Whenever I hear a PRS live I'm always blown away by the clarity and crispy notes that come through. People say they lack a character but I think their character is being so nice and clean. Really enjoy hearing them in live bands.
I've recently bought the Chinese version it was heavily discounted at Anderton, it plays sounds like the 4k version I have 2 amps a Matamp (hand wired ultra clear) and a Marshall combo that has been modded the PRS sounds fine through the Marshall but a bit clinical through the Matamp. But I can run the piezo through that one and get blended tones. It also reacts to pedals differently to my fender and Gibson
The thing that makes prs instruments great is that they come to you playable. Across all the ranges. I know that sounds…obvious? But having owned many many, MANY instruments of calibers high and low…most guitars don’t have great fretwork and neck detailing regardless of how much they cost.
Thats mostly Gibson fan boys trying desperately to find something to down PRS's about... Its lies I own about 30 guitars, PRS, Gibson Fender G&L I can them all sound just about the same.. What I cant do is make a Gibson have the tuning stability of a typical PRS, or have 1/10 of PRS fit and finish, and superior fretwork to Gibson.
I have the same problem as Chris! The setup is, I believe, exactly what I would love to have in my hands! However, the looks of it.. just doesn’t seem to fit the guitar hero that lies in me!!! 😂😂😂
@@thiskingdom3605 I guess I'm lucky in that sense because I am a keyboardist and do not suffer from that affliction. But I suppose if Emerson (RIP) was still here and threw away his C3 I would have to go with what he got (but not the Yamaha Polysynth LOL) And it would be after going Linda Blair for a while. 🤣
It sounds even better in person. I run the piezo through a DI then onto the PA system. Using the piezo through a PA along with the hum-buckers through a regular guitar amp gives you and incredibly rich sound live.
@@joey-ne6pl doesn't even have to be humbuckers. My current setup is a Thinline Tele with Bill Lawrence microcoil pickups and a 4-way switch (both pickups in series), and the blend with a piezo bridge is heavenly, especially with the mag pickups running with a bit of delay and reverb in stereo (or wet/dry with different levels of FX and gain) through two amps. The DI'd piezoacoustic tone is panned dead center with it's own FX, and just a touch of blend into the electric side, for just the right amount of separation between the two tones.
That was the most accurate way of putting in words the reason why I don’t see myself playing my prs more often. It’s just a perfect guitar, and for that reason it doesn’t fight me back with the same personality as a 52 tele or a Les Paul. Thank you for sharing.
I have the SE version of this, the SE Hollowbody II Piezo. It's a fraction of the price, but the build quality is still superb. My favourite guitar, I play it every day since I bought it.
You should be lucky, i’ve gone thru maybe 15 of these until i’ve got one with no obvious flaws, like some frets not parallel, pickup rings not installed at straight angle, gaps in neck pocket, dirt and bubbles in finish. I’ve spend almost half a year and a lot of money exchanging them by mail and traveling in person. Nope i’m not that picky, my epi casino coupe was good from the first buy.
@@APfishing_guitar_statistics I have a Hollowbody SE and love it. However, I did have the full-on US Hollowbody a decade ago and I never played it. It was too nice to bring out to a jam night and too nice for band rehearsals. It felt like it needed to be played loud and on stage, which I rarely did. So it sat in its case until I swapped it for a PRS Swamp Ash a couple of years later. I still kind of regret that, but I just didn't play it. The SE version now, sits next to my desk all of the time and it's great, for 1/4 the cost...
Coming from someone that currently owns 7 PRS guitars, 2 of which are Private Stock. I just found they fit my playing style and the music I play. I have owned Strats and Gibsons, and they just never spoke to me as much. I know the looks of a guitar shouldn't matter... but to me it does. They are works of art, and although I sit them on their stands, they look so good that they inspire me to pick them up and play. They inspire me to play more than any other guitars I've ever owned. So beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Nobody is wrong, just enjoy what you like. And in the end, it's all great that we can enjoy subtle differences, and at the end of the day, we all love guitar! 🎸
yeah it's the looks that make the PRS thing really unappealing to lots of people as well. Thankfully there's so many different aesthetics to choose from today
Quite the opposite from what I see: PRSs are "homely" - it takes time to recognize them, even if within a point blank, whereas, one knows that's a strat, tele, LP, Firebird or GS from mile away...
@driftlessgeardemos over the top flame... I mean... it's naturally occurring wood... how is it over the top... secondly, I've owned a few Gibson's... the build quality was not even close to my PRS and the tuning stability was atrocious. My strats were good guitars and I still have one. I've played most guitar brands and have owned my fair share. PRS quality is 2nd to none. And your personal taste is your own. I'm sure all these professional musicians that play PRS would agree with me... When artsists have the money and the means to play whatever they want.. there must be a reason why you see so many players with them.
I think the ones complaining that guitars shouldn't be so well made... and have no issues with them are the weirdos that talk to their guitars and take them on dates. You hit the nail on the head. It is PURELY nostalgia. It's purely the idea of playing what your heroes played and brand loyalty. I don't even think PRS makes the best guitars in the world anymore, but I'd take them over gibson or fender any day of the week.
I completely understand what you're saying, Chris. I disagree with one thing. Paul Reed Smith is actually the opposite of an ambassador of electric guitars. Any cursory glance at an interview with him and his abject narcissism and product snobbery is enough to make you gag. You touched on exactly why his guitars are never at the pinnacle of use for artists, and it's not because vintage or old historical guitars are technically better. His guitars utterly lack soul. They do not inspire; they have nothing more than the technical aspects of a guitar, and you feel it the second you pick one up. If it did, one would never leave your hands. It couldn't be underscored more than when lobbied to join the PRS family. John Mayer, after trying many, including customs based on his desires, he had PRS finally copy an iconic strat that John believes is the best guitar ever to the tenth of a milometer, the only difference being the head stock, and that's what he plays. The various other artists are bought and paid for. The best electrics are the ones people are not paid to use.
I've got to say, always love the tone from your playing, but I think this time seemed incredibly better! All the usual tone but so clear at all times! Wow!
I find this very relatable and easy to understand and I think it depends on the individual playing style. I bought what I assumed to be my dream guitar a few years ago - a Suhr Modern. I'd had Strats, LP's and Ibanez to name a few until then. The Suhr was meticulously built and when people say 'plays itself' you know instantly what they are referring to. It seemed I could play anything on this, at any speed. Easier than anything I'd ever played. I should have been really happy but I just wasn't. There was no challenge with it, no character or soul. Made me feel a bit empty when I played it so I actually ended up selling it. Went back to guitars the were more challenging to play just because they made me feel like I was also along for the ride.
As a guitarist that enjoys the struggle with flawed gear to create sounds that please me, I appreciate your eloquence in describing the pleasure of that struggle. Be well, mate!
By now, PRS is just as established as a classic guitar. Especially if you do have a Yamaha signature. My theory is that a guitar has to speak to you. And then, when you play it in a band, you don't have to think about the guitar anymore. If a guitar doesn't do both, it's not the right one for you (this journey took me 20 years ;) )
Man. I totally get this one. I'm just head-over-heels in love with my Les Paul Special. It does basically one thing, but it is THE thing I love dearest.
As a vintage Gibson and Fender owner (and player), I will say that there are three models of PRS that do it for me, and get a ton of playing time: Paul Jackson's JA-15 line with 53/10 pickups, Neal Schon's NS-14 line with 57/08 pickups, and the Collection Series line (in particular, the Collection Series IV (Brent Mason sig model) and the Collection Series IX (also owned by John Mayer).
I've fancied either a PRS or a Yamaha Revstar(P90s) for a while now. Went to a guitar shop and tried both out. Both brilliant guitars but the Revstar just blew me away for playability...so came home with the Revstar..!!😁🎶🎸
I have a PRS CE and I've eyed the Revstars for awhile now. I have 3 Yamaha's and I'm always amazed how Yamaha always hits value/quality factor. That is true for their less expensive up to more expensive.
I recently bought one of the older Revstars, the Bowden Green P90 version because I don't like any of the newer colours. Paid about 400 quid and it plays like a £1000 guitar. It's probably one of the only guitars I've ever had, apart from my Gretsch, that I don't feel the need to upgrade any parts or pickups.....their own P90s are very good, and are more than capable 👍
I enjoy when I play my PRS for musical theatre pit shows! It is a sort of swiss army knife and can do a lot with the one instrument, which is what some books call for. I haven't abandoned my stratocaster and Les Paul at all, I just find the PRS is more useful for a decent part of this type of application and the other two shine with their context.
I bought a PRS custom 24 about 12 years ago as I needed to change from a lefty to a righty after an accident. I absolutely loved it and it forced me to play due to the amount it cost me. However, I bought a Ron Kirn Barnbuster and much prefer that.
I don't use my McCarty on tour anymore, but whenever I play it, it feels like coming home. This particular one just has the right feel for me and I noticed that immediately when it fell into my hands at a pawn guitar shop. And yes, someone else rocked it before me, but I feel that it has some experience, which is a good thing. Most people don't marry the first person they touched, either ;) So I can totally not agree to anyone finding PRS boring. For me it has always been boring that everyone plays a Fender Strat because everone plays a Fender Strat. No offense, it's great, too.
You hit the nail on th head here. The reasons you mentioned, plus the cost of the instrument itself, is what keeps my PRS Custom 22 Artist in its case 99% of the time. I got my CU 22 Artist six years ago and I got it for a once in a lifetime steal of a price. I simply could never afford to replace it if it was ever badly damaged or stolen. So when I play, I grab my other guitars 99% of the time. If I am going to record, I will take the PRS. It is quite literally PERFECT. But because of its value, i have a certain level of paranoia whenever i have it out and I'm playing it..... if that makes sense.
Chris, your playing is always so full of soul. Rare to see anywhere. You have my respect for that. Also respect, your eloquence beats most TV presenters, even writers on TV I've seen. If you can talk like this without reading something pre-written, that is quite an intimidating skill. Just thought I should express my appreciation a little.
@@richardclark. ah, so because the PRS has no soul? hehe. i've seen various people, including musicians, experiencing things differently. PRS are expensive guitars and will probably never come for sale in stores in my country. (not in US) so we don't play PRS because we have no money, mostly. also, isn't the age of the guitar important, especially if the wood is really good? i bet a PRS guitar made in the 1980's will be quite an item in 50 years. if you're not filthy rich (i'm dirt poor), no use comparing. say goodbye to high quality guitars. quality is expensive, which also says something for PRS guitars. do you think paul reed smith would be able to make all those guitars all those years if what you think about them was objective reality? i think John McLaughlin is creative enough. Why don't you ask him what he thinks of his new PRS he just got? just sayin'. it's not about being a "truly creative" type, it's about personal taste.
Really appreciate this video, and I think you hit the nail on the head. I first got the PRS bug back when Dickey Betts was playing them with the ABB back in the early 90's. I was captivated by their sound, and the cosmetic appeal was undeniable. Gorgeous tops, and superb finishing, but each time I chose a new guitar, I always ended up going with a Gibson Les Paul, or a vintage spec'd Fender Strat, or Tele. Like you say, I think it's the fact that there's a push/pull relationship to those classic guitar designs that tap into basic human nature, and drive to overcome challenges. It's like some people who win the lottery. At first they're ecstatic that they no longer need to worry financially, can buy many things they couldn't easily before without having to budget and save, or have to punch a clock 5 or 6 days a week. After a while, that lustre wears off, and those things that were perceived as an unnecessary burden, you soon find were actually what give purpose to you. It's alot like with anything that has all the convenience, and bells and whistles. I have some very expensive rack gear that can do everything under the sun, and at the time I got it, I was under the belief that it would give me almost limitless potential, and how could I have gone so long without it? Truth is....Like your PRS, I barely use it. I actually enjoy, and relish the challenge of making sound out of much more basic, and dedicated gear, despite the obvious convenience of a multi FX processor. It was never conscious, I just found myself gravitating more and more to the old school, because it gave the process more meaning than dialing an algorithm. I think for me, it's very much how you described your guitar, and it's ultimate lack of use. It's perfect in every way on paper, but practically, it's a very different experience. And...as a side note, I've seen Dickey play Gibsons alot more than PRS's as well, so that says something.
Very well said. I've got an old Gibson ES-175 that I have that same weird relationship with. It is a perfect guitar, though I almost never play it. Maybe it's because it highlights my own imperfections.🤷 There seems to be a dance we have have with our guitars. Some regularly invite us to dance, and some get us to dance in mysterious ways. That's part of the magic of playing music.
Chris might have just put on his greatest showcase of his talents here. His ability to tell a story, make it relatable and exciting, be himself… Oh, and he’s a pretty good guitar player. Be proud. And keep ‘em comin’. Cheers, - Chris
That guitar sounds beautiful. I have been thinking about PRS and McCartys in particular lately. Thanks for the demo. I have a PRS 277 baritone that is really nice and I don't play it. If you think you are stuck in yor ways, i am 62 and I am a decent guitar player always working to get better. The reason I don't play my baritone is because it is a different level of work. It requires me to think in different ways than I am used to and there are no guitar players that I Identify with, other than Mark Lettieri who have already blazed the trail. Picking up the baritone adds a couple more levels of thought beyond just learning a new chord or lick.
I agree! I have a PRS Singlecut instead a Gibson Les Paul because the light weight. However I only play my Fenders Strato, Tele and Jazzmaster, being the last my favorite exactly because to be unperfect. It have THE killer sound, both clean and dirty.
Really interesting video Chris. I’ve got an SE Hollowbody 2 and absolutely love it. They are so good to play and sound amazing but don’t have the character of a Strat or Les Paul. In saying that, be great to see you play the PRS live, Maybe at Newbridge Memo in December. All the best 👍
I've also got an SE Hollowbody II and it's fantastic to play. Holds its own character and I always end up playing different stuff than with a Strat, LP or Tele, which is one of the joys
@@servethesongs exactly what I was going to say. My guitars have zero character on their own. They're not funny, arrogant, cocky, sad, etc. It's a f&*%$k piece of wood and metal
After years of playing classic designs and not really getting into PRSs, I've recently bought a couple of SEs - a DGT Gold-Top and a Hollowbody II Piezo. Slightly to my surprise, I bonded with both of them straight away. Each in their own way, they just feel "right" for me and they've become my go-to guitars for most occasions. I've got to say, based on those clips of your sound-checks, you really should use the Hollowbody II more - your playing was stunning as ever and it sounded fantastic! 😎
That's wonderful to hear. I have an older flat top semi hollow SE 22 custom. It was my first good guitar, and it is amazing. I struggled to match the stock pickups to my small tube amps, but swapped in SD Pearly Gates, added a coil tap on a push-pull, and dropped the resistor's value. It sings sweetly, can get chimey and sparkle, and can get dirty and nasty all with a bit of twist or pull on the tone and volume knobs. As guitar players tend to do, I keep pining for a higher-end model, but it really does everything I could hope for. In fact, it's a much better guitar than I am a player
I have a 2008 DGT that I’ve played the finish off of the neck, belly relief, arm position upper bout, spot between pups… I just got an SE DGT. I didn’t set it down for a good month and a half.
I probably should add that the SE Hollowbody II's piezo is great through my Laney Cub Super 12 valve/tube amp. The result isn't "acoustic" in the slightest, but it has a fantastic character that's unique amongst all my guitars. The first rehearsal with it had the band saying "That's amazing - but where's the acoustic sound you bought it for?" 😉However, put through a really clean amp or a PA, it offers a very useful "acoustic" sound, but I always blend in a bit of the magnetic pickups to roll things back a bit.
I am a recent PRS convert as well. I bought a DGT SE and it blew me away. I love the 25” scale length and the wide fretboard. I can play how I want to play without worrying about the physical limitations of my other guitars (335 excepted), and the PUs do what I want them to.
I completely get where you’re coming from here Chris. I really like the whole ethos and build quality of PRS and have tried many over the years with the intention of buying but I have never found a model that feels, plays, and sounds good for me.
I own a PRS McCarty 594, and agree it is perfection personified, and indeed plays itself. I have a lot of guitars, frankly, some modern and some vintage. I absolutely love to play my PRS, and get it out regularly in the rotation (which is really not frequent enough!), but I love to play my '66 Hagstrom II and '98 Carvin DC127 and even my '56 Gretsch Electromatic, too. You make a great observation in that the persona of the guitar is part of its joy in use. I often compare my guitar collection to a car collection. Therein one might have Mustangs and Corvettes, maybe a Porsche or Ferrari, and they get the blood pumping. But taking a ride in an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon (with a 440 & 4 barrel Holley) is still a thrill.
@@vincezab1 Indeed! A holy sxxt ride! I remember standing on the throttle with no brake and it stood still, smoke billowing from tires until you let off the gas.
Had 4 PRS guitars but sold them all. I can totally relate with this video. Also I played the PRS SE silver sky and it was my favourite budget strat, better than any MIM and will be getting that....... hopefully I keep it.
Hey Chris I met you at the Leeds Wool Mill. After an amazing show ! You Tom Sam and Adam and Adam’s new girlfriend 😂 were fantastic ! I will be promoting you guys to everyone as you I am sure will be selling out stadiums soon ! You guys make me proud to be from the valleys ! Just one small point ??? Are you saying you don’t play your PRS often because it doesn’t have the character of your usuals ? Good luck with Norway and beyond ! See you soon.😊
It sounds great, both with the demo and with the band. It also seems to suit you ergonomically (I had a McCarty and Swamp Ash Special and, ultimately, the shape didn't suit me). It needs to be played. Just go with the JM, Revstar and PRS for a month, put the others in cases, out of reach and then see how you feel. If it goes back to being unplayed after that, move it on, someone else will play it and the cash will probably be handy.
I know that Chris plays out too, but the U tube guitarist is a whole new art form in itself. Great sounding tracks with a visual close up of a solo....consistent high quality from Chris...
Not to put a finer point on it.. unlike many other 'youtubers' Chris has always been in a band .. from the initial TH3 that nearly broke America back in the day to several successful years and a fabulous album with Buck and Evans to now touring Europe with the chart topping Cardinal Black, Chris is first and foremost a musician that has just found an outlet called RUclips to help bolster his income. Now that Cardinal Black are gaining huge popularity let's hope that we still get him on RUclips .. he's regarded quite rightly as one of the best new guitarists in the world....but he's always been this good!
Damn dude...that guitar deserves playing. Sounds excellent and they are indeed amazingly well built. Hope you'll change your mind because it sounds phenomenal.
Great video 👍 I have to say your playing makes the hair on the back of neck tingle.. without a doubt you sir are one of the finest guitarists ever to pick up an instrument 👍 fantastic as usual ❤
Hi , I’ve own and sold a PRS for that exact reason, I get it. But mostly I think it’s because they’re so good and bloody expensive, is why you don’t take it out and play it. Which then leads to the eternal GAS conundrum of having something of value to trade. My advice would be to own one at least.
Greetings Chris, I has seen a lot of deeply talented Guitarist/Musicians who played incredibly. I myself have played for just under 58 years and I can recognize when a guitar is being in love with its musician and you McCarty is truly in love with you and I could see that you are in love in it. Sometimes we love to dance with our love where the world can see us and other times we only want it to ourselves. Thank you for allowing us to see her and you dance and play each other. 👏🏻❤️❤️👏🏻
Chris, an interesting and insightful video. I make no bones about being a huge PRS fan, but I understand and respect your take on playing yours. What it comes down to is what we find inspiring. Your work inspires me and many others, so keep it up no matter what instrument speaks to you that day!
I love my PRS Hollowbodies - I have a HBii with Piezo and a 594 HB and they are both stunning instruments to play, the sound, the feel etc... Every person is an individual and so everyone will have their own preferences etc. They all hear and feel things differently and may also have different wants/needs for creating their music. Some may not want a HBii and/or think isn't great for Rock/Metal - but another person will want a HB specifically for Rock/Metal, or prefer the light weight... If its not the 'right' tool for you for the 'job' you want it to do or gravitate towards a 'favourite' for whatever reason, that's OK. It can be the 'best' built instrument or a cheap import imitation of a 'high end' model, its about using the tool you feel will get the music to flow out through your instrument to your audience in the way you want it to - but that PRS HBii sure sounds amazing in your hands when you do play it...
I had a hollowbody II in Ruby red. It was fabulous. Maple caps with scrapped edges front and back. Yours is a Hollowbody I. Was incredible to look at, but became a piece of furniture and thought me a lesson that if I'm not goiong to play it then dont buy it. But a great video, really enjoyable and your playing is delicious.
I sort of felt the same way for a while after picking up my PRS Custom 24 35th Anniversary guitar, but I got over it. As I get older I want a guitar that stays in tune, fits my hand size perfectly and doesn't cause pain at a comfortable weight. I even went so far as buying an Emerald Virtuo for it's incredibly light weight and amazing sound via the carbon fiber body and Fishman Fluence pickups. I'd love to see Chris play these models as I'm sure they both would be awesome in his hands.
Chris's eloquence and clear read on the subject is as articulate as his hands are on that PRS. This was quite a testimony to the brand. I'll probably never be able to afford one, but boy this sure makes me want one. But then, I also want to play like Chris.
I recently bought my first PRS (SE custom 24). That guitar is a thing of beauty, exceptionally well made, and thus far also the most expensive guitar I've bought. Neck feels great to me, but somehow it's taking a while for me to bond with the guitar. I keep going back to my Strat and Epiphones 😁 still, happy I added a PRS to my small humble collection!
OMG... the first time when the YT algo actually works and recommends something so ridiculously good that you just stop everything... work, boss, crazy gf, everything has Thanos-snapped itself out of existence for the last few hours while I guzzle down your every second of your playing mate, mother of god, thank you!! And that flow you have.... of conveying thought to expression, at the very moment with such finesse.... musically of course but just hearing you speak is so, complete.... Cheers, just brilliant.
So, the Cardinal Black is my new discovery. Beautifil music. And Chris's sounds and melodies. Now, this guitar... I am drummer, I am trying to imagine myself finding a Gretsch USA Custom from 1970, in mint condition (if that exists), with depth and resonance like nothing else. Or a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute from 1990s. I guess I would be absolutely schizofrenic about taking it anywhere. Not to add a single scratch or dent more. But at the same time, the sound of it, the colours, the beauty. All the things to share with the audiences. Great instruments are there to be played. I am sure that many fans fans would be glad to see and hear this wonderful guitar more.
I don't know Chris, but it seems like you can pick any kind of gear, cheap or expensive and it sounds every time as YOU and that is the proof of how mature you are as a guitar player, incredible guitar player to be honest. Well done as always!
You play so well. In the 1950’s all the bands sounded like they put the band at the end of an aircraft hanger and a mike at the other end. Too much reverb/echo kills all the tone, attack and harmonics and emotional edge and feel. PRS need more treble in the amp and not too much reverb. Have used an old mesa boogie MkIIB with a PRS treble on 8 ( switch pulled out) bass and mid on 4, gain boost ( switch pulled out), overdrive on 8, reverb on 4 -6, presence 9 ( not sure using top of dial to measure, just looked, presence used to be 4-6 not sure how it got to 9) have not touched these settings for 24 years, still love it. The Amp and guitar just scream. It cuts heads off, feels like barb wire cutting into your hands. Plug the guitar direct into a good amp, get rid of the pedals, they just muddy up the sound. The PRS is then like a Ferrari reving up, roaring to go.
Maaan your playing is outstanding bro!! You're up there with the great guitarists of today in my book for sure. Also love the content you put out. All the best to you !!!
This really resonated with me Chris as I have a 2004 PRS Custom 22 which I rarely play. I usually reach for Les Paul or Stratocaster when gigging or playing at home. It does seem bizarre as it is a fantastic instrument!
Awesomely honest post Chris. I'm a lefty, and despite Mr PRS's lack of support of lefties outside the SEs, I've bought 2 Core PRS's. They're beautifully built as you say, but neither really made me feel like my Les Pauls ('cos when I grow up I want to be Paul Kossoff) or Teles (cos if I grow up I want to be Jimmy Page) I sold one recently, and, unlike other guitars I've sold, I had zero remorse. Which is odd. I admit I do wonder how much I'm influenced by my personal view on PRS's lefty policy. I try to tell myself not to be, but when I plonk on my 335 think Crossroads. When I play my old Custom 22 I think 'this is a nice guitar'
Yet another great video, so thank you! You called this PRS perfect; in my humble opinion it’s the perfect guitar for you. Only you could create those beautiful blended tones between the PAF,s & Piezo, and handle the instrument in such dynamic fashion the way you do.
I am right there with ya on this! I only play Fender and Gibson inspired guitars and I just cannot get into PRS or any other new guitar company! I love the feeling of playing history I guess! simply put! great video Chris!
@@servethesongsjudging by this guys other comments, we found the PRS diehard. This guy Toddroy didn’t even say anything negative about PRS and you decided to come in and be derogatory. He just liked what he likes and clearly you like what you like.
What an astoundingly honest take on this issue. So many people say they are "boring"... which isn't really the case. I think more people actually fit into what you've said here regarding growing to desire those imperfections on other brands/models because the heroes you grew up watching and listening to played them. Great video!
I don't know that I have a hero, so I own a Strat, a Tele, a Yamaha Pacifica, a Carvin AE-185, a PRS McCarty, a G&L Legacy, and a few other brands like Dean, Leo Jaymez, Harley Benton. I just like guitars.
I've got a silver series Japanese squier strat and your channel made me realise how good it was so my guitar wizard gave it the works and it's my favourite, I bought a squier 40th jazzmaster cause of this channel and its great...yet my fave guitar is my PRS CE because its pretty much perfect ...you speak so much sense!!! Totally agree... how can a perfect guitar be a bad thing?
Have you ever considered running the piezo through an IR pedal with acoustic guitar IRs loaded? There are so many tailored to match up with a piezo that can really remove that honky sound. You could blend in flattops or arch top jazz boxes or even metal bodied resonators and it wouldn’t take a ton of gear or special setup to do. A NUX Optima Air is a great pedal that has IRs loaded for piezo pickups and spaces to load your own. I think it would transform how you could use the piezo option.
It's so impressive that you communicate almost as well with words as you do with your playing. Another aspect of this might be the experience most of us have had with a more "limited" instrument seeming to push us to be more creative. The classic challenge of having to work within limitations.
Chris speaks like he plays: with precision, intention, polish, and articulation. He's obviously extremely intelligent. However, he is SO precise, that like the PRS he's reviewing here, his playing is almost too perfect. My taste is a bit less precision and more character. Hendrix is the polar opposite: sloppy, off the cuff, unpredictable, and wild. Perhaps Chris just doesn't gel with an instrument that matches his own incredible prodigy. Maybe it's true and just that opposites attract!
I think this is the problem with PRS guitars. There wonderful instruments to look at and extremely well built but there just....not that engaging. Maybe its the desire to 'perfect' everything that theres nothing left to really go at.
You are not alone. Perfect to me is an hearing test, clean tones, do you hear it? Some instruments are like that, perfect. I had an Epiphone plected, it basicly killed it, the thrill was gone. Lesson learned I do the frets by my self and just that much, some imperfection is still there, going to far well the thrill might leave and there is no way back.
The thing that really stands out to me in this video is how much you just sound like...well you. Doesn't matter if you're playing a PRS, your Yamaha, a Strat, a Jazzmaster, or a Les Paul. There's no mistaking that technique. That PRS sounds good because you're making it sing, mate.
This just blows my mind. I cannot fathom choosing to mainly play things that you find 'harder' or 'worse'. I try to find stuff that makes it easier for me. Of course it's fun to play different things now and then and some gear get assigned a specific purpose. Maybe I'm just too lazy. I agree that its mainly because of a look or the association with our heroes of older generations, but then the older ones didn't have the choice and were playing what was new at that time. Still it keeps fender and gibson going and overall i guess that's a good thing although I've never owned either and don't plan to at the moment.
Interesting as the reason you give for *not* playing it is the exact reason I have finally came around to PRS. I would not have been caught dead with a PRS for decades. And then one day, on a lark, I picked up a Silver Sky at the local shop, and realized not only was it the "dream" strat I had always hoped for, it was also so much *not* a strat that I could actually express more my true self on it instead of thinking "This is a strat so I need to instinctively play like Jimi/Ritchie/Stevie" on it. It didn't lock me into the familiar despite giving me access to the familiar sounds if I wanted them, and opened up the musical palette I could use.
One underappreciated skill of Chris is how extremely well spoken he is. Really stood out to me this episode.
Kinda makes sense with how articulate he is in his playing
Because he's Welsh!
His accent and pronunciation annoys the shit out of me so much l mute the vids unless he's playing.
I’ve always noticed that.
@@jonl7819language and music: same part of the brain
But you already knew that :-)
Whenever I hear a PRS live I'm always blown away by the clarity and crispy notes that come through. People say they lack a character but I think their character is being so nice and clean.
Really enjoy hearing them in live bands.
I've recently bought the Chinese version it was heavily discounted at Anderton, it plays sounds like the 4k version
I have 2 amps a Matamp (hand wired ultra clear) and a Marshall combo that has been modded the PRS sounds fine through the Marshall but a bit clinical through the Matamp. But I can run the piezo through that one and get blended tones.
It also reacts to pedals differently to my fender and Gibson
PRS by itself sounds very steady. Change the pickups, and they sound awesome. Through a Marshall, lovely now.
The thing that makes prs instruments great is that they come to you playable. Across all the ranges. I know that sounds…obvious? But having owned many many, MANY instruments of calibers high and low…most guitars don’t have great fretwork and neck detailing regardless of how much they cost.
Thats mostly Gibson fan boys trying desperately to find something to down PRS's about... Its lies I own about 30 guitars, PRS, Gibson Fender G&L I can them all sound just about the same.. What I cant do is make a Gibson have the tuning stability of a typical PRS, or have 1/10 of PRS fit and finish, and superior fretwork to Gibson.
@@adhaskym.a9536 Which pickups would you recommend changing them to?
I have to admit, that blended sound of piezo and Humbucker is absolutely magical.
That is a very cool setup with lots of possibilities.
I have the same problem as Chris! The setup is, I believe, exactly what I would love to have in my hands! However, the looks of it.. just doesn’t seem to fit the guitar hero that lies in me!!! 😂😂😂
@@thiskingdom3605 I guess I'm lucky in that sense because I am a keyboardist and do not suffer from that affliction. But I suppose if Emerson (RIP) was still here and threw away his C3 I would have to go with what he got (but not the Yamaha Polysynth LOL) And it would be after going Linda Blair for a while. 🤣
It sounds even better in person. I run the piezo through a DI then onto the PA system. Using the piezo through a PA along with the hum-buckers through a regular guitar amp gives you and incredibly rich sound live.
@@joey-ne6pl doesn't even have to be humbuckers. My current setup is a Thinline Tele with Bill Lawrence microcoil pickups and a 4-way switch (both pickups in series), and the blend with a piezo bridge is heavenly, especially with the mag pickups running with a bit of delay and reverb in stereo (or wet/dry with different levels of FX and gain) through two amps. The DI'd piezoacoustic tone is panned dead center with it's own FX, and just a touch of blend into the electric side, for just the right amount of separation between the two tones.
You are no less a master of guitar as you are of eloquently and respectfully expressing your well founded opinions. Thank you very much.
I’m a simple man, I see an awesome guitar player mention PRS, I give the video a like. Have a great weekend everyone!
Perfect comment, precisely summed up my feelings 😂
You’re great too Dr Fludd! Your channel is amazing
That thing sounds amazing in your hands, Chris. You need to keep playing it.
That was the most accurate way of putting in words the reason why I don’t see myself playing my prs more often. It’s just a perfect guitar, and for that reason it doesn’t fight me back with the same personality as a 52 tele or a Les Paul. Thank you for sharing.
I have the SE version of this, the SE Hollowbody II Piezo. It's a fraction of the price, but the build quality is still superb. My favourite guitar, I play it every day since I bought it.
I also have the SE version and love it and it was a great price too. But I understand what Chris is saying….
You should be lucky, i’ve gone thru maybe 15 of these until i’ve got one with no obvious flaws, like some frets not parallel, pickup rings not installed at straight angle, gaps in neck pocket, dirt and bubbles in finish. I’ve spend almost half a year and a lot of money exchanging them by mail and traveling in person. Nope i’m not that picky, my epi casino coupe was good from the first buy.
15 of them yet you kept buying more! 🤷🏻♂️
@@APfishing_guitar_statistics I have a Hollowbody SE and love it. However, I did have the full-on US Hollowbody a decade ago and I never played it. It was too nice to bring out to a jam night and too nice for band rehearsals. It felt like it needed to be played loud and on stage, which I rarely did. So it sat in its case until I swapped it for a PRS Swamp Ash a couple of years later. I still kind of regret that, but I just didn't play it. The SE version now, sits next to my desk all of the time and it's great, for 1/4 the cost...
Great thing about prs is. Off the rack. They all have no problems. No fret. Out s intonation s are perfect.
Hi Chris, we were at the gig in Wolverhampton on Wed. Our first time watching the band and we really enjoyed it. Thank you to you all! 🎤🎸🎼💕👍
Coming from someone that currently owns 7 PRS guitars, 2 of which are Private Stock. I just found they fit my playing style and the music I play. I have owned Strats and Gibsons, and they just never spoke to me as much. I know the looks of a guitar shouldn't matter... but to me it does. They are works of art, and although I sit them on their stands, they look so good that they inspire me to pick them up and play. They inspire me to play more than any other guitars I've ever owned. So beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Nobody is wrong, just enjoy what you like. And in the end, it's all great that we can enjoy subtle differences, and at the end of the day, we all love guitar! 🎸
yeah it's the looks that make the PRS thing really unappealing to lots of people as well. Thankfully there's so many different aesthetics to choose from today
Quite the opposite from what I see: PRSs are "homely" - it takes time to recognize them, even if within a point blank, whereas, one knows that's a strat, tele, LP, Firebird or GS from mile away...
Nah that weird headstock and over the top flame is instantly recognizable. It lets me know instantly who has poor taste. It’s the prs test.
@driftlessgeardemos over the top flame... I mean... it's naturally occurring wood... how is it over the top... secondly, I've owned a few Gibson's... the build quality was not even close to my PRS and the tuning stability was atrocious. My strats were good guitars and I still have one. I've played most guitar brands and have owned my fair share. PRS quality is 2nd to none. And your personal taste is your own. I'm sure all these professional musicians that play PRS would agree with me... When artsists have the money and the means to play whatever they want.. there must be a reason why you see so many players with them.
I think the ones complaining that guitars shouldn't be so well made... and have no issues with them are the weirdos that talk to their guitars and take them on dates.
You hit the nail on the head. It is PURELY nostalgia. It's purely the idea of playing what your heroes played and brand loyalty.
I don't even think PRS makes the best guitars in the world anymore, but I'd take them over gibson or fender any day of the week.
Excited to see where guitar engineering goes in the future! Great vid as always Chris
Love your playing and your commentary and watching your wobbly watch.
You make them all sing and bring that "thing" to whatever guitar you play! Awesome
I completely understand what you're saying, Chris. I disagree with one thing. Paul Reed Smith is actually the opposite of an ambassador of electric guitars. Any cursory glance at an interview with him and his abject narcissism and product snobbery is enough to make you gag. You touched on exactly why his guitars are never at the pinnacle of use for artists, and it's not because vintage or old historical guitars are technically better. His guitars utterly lack soul. They do not inspire; they have nothing more than the technical aspects of a guitar, and you feel it the second you pick one up. If it did, one would never leave your hands. It couldn't be underscored more than when lobbied to join the PRS family. John Mayer, after trying many, including customs based on his desires, he had PRS finally copy an iconic strat that John believes is the best guitar ever to the tenth of a milometer, the only difference being the head stock, and that's what he plays. The various other artists are bought and paid for. The best electrics are the ones people are not paid to use.
I've got to say, always love the tone from your playing, but I think this time seemed incredibly better! All the usual tone but so clear at all times! Wow!
The most elaborate Reverb listing of all time.
Ha ha
Hahahahaa
I find this very relatable and easy to understand and I think it depends on the individual playing style. I bought what I assumed to be my dream guitar a few years ago - a Suhr Modern. I'd had Strats, LP's and Ibanez to name a few until then. The Suhr was meticulously built and when people say 'plays itself' you know instantly what they are referring to. It seemed I could play anything on this, at any speed. Easier than anything I'd ever played. I should have been really happy but I just wasn't. There was no challenge with it, no character or soul. Made me feel a bit empty when I played it so I actually ended up selling it. Went back to guitars the were more challenging to play just because they made me feel like I was also along for the ride.
As a guitarist that enjoys the struggle with flawed gear to create sounds that please me, I appreciate your eloquence in describing the pleasure of that struggle. Be well, mate!
Fascinating episode. That prs does sound great.
By now, PRS is just as established as a classic guitar. Especially if you do have a Yamaha signature. My theory is that a guitar has to speak to you. And then, when you play it in a band, you don't have to think about the guitar anymore. If a guitar doesn't do both, it's not the right one for you (this journey took me 20 years ;) )
Man. I totally get this one. I'm just head-over-heels in love with my Les Paul Special. It does basically one thing, but it is THE thing I love dearest.
I absolutely love that guitar. It's beautiful and sounds incredible. That model is one of my favorite prs models.
As a vintage Gibson and Fender owner (and player), I will say that there are three models of PRS that do it for me, and get a ton of playing time: Paul Jackson's JA-15 line with 53/10 pickups, Neal Schon's NS-14 line with 57/08 pickups, and the Collection Series line (in particular, the Collection Series IV (Brent Mason sig model) and the Collection Series IX (also owned by John Mayer).
53/10 pickups! I have one of the 53/10 limiteds and I've always thought it would suit Chris
I've fancied either a PRS or a Yamaha Revstar(P90s) for a while now. Went to a guitar shop and tried both out. Both brilliant guitars but the Revstar just blew me away for playability...so came home with the Revstar..!!😁🎶🎸
I have a PRS CE and I've eyed the Revstars for awhile now. I have 3 Yamaha's and I'm always amazed how Yamaha always hits value/quality factor. That is true for their less expensive up to more expensive.
@@phelps1485 Try one, it just felt right straight away for me.🤷🏻♂️🎶🎸
I came home with both! These Indonesia made guitars are really hitting the value/quality nexus. So fun to play.
I recently bought one of the older Revstars, the Bowden Green P90 version because I don't like any of the newer colours. Paid about 400 quid and it plays like a £1000 guitar. It's probably one of the only guitars I've ever had, apart from my Gretsch, that I don't feel the need to upgrade any parts or pickups.....their own P90s are very good, and are more than capable 👍
@@JammyGit They are such a wonderful, easy guitar to play, and a great sound..👍🎶🎸😁
I enjoy when I play my PRS for musical theatre pit shows! It is a sort of swiss army knife and can do a lot with the one instrument, which is what some books call for. I haven't abandoned my stratocaster and Les Paul at all, I just find the PRS is more useful for a decent part of this type of application and the other two shine with their context.
One of the best performances I have ever seen on a youtuber channel! Chris Buck rocks!
I bought a PRS custom 24 about 12 years ago as I needed to change from a lefty to a righty after an accident. I absolutely loved it and it forced me to play due to the amount it cost me. However, I bought a Ron Kirn Barnbuster and much prefer that.
I don't use my McCarty on tour anymore, but whenever I play it, it feels like coming home. This particular one just has the right feel for me and I noticed that immediately when it fell into my hands at a pawn guitar shop. And yes, someone else rocked it before me, but I feel that it has some experience, which is a good thing. Most people don't marry the first person they touched, either ;) So I can totally not agree to anyone finding PRS boring. For me it has always been boring that everyone plays a Fender Strat because everone plays a Fender Strat. No offense, it's great, too.
You hit the nail on th head here. The reasons you mentioned, plus the cost of the instrument itself, is what keeps my PRS Custom 22 Artist in its case 99% of the time. I got my CU 22 Artist six years ago and I got it for a once in a lifetime steal of a price. I simply could never afford to replace it if it was ever badly damaged or stolen. So when I play, I grab my other guitars 99% of the time. If I am going to record, I will take the PRS. It is quite literally PERFECT. But because of its value, i have a certain level of paranoia whenever i have it out and I'm playing it..... if that makes sense.
Chris, your playing is always so full of soul. Rare to see anywhere. You have my respect for that. Also respect, your eloquence beats most TV presenters, even writers on TV I've seen. If you can talk like this without reading something pre-written, that is quite an intimidating skill. Just thought I should express my appreciation a little.
your first sentence is the exact reason why Chris or other truly creative types dont play a prs.
@@richardclark. ah, so because the PRS has no soul? hehe. i've seen various people, including musicians, experiencing things differently. PRS are expensive guitars and will probably never come for sale in stores in my country. (not in US) so we don't play PRS because we have no money, mostly. also, isn't the age of the guitar important, especially if the wood is really good? i bet a PRS guitar made in the 1980's will be quite an item in 50 years. if you're not filthy rich (i'm dirt poor), no use comparing. say goodbye to high quality guitars. quality is expensive, which also says something for PRS guitars. do you think paul reed smith would be able to make all those guitars all those years if what you think about them was objective reality? i think John McLaughlin is creative enough. Why don't you ask him what he thinks of his new PRS he just got? just sayin'. it's not about being a "truly creative" type, it's about personal taste.
Really appreciate this video, and I think you hit the nail on the head.
I first got the PRS bug back when Dickey Betts was playing them with the ABB back in the early 90's.
I was captivated by their sound, and the cosmetic appeal was undeniable.
Gorgeous tops, and superb finishing, but each time I chose a new guitar, I always ended up going with a Gibson Les Paul, or a vintage spec'd Fender Strat, or Tele.
Like you say, I think it's the fact that there's a push/pull relationship to those classic guitar designs that tap into basic human nature, and drive to overcome challenges.
It's like some people who win the lottery.
At first they're ecstatic that they no longer need to worry financially, can buy many things they couldn't easily before without having to budget and save, or have to punch a clock 5 or 6 days a week.
After a while, that lustre wears off, and those things that were perceived as an unnecessary burden, you soon find were actually what give purpose to you.
It's alot like with anything that has all the convenience, and bells and whistles.
I have some very expensive rack gear that can do everything under the sun, and at the time I got it, I was under the belief that it would give me almost limitless potential, and how could I have gone so long without it?
Truth is....Like your PRS, I barely use it.
I actually enjoy, and relish the challenge of making sound out of much more basic, and dedicated gear, despite the obvious convenience of a multi FX processor.
It was never conscious, I just found myself gravitating more and more to the old school, because it gave the process more meaning than dialing an algorithm.
I think for me, it's very much how you described your guitar, and it's ultimate lack of use.
It's perfect in every way on paper, but practically, it's a very different experience.
And...as a side note, I've seen Dickey play Gibsons alot more than PRS's as well, so that says something.
Very well said. I've got an old Gibson ES-175 that I have that same weird relationship with. It is a perfect guitar, though I almost never play it. Maybe it's because it highlights my own imperfections.🤷
There seems to be a dance we have have with our guitars. Some regularly invite us to dance, and some get us to dance in mysterious ways. That's part of the magic of playing music.
This was a great episode. Your passion and thoughtfulness really come through. Hope I get to see you guys live some day!
Chris might have just put on his greatest showcase of his talents here. His ability to tell a story, make it relatable and exciting, be himself… Oh, and he’s a pretty good guitar player. Be proud. And keep ‘em comin’. Cheers, - Chris
That guitar sounds beautiful. I have been thinking about PRS and McCartys in particular lately. Thanks for the demo. I have a PRS 277 baritone that is really nice and I don't play it. If you think you are stuck in yor ways, i am 62 and I am a decent guitar player always working to get better. The reason I don't play my baritone is because it is a different level of work. It requires me to think in different ways than I am used to and there are no guitar players that I Identify with, other than Mark Lettieri who have already blazed the trail. Picking up the baritone adds a couple more levels of thought beyond just learning a new chord or lick.
I’ll bet Paul would love to make a new signature guitar for you Chris
I agree! I have a PRS Singlecut instead a Gibson Les Paul because the light weight. However I only play my Fenders Strato, Tele and Jazzmaster, being the last my favorite exactly because to be unperfect. It have THE killer sound, both clean and dirty.
Really interesting video Chris. I’ve got an SE Hollowbody 2 and absolutely love it. They are so good to play and sound amazing but don’t have the character of a Strat or Les Paul. In saying that, be great to see you play the PRS live, Maybe at Newbridge Memo in December. All the best 👍
I've also got an SE Hollowbody II and it's fantastic to play. Holds its own character and I always end up playing different stuff than with a Strat, LP or Tele, which is one of the joys
@@servethesongs exactly what I was going to say. My guitars have zero character on their own. They're not funny, arrogant, cocky, sad, etc. It's a f&*%$k piece of wood and metal
You are amazing, Chris. Thank you for another fab video.
After years of playing classic designs and not really getting into PRSs, I've recently bought a couple of SEs - a DGT Gold-Top and a Hollowbody II Piezo. Slightly to my surprise, I bonded with both of them straight away. Each in their own way, they just feel "right" for me and they've become my go-to guitars for most occasions.
I've got to say, based on those clips of your sound-checks, you really should use the Hollowbody II more - your playing was stunning as ever and it sounded fantastic! 😎
That's wonderful to hear. I have an older flat top semi hollow SE 22 custom. It was my first good guitar, and it is amazing. I struggled to match the stock pickups to my small tube amps, but swapped in SD Pearly Gates, added a coil tap on a push-pull, and dropped the resistor's value. It sings sweetly, can get chimey and sparkle, and can get dirty and nasty all with a bit of twist or pull on the tone and volume knobs.
As guitar players tend to do, I keep pining for a higher-end model, but it really does everything I could hope for. In fact, it's a much better guitar than I am a player
I have a 2008 DGT that I’ve played the finish off of the neck, belly relief, arm position upper bout, spot between pups… I just got an SE DGT. I didn’t set it down for a good month and a half.
I have the same guitar... it's one of my favorite guitars. Along with the SE paul's guitar (recent purchase). @@stevescuba1978
I probably should add that the SE Hollowbody II's piezo is great through my Laney Cub Super 12 valve/tube amp. The result isn't "acoustic" in the slightest, but it has a fantastic character that's unique amongst all my guitars. The first rehearsal with it had the band saying "That's amazing - but where's the acoustic sound you bought it for?" 😉However, put through a really clean amp or a PA, it offers a very useful "acoustic" sound, but I always blend in a bit of the magnetic pickups to roll things back a bit.
I am a recent PRS convert as well. I bought a DGT SE and it blew me away.
I love the 25” scale length and the wide fretboard. I can play how I want to play without worrying about the physical limitations of my other guitars (335 excepted), and the PUs do what I want them to.
I completely get where you’re coming from here Chris. I really like the whole ethos and build quality of PRS and have tried many over the years with the intention of buying but I have never found a model that feels, plays, and sounds good for me.
I own a PRS McCarty 594, and agree it is perfection personified, and indeed plays itself. I have a lot of guitars, frankly, some modern and some vintage. I absolutely love to play my PRS, and get it out regularly in the rotation (which is really not frequent enough!), but I love to play my '66 Hagstrom II and '98 Carvin DC127 and even my '56 Gretsch Electromatic, too. You make a great observation in that the persona of the guitar is part of its joy in use. I often compare my guitar collection to a car collection. Therein one might have Mustangs and Corvettes, maybe a Porsche or Ferrari, and they get the blood pumping. But taking a ride in an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon (with a 440 & 4 barrel Holley) is still a thrill.
The Vista had a 455 CID engine, not a 440. I had a '72 until I wrecked it, I agree it is a thrilling ride!
@@vincezab1 Indeed! A holy sxxt ride! I remember standing on the throttle with no brake and it stood still, smoke billowing from tires until you let off the gas.
Had 4 PRS guitars but sold them all. I can totally relate with this video. Also I played the PRS SE silver sky and it was my favourite budget strat, better than any MIM and will be getting that....... hopefully I keep it.
Hey Chris
I met you at the Leeds Wool Mill. After an amazing show !
You Tom Sam and Adam and Adam’s new girlfriend 😂 were fantastic !
I will be promoting you guys to everyone as you I am sure will be selling out stadiums soon !
You guys make me proud to be from the valleys !
Just one small point ??? Are you saying you don’t play your PRS often because it doesn’t have the character of your usuals ?
Good luck with Norway and beyond !
See you soon.😊
It sounds great, both with the demo and with the band. It also seems to suit you ergonomically (I had a McCarty and Swamp Ash Special and, ultimately, the shape didn't suit me). It needs to be played. Just go with the JM, Revstar and PRS for a month, put the others in cases, out of reach and then see how you feel. If it goes back to being unplayed after that, move it on, someone else will play it and the cash will probably be handy.
I don't know which i admire more; his vocabulary or his playing.. From a man of few words great video Chris
I really am not a fan of PRS but you make me to like it. You got the magic that makes every guitars sound marvellous. Truly.
The way you get that harmonic at 35 seconds is really something. Great playing!
yes ! that harmonic surprised me too. -Elegant !
YESSSSSSS...exactly !!!!!....this is exactly how i feel ....I just bought a new usa core 594 .AND sold it 3 weeks later .
I know that Chris plays out too, but the U tube guitarist is a whole new art form in itself. Great sounding tracks with a visual close up of a solo....consistent high quality from Chris...
I think it's fair to say that Chris is a musician and Band musician well before a RUclipsr ...
Not to put a finer point on it.. unlike many other 'youtubers' Chris has always been in a band .. from the initial TH3 that nearly broke America back in the day to several successful years and a fabulous album with Buck and Evans to now touring Europe with the chart topping Cardinal Black, Chris is first and foremost a musician that has just found an outlet called RUclips to help bolster his income. Now that Cardinal Black are gaining huge popularity let's hope that we still get him on RUclips .. he's regarded quite rightly as one of the best new guitarists in the world....but he's always been this good!
I love that double-time solo at the end of I'm Ready. It has a few really nice "stings" in it. 🎉
Damn dude...that guitar deserves playing. Sounds excellent and they are indeed amazingly well built. Hope you'll change your mind because it sounds phenomenal.
They are just perfect, perfectly sterile to me. There is a reason they fit so well with Nickeback! lol
Great video 👍 I have to say your playing makes the hair on the back of neck tingle.. without a doubt you sir are one of the finest guitarists ever to pick up an instrument 👍 fantastic as usual ❤
Hi , I’ve own and sold a PRS for that exact reason, I get it. But mostly I think it’s because they’re so good and bloody expensive, is why you don’t take it out and play it. Which then leads to the eternal GAS conundrum of having something of value to trade. My advice would be to own one at least.
I agree totally. Very well put together video. And very well explained.
Greetings Chris,
I has seen a lot of deeply talented Guitarist/Musicians who played incredibly. I myself have played for just under 58 years and I can recognize when a guitar is being in love with its musician and you McCarty is truly in love with you and I could see that you are in love in it. Sometimes we love to dance with our love where the world can see us and other times we only want it to ourselves.
Thank you for allowing us to see her and you dance and play each other. 👏🏻❤️❤️👏🏻
The jam ar the intro was by FAR the best I’ve seen around
An imperfect guitarist, playing an imperfect guitar, creating perfectly beautiful music.
Chris, an interesting and insightful video. I make no bones about being a huge PRS fan, but I understand and respect your take on playing yours. What it comes down to is what we find inspiring.
Your work inspires me and many others, so keep it up no matter what instrument speaks to you that day!
I love my PRS Hollowbodies - I have a HBii with Piezo and a 594 HB and they are both stunning instruments to play, the sound, the feel etc...
Every person is an individual and so everyone will have their own preferences etc. They all hear and feel things differently and may also have different wants/needs for creating their music. Some may not want a HBii and/or think isn't great for Rock/Metal - but another person will want a HB specifically for Rock/Metal, or prefer the light weight...
If its not the 'right' tool for you for the 'job' you want it to do or gravitate towards a 'favourite' for whatever reason, that's OK. It can be the 'best' built instrument or a cheap import imitation of a 'high end' model, its about using the tool you feel will get the music to flow out through your instrument to your audience in the way you want it to - but that PRS HBii sure sounds amazing in your hands when you do play it...
I got the Chinese one heavily discounted its kin marvelous.
Very interesting, introspective conclusion for a guitar video. Wish we did that more often.
THAT LAST SOLO... Damn you are good.
I had a hollowbody II in Ruby red. It was fabulous. Maple caps with scrapped edges front and back. Yours is a Hollowbody I. Was incredible to look at, but became a piece of furniture and thought me a lesson that if I'm not goiong to play it then dont buy it. But a great video, really enjoyable and your playing is delicious.
Bared your soul on that one Chris! Very deep and very well done on all levels:-)
I cant get enough of the jam at the begining 👌
I really enjoyed this deep episode of Friday Fretworks, thank you!
you really are an amazingly talented, humble, insightful chap!
No problem, you can always give this one to me. It will not only have a nice new house but also where it can play itself too 😊
I sort of felt the same way for a while after picking up my PRS Custom 24 35th Anniversary guitar, but I got over it. As I get older I want a guitar that stays in tune, fits my hand size perfectly and doesn't cause pain at a comfortable weight. I even went so far as buying an Emerald Virtuo for it's incredibly light weight and amazing sound via the carbon fiber body and Fishman Fluence pickups. I'd love to see Chris play these models as I'm sure they both would be awesome in his hands.
Chris's eloquence and clear read on the subject is as articulate as his hands are on that PRS. This was quite a testimony to the brand. I'll probably never be able to afford one, but boy this sure makes me want one. But then, I also want to play like Chris.
@pipecat, I paid about $950 with tax and shipping for my dgt-se, and it fantastic in every way. You might be able to afford one right now! Good luck!
@@brianmiller3287 Thanks for the kind recommendation! Something to think about.
I tried an American PRS once in A Dr Z amp, i was stunned. The liw capacitance pickups made it for quality tone close to Suhr stuff. YMMV
Not only a great guitarist but also one of the most eloquent! Thank you
It sure sounds fabulous.
I haven’t finished the video yet. But that there intro sounds awesome.
Seconded. Chris could make a concrete block strung with elastic bands sound like a custom shop guitar though!
I recently bought my first PRS (SE custom 24). That guitar is a thing of beauty, exceptionally well made, and thus far also the most expensive guitar I've bought. Neck feels great to me, but somehow it's taking a while for me to bond with the guitar. I keep going back to my Strat and Epiphones 😁 still, happy I added a PRS to my small humble collection!
OMG... the first time when the YT algo actually works and recommends something so ridiculously good that you just stop everything... work, boss, crazy gf, everything has Thanos-snapped itself out of existence for the last few hours while I guzzle down your every second of your playing mate, mother of god, thank you!!
And that flow you have.... of conveying thought to expression, at the very moment with such finesse.... musically of course but just hearing you speak is so, complete.... Cheers, just brilliant.
So, the Cardinal Black is my new discovery. Beautifil music. And Chris's sounds and melodies. Now, this guitar... I am drummer, I am trying to imagine myself finding a Gretsch USA Custom from 1970, in mint condition (if that exists), with depth and resonance like nothing else. Or a Yamaha Maple Custom Absolute from 1990s. I guess I would be absolutely schizofrenic about taking it anywhere. Not to add a single scratch or dent more. But at the same time, the sound of it, the colours, the beauty. All the things to share with the audiences. Great instruments are there to be played. I am sure that many fans fans would be glad to see and hear this wonderful guitar more.
I don't know Chris, but it seems like you can pick any kind of gear, cheap or expensive and it sounds every time as YOU and that is the proof of how mature you are as a guitar player, incredible guitar player to be honest. Well done as always!
You play so well. In the 1950’s all the bands sounded like they put the band at the end of an aircraft hanger and a mike at the other end. Too much reverb/echo kills all the tone, attack and harmonics and emotional edge and feel. PRS need more treble in the amp and not too much reverb. Have used an old mesa boogie MkIIB with a PRS treble on 8 ( switch pulled out) bass and mid on 4, gain boost ( switch pulled out), overdrive on 8, reverb on 4 -6, presence 9 ( not sure using top of dial to measure, just looked, presence used to be 4-6 not sure how it got to 9) have not touched these settings for 24 years, still love it. The Amp and guitar just scream. It cuts heads off, feels like barb wire cutting into your hands. Plug the guitar direct into a good amp, get rid of the pedals, they just muddy up the sound. The PRS is then like a Ferrari reving up, roaring to go.
Maaan your playing is outstanding bro!! You're up there with the great guitarists of today in my book for sure. Also love the content you put out. All the best to you !!!
This really resonated with me Chris as I have a 2004 PRS Custom 22 which I rarely play. I usually reach for Les Paul or Stratocaster when gigging or playing at home. It does seem bizarre as it is a fantastic instrument!
Well damn, maybe you should play it more often because that was FIRE! Seriously your playing just keeps getting better, so on point.
Awesomely honest post Chris. I'm a lefty, and despite Mr PRS's lack of support of lefties outside the SEs, I've bought 2 Core PRS's. They're beautifully built as you say, but neither really made me feel like my Les Pauls ('cos when I grow up I want to be Paul Kossoff) or Teles (cos if I grow up I want to be Jimmy Page) I sold one recently, and, unlike other guitars I've sold, I had zero remorse. Which is odd. I admit I do wonder how much I'm influenced by my personal view on PRS's lefty policy. I try to tell myself not to be, but when I plonk on my 335 think Crossroads. When I play my old Custom 22 I think 'this is a nice guitar'
Yet another great video, so thank you! You called this PRS perfect; in my humble opinion it’s the perfect guitar for you. Only you could create those beautiful blended tones between the PAF,s & Piezo, and handle the instrument in such dynamic fashion the way you do.
I am right there with ya on this! I only play Fender and Gibson inspired guitars and I just cannot get into PRS or any other new guitar company! I love the feeling of playing history I guess! simply put! great video Chris!
@@servethesongsjudging by this guys other comments, we found the PRS diehard. This guy Toddroy didn’t even say anything negative about PRS and you decided to come in and be derogatory. He just liked what he likes and clearly you like what you like.
What an astoundingly honest take on this issue. So many people say they are "boring"... which isn't really the case. I think more people actually fit into what you've said here regarding growing to desire those imperfections on other brands/models because the heroes you grew up watching and listening to played them. Great video!
I don't know that I have a hero, so I own a Strat, a Tele, a Yamaha Pacifica, a Carvin AE-185, a PRS McCarty, a G&L Legacy, and a few other brands like Dean, Leo Jaymez, Harley Benton. I just like guitars.
I bought my SE because it was the best looking and best playing (in my budget) guitar in the store. Very glad I bought it.
I've got a silver series Japanese squier strat and your channel made me realise how good it was so my guitar wizard gave it the works and it's my favourite, I bought a squier 40th jazzmaster cause of this channel and its great...yet my fave guitar is my PRS CE because its pretty much perfect ...you speak so much sense!!! Totally agree... how can a perfect guitar be a bad thing?
Damn you have to be one of the greatest guitarists of our generation. Your technique is mesmerising. Rock the hell on my guy!
dude,....
Have you ever considered running the piezo through an IR pedal with acoustic guitar IRs loaded? There are so many tailored to match up with a piezo that can really remove that honky sound. You could blend in flattops or arch top jazz boxes or even metal bodied resonators and it wouldn’t take a ton of gear or special setup to do. A NUX Optima Air is a great pedal that has IRs loaded for piezo pickups and spaces to load your own. I think it would transform how you could use the piezo option.
It's so impressive that you communicate almost as well with words as you do with your playing. Another aspect of this might be the experience most of us have had with a more "limited" instrument seeming to push us to be more creative. The classic challenge of having to work within limitations.
Chris speaks like he plays: with precision, intention, polish, and articulation. He's obviously extremely intelligent. However, he is SO precise, that like the PRS he's reviewing here, his playing is almost too perfect. My taste is a bit less precision and more character. Hendrix is the polar opposite: sloppy, off the cuff, unpredictable, and wild. Perhaps Chris just doesn't gel with an instrument that matches his own incredible prodigy. Maybe it's true and just that opposites attract!
Part opinion, part tutorial, part lesson - couldn't get better! This guitar, as do all of your guitars. sound great in your hands. Thank you Chris!!
I think this is the problem with PRS guitars. There wonderful instruments to look at and extremely well built but there just....not that engaging. Maybe its the desire to 'perfect' everything that theres nothing left to really go at.
I think Chris through his masterful guitar skills can make any guitar sound perfect.
You are not alone. Perfect to me is an hearing test, clean tones, do you hear it? Some instruments are like that, perfect.
I had an Epiphone plected, it basicly killed it, the thrill was gone. Lesson learned I do the frets by my self and just that much, some imperfection is still there, going to far well the thrill might leave and there is no way back.
The thing that really stands out to me in this video is how much you just sound like...well you. Doesn't matter if you're playing a PRS, your Yamaha, a Strat, a Jazzmaster, or a Les Paul. There's no mistaking that technique.
That PRS sounds good because you're making it sing, mate.
This just blows my mind. I cannot fathom choosing to mainly play things that you find 'harder' or 'worse'. I try to find stuff that makes it easier for me. Of course it's fun to play different things now and then and some gear get assigned a specific purpose.
Maybe I'm just too lazy.
I agree that its mainly because of a look or the association with our heroes of older generations, but then the older ones didn't have the choice and were playing what was new at that time.
Still it keeps fender and gibson going and overall i guess that's a good thing although I've never owned either and don't plan to at the moment.
I had the SE version without the piezo and absolutely loved it on silent stages like church. But anywhere else it feedbacked like a banshee.
Interesting as the reason you give for *not* playing it is the exact reason I have finally came around to PRS. I would not have been caught dead with a PRS for decades. And then one day, on a lark, I picked up a Silver Sky at the local shop, and realized not only was it the "dream" strat I had always hoped for, it was also so much *not* a strat that I could actually express more my true self on it instead of thinking "This is a strat so I need to instinctively play like Jimi/Ritchie/Stevie" on it. It didn't lock me into the familiar despite giving me access to the familiar sounds if I wanted them, and opened up the musical palette I could use.
I own fender and Gibson instruments ... 1 thing's for sure, i want quality instruments now and then. This PRS is exactly what I'm looking for next !