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PRS

MoonBlog 9.6 gratitude & 5.1 perseverance

For many Moons now, I was looking to upgrade my guitar, having had 16 guitars (and one Bass guitar) in my life so far I was looking for something different.

I knew I wanted a certain shape that felt good to my own body holding it, but should also be of high quality and perhaps a looker too.

And this time, no matter the price… kinda…

Easily said, not so easy to find, and I have had my fair share of shitty guitars, mostly because of budget issues, and also because it takes a while for me to find out if I do like something, or if it simply does not work out. So after a few moons processing I end up buying a guitar, and then a few moons later it needs to go again.

Reading my MoonBlogs one can see I have an affection for PRS (Paul Reed Smith) guitars, most say because he makes guitars that sit somewhere in between Fender (Stratocaster) and Gibson (Les Paul), and while that may be true, what speaks to me, is his openness to share about his products, his own nerdiness in going all in in finding that tone through all the little components that make up a musical instrument, his factory, and so on.

Sure some of it is marketing, some of it is ego showiness, a little american sauce over it, but it’s good, I like it. I’ve learned a lot more about guitars and guitar making through investigating about their company and products, something that is much much harder to find out about with most other guitar making companies.

So I had a vague kind of wishlist of components, or elements that my next guitar should contain, where quality was probably the most important.
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Paul Reed Smith overview

Alive, vintage tone, S2 Custom 22 Semi-Hollow
The S2 Custom 22 is a classic workhorse guitar. Known for its exceptional clarity and warm midrange, the S2 Custom 22 Semi-Hollow has been updated here with a semi-hollow single f-hole mahogany/maple body, giving this vintage-inspired guitar a classic look and outstanding resonance. Appointments include the patented PRS tremolo system, 85/15 “S” treble and bass pickups, and a push/pull coil tap on the tone control for versatile, alive vintage tone.

Traditional bolt-on feel with a sound all its own, to tell a new story, Reclaimed Limited: CE 24 Semi-Hollow
Since the dawn of rock and roll, the snap and response that comes from a bolt-on neck guitar has been an essential part of the mix. These attributes have, in turn, become essential to many players trying to tell their story through music. This CE 24 pairs the body combination of the mahogany back and Peroba Rosa top with a bolt-on maple neck and Brauna Preto fretboard. The neck sports a Pattern Thin carve and satin nitro finish for a natural, addictive feel. To further maximize the guitar’s inherent tone and clarity, the CE 24 features PRS 85/15 pickups, which Paul designed to have remarkable clarity as well as extended high and low end. The electronics consist of a volume and push/pull tone control with 3-way toggle switch for a total of six classic sounds.

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TonePros Standard Locking Studs for PRS

TonePros locking studs provide 100% of the contact area of the bottom flange, 100% of the contact area of the stud top, no lean, and components that are completely locked solid to the guitar body. The SPRS2 Brass Locking Studs maintain the same locking and tonal features of the SS1 Style Brass Locking Studs, but add an attractive, larger stud cap that looks great with the AVT2 and similar style wraparound bridges.
Combining the Tonepro SPRS2-NKL (SAE 5/16 – 24 threads) and 2 mounting anchors for USA GIBSON® which are 13mm diameter that fits tightly in a 1/2″ hole, but because they’re 7/8″ (22mm) tall they stick out 2mm on a PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow Soapbar Model.

Graph Tech 43 x 6 mm nut

The PQ-6643-00 is the perfect option to replace and upgrade the nut on your acoustic or electric guitar. It is pre-slotted to make for a quick and easy install.

TUSQ delivers a rich tone, crystal clear bell like high end with big open lows and a significant increase in harmonic content and harmonic sustain. Increase harmonics equals more richness and character in your tone. Its the difference between a four piece choir and a twelve piece choir singing every time your play a note.

 Measure  Length Width
 Height
 E to E
inches
 1.691″ 0.236″ 0.313″ 1.387″
inches 1 11/16″ 1/4″ 5/16″ 1 3/8″
millimeters 42.95mm 5.98mm 7.95mm 35.22mm


The PT-6643-00 is a great option to replace or upgrade the nut on your six string acoustic or electric guitar. It has a flat bottom and is pre-slotted for a quick and simple install.

Black TUSQ XL is engineered from the same material as TUSQ and is impregnated with PTFE which is five times more slippery than graphite. It has all the tonal benefits of TUSQ, bringing out the hidden harmonics of your guitar all while drastically improving tuning performance.

Black TUSQ XL is consistent from piece to piece, and within each piece, to offer you harmonically rich tones without the problems associated with natural materials.

The PRS Electric Guitar Book

ISBN: 9781480386273

A Complete History of Paul Reed Smith Electrics

PRS guitars today appeal to a growing number of musicians, from Carlos Santana to Al Di Meola, from Zach Myers to Mark Tremonti. This book examines every part of PRS history, with an in-depth story, beautiful photographs, and detailed collector’s info. Paul Reed Smith set up his first PRS factory in 1985 in Maryland and has devised guitars from the regular Custom and McCarty models, through the outrageously decorated Dragon specials and the controversial Singlecut, and on to recent achievements such as the Mira, Dave Grissom DGT, JA-15, and the S2 models. Dozens of guitars are pictured inside along with players, ads, catalogs, and rare memorabilia. A detailed reference section helps musicians and collectors identify and date PRS instruments, making this revised and updated edition of The PRS Electric Guitar Book a must for all guitar fans, by Author Dave Burrluck

MoonBlog 4.6 Excess

a frog’s leap slight return

There are few changes noticeable, some may turn out to be temporary due to the Transits, others perhaps a shift of me, of me being in this world, who knows, but here is another Blog of Moon 😉

After careful consideration, and many moons, many guitars, many try-outs, many samples, I decided to have a guitar built for me. To not have to compromise again, or experience not just disappointment, but even disaster. Or at least the interpretation of the perception of that 😉

living room wall in 1994

So I made a well researched list of the more technical descriptions a guitar should be made of, and how, the kinds of woods, the way to construct it, the pick-ups and other electronics. There are a few companies that make half-finished guitars, one here in the Netherlands that I know of, and having sponged and absorbed their website I had made the following wishes/demands for such a Sjef guitar, this file was first made Friday June 29th 2007 its last edit was Thursday October 30th 2014

The best of a couple of guitars combined, but starting with a Gibson SG body shape made 45mm thick not the usual 35mm for an SG and is already curved/carved on the sides, with a 3 or 5 parts made neck-thru (meaning neck and body are one long carved/machined piece, and the rest of the body is glued to it) with a leaner angle on the head-stock, added a waist cut and fore-arm cut like on a Fender Stratocaster. 24 frets of course, although unsure of the Scale length. The Neck was to be made of Hard Maple with an Ebony fingerboard, CarbonTech Trussrod and a Compound Radius of 10-16 inches. It needs to be carved out as a Thinline (ie Semi-Hollow) of Mahogany with a quilted Maple top which is flat apart from the curves and cuts and then string-thru (no tremolo) At the time I wrote to put in EMG 85 and 89R pick-ups with a phase change switch, and these need to be bolted to the neck, not spring mounted to the body.

Gibson SG Standard Fireburst
Gibson SG Standard Fireburst

Just the woods and their shape would cost at least 1000 euros, then paint and lacquer, all the hardware, another easy 1000 euro at least, but… no more compromise, no more disaster (heh, this is where my recent insight about Gate 47 (making endless drafts ending as paper rubble) comes in handy)

This idea percolated for years and sometimes was shaved, tuned, added, changed until at one point I thought, ‘fuck it, I’m going to buy a cheap Thinline guitar and just jam with it. Not having an electric guitar or the funds to have one built has lastet long enough now’, and so I started looking for some neat guitars.
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Paul Reed Smith SE Custom SH Soapbar

  • Body
    Back Wood: Chambered Mahogany
    Top Wood: Maple Top with Flame Maple Veneer

    Neck
    Number of Frets: 22
    Scale Length: 25″
    Neck Wood: Mahogany
    Fretboard Wood: Rosewood
    Neck Shape: Wide Fat
    Inlays: Moons

  • Hardware
    Bridge: PRS Designed Stoptail
    Tuners: PRS Designed Tuners
    Hardware Type: Nickel

    Electronics
    Treble Pickup: Soapbar Treble
    Bass Pickup: Soapbar Bass
    Pickup Switching: Volume and Tone Control with 3-Way Blade Pickup Selector