna do if John Mayer calls?

[Greywolf]

Sheyenne | Knaggs Guitars

[DawgBone]

the edwards brand offers some lovely es-3x5 style guitars, fitted with top-quality gotoh and seymour duncan hardware. Carved maple tops and backs, mahogany blocks, inexpensive, and excellent guitars. They are easy to find in japan new and used, and sellers are happy to ship them anywhere.

e-sa168

[DawgBone]

I found Gotoh bridges to be junk long term. They both turned buzzy (I have an Edwards E-LP also). I put a tonepros on there and it worked out ok.

[Hammertone]

I found Gotoh bridges to be junk long term. They both turned buzzy (I have an Edwards E-LP also). I put a tonepros on there and it worked out ok.

Interesting. Not my experience, and I'd like more info, since I use a lot of them. Wire? No wire? Vintage style narrow? Nashville style? Rattle? Sitaring? Do tell, please.

Also, that Edwards E-SA168 looks great.

[DawgBone]

Interesting. Not my experience, and I'd like more info, since I use a lot of them. Wire? No wire? Vintage style narrow? Nashville style? Rattle? Sitaring? Do tell, please.

Also, that Edwards E-SA168 looks great.

Gotoh vintage style with the wire retainer. The top two strings were buzzing so bad. I pulled it apart, silicon taped the bridge piece screws, cleaned everything out, and reassembled it. Even put a few drops of clear nail polish on the wire. It quieted it down and about six months later I was doing doublestops unplugged and it sounded like I was hooked up to a fuzzbox. I gave it that temporary fix but finally just replaced it with a tonepros abr-1 which fit on there well enough but not exactly. The spacing between the posts is slightly narrower than a Gibson but it was able to drop low enough to get the action where I needed it without any problems.

That Edwards has been a great guitar. My main player. Got it in early '22 and now it needs fretwork cause I have put quite a few miles on it. I did not care for the Seth Lovers in there as factory pickups and replaced them with 57 classics which have a warmer, fatter tone that works better with a Twin IMO.

[Hammertone]

Gotoh vintage style with the wire retainer. The top two strings were buzzing so bad. I pulled it apart, silicon taped the bridge piece screws, cleaned everything out, and reassembled it. Even put a few drops of clear nail polish on the wire. It quieted it down and about six months later I was doing doublestops unplugged and it sounded like I was hooked up to a fuzzbox. I gave it that temporary fix but finally just replaced it with a tonepros abr-1 which fit on there well enough but not exactly. The spacing between the posts is slightly narrower than a Gibson but it was able to drop low enough to get the action where I needed it without any problems. ...

Thanks. I haven't used the wire retainer version for that very reason - it is not a great solution precisely for the reasons you describe, and it sounds like Gotoh missed the mark with it. I used the Nashville copy in the past but went to their no-wire narrow vintage style years ago. I never had any problems with either design, except for the original sin of the Schaller design, which Gotoh (and others) have copied - strings touch the back of the bridge chassis when the tailpiece is lowered. Also, it looks a bit bulky for my personal taste.

[Oscar67]

Well, that’s one of the problems that PRS solved. No bridge, trem or tailpiece issues.

[GuitarJay]

I have a semi-hollow McCarty 594 with a bearclaw spruce top, mahogany back and sides, maple neck, ebony board. I've owned many Gibson ES-335 over the years including a Historic '59 reissue that I owned for almost 25 years. The PRS sounds like a semi-hollow, but doesn't sound like my 335. It's very balanced, but the highest notes aren't as fat as on my 335. It's very, very comfortable to play, is super light, and has ridiculously good action. I wish the bodies were a little bit bigger as I'm used to larger guitars, but my complaint is not a big one.

[Oscar67]

Beautiful instrument! I have the same model but as a Core instead of Private Stock. If you ever get a chance to try a JA-15, go for it. They’re really special.

[GuitarJay]

I've played a JA-15 a long time ago. I agree, they are terrific!

[DawgBone]

I been leaning on PRS....anyone else up for a PRS 355? I decided they should call it the "Semi-Hollywood" model, lol.