PRS Dragon II - Do these ever really sell?

[christianm77]

Attachment 58827

Better

[christianm77]

I can understand not wanting a Jem by why the scorn? It been the signature guitar for a pretty accomplished guitarist for a very long time. The purpose of the monkey grip? So people will say "The Steve Vai guitar".

It’s the internet dude. You can say L5s are grandpa guitars played by relics who think the Beatles are cutting edge youth culture or something and we can all have a good time.

If you say anything about Telecasters or 175s, I will end you.

[morroben]

I have a PRS Mira semi-hollow with the bird inlays. I think they look kinda cool. It's something different. They weren't the reason I wanted the guitar, but I think they're a nice little bonus. The guitar is great BTW.

The dragons don't do much for me, but mostly because they're dragons. I just don't have much interest in that kind of thing.
Maybe if it was my dog? She's a little chunky for a fingerboard though.
Or a lingcod! A guitar with a freaky looking lingcod inlayed on the neck would be pretty sweet.

[christianm77]

Mind you I’m not sure how you would insult a telecaster.

Ohhhh I got it - the input jack. Well Leo Fender didn’t get it right, did he?

175 is easy - oh I couldn’t afford an L5 but I’ll pretend it’s better

[christianm77]

I have a PRS Mira semi-hollow with the bird inlays. I think they look kinda cool. It's something different. They weren't the reason I wanted the guitar, but I think they're a nice little bonus. The guitar is great BTW.

The dragons don't do much for me, but mostly because they're dragons. I just don't have much interest in that kind of thing.
Maybe if it was my dog? She's a little chunky for a fingerboard though.
Or a lingcod! A guitar with a freaky looking lingcod inlayed on the neck would be pretty sweet.

Oh actually I like the Miras! Much sexier to me than the more pricey models, which are just a bit like something someone would come up with by committee.

Hey, why wouldn’t you love a double cutaway les paul with a vibrato bar? What? No??? Go away!!!

THE SEAGULLS??? Why the seagulls??? Oh they’re meant to be generic birds. Whatever. Generic is right.

Btw I passed over a chance to get a top of the line PRS at a very good price. Just not into them. At least a Jem has a vibe.

[christianm77]

But I would go for a Mira.

[Tal_175]

Mind you I’m not sure how you would insult a telecaster.

Let me take a shot.
Telecaster is the most versatile guitar. The bridge pick up will almost get you Les Paul's fat growl. Single coil neck pickup can do a good stratocaster imitation if you the tone is all the way up and with some tweaking of the amp. Neck pick up with the tone mostly down may pass for an archtop.
Of course for everything that Tele can do there is a guitar that can do it better. The real one it imitates.
Nevertheless no guitar can be the second best in everything like the very versatile Tele

[sgosnell]

Tosin Abasi is the only man alive who can play an 8 string without looking like a dweeb

Are you saying Ralph Patt looks like a dweeb? Oh, wait, he's no longer alive. But his website, which includes the great Vanilla Book, is still in existence.

[Slide]

[QUOTE=morroben;922955]I have a PRS Mira semi-hollow with the bird inlays. I think they look kinda cool. It's something different.

I have a PRS SE 7 String with bird inlays. I like the guitar and the inlays!

[JazzyJim]

Just to continue the slight thread tangent, everyone I have ever met that has hated the Jem (including me), has ultimately accepted they’re flipping brilliant to play after actually sitting down with one. Obviously the trem is a deal-breaker if you’re used to fixed bridges, but the monkey grip is quickly forgotten, in my experience. I’ve played a lot of Jems (even briefly held Steve’s “no. 1” Evo!) and there is no doubt in my mind they’re probably the best playing factory pop/rock guitars out there. If I was in, say a covers band or whatever, I’d probably just get a Jem and forget about everything else. And looks-wise, they are about as far removed from my taste as anything.

On topic - PRS are not for me. I don’t personally like the way they look, feel or sound but I’m not overly familiar. Would be happy to have my opinion changed if I had the coin and was looking for an LP type though.

[christianm77]

Just to continue the slight thread tangent, everyone I have ever met that has hated the Jem (including me), has ultimately accepted they’re flipping brilliant to play after actually sitting down with one. Obviously the trem is a deal-breaker if you’re used to fixed bridges, but the monkey grip is quickly forgotten, in my experience. I’ve played a lot of Jems (even briefly held Steve’s “no. 1” Evo!) and there is no doubt in my mind they’re probably the best playing factory pop/rock guitars out there. If I was in, say a covers band or whatever, I’d probably just get a Jem and forget about everything else. And looks-wise, they are about as far removed from my taste as anything.

On topic - PRS are not for me. I don’t personally like the way they look, feel or sound but I’m not overly familiar. Would be happy to have my opinion changed if I had the coin and was looking for an LP type though.

I’ve heard that Jems are extremely versatile. I suppose you could always get a high end RG in a tasteful finish?

[christianm77]

Let me take a shot.
Telecaster is the most versatile guitar. The bridge pick up will almost get you Les Paul's fat growl. Single coil neck pickup can do a good stratocaster imitation if you the tone is all the way up and with some tweaking of the amp. Neck pick up with the tone mostly down may pass for an archtop.
Of course for everything that Tele can do there is a guitar that can do it better. The real one it imitates.
Nevertheless no guitar can be the second best in everything like the very versatile Tele

Well I have one word for you. It’s a bit fruity for a jazz guitar forum but:

TWANG!!!!

Also, much more useful in hand to hand combat.

The only instrument a tele imitates is one of the blunt variety.

[cosmic gumbo]

Watch what George is playing....

[christianm77]

Don’t believe your lying eyes

[christianm77]

Let me take a shot.
Telecaster is the most versatile guitar. The bridge pick up will almost get you Les Paul's fat growl. Single coil neck pickup can do a good stratocaster imitation if you the tone is all the way up and with some tweaking of the amp. Neck pick up with the tone mostly down may pass for an archtop.
Of course for everything that Tele can do there is a guitar that can do it better. The real one it imitates.
Nevertheless no guitar can be the second best in everything like the very versatile Tele

Wait, you don’t actually use your tone control do you?

Cheat!

(I might add that the tone control is super useful on the bridge pickup (and so effective you can do wah wah with it of you want) but I’ve never cared for treble cut neck pickup sounds. Way to sound like a wet flannel. That sucker stays wide open. It’s not a 335.)

[christianm77]

Are you saying Ralph Patt looks like a dweeb? Oh, wait, he's no longer alive. But his website, which includes the great Vanilla Book, is still in existence.

That eight string does not count.

[Tal_175]

Watch what George is playing....

Looks like he was invited to the stage and was handed whatever guitar the band's singer was playing.
Also the one he is playing doesn't have the handle "upgrade".
Nice guitar actually.
But then they could have handed him a coffee grinder ...

[JazzyJim]

I’ve heard that Jems are extremely versatile. I suppose you could always get a high end RG in a tasteful finish?

But of course. If you can survive without the middle position singlecoil, I would say the current RG652 can basically do anything. The necks are *extremely* thin on most RG’s, though. Jems are a bit more substantial and very comfortable, imo.

[lawson-stone]

Hey you don't have to pay all that money for dragon fretboards, and you don't have to live with it forever once you have it.

Right up there with removable tattoos...

Dragon Fret Markers Inlay Stickers For Guitar – Inlay Stickers Jockomo

[Greentone]

Agree about how serviceable the JEM and RG guitars are. If you are in a cover band....

I had an RG and thought it was quite good.

[christianm77]

But of course. If you can survive without the middle position singlecoil, I would say the current RG652 can basically do anything. The necks are *extremely* thin on most RG’s, though. Jems are a bit more substantial and very comfortable, imo.

You just like the handle. Admit it.

[Lobomov]

i can't imagine what the handle is for?

It was partly a joke and partly a piece of genius branding. When introduced in 1987 the guitar had a couple of details that where uncommon for the time like routing under the floyd rose allowing you to bend upwards more

Steve Vai says he knew that that would quickly be copied by other guitar brands, but he wanted something that was so unique and outrageous that it wouldn't get copied ... and it's been the identifying feature of the Ibanez JEMs ever since



Edit: Somehow missed page two when I wrote this, so I see that Jim Soloway, Christian and other already have this covered

[christianm77]

Also, reduces weight?

[Lobomov]

Also, reduces weight?

LOL ... yeah that too

I actually had the hardtail version of the JEM .. In the end I couldn't bond with the neck, but damn .. It was a great guitar!

[Tal_175]

Steve Vai says he knew that that would quickly be copied by other guitar brands, but he wanted something that was so unique and outrageous that it wouldn't get copied

It's like spitting on the cake so nobody else can eat it