This is truest statement I ever read. All Fenders just look more badass as they get relic'd and road Worn. Where Gibson and PRS look better pristine. IMO.
For his high school graduation, my son wanted a Gibson or a Strat. I got him a PRS. It's an absolutely gorgeous flametop. I could tell he was so disappointed. But he was gracious about it. Then he started playing it. He now (14 years later) almost exclusively plays that PRS. It's his favorite out of all his many guitars. Except sometimes when he plays his pre-lawsuit PRS " Gibson" lookalike. Which is superior to any of his Gibsons. PRS is truly a great guitar.
My dad bought me a Fender Starcaster, he knew that I was a strat guy before I started. Now, 4 years later, I bought myself a beautiful 1996 MIM Strat SSS
DARRELL .... people often overlooked how much time and effort you spent making these videos. You faded out the music in perfect sync with the fading scene, made sure the lightings are at the optimum positions, tweaked each guitar to the best that you can and many more! You are insane, dude! Keep it up.
One of my most uncomfortable guitars is my double bound reissue '65 Tele. After a decent session with that one, I have lines depressed in my forearm from the sharp edge. I love her to death, but my Strats are soooo much easier ergonomically.
@@markrup6369 oh okay thanks but do you recommend any model I'm about to buy my first guitar in a week or 2 and I don't know which one to get Tele seems really interesting if I install a 4 way switch on it
I've got an se which has upgrades on pickups and bridge, it's so close to my friends 3000 dollar guitar that it makes him angry, mine sounds better to my taste as well.
Which guitar was your favorite and why? :) Part 1 - The Guitars 1:20 Part 2 - The Tones 6:37 Part 3 - One Minute Solos 10:27 Part 4 - Final Thoughts and Recommendations 12:25 Guitars: Fender: imp.i114863.net/xM2Qy PRS: imp.i114863.net/ezrgQ Enjoy!
PRS hands down. I love Strats but the PRS build quality is second to just about none. With that being said I have sold all my high end fenders and PRS guitars and bought a Suhr. Never looking back.
fender is the best, there are many reasons, it is a timeless design that always looks good, with or without stickers, super resistant, versatile, well built, ergonomic, comfortable, prone to hundreds of modifications, and the truth is the guitar that finished relic or aged natural is the best, it is a fact :)...another great video Mr. Braun lml
My favorite would be to get both, sort of. For the price of the American Professional Strat you can get a MIM Strat & PRS SE. That way you can have it all. Or another way of looking at it, for the price of a Core PRS you can get both of the lower priced models and have $1000 left over for a nice amp. The differences between the higher end models of each of these brands and the lower priced models is MINUSCULE. With a little fret dressing and maybe swapping out tuners you probably wouldn't be able to tell any difference at all.
I preferred the strat. Right now I'm stuck on my EBMM Cutlass though..I think if I'm going to get an instrument with humbuckers, I'll go with a Les Paul. I think the PRS is great looking but for the money, I'd hold out and go for something with more resale value...I love your guitar collection and room arrangement! Great review as always!
There weren't locking tuners in 1954 so they kind of have their hands tied. I think honestly the only real problem with fender is their extreme reluctance to upgrade their main model lineup. Even gibson has done more
And players can buy them too. They can buy any color of tuners, any new pickups. Manufacturer cannot predict it, so they put standard option, which will be replaced anyways.
Kim those they dont put vintage tuners on the american professional guitars and its not about tuning stability its about making it much easier to change strings. And they already do copy everyone else because they offer locking tuners on some of their models.
I play PRS for the versatility. Great single coil tones plus great humbucker tones. I play in a classic rock cover band and appreciate not having to swap guitars between songs for different sounds. I sold my American Professional Strat to get a S2 Custom 24 and don’t regret it for a second.
David Gilmour bought a strat from Manny’s and created some of the most melodic and greatest solos ever. I think more than the guitar, the magic lies in your fingers. That’s what I’ve learnt listening to the legend that is Gilmour. 🙏🏻 peace
I agree. Gilmour knows how to follow chord progressions in his solos. That's why he's melodic. His tone is also outstanding and sets him apart from others.
Mickey it is. It really is. I've got a Fender Strat, a Gibson LP tribute and a PRS SE.....and the SE outshines both in nearly every category....cept, you can't beat Gibson in a tone off! But it came respectively close! Everything else, slam dunk! Quality, price etc...
@@lueysixty-six7300 Yeah, the Strat was my first love, but looking at the quality of guitar you can get from PRS at the SE level at that price point, it’s kind of hard to beat. MIM Strats compared to the SE sound a little thin to my ear.
PRS offer quality to compete with brand recognition. Any piece of junk heavy Gibson sells purely on brand, not always quality. If you want a Fender Custom Shop playing experience for low USA prices, find a used Bill Nash. These can play and sound great, and you don't lose a chunk of money in depreciation from buying them new. You can sell and buy used Nash all day . If you have a light relic and someone scratches it, it doesn't harm the value.
i will only add that there are many great guitars ...new, used MIA, MIJ. MIK, in fact made all over world. If it responses to your playing go for it. I have a PRS a Custom Shop Strat, a 59 LP Special reissue , Ibanez, Martin etc. Even a Harmony H88 Stratotone Dublet lol ...do not laugh it will out sustain your LP! At present my 1990 Fernandez with a body style half Fender Jazz and half Gibson non- reverse Firebird is the all around winner!
Paul Ewing Philip midnight keep saying his Mexico Stratocaster is his favorite, and he has one or two of everything from every country. A used Mexican Stratocaster from the last 10 or 15 years is a no brainer. If it plays well! And you can even tweak the fret and set up work very nicely yourself.
Darrell, your channel is a one stop shop for all things guitar. From playing to technique to the art and craft of design and construction. Thanks for all that you do here!
I have always admired PRS for their quality. I have just never played one that spoke to me and made me want to play it. The HSS American Deluxe Fender Strat I own with its flaws and all have a bond.
Batuksri... Yep. I agree. A split humbucking always sounds like a weak shrill humbucker, not the nasal live animal sounds of a single coil. My ear hears that the tone changes as the notes ascend or descends with a single coil. There is change of pitch, but I can hear a change of timbre as well (with that same given single coil pickup.)
I'm not saying I'm in love with the Strat sound, as I favor the Les Paul tone -- BUT.... you can't fake that iconic highly recognizable and patent sound of a single coil Fender. I absolutely respect Fender for their established role and place in guitar history. I would not split a humbucker, I would use a real single coil.
In this video, I like the sound of the PRS better. But I have very similar guitars and have better luck dialing in the Strat-style guitar through my rig. So it just goes to show you that one guitar isn’t necessarily better than the other. It’s all about matching the components and finding the magic combination. Love your videos!
That would have been the better comparison but even at that, A Music Man would have been a better comparison. Having both PRS and Music Man, IMO, you can get tones closer to a Strat with the MM
Just my humble opinion here. I love everything PRS touches. They really are probably the best off the shelf guitar you can get. But they have smoothed out all the rough edges of Gibson and Fender, removing the distinctive characteristics that make those two brands so different and unique. There is just something about PRS that makes me feel like its a robot or a computer, compared to the incredible individuality and nuances of the LPs and Strats which seem more human to me. I am prepared to be hated for this, so come on with your bad selves
That's why I only own a squier and mod it to whatever I want it to be. It's true that tone and the feel of the guitar matter a lot, but my mood fluctuates even more :D
I have a similar opinion of Ibanez, they make awesome guitars, flawless, I owned a couple I still do, but they can't make me feel like my fender strats... I have an american special and and an american pro II, and that unique sound, and the feel they have it's just something else. But in tastes nothing is written! That's one of many beautiful things that music, and different instrument builds or companies have. PRS sounds awesome though... Someday I hope I can get one.
I got myself a PRS Custom 24SE Limited (Korea) and I am amazed at the quality of the finish, and the way the guitar sounds and plays. It has the black "nitro-cellulose" finish on the neck and is very slick. One thing I found out, quite by accident (it wasn't noted anywhere in the guitar spec) was when I changed the speed knobs to aid my visibility. I couldn't see the numbers clearly on the PRS knobs and the slightest touch changes the sound very noticably, so I put on a pair of Strat replacements. When I lifted the knob on the tone pot, I found the switch, then discovered that it split the humbucker coils to singles - on both pick-ups. In the middle position the sound is very similar to that of the Strat and on the bridge, that "quacky" Strat sound is easily achievable. Of course, when you knock the tone pot switch back, there is a volume increase that takes you back to that rich full humbucker sound. It's not a Core 10 but has a mahogany body, beautiful flamed maple top and neck, and the fingerboard is also maple with the birds in black. For the cash, this is the best value guitar I have ever bought. PRS got it right. Absolutely. For a thousand bucks, I don't believe you could do better.
@@gil5956 Thanks! I have been looking SE 24 and Paul's Guitar until I realized Paul's doesn't have tremelo. It will be my first electric after 1 year of acoustic so I am not sure if I need it so it would be nice to have it. Anniversary was also on my radar, but I don't really like the color options of SE line. Core anniversary colors tho
The strat is still just one of the most expressive and dynamic instruments ever created, despite its relative simplicity. Given how many variations there are of the strat, there's one out there for everybody now. Plus it was so ahead of its time when it came out compared to other competitors; every guitar maker needed some kind of strat equivalent after it came out. Since it was so easily assembled and repaired, which also kept the price down, it was so much more accessible too, especially since they were damn hard to break in the first place. It can't do everything perfectly, and there are a number of things you can look at with the typical strat and say, "Well, that's a headache" like the noise or lack of output from the single coils or the whammy bridge not staying in tune as much as you'd like, but it's still SUCH a complete package that has stood the test of time for 65 years in the sphere of popular music. Hail the Stratocaster.
@longrider Here here. I have a metallic red USA one with a black pickguard I've had for over a decade and I'm currently building a hardtail one in metallic purple with a white guard out of parts from GFS and Guitar Center as well as some second hand stuff I got off Reverb. You can chop down a small tree with a strat and play a gig with it later that day.
@longrider Did you know there is a Strat hanging in the museum of modern art in New York city. ? Match that..PRS or any other trendy upstart !! ....... PRS Dragon in the National Museum of American History. Yes, American History, not just a museum in NYC. Sorry, couldn't resist. Give PRS the time that Fender has been around and you may see it. Many musicians of today and past the play on a PRS. I never realized how many were out there until I started looking at them.
longrider If the point of the argument was to say which was a more influential instrument, the Stratocaster makes more sense due to its availability to more musicians. However, that doesn’t directly mean it was the “best” instrument at the time. Lots of influential hard rock was made on Les Pauls and super strats, too. I personally prefer a wider fingerboard radius, 24 frets, a smooth neck joint, having splittable humbuckers, and a carved top. To me, that is the ideal guitar, and Fender just doesn’t tick any of my boxes. I played a PRS SE in a beautiful purple-blue burst the other week, and it had all of the features I just described. I could get all of that for ~$900, while I would be wasting my own money if I bought a Stratocaster at that price point. TLDR: Strats have plenty of history, but might not be the absolute best guitar.
This is a really cool and unexpected comparison. I love the strat for jangly chords and more expressive/less compressed lead tones. However, you have to hand it to PRS for those position 2 and 4 tones that give you strat-esque tones.
I'm actually going to buy a PRS SE Custom 24 soon. I thought about a Fender Strat. Fender Strats sound great, but the PRS is more versatile. The SE Custom has coil splitting by the way. And I like the looks of a PRS more than a Strat.
B_A_FPS Great choice, Man! I bought a Strat MIM first...then realised I should've gotten Humbuckers. So I got a Les Paul . The LP is great - a tone monster - but not that practical. I'm scared to take it out to a gig...and it's heavy & bulky to have slung on your shoulder all new night. So, this year I got an SE - I went with a Custom22, semihollow. It spoke to me. Anyway... I realised this was the guitar I should've gotten from the get-go! Just....pffff! Right on!! Such quality. Just...an insanely well-made, well designed, incredibly priced instrument. You will be stoked, Man. And if you choose your model well.... you may have a chance of avoiding the GAS trap most of us (me incl.) fall for. A PRS SE is a great candidate for a "One-guitar."
@@lueysixty-six7300 The new SE Hollowbody Standard and SE Hollowbody II have me very interested. I have an SE 245 and an SE Custom 24 already, Both are great but I think 24 could do with some electronics upgrades as they seem a little "thin" (the switches and pots, not the pups).
Richard Brilus I haven't glimpsed the new SEhollow..it doesn't appeal to me..to me, it's gotta at least have a centre block of mahogany for sustain..in fact, I'm not entirely convinced I'm happy I got a semihollow SE. Just that little bit carved out of the top quadrant..makes me wonder if it cost me any sustain. Even a little..? Probably, yes - but noticeable? Idk... I'm picking at straws, though cos honestly, that's the only tiny thing I can find that I have any second thoughts about. It's a real winner
Richard Brilus The most I've gotten into "modding" is trying to change the pickguard on my lake placid blue Strat. (Naturally, it must be changed to pearloid white.... I mean, right!??!). I say trying cos it was a failure, the one I ordered didn't fit...and ever since, it has been finicky with p/up heights and stuff. Point is, modding is not for me!! ..as much as the odd left field idea seems like...well, a good idea. Like going HSS..or HSH.. ... NO! My guitars are fine as they are, I'll buy a Charvel with all the mods I could want on a Strat, and then, after $1-2000 , give or take... I'll still have two guitars. Better logic, for me anyway! I'm thinking of that army drab green HSH Dinky Charvel. That thing is perfect for me in every way. Man.....GAS ATTACK!!
They sounded surprisingly similar, considering the difference in pickups. I favor the Strat's looks, though some of that is the particular finish used. Not a fan of the gold on the PRS. For the money, I'd definitely go with the Strat. It's half the money.
A truly awesome review! Felt really comfortable listening to your opinions on both guitars 'cause I agree on just about everything. Good and honest points right from the start. I'm normally a PRS type of player but this made me consider getting myself a mid-range Fender just to get that sweet breezy and bright vintage sound. Love your content!
I've never been more on-the-fence than I am about PRS. I keep looking for reasons to get one since I learned that Akerfeldt played a Custom 24 on Ghost Reveries and Blackwater Park. But I keep listening to these side-by-sides and I've always been more into the competitor's sound.
Overdriven-PRS, clean-strat. I was actually surprised how close the prs clean tone was to the strat but the strat just has that extra twang that can't be beat. Of course you can't expect them to be the same given the different scale length and pickups. I can't afford either so.....
If only Fender had more interesting colors and top woods. Love my PRS SE and my MIM strat (the electron blue paint is very nice), although the trem on my strat detunes the guitar so much, it's unusable, and the coil split on my PRS is nowhere near a strat sounding single coil. Both great guitars for different applications.
@@davidburke2132 Thanks for that. I was unaware that this line was named rarities and will know what to look for. However scrolling through their rarities catalogue and I was still dissapointed. They just don't get it, whereas browsing through Warmoth's catalogue makes me wonder how come they don't combine forces to make the best looking most playable instruments. I'm just fantasizing though, no point in arguing the business aspect of a merger that only happens in my mind. What I'm saying is when you walk into a music store and guitars are sorted by brands, you usually see strats and teles in off-white, black and bland colors with a white or black pickguard, and PRS will showcase a majority of stunningly good looking guitars that draw you in (even though the price tag would make some turn away), and I would argue that to me, they are as good sounding and well made as they are good looking, so it's not a style over substance issue. Those guitars speak to me even though I have read that it is not a unanimous opinion. I would not want a gorgeous unplayable instrument, but I don't want a perfectly playable one that doesn't draw me in either.
@@davidburke2132 Oh yeah, for sure candy apple red, and my electron blue. There are a few fantastic finishes but they are in an overwhelming minority. I have an epi SG pro deluxe that has a gorgeous subtle flame top and dark to light blue fade. I probably never would have even picked an SG up were it not for that one. Gibson does nail the silverburst though. We do disagree about the figured maple tops, and I'm not fond of natural wood colors on a guitar body. If money was no object, then sure, a core model would be great, but I would want to complete my collection with guitars that I don't have like a tele and a hollowbody among others first.
@@davidburke2132 Just had a look. It's fantastic with the tortoiseshell pickguard. I had a look at the custom shop website a few months back and was frankly disappointed. Maybe they've made it better since then. I'll have another look. Hopefully there are not less options for Canadians.
@@davidburke2132 Yeah mod shop. Didn't have the name right but we're talking about the same thing. Had a look. They have silverburst finish now. Maybe 5-6 other good looking finishes, but shell pink, antique olive, walnut (finish color, not wood) is what I am talking about, so lacklustre. They could have gone without colors reminiscent of kitchen appliances in the 1970s.
I just can’t stop listening the dirty - bridge PU comparison...that riff is insane! It’s an actual song or something you improvised? It is also remarkable the two different characters of those beauties...very different but both super nice! I want them both! Thanks from Italy, Darrell!
I was surprised how decent the sound is on the Schecter I just bought. I have always been a Strat guy, but I would love to have the PRS. Great comparison
Hi Darryl, I'm a big fan of Strats & Strat styles. I used to be a fan of PRS as well, but the comfortability & weight really bugged me. After I got a Kiesel Aries, I sold all my PRSi. The workmanship, playability, & specs like stainless steel frets, contoured heel joint just blew the PRS away. Doesn't cost a bomb either. Try one out. Highly recommended.
TheAxe4Ever I was thinking the same thing. And for the price, you would think it would be ebony. On the closeups it does appear to have a rosewood grain to it.
Nicely done, Darrell, as usual. Detailed, comprehensive comparison. Both guitars appear to be very well-made, and there ARE differences in tone, but - at least in what you were playing - I thought those differences were relatively minor. Big bucks for either one, so I'm unlikely to ever be an owner.
Hi Darrell, I just put that exact same Fender on lay buy (lay away). After watching your video I know I have made the right choice. Keep up the good work mate, appreciate your vid's.
I think Darrel missed other non-custom shop Strats also the HSS (Humbucker Single Single) options. I have an SSS (3 single coil) American Elite Strat (not custom) which has gen 4 noise free pickups that sound fantastic. It has a matte neck (something that he wanted) , a compound C to D profile as well as a compound radius finger board (9 1/2 to 14 inch) It also has the locking tuners that Darrell likes, out of the box. The new ultra has new noiseless pickups, they ditched the compound profile and did something great at the heel of the neck which I will have to modify my Elite. The ultra body is carved at the heel and the heel is much thinner, greatly improving the playability at the frets at and past the heel. These guitars are off the rack at GC or other like stores. These are the Strats that should have been compared to the PRS. By the way, as always nice job Darrell. Maybe a redux with the Ultra?
Yeah, not sure why he's calling the Pro the flagship. The pro competes with the PRS S2. Strat Ultra would be closer but still costs quite a bit less than PRS Customs. I'd prefer to see an HSS Ultra compared to the Custom as well, it gives you more flexibility in high gain.
Changing a gloss neck to a satin one is easy and cheap with some fine wet sandpaper like 600 grit or finer. You can get wet sandpaper to as fine as 3000 grit! If you don't like the result you can polish it back to gloss. That is what they are commonly used for - removing all the texture from paint and then polishing it back to a gloss.
I think a good Les Paul carve is more like a violin arch top, however many Les Pauls don't have a very good carve. The really good Gibson dish edge carves from the 1950s are not CNC, they are all the careful hand work of luthiers, finishing the shape on a sander. ! Today's PRS are totally CNC consistent, Machine cut. It has its own look which you either take or leave.
I do think the PRS is a beautiful guitar (and it is on my bucket list) but the carve is not my favorite - almost a little over done for my taste - looks like it was molded rather than carved.
So the PRS bridges the differences between the Strat and Les Paul. Eddie Van Halen was in the same mindset when he created the Frankenstrat and later the Wolfgang. Could you do a compare on the PRS 24 vs a Wolfgang? Would be curious to see how they stack up for different styles.
I 100% agree.. i have both and know others whi have both and the strat always has a multi dimensional voice to it where the prs is kinda single focused voice especially through a good tube amp. Prs has its place as well as the strat. It's Whatever speaks to you the best at the time.
I am not a fan of the Strat but I once owned a Fender Lead III with humbuckers and coil tap with a very similar finish. Sure miss that guitar from my youth, played hundreds of gigs with it and was naturally reliced when I sold it a little while back. Just waiting for that time machine so I can undo that mistake. I also owned a PRS SE baritone, selling it was also a mistake. When will I learn?
Yes, they are different. Yes, they do excel at different things. But in your hands both guitars sound great! The only problem would be the strat @8:53 everything else, no problems. I would go for the PRS Custom with coil split for maximum versatility. You do keep mentioning the price of a PRS, but, even at $2,400 AUD for the quality I don't think that's excessive - you average Gibbo is more than double that - now that's just lunacy. Thanks for posting!
My PRS gets more play time than any of my strat's. I guess I just like the bolder sound and more solid feel better. They do gloss the heck out of their neck's though. I sanded mine down, works just fine after that.
I've no doubt that PRS is wonderful, but yeah man, Strat is still King. Sounds just as terrific, costs a lot less, and still looks great. That said, I have to admit there were times I thought the PRS sound quality walked all over the Strat -- and I'm a Strat-lover. Remember, we're also comparing singles vs. humbuckers, and a very different set of 5-way switching accordingly.
@@ooviedoc I definitely like the switching mode on the PRS and the results it gets; I just have to wonder if we couldn't achieve the same thing with dual humbuckers and a 5-way switch on a Strat. (Which then makes it less "Strat" in my opinion, but, just a thought.)
@@blue-tb2fd i agree. Big part of it is losing half the output of the pickup when tapped. If you have a clean boost in front of the amp, you can make up for it, but it just isn't the same as a true honest single coil with double the effective winding than a tapped humbucker.
I was a Strat Guy until my first PRS, I Buy an S2 and upgraded the pickups and was a great guitar! I sell the S2 and buy a Core Custom 24, now she can do all jobs include the fenderish tones in positions 2 and 4. correction ti Darrell the position 4 of The Custom 24 is both humbuckers split to singles, also agreed with the lip of the PRS I have to play in long sleeve but I am ok for the tones i get from the PRS! the best money invested in a Core PRS Custom 24. BTW I grab nu strats for a few gigs or take the PRS and a Strat, Strat is also an excellent tool!
The PRS is better all around. I hate playing live with my Strat but love recording with it. The trouble is I plsy between the 2 rear pickuls and must shift it over to the left for my right arm to be confortable. Since you mentioned the body of the prs I thought that might be an interedting "flaw" with my Fender
I like the fact that he pitched a guitar vs a guitar that costs 3 times as much. I have a strat and was wondering weather it was worth upgrading. This video was exactly what I needed.
Always Fender. The PRS is of course very high quality, but the Fender body shape is the best that's ever been designed. Same with the headstock design. In terms of pickups, tuners, bridge etc they can be customised on any guitar to anyone's preference.
Mark, you are absolutely wrong. All PRS SEs are inspected at the Maryland factory before going out to distributors. Search RUclips for the PTS factory tour part 7 and watch for youself.
Mark, you are correct... as someone who lives in North America, I assume everyone does. So, every SE I buy would be checked by the Maryland factory. You are correct... yet again, it sucks to live in the rest of the world
if you dont like the gloss neck, get a scouring pad that you'd use for dishes. tape off the top and bottom of the neck and then use the pad until both sides are white from the laquer and it will give you a satin neck for cheap!
As always, I come here to watch and listen to you play Darrell! Having had both, I still have to give the nod to the Strat. PRS however, makes some stunning guitars, but as you say, you really pay for them. You quickly mentioned that Tele's are harder to play than Strats. Having had three Tele's and a Strat, I have to agree. In fact, I even returned a new American Professional Tele. The compound radius neck gave me so much trouble with setting action that I just couldn't bond with the guitar. Even the guitar techs. couldn't get it right for me! And John5 (who loves Tele's), and others, readily admit that they are harder to play than the Strat. What Im trying to figure out, is why? Is it just plain design differences or what? Your thoughts Darrell?
What up Darrell? I've been wanting a PRS for a couple years. Have you seen the new additions they made to the SE line? Truly incredible. More and more there's no reason that anyone should consider the SE line any lesser than the core models honestly the only reason I haven't pulled the trigger besides finances is that I'm so used to single coils. Yes these can split the humbuckers to sound like single coils but I guess when it comes to guitars I'm a less options is more kind of guy.
Why? I'm honestly curious, I have two Fender electrics and one Gibson acoustic and love them all, wondering why a Gibson electric would automatically be the wrong choice.
@@wallywanker7435 None because of the horror stories I've heard/ read about them. I'm not saying that they are all poorly built, but enough of them are for me to know that I personally will not buy one. If you like them/ own them, that's great. My buddy that I jam with on a regular basis LOVES them. It's basically all he will play. Different strokes.
Stephen Tyree well with any guitar , I would think you would try it and check it out first. If you buy it and it’s crappy who’s fault is that. Just saying. I see the videos too and I think , why would you buy or keep it if it is so bad ? Just to make a video ? I have never heard of Gibson not standing behind something even years later.
I've owned 4 PRS since '86. Sold 3 and have a custom 22 gathering dust. I don't get it, especially clean. My old-style Jazz master and '52 relic Tele are incredible, and adaptable to any amp sound.
I actually liked the strat sound better, but that PRS is dead sexy. I actually own both of these guitars and on any given day I like the Custom 24 the most but I play my strats more...go figure. I can always dial in the strat no matter what. There is a major comfort level there.
fantastic comparison! I think PRS are better constructors but the truth is I have 3 fenders and no prs... there is something when I test them that makes me go for the Fender... If I have to choose between a PRS of 3000$ and a Fender of 3000$ ... Probably I'd get the Fender
Hi, About playability; is this Stat the same as PRS - actionwise? At first you said it is. In the end you preferred PRS.... so what is in this regard your final opinion? Thank & greetz from Holland.
This is probably a high maintenance request. I have been a newfound binge watcher of your videos and I greatly appreciate your insight, playing skills and the pure entertainment value. In particular, I have been consuming all of your videos comparing various brands of guitars. I acknowledge that between guitar brands and models within the same brand there are multiple factors that determine the final tone: wood, strings, pick ups, etc. Some of those things are big factors. Some of those things are not. The comparison I would like to see is the exact same pickups placed in different guitars of either the same brand or import versions of the same brand - like Epiphone and Gibson. Or even between brands when that is possible : like dual humbuckers in a Tele compared to dual humbucker PRS, for example.
I feel like like the tonal value alone on a strat is priceless... just something about it. EVERYTIME I plug in I’m amazed with the endless sonic waves I get from it, especially from my deluxe. But I agree, a high end PRS is quite the marvel in its own
I've been a strat guy since I started playing. Worst thing my coworker ever did was have me try his 594 and a few other PRS models he had... hardcore GAS right now
I got a prs for Christmas! I asked for a fender strat, but honestly I think I’m liking the prs even more than I would’ve liked the strat! It’s so pretty and it sounds amazing! (I got a blue one)
Darrell, you mentioned the gloss neck. I am new ( after 20 years of not playing ) to guitars and am in the process of restocking the stable and have been to my local shops playing all kinds of brands. Im leaning towards a non gloss neck . After watching just about all your videos i figured you were the right guy to ask, is there any way make a gloss neck less 'tacky' feeling without massively overhauling the neck? There are some fantastic guitars that play incredibly well but have a gloss neck. Love the channel, learning lots from them. Thanks from a fellow Canuck - Ontario lad here.
six screw floating bridge that's hard to go out of tune? Now that's a bold statement! Is this really true? I don't think I've ever played a floating trem that was six screw that stayed in tune using the trem
I don't know my friend... I've had several LP's and Strats over the years...I fell in love with the PRS's and have always loved the sound you can get out of em... can't afford one these days, but still love their sound!
Hi Darrell, Have you ever done a comparison between EMG sa/sa/89 or 81 vs a stratocaster? I want to upgrade my HSS, and i'm struggling to find the right set. I had EMG a while back, and i loved them. I was also looking at Di Marzio, for a set with humbucker, noiseless single, and small humbucker. But there is so much choice, it's hard to pick.
Hi everyone! I do hope you guys have a wonderful evening. Please sleep well and enjoy whatever Endeavors you go on. Be safe and what you're doing and take care and God bless, peace out everyone! 💚
I have an American Professional/Standard Stratocaster from 2019 and it *has* locking tuners.. The same as my Stratocaster 'elite' from 2016. The 'Pro' is a limited edition FSR with a roasted maple one-piece neck and an ash body though.
Had a Strat and loved it but it was pre fixed whammy bar. Hated that aspect. Just got a PRS custom 22 10 top. I think that the PRS gives you the best of the Strat, Les Paul mix. Mine has a 3 way and coil split. The BEST electric I’ve ever played in terms of ergonomics, accessibility to knobs and tonal response. Plus it’s beautiful with the curly maple figuring. My nod goes to PRS over Fender and Gibson.
Donald Trump yeah I get what you mean, but this will be a very lopsided match vs the PRS flagship with all its more advanced and modern features. Fender Elite Strat will be a more cutting edge guitar to compare against a PRS flagship
Yea the Elite is a nice take on a modern Strat for sure! and if one doesn't like the Noiseless Pickups, can always drop a kit into it with some nice 57's or whatever and have the best of both worlds with all of the modern appointments available!
I have one of each and agree with your assessment with one exception. I feel my strat has a more organic tone that harkens back to all the records I love from the past. Not PRS"s fault - simply a tone that cannot be duplicated by humbuckers with a different scale length - though they can get close.
BIG DIFFERENCE: PRS, I'd be scared to scratch it. Fender: The closer it looks to Rory's Strat the cooler it looks.
One night at a gig I walked into a subwoofer with my Standard 24.
I think I dented the speaker cabinet.
True, never seen a road worn PRS
Or SRV
I found a pic of a relic prs it looked awful
This is truest statement I ever read. All Fenders just look more badass as they get relic'd and road Worn. Where Gibson and PRS look better pristine. IMO.
For his high school graduation, my son wanted a Gibson or a Strat.
I got him a PRS. It's an absolutely gorgeous flametop.
I could tell he was so disappointed. But he was gracious about it. Then he started playing it. He now (14 years later) almost exclusively plays that PRS. It's his favorite out of all his many guitars. Except sometimes when he plays his pre-lawsuit PRS " Gibson" lookalike. Which is superior to any of his Gibsons.
PRS is truly a great guitar.
I hope I get a prs for my graduation lmao. 😂 What model was it?
A PRS at 14 ? Your son is a lucky boy. To tell the truth, I would have been disappointed too... ;-)
When your young, it's about the name and the look. I would have been heartbroken, lol.
i'm your son too....
My dad bought me a Fender Starcaster, he knew that I was a strat guy before I started. Now, 4 years later, I bought myself a beautiful 1996 MIM Strat SSS
DARRELL .... people often overlooked how much time and effort you spent making these videos. You faded out the music in perfect sync with the fading scene, made sure the lightings are at the optimum positions, tweaked each guitar to the best that you can and many more! You are insane, dude! Keep it up.
darrell: "you do notice that 90° lip there"
also darrell: *owns a hundred telecasters*
One of my most uncomfortable guitars is my double bound reissue '65 Tele. After a decent session with that one, I have lines depressed in my forearm from the sharp edge. I love her to death, but my Strats are soooo much easier ergonomically.
But he is comparing it to strat and not the tele ;)
@@markrup6369 did the newer telecasters fix that?
@@TheDarkestPaladin If there is no binding, it is definitely more comfortable.
@@markrup6369 oh okay thanks but do you recommend any model I'm about to buy my first guitar in a week or 2 and I don't know which one to get Tele seems really interesting if I install a 4 way switch on it
1. I wish I could set my PRS down with that level of confidence.
2. I wish I had a PRS.
Hahahahaah
get an SE?
Me: Mom can we have thunderstruck?
Mom: we have thunderstruck at home
Thunderstruck at home: 8:29
Its called, Electrified
Har ha! Very funny, very funny indeed.
Static electricity
Lmao
Either way, I just don't have the money 😂
Me too 😂💔
The Korean PRS depreciate pretty well.
@Ben Hackett I meant the are cheap to buy used
I've got an se which has upgrades on pickups and bridge, it's so close to my friends 3000 dollar guitar that it makes him angry, mine sounds better to my taste as well.
Cole Burnett yep, even the expensive prs depreciate a lot for some reason
Which guitar was your favorite and why? :)
Part 1 - The Guitars 1:20
Part 2 - The Tones 6:37
Part 3 - One Minute Solos 10:27
Part 4 - Final Thoughts and Recommendations 12:25
Guitars:
Fender: imp.i114863.net/xM2Qy
PRS: imp.i114863.net/ezrgQ
Enjoy!
PRS hands down. I love Strats but the PRS build quality is second to just about none. With that being said I have sold all my high end fenders and PRS guitars and bought a Suhr. Never looking back.
fender is the best, there are many reasons, it is a timeless design that always looks good, with or without stickers, super resistant, versatile, well built, ergonomic, comfortable, prone to hundreds of modifications, and the truth is the guitar that finished relic or aged natural is the best, it is a fact :)...another great video Mr. Braun lml
My favorite would be to get both, sort of. For the price of the American Professional Strat you can get a MIM Strat & PRS SE. That way you can have it all. Or another way of looking at it, for the price of a Core PRS you can get both of the lower priced models and have $1000 left over for a nice amp. The differences between the higher end models of each of these brands and the lower priced models is MINUSCULE. With a little fret dressing and maybe swapping out tuners you probably wouldn't be able to tell any difference at all.
I preferred the strat. Right now I'm stuck on my EBMM Cutlass though..I think if I'm going to get an instrument with humbuckers, I'll go with a Les Paul. I think the PRS is great looking but for the money, I'd hold out and go for something with more resale value...I love your guitar collection and room arrangement! Great review as always!
Got to be the Strat - just the tones and the design is awesome. I went to buy a Les Paul or PRS last year but came home with a Strat.
Liked the video alone for calling out fender for not putting locking tuner on their American guitars.
J D locking tuners cost what, an extra $30!? They seriously can’t just put them on.
There weren't locking tuners in 1954 so they kind of have their hands tied. I think honestly the only real problem with fender is their extreme reluctance to upgrade their main model lineup. Even gibson has done more
And players can buy them too. They can buy any color of tuners, any new pickups. Manufacturer cannot predict it, so they put standard option, which will be replaced anyways.
Vintage tuners are sexier and hold up tune as well as the locking tuners. I'm glad they don't copy everyone else and stick with vintage tuners. :)
Kim those they dont put vintage tuners on the american professional guitars and its not about tuning stability its about making it much easier to change strings. And they already do copy everyone else because they offer locking tuners on some of their models.
I play PRS for the versatility. Great single coil tones plus great humbucker tones. I play in a classic rock cover band and appreciate not having to swap guitars between songs for different sounds. I sold my American Professional Strat to get a S2 Custom 24 and don’t regret it for a second.
David Gilmour bought a strat from Manny’s and created some of the most melodic and greatest solos ever. I think more than the guitar, the magic lies in your fingers. That’s what I’ve learnt listening to the legend that is Gilmour. 🙏🏻 peace
I agree. Gilmour knows how to follow chord progressions in his solos. That's why he's melodic. His tone is also outstanding and sets him apart from others.
Beck mostly played a 50 buck sawdust and glue gitter... and he's not too shabby
@@earltbird8642 Jeff Beck?
seriously, I've seen guys rocking 300$ mexi strats mop the floor with guys playing 2000$ custom shop strats. it boils down to skill.
Considering Gilmour had reflexes that would make the Tin Man stick his nose in the air, he certainly did something right!
PRS just seems like a lot of value these days.
Mickey it is. It really is. I've got a Fender Strat, a Gibson LP tribute and a PRS SE.....and the SE outshines both in nearly every category....cept, you can't beat Gibson in a tone off! But it came respectively close! Everything else, slam dunk! Quality, price etc...
@@lueysixty-six7300 Yeah, the Strat was my first love, but looking at the quality of guitar you can get from PRS at the SE level at that price point, it’s kind of hard to beat. MIM Strats compared to the SE sound a little thin to my ear.
PRS offer quality to compete with brand recognition. Any piece of junk heavy Gibson sells purely on brand, not always quality.
If you want a Fender Custom Shop playing experience for low USA prices, find a used Bill Nash. These can play and sound great, and you don't lose a chunk of money in depreciation from buying them new. You can sell and buy used Nash all day . If you have a light relic and someone scratches it, it doesn't harm the value.
i will only add that there are many great guitars ...new, used MIA, MIJ. MIK, in fact made all over world. If it responses to your playing go for it. I have a PRS a Custom Shop Strat, a 59 LP Special reissue , Ibanez, Martin etc. Even a Harmony H88 Stratotone Dublet lol ...do not laugh it will out sustain your LP! At present my 1990 Fernandez with a body style half Fender Jazz and half Gibson non- reverse Firebird is the all around winner!
Paul Ewing Philip midnight keep saying his Mexico Stratocaster is his favorite, and he has one or two of everything from every country.
A used Mexican Stratocaster from the last 10 or 15 years is a no brainer. If it plays well! And you can even tweak the fret and set up work very nicely yourself.
Darrell, your channel is a one stop shop for all things guitar. From playing to technique to the art and craft of design and construction. Thanks for all that you do here!
I have always admired PRS for their quality. I have just never played one that spoke to me and made me want to play it. The HSS American Deluxe Fender Strat I own with its flaws and all have a bond.
Play a Hollow Body two McCarty and then apologize to your wife for me as I’m sure you’ll be leaving the guitar shop with it haha!
That crisp leading edge to the notes played on the Strat.
Its distinctive and you can’t get that from splitting a humbucker.
Batuksri... Yep. I agree. A split humbucking always sounds like a weak shrill humbucker, not the nasal live animal sounds of a single coil. My ear hears that the tone changes as the notes ascend or descends with a single coil. There is change of pitch, but I can hear a change of timbre as well (with that same given single coil pickup.)
I'm not saying I'm in love with the Strat sound, as I favor the Les Paul tone -- BUT.... you can't fake that iconic highly recognizable and patent sound of a single coil Fender. I absolutely respect Fender for their established role and place in guitar history. I would not split a humbucker, I would use a real single coil.
2nd on that locking tuners on the American guitars idea.
17:32 I'll go with any guitar that magically hangs itself up!
In this video, I like the sound of the PRS better. But I have very similar guitars and have better luck dialing in the Strat-style guitar through my rig. So it just goes to show you that one guitar isn’t necessarily better than the other. It’s all about matching the components and finding the magic combination. Love your videos!
Seems almost criminal to make a gold top PRS.. especially when you see some of the flame top finishes that you get from them. 🤤
Solid finish PRS are hot af.
Very very true. My two 10 tops are gorgeous
The laurel burl prs finishes are insane
Thought this was gonna be a strat to silver sky comparison
That would have been the better comparison but even at that, A Music Man would have been a better comparison. Having both PRS and Music Man, IMO, you can get tones closer to a Strat with the MM
Agree that a Silver Sky vs. Strat would be a better "apples to apples" comparison, but why even a 24 Custom when they have a Custom 22????
That would have been useful. This is comparing apples to pears
@@bhouse92101 As he said - flagship vs flagship
Should have been.
Just my humble opinion here. I love everything PRS touches. They really are probably the best off the shelf guitar you can get. But they have smoothed out all the rough edges of Gibson and Fender, removing the distinctive characteristics that make those two brands so different and unique. There is just something about PRS that makes me feel like its a robot or a computer, compared to the incredible individuality and nuances of the LPs and Strats which seem more human to me. I am prepared to be hated for this, so come on with your bad selves
That's why I only own a squier and mod it to whatever I want it to be. It's true that tone and the feel of the guitar matter a lot, but my mood fluctuates even more :D
I think of my PRS as a jack of all trades... master of none.
I have a similar opinion of Ibanez, they make awesome guitars, flawless, I owned a couple I still do, but they can't make me feel like my fender strats... I have an american special and and an american pro II, and that unique sound, and the feel they have it's just something else. But in tastes nothing is written! That's one of many beautiful things that music, and different instrument builds or companies have. PRS sounds awesome though... Someday I hope I can get one.
@@ss_avsmt Polish with CBD Oil much ? 🤔 🍄
Absolute bull.. afther years of playing Fender and Gibson I finaly made my way to PRS. Second to none ❤
I got myself a PRS Custom 24SE Limited (Korea) and I am amazed at the quality of the finish, and the way the guitar sounds and plays. It has the black "nitro-cellulose" finish on the neck and is very slick. One thing I found out, quite by accident (it wasn't noted anywhere in the guitar spec) was when I changed the speed knobs to aid my visibility. I couldn't see the numbers clearly on the PRS knobs and the slightest touch changes the sound very noticably, so I put on a pair of Strat replacements. When I lifted the knob on the tone pot, I found the switch, then discovered that it split the humbucker coils to singles - on both pick-ups. In the middle position the sound is very similar to that of the Strat and on the bridge, that "quacky" Strat sound is easily achievable. Of course, when you knock the tone pot switch back, there is a volume increase that takes you back to that rich full humbucker sound. It's not a Core 10 but has a mahogany body, beautiful flamed maple top and neck, and the fingerboard is also maple with the birds in black. For the cash, this is the best value guitar I have ever bought. PRS got it right. Absolutely. For a thousand bucks, I don't believe you could do better.
Please do a comparison beetween prs se and made in mexico strat
Its gonna be really helpful for me and for a lot of people i think...
Buy a higher end SE it's a amazing guitar and at least from my experience they sound better than the S2 Custom 24
@@gil5956 What are higher end SE?
@@emossg the anniversary limited edition, Paul's guitar, the custom 24 line
@@gil5956 Thanks! I have been looking SE 24 and Paul's Guitar until I realized Paul's doesn't have tremelo. It will be my first electric after 1 year of acoustic so I am not sure if I need it so it would be nice to have it. Anniversary was also on my radar, but I don't really like the color options of SE line. Core anniversary colors tho
@@emossg I bought a anniversary SE and I'm getting it this week it's a really good guitar
You should do more videos on the Shijie! Maybe Shijie vs. Select Strat
PRS Position Four: Neck singlecoil with bridge singlecoil, in parallel.
Maybe I'm just a Fender fan boy, but that Strat's where it's at!
Well, you are. I love strat bodies, but fender these days, meh.
Single coil pickups for dirty tones 🤮
not in this case
@@danyeo have you ever played an overdriven tele??
The strat is still just one of the most expressive and dynamic instruments ever created, despite its relative simplicity. Given how many variations there are of the strat, there's one out there for everybody now. Plus it was so ahead of its time when it came out compared to other competitors; every guitar maker needed some kind of strat equivalent after it came out. Since it was so easily assembled and repaired, which also kept the price down, it was so much more accessible too, especially since they were damn hard to break in the first place. It can't do everything perfectly, and there are a number of things you can look at with the typical strat and say, "Well, that's a headache" like the noise or lack of output from the single coils or the whammy bridge not staying in tune as much as you'd like, but it's still SUCH a complete package that has stood the test of time for 65 years in the sphere of popular music. Hail the Stratocaster.
@longrider Here here. I have a metallic red USA one with a black pickguard I've had for over a decade and I'm currently building a hardtail one in metallic purple with a white guard out of parts from GFS and Guitar Center as well as some second hand stuff I got off Reverb. You can chop down a small tree with a strat and play a gig with it later that day.
@longrider Did you know there is a Strat hanging in the museum of modern art in New York city. ? Match that..PRS or any other trendy upstart !! ....... PRS Dragon in the National Museum of American History. Yes, American History, not just a museum in NYC. Sorry, couldn't resist. Give PRS the time that Fender has been around and you may see it. Many musicians of today and past the play on a PRS. I never realized how many were out there until I started looking at them.
longrider
If the point of the argument was to say which was a more influential instrument, the Stratocaster makes more sense due to its availability to more musicians. However, that doesn’t directly mean it was the “best” instrument at the time. Lots of influential hard rock was made on Les Pauls and super strats, too. I personally prefer a wider fingerboard radius, 24 frets, a smooth neck joint, having splittable humbuckers, and a carved top. To me, that is the ideal guitar, and Fender just doesn’t tick any of my boxes. I played a PRS SE in a beautiful purple-blue burst the other week, and it had all of the features I just described. I could get all of that for ~$900, while I would be wasting my own money if I bought a Stratocaster at that price point.
TLDR: Strats have plenty of history, but might not be the absolute best guitar.
@longrider was "Battle Hymn of the Republic" playing in the background when you wrote this?
This is a really cool and unexpected comparison. I love the strat for jangly chords and more expressive/less compressed lead tones.
However, you have to hand it to PRS for those position 2 and 4 tones that give you strat-esque tones.
I'm actually going to buy a PRS SE Custom 24 soon. I thought about a Fender Strat. Fender Strats sound great, but the PRS is more versatile. The SE Custom has coil splitting by the way. And I like the looks of a PRS more than a Strat.
B_A_FPS Great choice, Man! I bought a Strat MIM first...then realised I should've gotten Humbuckers. So I got a Les Paul . The LP is great - a tone monster - but not that practical. I'm scared to take it out to a gig...and it's heavy & bulky to have slung on your shoulder all new night.
So, this year I got an SE - I went with a Custom22, semihollow. It spoke to me. Anyway... I realised this was the guitar I should've gotten from the get-go! Just....pffff! Right on!! Such quality. Just...an insanely well-made, well designed, incredibly priced instrument. You will be stoked, Man. And if you choose your model well.... you may have a chance of avoiding the GAS trap most of us (me incl.) fall for.
A PRS SE is a great candidate for a "One-guitar."
@@lueysixty-six7300 The new SE Hollowbody Standard and SE Hollowbody II have me very interested. I have an SE 245 and an SE Custom 24 already, Both are great but I think 24 could do with some electronics upgrades as they seem a little "thin" (the switches and pots, not the pups).
Richard Brilus I haven't glimpsed the new SEhollow..it doesn't appeal to me..to me, it's gotta at least have a centre block of mahogany for sustain..in fact, I'm not entirely convinced I'm happy I got a semihollow SE. Just that little bit carved out of the top quadrant..makes me wonder if it cost me any sustain. Even a little..? Probably, yes - but noticeable? Idk... I'm picking at straws, though cos honestly, that's the only tiny thing I can find that I have any second thoughts about. It's a real winner
Richard Brilus The most I've gotten into "modding" is trying to change the pickguard on my lake placid blue Strat. (Naturally, it must be changed to pearloid white.... I mean, right!??!). I say trying cos it was a failure, the one I ordered didn't fit...and ever since, it has been finicky with p/up heights and stuff. Point is, modding is not for me!! ..as much as the odd left field idea seems like...well, a good idea. Like going HSS..or HSH.. ... NO! My guitars are fine as they are, I'll buy a Charvel with all the mods I could want on a Strat, and then, after $1-2000 , give or take... I'll still have two guitars. Better logic, for me anyway! I'm thinking of that army drab green HSH Dinky Charvel. That thing is perfect for me in every way. Man.....GAS ATTACK!!
Now is a great time to buy! Especially the limited edition sandblasted version. The GAS is real
They sounded surprisingly similar, considering the difference in pickups. I favor the Strat's looks, though some of that is the particular finish used. Not a fan of the gold on the PRS. For the money, I'd definitely go with the Strat. It's half the money.
The PRS looks and sounds fantastic.
However,
I love my Stratocaster.
I love strats also but man the PRS is just so sexy
Clearly, you need one of each... ;-)
different animals, would never buy one to sub for the other anyways
I'm a PRS man but no guitar comes close to that strat "chime". That's why you need both a PRS with humbuckers and a traditional strat.
A truly awesome review! Felt really comfortable listening to your opinions on both guitars 'cause I agree on just about everything. Good and honest points right from the start. I'm normally a PRS type of player but this made me consider getting myself a mid-range Fender just to get that sweet breezy and bright vintage sound. Love your content!
I've never been more on-the-fence than I am about PRS. I keep looking for reasons to get one since I learned that Akerfeldt played a Custom 24 on Ghost Reveries and Blackwater Park.
But I keep listening to these side-by-sides and I've always been more into the competitor's sound.
@Knavery Yeah but GR and BP are the two sounds that juice my loins :)
Overdriven-PRS, clean-strat. I was actually surprised how close the prs clean tone was to the strat but the strat just has that extra twang that can't be beat. Of course you can't expect them to be the same given the different scale length and pickups. I can't afford either so.....
If only Fender had more interesting colors and top woods. Love my PRS SE and my MIM strat (the electron blue paint is very nice), although the trem on my strat detunes the guitar so much, it's unusable, and the coil split on my PRS is nowhere near a strat sounding single coil. Both great guitars for different applications.
@@davidburke2132 Thanks for that. I was unaware that this line was named rarities and will know what to look for. However scrolling through their rarities catalogue and I was still dissapointed. They just don't get it, whereas browsing through Warmoth's catalogue makes me wonder how come they don't combine forces to make the best looking most playable instruments. I'm just fantasizing though, no point in arguing the business aspect of a merger that only happens in my mind.
What I'm saying is when you walk into a music store and guitars are sorted by brands, you usually see strats and teles in off-white, black and bland colors with a white or black pickguard, and PRS will showcase a majority of stunningly good looking guitars that draw you in (even though the price tag would make some turn away), and I would argue that to me, they are as good sounding and well made as they are good looking, so it's not a style over substance issue. Those guitars speak to me even though I have read that it is not a unanimous opinion. I would not want a gorgeous unplayable instrument, but I don't want a perfectly playable one that doesn't draw me in either.
@@davidburke2132 Oh yeah, for sure candy apple red, and my electron blue. There are a few fantastic finishes but they are in an overwhelming minority.
I have an epi SG pro deluxe that has a gorgeous subtle flame top and dark to light blue fade. I probably never would have even picked an SG up were it not for that one. Gibson does nail the silverburst though.
We do disagree about the figured maple tops, and I'm not fond of natural wood colors on a guitar body. If money was no object, then sure, a core model would be great, but I would want to complete my collection with guitars that I don't have like a tele and a hollowbody among others first.
@@davidburke2132 Just had a look. It's fantastic with the tortoiseshell pickguard.
I had a look at the custom shop website a few months back and was frankly disappointed. Maybe they've made it better since then. I'll have another look. Hopefully there are not less options for Canadians.
@@davidburke2132 Yeah mod shop. Didn't have the name right but we're talking about the same thing. Had a look. They have silverburst finish now. Maybe 5-6 other good looking finishes, but shell pink, antique olive, walnut (finish color, not wood) is what I am talking about, so lacklustre. They could have gone without colors reminiscent of kitchen appliances in the 1970s.
PRS manufacturing quality can't be beat. But give me a Strat for sound. Hell, I'll take a Squier for sound.
I just can’t stop listening the dirty - bridge PU comparison...that riff is insane! It’s an actual song or something you improvised?
It is also remarkable the two different characters of those beauties...very different but both super nice! I want them both!
Thanks from Italy, Darrell!
I was surprised how decent the sound is on the Schecter I just bought. I have always been a Strat guy, but I would love to have the PRS. Great comparison
Hi Darryl, I'm a big fan of Strats & Strat styles. I used to be a fan of PRS as well, but the comfortability & weight really bugged me. After I got a Kiesel Aries, I sold all my PRSi. The workmanship, playability, & specs like stainless steel frets, contoured heel joint just blew the PRS away. Doesn't cost a bomb either. Try one out. Highly recommended.
Huh, PRS guitars don't seem to have a reputation for being heavy (cough... Gibson... cough).
Man! That rosewood fretboard on that PRS is dark. It looks more like ebony. Do they dye the wood?
TheAxe4Ever
I was thinking the same thing. And for the price, you would think it would be ebony. On the closeups it does appear to have a rosewood grain to it.
Another great and precise video here. Excellent stuff Darrell 👍👍
Darrell you're killing me! That Fernder is my dream guitar! Great video.
Seriously, may be the best reviews on YT and I watch a lot of them.
Why don't you do a Fender vs G&L comparison?
Nicely done, Darrell, as usual. Detailed, comprehensive comparison. Both guitars appear to be very well-made, and there ARE differences in tone, but - at least in what you were playing - I thought those differences were relatively minor. Big bucks for either one, so I'm unlikely to ever be an owner.
I love recording with strats, but I’m never a big fan of them live and I like the sound of true single coils, so I don’t use noiseless pickups.
All I ever see is noiseless single coils these days how do you get one that is not noiseless?
captain deadpool Hmm. Most single coils are not noiseless. The only Fender Strat with noiseless pickups from the factory is the American Elite.
@@captaindeadpool1640 plug in a squire and see what happens
Hi Darrell, I just put that exact same Fender on lay buy (lay away). After watching your video I know I have made the right choice. Keep up the good work mate, appreciate your vid's.
I honestly like them both they both sound great
PRS are like jewels. Beautiful and high quality all around.
But damn that Fender sound touches my heart like nothing else does
I think Darrel missed other non-custom shop Strats also the HSS (Humbucker Single Single) options. I have an SSS (3 single coil) American Elite Strat (not custom) which has gen 4 noise free pickups that sound fantastic. It has a matte neck (something that he wanted) , a compound C to D profile as well as a compound radius finger board (9 1/2 to 14 inch) It also has the locking tuners that Darrell likes, out of the box. The new ultra has new noiseless pickups, they ditched the compound profile and did something great at the heel of the neck which I will have to modify my Elite.
The ultra body is carved at the heel and the heel is much thinner, greatly improving the playability at the frets at and past the heel. These guitars are off the rack at GC or other like stores. These are the Strats that should have been compared to the PRS.
By the way, as always nice job Darrell. Maybe a redux with the Ultra?
Yeah, not sure why he's calling the Pro the flagship. The pro competes with the PRS S2. Strat Ultra would be closer but still costs quite a bit less than PRS Customs. I'd prefer to see an HSS Ultra compared to the Custom as well, it gives you more flexibility in high gain.
Changing a gloss neck to a satin one is easy and cheap with some fine wet sandpaper like 600 grit or finer. You can get wet sandpaper to as fine as 3000 grit! If you don't like the result you can polish it back to gloss. That is what they are commonly used for - removing all the texture from paint and then polishing it back to a gloss.
I think the PRS's carve actually beats the Les Paul's.
NewGunGuy I have a Les Paul. The PRS is beautiful.
I think a good Les Paul carve is more like a violin arch top, however many Les Pauls don't have a very good carve.
The really good Gibson dish edge carves from the 1950s are not CNC, they are all the careful hand work of luthiers, finishing the shape on a sander. ! Today's PRS are totally CNC consistent, Machine cut. It has its own look which you either take or leave.
'Carve' as in cut with a CNC
@@bob733333 Yes. Because it really doesn't matter.
I do think the PRS is a beautiful guitar (and it is on my bucket list) but the carve is not my favorite - almost a little over done for my taste - looks like it was molded rather than carved.
So the PRS bridges the differences between the Strat and Les Paul. Eddie Van Halen was in the same mindset when he created the Frankenstrat and later the Wolfgang. Could you do a compare on the PRS 24 vs a Wolfgang? Would be curious to see how they stack up for different styles.
To my ear the Strat sounded better in all the comparisons. PRS sounded great of course but I thought the Strat had a more musical tone.
I 100% agree.. i have both and know others whi have both and the strat always has a multi dimensional voice to it where the prs is kinda single focused voice especially through a good tube amp. Prs has its place as well as the strat. It's Whatever speaks to you the best at the time.
PRS = better build and QC
Fender = better design. 7 decades of sales and the musical results are the proof.
We’re just so used to that sound. So it just sounds “right” With that said, I’m still a PRS guy.
I am not a fan of the Strat but I once owned a Fender Lead III with humbuckers and coil tap with a very similar finish. Sure miss that guitar from my youth, played hundreds of gigs with it and was naturally reliced when I sold it a little while back. Just waiting for that time machine so I can undo that mistake. I also owned a PRS SE baritone, selling it was also a mistake. When will I learn?
I wonder if I could secretly finance that PRS and a nice amp without my wife knowing. 🤔🤫
Haha that's every guitarist's challenge. I financed a kemper amp through Zsounds and it was easy and she doesn't even know. Bwahahahaha
Kajacool you get the PRS and a nice amp, she gets the house, the car and the kids. Seems like a fair trade.
RD Patterson Sounding pretty good to me!
Can't upset the boss, girly man.
Life's short bruh go for it
Yes, they are different. Yes, they do excel at different things. But in your hands both guitars sound great! The only problem would be the strat @8:53 everything else, no problems. I would go for the PRS Custom with coil split for maximum versatility. You do keep mentioning the price of a PRS, but, even at $2,400 AUD for the quality I don't think that's excessive - you average Gibbo is more than double that - now that's just lunacy. Thanks for posting!
My PRS gets more play time than any of my strat's. I guess I just like the bolder sound and more solid feel better. They do gloss the heck out of their neck's though. I sanded mine down, works just fine after that.
how can you keep that smile on your face for whole video? please teach us. what a positive guy.
I've no doubt that PRS is wonderful, but yeah man, Strat is still King. Sounds just as terrific, costs a lot less, and still looks great. That said, I have to admit there were times I thought the PRS sound quality walked all over the Strat -- and I'm a Strat-lover. Remember, we're also comparing singles vs. humbuckers, and a very different set of 5-way switching accordingly.
But as far as I understand PRS Custom 24 can be set in single-coil modes and that's when the comparison vs Strat becomes in similar conditions
That's why you get both, if you can.
@@ooviedoc I definitely like the switching mode on the PRS and the results it gets; I just have to wonder if we couldn't achieve the same thing with dual humbuckers and a 5-way switch on a Strat. (Which then makes it less "Strat" in my opinion, but, just a thought.)
IMO coil-split/tap never sounds as good as an actual single-coil.
@@blue-tb2fd i agree. Big part of it is losing half the output of the pickup when tapped. If you have a clean boost in front of the amp, you can make up for it, but it just isn't the same as a true honest single coil with double the effective winding than a tapped humbucker.
I was a Strat Guy until my first PRS, I Buy an S2 and upgraded the pickups and was a great guitar! I sell the S2 and buy a Core Custom 24, now she can do all jobs include the fenderish tones in positions 2 and 4. correction ti Darrell the position 4 of The Custom 24 is both humbuckers split to singles, also agreed with the lip of the PRS I have to play in long sleeve but I am ok for the tones i get from the PRS! the best money invested in a Core PRS Custom 24. BTW I grab nu strats for a few gigs or take the PRS and a Strat, Strat is also an excellent
tool!
The PRS is better all around. I hate playing live with my Strat but love recording with it. The trouble is I plsy between the 2 rear pickuls and must shift it over to the left for my right arm to be confortable. Since you mentioned the body of the prs I thought that might be an interedting "flaw" with my Fender
I like the fact that he pitched a guitar vs a guitar that costs 3 times as much.
I have a strat and was wondering weather it was worth upgrading. This video was exactly what I needed.
I celebrated watching this video by purchasing the new Squier Classic Vibe 50's Strat in Fiesta Red and saved a TON of money.
Me too!!! I dig the squire! But a PRS would be cool.
Great review! Loved it!! 💖💖💖 Thank you, Darrell!
Always Fender. The PRS is of course very high quality, but the Fender body shape is the best that's ever been designed. Same with the headstock design. In terms of pickups, tuners, bridge etc they can be customised on any guitar to anyone's preference.
😮2 things you failed to mention…1. Cases, does the Prs come with a case? 2. Neck dimensions-the neck of the PRS feels wider around 12th fret., is it?
Darrell,
All SEs are also inspected and setup at the Maryland factory before being sent out for sale.
Mark, you are absolutely wrong. All PRS SEs are inspected at the Maryland factory before going out to distributors. Search RUclips for the PTS factory tour part 7 and watch for youself.
Mark, you are correct... as someone who lives in North America, I assume everyone does. So, every SE I buy would be checked by the Maryland factory. You are correct... yet again, it sucks to live in the rest of the world
if you dont like the gloss neck, get a scouring pad that you'd use for dishes. tape off the top and bottom of the neck and then use the pad until both sides are white from the laquer and it will give you a satin neck for cheap!
As always, I come here to watch and listen to you play Darrell! Having had both, I still have to give the nod to the Strat. PRS however, makes some stunning guitars, but as you say, you really pay for them.
You quickly mentioned that Tele's are harder to play than Strats. Having had three Tele's and a Strat, I have to agree. In fact, I even returned a new American Professional Tele. The compound radius neck gave me so much trouble with setting action that I just couldn't bond with the guitar. Even the guitar techs. couldn't get it right for me! And John5 (who loves Tele's), and others, readily admit that they are harder to play than the Strat.
What Im trying to figure out, is why? Is it just plain design differences or what? Your thoughts Darrell?
What up Darrell? I've been wanting a PRS for a couple years. Have you seen the new additions they made to the SE line? Truly incredible. More and more there's no reason that anyone should consider the SE line any lesser than the core models honestly the only reason I haven't pulled the trigger besides finances is that I'm so used to single coils. Yes these can split the humbuckers to sound like single coils but I guess when it comes to guitars I'm a less options is more kind of guy.
Hi!
Yes, I definitely am keeping up on it and PRS are so great at bringing new value to the SE guitars almost every year :)
I agree! The SEs are pretty darn close to the core models now....
The SE Hollowbodies look almost like a private stock
I know this came out a while ago, but I genuinely think a PRS is has a much more aesthetic carve top then a Les Paul
Hey man, could you do a review of the various learning apps? Yousician and the like? Which are good, which are a scam?
Fender, PRS, Schecter, ESP, Dean, Ibanez, I’ll take em’ all over Gibson on any day that ends in y.
Why? I'm honestly curious, I have two Fender electrics and one Gibson acoustic and love them all, wondering why a Gibson electric would automatically be the wrong choice.
@@heyou429 See his video on his SG and Double Cut. That's just one example of thousands of Gibson's QC being more than questionable.
Stephen Tyree how many have you owned and bought ?
@@wallywanker7435 None because of the horror stories I've heard/ read about them. I'm not saying that they are all poorly built, but enough of them are for me to know that I personally will not buy one. If you like them/ own them, that's great. My buddy that I jam with on a regular basis LOVES them. It's basically all he will play. Different strokes.
Stephen Tyree well with any guitar , I would think you would try it and check it out first. If you buy it and it’s crappy who’s fault is that. Just saying. I see the videos too and I think , why would you buy or keep it if it is so bad ? Just to make a video ? I have never heard of Gibson not standing behind something even years later.
I've owned 4 PRS since '86. Sold 3 and have a custom 22 gathering dust. I don't get it, especially clean. My old-style Jazz master and '52 relic Tele are incredible, and adaptable to any amp sound.
I actually liked the strat sound better, but that PRS is dead sexy. I actually own both of these guitars and on any given day I like the Custom 24 the most but I play my strats more...go figure. I can always dial in the strat no matter what. There is a major comfort level there.
fantastic comparison! I think PRS are better constructors but the truth is I have 3 fenders and no prs... there is something when I test them that makes me go for the Fender... If I have to choose between a PRS of 3000$ and a Fender of 3000$ ... Probably I'd get the Fender
I'd like to put a P-90 on the bridge of a PRS
Hi,
About playability; is this Stat the same as PRS - actionwise?
At first you said it is.
In the end you preferred PRS.... so what is in this regard your final opinion?
Thank & greetz from Holland.
Darrell please do a review on Brian May's Red Special!!!!🙏🙏🤘
This is probably a high maintenance request. I have been a newfound binge watcher of your videos and I greatly appreciate your insight, playing skills and the pure entertainment value. In particular, I have been consuming all of your videos comparing various brands of guitars. I acknowledge that between guitar brands and models within the same brand there are multiple factors that determine the final tone: wood, strings, pick ups, etc. Some of those things are big factors. Some of those things are not. The comparison I would like to see is the exact same pickups placed in different guitars of either the same brand or import versions of the same brand - like Epiphone and Gibson. Or even between brands when that is possible : like dual humbuckers in a Tele compared to dual humbucker PRS, for example.
I feel like like the tonal value alone on a strat is priceless... just something about it. EVERYTIME I plug in I’m amazed with the endless sonic waves I get from it, especially from my deluxe. But I agree, a high end PRS is quite the marvel in its own
Im torn between prs custom 24 vs fender american original 50s strat for my next purchase...
@John clinton thanks yes it seems strat more suitable with my kemper. But i haven't own prs yet.
I've been a strat guy since I started playing. Worst thing my coworker ever did was have me try his 594 and a few other PRS models he had... hardcore GAS right now
I got a prs for Christmas! I asked for a fender strat, but honestly I think I’m liking the prs even more than I would’ve liked the strat! It’s so pretty and it sounds amazing! (I got a blue one)
The bottom line is "what guitar feels better in your hands".
Darrell, you mentioned the gloss neck. I am new ( after 20 years of not playing ) to guitars and am in the process of restocking the stable and have been to my local shops playing all kinds of brands. Im leaning towards a non gloss neck . After watching just about all your videos i figured you were the right guy to ask, is there any way make a gloss neck less 'tacky' feeling without massively overhauling the neck? There are some fantastic guitars that play incredibly well but have a gloss neck.
Love the channel, learning lots from them. Thanks from a fellow Canuck - Ontario lad here.
I wish I had half the skill of Darrel
six screw floating bridge that's hard to go out of tune? Now that's a bold statement! Is this really true? I don't think I've ever played a floating trem that was six screw that stayed in tune using the trem
I don't know my friend... I've had several LP's and Strats over the years...I fell in love with the PRS's and have always loved the sound you can get out of em... can't afford one these days, but still love their sound!
Hi Darrell,
Have you ever done a comparison between EMG sa/sa/89 or 81 vs a stratocaster?
I want to upgrade my HSS, and i'm struggling to find the right set.
I had EMG a while back, and i loved them.
I was also looking at Di Marzio, for a set with humbucker, noiseless single, and small humbucker.
But there is so much choice, it's hard to pick.
Hi everyone! I do hope you guys have a wonderful evening. Please sleep well and enjoy whatever Endeavors you go on. Be safe and what you're doing and take care and God bless, peace out everyone! 💚
Gabriel FSP and you brother 🤘🏻
I have an American Professional/Standard Stratocaster from 2019 and it *has* locking tuners.. The same as my Stratocaster 'elite' from 2016. The 'Pro' is a limited edition FSR with a roasted maple one-piece neck and an ash body though.
My Strat again! (except mine has the Maple fingerboard)
Me too!
To be exact, the flagship Custom 24 has the 85/15 pickups, not the 59/09.
Hey Darrell, could you do Fender Strat vs Shijie Strat?
Had a Strat and loved it but it was pre fixed whammy bar. Hated that aspect. Just got a PRS custom 22 10 top. I think that the PRS gives you the best of the Strat, Les Paul mix. Mine has a 3 way and coil split. The BEST electric I’ve ever played in terms of ergonomics, accessibility to knobs and tonal response. Plus it’s beautiful with the curly maple figuring. My nod goes to PRS over Fender and Gibson.
I think the flagship Fender strat is the American Elite, no?
When it comes to a modern take on a Strat it is, but it's not intended to replace the vintage concept!
Donald Trump yeah I get what you mean, but this will be a very lopsided match vs the PRS flagship with all its more advanced and modern features. Fender Elite Strat will be a more cutting edge guitar to compare against a PRS flagship
Yea the Elite is a nice take on a modern Strat for sure! and if one doesn't like the Noiseless Pickups, can always drop a kit into it with some nice 57's or whatever and have the best of both worlds with all of the modern appointments available!
I have one of each and agree with your assessment with one exception. I feel my strat has a more organic tone that harkens back to all the records I love from the past. Not PRS"s fault - simply a tone that cannot be duplicated by humbuckers with a different scale length - though they can get close.
Completely agree.