Members _pete_ Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 After 35 years of playing, I finally figured out what I like in a guitar and found one at the right price. I dearly love LP's but there is always something about them that fights me. It's either weight, or poor upper fret access, or something else. The Les Paul Axcess is the only LP I felt was exactly right for me. I just didn't want to invest that much in one guitar. Over the last year I've realized that my PRS CE24 is my go-to guitar. I can play anything on it and while I'm playing I don't find myself thinking about the guitar. The feel is perfect, the controls are perfect, the sound is perfect. It leaves me free to concentrate on my playing. I've had other CE24's and they all felt that way to me. PRS guitars always agreed with me so I decided to sell my Orville Les Paul Custom (great guitar but not perfect for me) and look for a Singlecut. I had SE Singlecuts which are nice but I wanted the best I can find. I found this 2003 Singlecut on TGP and oh my freakin' god this is it. It arrived on Monday and I can't stop playing it. The wide/fat neck is a joy, the weight and balance are perfect, the controls respond amazingly well, and it sounds incredible. The fact that it's a goldtop (my fave) was the deal clincher. I even like that it has birds. I never had a PRS with birds so that was something I wanted. The pickups are PRS Dragon I's. These are hard to find and are expensive when you do find them. I can see why. They are a hot pup that doesn't act like one. They clean up beautifully and scream when you need them too. I added a couple nickel cover I had because I like the look. I used a ScotchBrite pad on them to give them a brushed look. Also, since they are splittable, I'm going to add a couple push/pulls. Other than that, this one needs nothing else. You always hear that nothing sounds like a Les Paul. This does. I've had plenty of LP's and this is solidly in the ballpark. For me, this is the Les Paul done right. PRS gets the details right. I'm beyond happy. Between this guitar and my CE24 I can have any tone I want. They are all in there. My other guitars are great but I could happily get by with only these two. Sorry for the rambling, on to the PICS!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mistersully Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 congrats... it can be quite a journey figuring out what really suits you best that's a classy looking pair of guitars right there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seven58 Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 I love a goldtop. Happy NGD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dogsinotpalc Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Very cool guitar. What year is your CE? Regardless of how much we all pride ourselves on our ears, the vast majority of us wouldn't know the difference between the sound of a PRS Singlecut, a Gibson Les Paul, a Guild Bluesbird, a Heritage 150, or an Epiphone Les Paul (or any other equivalent import LP knockoff) on a record. Obviously when you're playing the thing the differences are huge, but that's why there are the variations on the theme and you use the one that works best for you. I'm totally sold on PRS guitars and have been since I got my 89/90 Custom with 10 top and birds. I had a CE, but it wouldn't ever really stay in tune, and didn't feel right (it was a gift that came from East Coast Music Mall when Ed Roman still ran the place and I have a feeling it was one of his knock-offs). But in '94 I got my CE-22 with a maple top...second only to the Custom for me. Between the two of them all of the bases are pretty much covered, but I still love my ASAT Special, Am Std Strat, and 69 Thinline Reissue (MIJ)...they can inspire a different mentality when I'm playing. The two "Teles" remove the option of the vibrato, so I have to make for that lack of sonic option in other ways. I'm still deeply lusting a SAS and a DGT gold top would also be sweet, but the one I really wanted that was discontinued and then brought back was the Singlecut Trem. Maybe one day I'll find one, but new instruments (especially EXPENSIVE ones) are pretty much the last thing on my list of priorities. My jealousy is only tempered by the fact that it isn't a Singlecut Trem. Enjoy the hell out of that thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted September 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Very cool guitar. What year is your CE? Regardless of how much we all pride ourselves on our ears, the vast majority of us wouldn't know the difference between the sound of a PRS Singlecut, a Gibson Les Paul, a Guild Bluesbird, a Heritage 150, or an Epiphone Les Paul (or any other equivalent import LP knockoff) on a record. Obviously when you're playing the thing the differences are huge, but that's why there are the variations on the theme and you use the one that works best for you. I'm totally sold on PRS guitars and have been since I got my 89/90 Custom with 10 top and birds. I had a CE, but it wouldn't ever really stay in tune, and didn't feel right (it was a gift that came from East Coast Music Mall when Ed Roman still ran the place and I have a feeling it was one of his knock-offs). But in '94 I got my CE-22 with a maple top...second only to the Custom for me. Between the two of them all of the bases are pretty much covered, but I still love my ASAT Special, Am Std Strat, and 69 Thinline Reissue (MIJ)...they can inspire a different mentality when I'm playing. The two "Teles" remove the option of the vibrato, so I have to make for that lack of sonic option in other ways.I'm still deeply lusting a SAS and a DGT gold top would also be sweet, but the one I really wanted that was discontinued and then brought back was the Singlecut Trem. Maybe one day I'll find one, but new instruments (especially EXPENSIVE ones) are pretty much the last thing on my list of priorities. My jealousy is only tempered by the fact that it isn't a Singlecut Trem. Enjoy the hell out of that thing. The CE is a 1995. I added Graph Tech piezo saddles to it. I cannot get it out of tune. It holds as well as any Floyd guitar I ever had. It has that certain something special about it. I'll never part with it.The new SC just has that LP sound I love. As soon as I hit the first chord on it I couldn't stop smiling. It has a thick low end tone and a creamy midrange. It nails the sound I wanted.I love Gibsons and Fenders but PRS is tops for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JR13 Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 beautiful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dogsinotpalc Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 The CE is a 1995. I added Graph Tech piezo saddles to it. I cannot get it out of tune. It holds as well as any Floyd guitar I ever had. It has that certain something special about it. I'll never part with it.The new SC just has that LP sound I love. As soon as I hit the first chord on it I couldn't stop smiling. It has a thick low end tone and a creamy midrange. It nails the sound I wanted.I love Gibsons and Fenders but PRS is tops for me. Was 1995 the year they went from alder to mahogany on the CEs or was that 1996? Mine's got the alder back. I'm bummed that they stopped making the CEs, but they were clearly making way for the DC and NF3 models. I'm glad they kept the Swamp Ash Special, but I really dug it's original PU configuration. The 2003 Singlecut still has the 25 inch scale which I prefer to 24 3/4". What's with the truss rod cover? It's pretty groovy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted September 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Was 1995 the year they went from alder to mahogany on the CEs or was that 1996? Mine's got the alder back. I'm bummed that they stopped making the CEs, but they were clearly making way for the DC and NF3 models. I'm glad they kept the Swamp Ash Special, but I really dug it's original PU configuration. The 2003 Singlecut still has the 25 inch scale which I prefer to 24 3/4". What's with the truss rod cover? It's pretty groovy. My CE is mahogany/maple. 95 was the first year for that combo. The truss cover is just what the previous owner had on it. It's rosewood and I think it looks good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Geeter Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Congratulations and Happy New Guitar Day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tweak'd Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 I really like that SC....sweet, to say the least... HNGD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cobalt Blue Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Your talent warrants the expenditure, and the hard times you went through (too) recently make you more than deserving. HNGD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jkater Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Wow, what a beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Your talent warrants the expenditure, and the hard times you went through (too) recently make you more than deserving.HNGD My thoughts exactly Congrats, play the hell out of that new guitar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted September 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Your talent warrants the expenditure, and the hard times you went through (too) recently make you more than deserving.HNGD Thanks, that's a very nice thing to say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -TJ- Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Thats awesome pete, congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted September 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Thats awesome pete, congrats Thanks man! It's good to see ya around. Like you, I've decided to go with quality over quantity. I'm so happy with both of the PRS's that I may sell off the Strats for a PRS 305. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 HNGD, it's great to finally find a piece that just speaks to you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frets99 Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 Awesomely beautiful!!! Looks like the best of two worlds right there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted September 15, 2011 Moderators Share Posted September 15, 2011 Aaaaaaaw Pete that is just about the dogs bollocks, and you thoroughly deserve it, nice one man:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rand-O-Monium Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Glad you found "the one...or two"!!! Congrats & Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted September 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Aaaaaaaw Pete that is just about the dogs bollocks, and you thoroughly deserve it, nice one man:thu: Goldtop and a wraptail. Great combo, aint it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members -TJ- Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Thanks man! It's good to see ya around. Like you, I've decided to go with quality over quantity. I'm so happy with both of the PRS's that I may sell off the Strats for a PRS 305. Good choice. I've got two Hamers, and two Strat types. I still love my AJC but its retired for now, maybe if I do a hard rock project I will break it out. I am incredibly content with my guitars. I dont gas for any more, they suit me perfectly, they work well, thats all I need. I have a lot of pedals and for my sound an extensive collection of quality pedals works best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members _pete_ Posted September 15, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 I suppose boobies are a lost tradition now eh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LeftyTom Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Now go forth and Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Deadbeat Son Posted September 15, 2011 Members Share Posted September 15, 2011 Oh, and where's NGD # 2 of 2??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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