Totally Underwhelmed by the PRS 513

[shoe]

I've always been a bit of an "early-adopter" when it comes to new technology. Case in point, when the new PRS 513 was introduced last year, I was very, very interested in it. However, I refused to place an order for it. Fast forward to December of 2004 when they finally became available at retail. Add the fact that two were sitting in a shop a few miles from my house and I began to loose sleep over how badly I wanted to check one out!

So, low and behold I finally have to prove to myself whether or not I need this guitar (my wallett and my wife appreciate it when I can convince myself otherwise) and I take my trusty Suhr koa standard with pau ferro neck and H-S-H configuration along to a/b the 513.

Plugged the 513 into a Bogner 1x12 Shiva combo. Had the room to myself and put her through her paces. The neck was the largest PRS I've ever felt (totally dug it) and the fret work was great......but nothing you wouldn't expect for a 5k guitar. As for the tones.......I coulnd't believe how mediocre they were! The interesting part was playing away through all the wiring combos (the "hot" humucker setting was all but useless in my opinion), I coulnd't help but just feel like "you mean that's it?"

The real nail in the coffin was when I plugged my Suhr in and it just kicked the crap out of the PRS (in tone and playability). I was just stunned. The PRS is easily double the price of my Suhr that I had custom made to my specs. I just coulnd't belive my ears!

Anyway.....I really wanted to like this guitar.....I was already planning on what I would have to sell so that I could get it. I still really want to check out a Modern Eagle based on all the talk around here, but I have to say that I was really, really shocked.

Just my $.02

SIDE NOTE - one little ironic point here was that I conducted the test at Rudy's......the former home of Pensa-Suhr guitars. It's always a bit interesting when you see the looks of the sales guys' faces when I pull out a Suhr out of my gig bag......:D

[John Phillips]

I feel the non-standard pickups are a major mistake. I know it's cool for each maker to follow their own vision, and to make the pickups an integral part of that if they want... but it strikes me as daft in today's world to deliberately make it impossible to fit aftermarket pickups.

I have Duncans in both my PRSs, BTW. I love the guitars, but I just didn't think the stock pickups were quite as good. Maybe Paul has decided he doesn't like this kind of thing, and intends to stamp it out.

I also thought "you mean that's it?" when I found out what the switching system actually did... I was expecting somthing more radical - I'm not quite sure what exactly, but standard H-S-H switching with different voicings for the humbuckers didn't seem enough to justify the fanfare with which it was announced. With that switch arrangement, you could have a far wider and more useful range of sounds - how about both humbuckers, or neck & bridge single coils together, for a start?

On the good side, at least it doesn't have a rotary switch ;).

[shoe]

Agreed.....I was really surprised at the lack of ability to have the two outside humbuckers on simultaneoulsy. Since I never use the middle single coil pickup EVER on a strat, my Suhr are wired to give me outside buckers in the middle position.

Well, at least the neck was cool.....:rolleyes:

[Joe]

Originally posted by shoe
and I began to loose sleep over how badly I wanted to check one out!



:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

[fullerplast]

Originally posted by John Phillips
I feel the non-standard pickups are a major mistake.

Agreed. My first thought when I saw the prototype. What were they thinking......? At least use the same form factor as some existing pickups!

[fullerplast]

strikes me as daft

Always liked that word....we can't really get away with using it over here.:D It needs an accent to make it work I think....

[Unburst]

Originally posted by shoe
The interesting part was playing away through all the wiring combos (the "hot" humucker setting was all but useless in my opinion),


There is always a trade off with versatility imo, and in the case of the 513 having two SC pups wired in series will never sound as good as a regular HB pup.

[Jon Silberman]

Disagree.

I tried one in December. Went carefully through all the combinations. I liked virtually all of them just fine and many a real lot.

At the time, I was at Chiba's switching off between many PRSi, a real vintage Strat, my Reverend, a Chapin, a few Teles, and more so I had plenty of solid reference points close at hand.

Maybe I just like different tones than the admittedly very small sample size of posters so far in this thread, of course I could also have zero taste in guitars (though I have reason to doubt the latter ;) ).

[Scott Peterson]

Originally posted by lotus
Haven't played one, so I can't comment on the tones. That said, I have to agree *vehemently* on the silliness of making the pickups completely impossible to replace without routing the guitar. Yes, a guitar at that price point should come with good pickups in the first place, and maybe some will agree with Jon and dig the 513 pickups a bunch. But if not, well, PRS loses every possible sale to any player who might like the guitar but find the pickups even a little underwhelming. Heck, for that price, one had better *adore* the pickups, or buying one would be a pretty big mistake, IMO.

I am with Lotus.

I have not seen or tried a 513 yet. Have no urge or need to do so either.

But to in essence force your pickups on folks is IMHO not the best idea.

Just my opinion.

[angelo]

yeah, gotta at least have the option to swap out. Even though I usually don't, I still like to know there are choices.

And, unlike the ASAT's, I doubt enough will ever be sold to make it worth a manufacturer's while to make some.

[Jon Silberman]

Hey, I'm digging this, I'm like the bad boy of this thread.

:D

[JoeB63]

I guess those that like it $5,000 worth should buy one, and those that don't, shouldn't.

No reason to criticize PRS's thinking on this -- it's just another guitar you can choose not to buy if you don't like it. I'm sure enough people will love it.


Also, since we spend so much time here talking about individual guitars that are much better than others of the same exact model, perhaps we can assume that Shoe played was a dud, and the one that Jon played was an excellent example of that model.

[klatuu]

Originally posted by shoe

The real nail in the coffin was when I plugged my Suhr in and it just kicked the crap out of the PRS (in tone and playability). I was just stunned. The PRS is easily double the price of my Suhr that I had custom made to my specs. I just coulnd't belive my ears!

Tough to beat one of John's guitars, no matter what another cost. IMO one of the very best bangs for the buck there is. That's not knocking other guitars and builders, just noting that you get great value for $2500 or so.

[MOJO]

I'll take it to my grave ..........but i "still" feel they made a mistake going with a mahogany/maple body combo for the 513..

alder or ash body... maybe with a maple top and a maple neck would have worked better with that kinda of pickup system.

but what do i know?

[big mike]

Originally posted by Scott Peterson
I am with Lotus.

I have not seen or tried a 513 yet. Have no urge or need to do so either.

But to in essence force your pickups on folks is IMHO not the best idea.

Just my opinion.

I can't believe it will not be too long before Seymour and others offer something.

[Clorenzo]

Originally posted by JoeB63
Also, since we spend so much time here talking about individual guitars that are much better than others of the same exact model, perhaps we can assume that Shoe played was a dud, and the one that Jon played was an excellent example of that model. Or even the other way round, but they just happen to have different tastes in guitar tone (not better or worse, just different) and/or the particular amp used in each case had better "synergy" with the guitar in one case than the other.

[John Phillips]

Originally posted by big mike blues
I can't believe it will not be too long before Seymour and others offer something.
Actually, now you mention it...

Maybe they do. A lot of Seymour Duncan Strat pickups have the 'Jaguar type' parallel baseplate, not the normal 'triangular' Strat one. I haven't checked the measurements, but perhaps they would fit - since according to PRS, the pickups are five single coils, not two humbuckers and one single coil.

Which makes the limited switching options even more baffling. If you're going to fit five distinct single coil pickups, you can do a hell of a lot more interesting and clever things with them than wiring them as 'full' or 'tapped' humbuckers. Like, making the two coils in each 'humbucker' different, and giving the option of either one, for a start...

It still doesn't help those who want a 'real' humbucker in either the front or back positions though. The reverse is not true - you can get two Strat-size coils into a humbucker cavity... Duncan's Stag Mag is exactly like that.


I really can't see any pickup maker going to a lot of trouble to make direct replacements for the 513 any other way though - how many do you think PRS will sell? Unless of course this is just an introductory model and they filter the pickups down into the lower price ranges too...

[eric102673]

I really can't see any pickup maker going to a lot of trouble to make direct replacements for the 513 any other way though - how many do you think PRS will sell?

That's exactly what I was thinking too. They didn't do so good with the CU22 soapbar. IMO the 513 is even more of a stretch and about twice as expensive. I'd be curious to know how well they do over the next year or so.

-e.

[BIGGERSTAFF]

I actually prefered the CU22 Soapbar to the regular CU22 tonally, as my tastes for HB tone were more McCarty/Singlecut. I would like to check the 513 out, but at that price, I'm not interested in buying one. I'll have a wazoo custom order guitar for that kind of coin, before a production model.

[Felipe]

The PRS idea for the 513 is somewhat just like Anderson's Switcheroo. He places 5 single coils in a row, and wire them:
1-Single coil, which are the outside coils only.
2-Clear Humbucking, which are the the coils of the "humbucker" wired in parallel, which gives a crispier HB tone.
3-Heavy Humbucking, which is simple the coils wired in series like a normal bucker.

Using the 5 way you get the strat combinations, but is simply as that. The 3 way just changes the wiring on the "faux-buckers".
Haven't played one, but the strategy, as I see, is really mistaken.

He should have come with these pickups on an entry-level guitar, like a CE or a Std. To make sure the potential buyers of his expensive guitars could get to try the system on a lower budget instrument. If the system is good, you offer on your 5k guitar. The way he is doing he is limiting the system to the ones who:
-Like PRS guitars a lot!
-Have 5k laying around to throw on something new and not-replaceable!
-Combine the 2 above...

I doubt Duncan will develop something to a guitar that will probably sell 1% of what a Custom sells.

[Jon Silberman]

Originally posted by MOJO
I'll take it to my grave ..........but i "still" feel they made a mistake going with a mahogany/maple body combo for the 513..

alder or ash body... maybe with a maple top and a maple neck would have worked better with that kinda of pickup system.

but what do i know?

You know alot, I agree totally and I'll raise you a bolt-on neck.

[MOJO]

Originally posted by Jon Silberman
You know alot, I agree totally and I'll raise you a bolt-on neck.

exactly Jon:dude ..

[shallbe]

I've often thought the weakest part of many PRS guitars has been the pickups. It certaily has been the case with mine----fortunately they can be replaced.

I know a dealer that is very concerned that he has one 513 coming and will not be able to sell it. It appears to be a "take or leave it guitar", where most guitars can be altered sonically to your prefs.

[Chiba]

I'll be bad boy #2 and say I really dug the sounds I got from the 2 513s I checked out. 1 was the same Jon played, the other I played up at Chuck's.

Ever since my migration away from humbuckers, the 513 is practically (tonally) the ideal guitar for me, as it gives a cross between P-90 and single coil tones, and always with the option of going to a 'full' humbucker in the neck or bridge position if you want it.

IMHO 2 humbuckers fully on at the same time (middle position on an LP) is a thick, muddy, icky tone and totally useless to me - no definition, no clarity, nothing but a chord akin to a plug of tobacco - just huge, brown, and there.

If the 513 wasn't $5k I'd probably be trying to buy one. I loved the necks on the 2 I played and the aesthetics are excellent - the new birds are very cool looking and the improved heel is great as well.

But, no guitar can be all things to all people, so I wouldn't expect everybody to love it.

Frankly, I'd like to see it offered with a maple neck to really set off those clear hb & single coil tones.

--chiba

[MichaelK]

Originally posted by shallbe
I've often thought the weakest part of many PRS guitars has been the pickups. It certaily has been the case with mine----fortunately they can be replaced.
I have never played PRS pickups I like. They sound pretty sweet in Ariel Pozzo's hands, tho...

[Marty s Horne]

I'm probably the minority here but to me Dragon 1 and 2 pickups with a rotary switch is sweetness personified.

[Mike Cantrell]

Unbelievable.

Bashing a guitar manufacturer for producing proprietary equipment. How dare they!? :p

Also interesting to see lotus-Mr 'why won't PRS build me a single coil guitar', jump on the band wagon.

You guys are an entertaining lot!

:)

[fullerplast]

I think we are all just questioning the wisdom of a "one pickup fits all" business decision in the current guitar player environment. It's a big gamble. Kind of like designing a guitar to only accept strings with blocks on the end instead of balls so players would have to buy your strings. Or designing a car that uses an odd size tire so you need to use the manufacturers tires.

I admire PRS for the guts to try something completely different, but I think it would have been much more marketable if they chose a standard pickup format. The likelyhood of the new PRS pickup becoming a standard for aftermarket makers looks pretty slim to me at this point. Given what they did choose to do, I think it would be wise for PRS to offer some pickup options themselves, based on the new format.

[Mike Cantrell]

Originally posted by fullerplast
Or designing a car that uses an odd size tire so you need to use the manufacturers tires.


I guess I don't have a problem with that either... I drive a '02 Chrysler Prowler...

P225/45HR17 (front)
P295/40HR20 (rear)

Goodyear Extended Mobility (EMT) with run-flat capability.

Not exactly proprietary, but not found at your local corner tire place either.... :D

Mike

p.s. I have never touched, played, or even heard a 513.

[phretbored]

Originally posted by MOJO
I'll take it to my grave ..........but i "still" feel they made a mistake going with a mahogany/maple body combo for the 513..

alder or ash body... maybe with a maple top and a maple neck would have worked better with that kinda of pickup system.

but what do i know?

Right on.
The 513 is a great model for PRS to use something other than mahogany for the body.
A maple neck would be cool too.

[John Phillips]

Originally posted by Chiba
IMHO 2 humbuckers fully on at the same time (middle position on an LP) is a thick, muddy, icky tone and totally useless to me - no definition, no clarity, nothing but a chord akin to a plug of tobacco - just huge, brown, and there.
But have you tried a PRS with two Duncan humbuckers wired with McCarty switching? It doesn't sound anything like that (or like a Les Paul). The both-humbuckers sound is brighter and clearer than either alone, with plenty of definition and very responsive to playing dynamics... that's why I use it about 70% of the time.

Just curious...

[shallbe]

Originally posted by John Phillips
But have you tried a PRS with two Duncan humbuckers wired with McCarty switching? It doesn't sound anything like that (or like a Les Paul). The both-humbuckers sound is brighter and clearer than either alone, with plenty of definition and very responsive to playing dynamics... that's why I use it about 70% of the time.

Just curious...

I'm on both humbuckers about 50% of the time, on (egads!) a Les Paul. I find it very clear and stringy. All of my guitars have 57 classics in them, but one has proto uncovered Burstbuckers. No mud at all. I'm not interested in a guitar if it does not have clarity, and the right humbuckers do. The Dragon II in my PRS lacks some clarity in the bridge and it bugs me------the neck is fine, so I guess they are wound differently?

Anyway, not all Les Pauls sound bad in the middle position--just the ones with the overwound pickups.

[fullerplast]

Originally posted by Mike Cantrell
I guess I don't have a problem with that either... I drive a '02 Chrysler Prowler...

P225/45HR17 (front)
P295/40HR20 (rear)

Goodyear Extended Mobility (EMT) with run-flat capability.

Not exactly proprietary, but not found at your local corner tire place either.... :D

Mike

p.s. I have never touched, played, or even heard a 513.

Damn, 40 series! Might as well just wrap a big rubber band around the rim. :D Watch out for those potholes Mike...:eek:

[JMintzer]

I have a 513 (the one that Jon and Chiba played). Frankly, I'm very impressed with the pups. Although, the Heavy 'Buckers are a little too thick for me...

Just a couple of points:

The guitar 'streets' for more like $4K, not $5K.

I don't know how easy it'll be to swap the pups. There's a whole lotta' stuff goin' on in the control cavity!!! :eek:

http://pic14.picturetrail.com:80/VOL504/702387/5759266/76401016.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com:80/VOL504/702387/5759266/76401547.jpg

http://pic14.picturetrail.com:80/VOL504/702387/5759266/73891848.jpg

Jamie

[Scott Peterson]

Originally posted by JMintzer
I have a 513 (the one that Jon and Chiba played).
Jamie

Damn man. You really do have almost a complete set of PRS's. Wow. I am impressed! I had no idea you had a 513! Damn!

[JMintzer]

Originally posted by Scott Peterson
Damn man. You really do have almost a complete set of PRS's. Wow. I am impressed! I had no idea you had a 513! Damn!
C'mon Scott!

At least try to keep up! ;) :p


Jamie

[Chiba]

John, I had one set of Duncan 'buckers in a PRS, a set of covered '59s that sounded divine...but not together...in my former Singlecut. All the other PRSi I ever had had PRS 'buckers in them, and I did quite a bit of swapping around til I found some combinations that I really liked.

I really loved the #7s as a pair, but always wanted splittability. The McCartys I dug for their splittability and vintage tone, but thought they were a tad underpowered - until I put a pair in my former Archtop, where they absolutely came to life. My favorite PRS 'bucker combo was a Dragon I in the bridge and a McCarty or #7 in the neck.

One day, on a lark, I dropped a pair of Gibson P-94s in my Les Paul Studio and was BLOWN AWAY by the tone. I dropped another pair into my IRW McCarty and that guitar simply came to life, and I started selling off my humbucker guitars as fast as I could, ending up with just 1 PRS - a Swamp Ash Special that has 3 Kinman single coils in it.

I just discovered that humbuckers really don't do 'it' for me, and one of the reasons is I've never liked the tone of both 'buckers on at the same time. Now 2 P-90s...2 P-94s...2 single coils...gimme that all day long! :D

--chiba

[Scott Peterson]

Originally posted by JMintzer
C'mon Scott!

At least try to keep up! ;) :p


Jamie

I thought you just got the ME.

Man, I *am* trying to keep up. You are just moving a bit fast for me! :D

[tvonu]

I'm with Jamie on this one....I have the 513 from the Summer NAMM show and am loving the guitars tones and versatility. The only rub I have is the the neck PUP in single-coil mode is a bit dark for my tastes....other than that I think it's an excellent axe

Timm

[Mike Cantrell]

Originally posted by fullerplast
Damn, 40 series! Might as well just wrap a big rubber band around the rim. :D Watch out for those potholes Mike...:eek:

More smiles per mile than any other car on the road!



lotus, thanks for being gracious. I was just ribbing ya a little. :) I wish I could afford to order two Thorns like you did!

Mike

[jamhandy]

Which makes the limited switching options even more baffling. If you're going to fit five distinct single coil pickups, you can do a hell of a lot more interesting and clever things with them than wiring them as 'full' or 'tapped' humbuckers. Like, making the two coils in each 'humbucker' different, and giving the option of either one, for a start...


I agree here... once I realized what the factory pickup selectors are doing, it was another "you mean, that's it?" from me too...

Especially since they took the time to carve out the extra room for the second 3-way/5-way switch.

I think a good tech with a soldering iron could make this into a much more versatile piece...

But who wants to use their $5,000 for a tinker toy?

Hummmmf

With a 5-way, and 5 single-coils, that one 5-way switch could be set up with a single coil on every one of the positions

5-way Switch # 1 (could be wired...)

1) - SC pup closest to bridge
2) - SC pup next to bridge SC pup
3) - middle SC pup
4) - SC pup next to neck SC pup
5) - SC pup closest to neck

Then, toss out the boring 3-way switch, and replace it with a 5-way switch...


5-way Switch # 1 (could be wired...)

1) - utilizes settings listed above for switch # 1
2) - combines bridge pups for HB, leaves all other pups as setting #1
3) - all 5 pups on at one time (bypasses all switch # 1 settings)
4) - combines neck pups for HB, leaves all other pups as setting #1
5) - utilizes settings listed above for switch # 1, but allows for parallel (out-of-phase sound) in switch settings 2, 3, and 4...


This is just one of several dozen different combinations that could be wired into this guitar...

So... if the spender of 5g's wants to be brave enough to re-solder some of the switches... it becomes a bah-zillion different guitars in one

Still, it strikes me odd that PRS just can't seem to stray fom the HB/S/HB config even for a second...

This one has the potential to do a whole lot more... but at five thousand freaking dollars... who wants to fiddle around with a soldering iron and risk ruining any re-sale value for later?

Thus, we have the melancoly melody of the extremely over-priced Paul Reed Smith guitars...

Personally, I'll stick to something more affordable, that doesn't need tweaking... if it needs tweaking, I sell it... I guess I'm not a tinkerer of guitars... never will be...

[Karmateria]

This is what I find interesting and endearing about TGP. One the one hand we have threads about "why do we only worship antique designs/why are guitarists like sheep" and on the other hand we have the threads about how manufacturers straying from accepted cookie-cutter designs are missing something. If you don't like the 513, don't buy one. Better yet, start your own guitar building shop.

I enjoy it when builders stick their necks out (pun intended) and try something that they believe in. I think that the guitar world is plenty full of tradesmen who are big on tool skills but only have enough vision to screw a tele neck onto a piece of flame maple. Paul Smith is obviously entitled to try anything he wants, and I'm sure that the 513 is a perfectly usable guitar, although I'm not interested in one myself.

In fact, it will probably be a collector piece in years to come... at least the ones that DON'T get hacked up to "improve" the design will be.

[trisonic]

What I find endearing about TGP is the way 2 year old threads are brought back from the dead......:YinYang

:munch Carry on!

Best, Pete.

[rickd]

No reason to criticize PRS's thinking on this -- it's just another guitar you can choose not to buy if you don't like it. I'm sure enough people will love it.


I disagree with this. This site is a guitar player's source of info. If nothing was ever criticized, what good would this place be?

I wish more people would speak out on things that bug them without worry of hurting someone's feelings. There's no need to bash senselessly, but an honest critique is very helpful for those of us who cannot play certain pieces of gear.

[SonicGator]

Right on.
The 513 is a great model for PRS to use something other than mahogany for the body.
A maple neck would be cool too.


Ask, and ye shall receive....

http://www.wildwestguitars.com/prs/ps_513/513_full_96871.jpg

[Jon C]

I too disagree with the notion that just 'cause PRS or anyone comes out with a new idea, we should swoon and welcome it... it has to earn its keep and clearly some folks don't think it does.

Points for originality, but bottom line, it either has the right tones or it doesn't and the concept/realization should certainly be open to good faith critical judgment.

jc

[Chiba]

Now the 513 is being offered with a mahogany neck, which will drop its price point significantly.

Still no maple neck though :)

--chiba

[Supasso]

Maybe it's just taste. Some hates it; some uses it as his main axe in his American Idol gig.

[phretbored]

The 513 Rosewood is a monster guitar!
The few that I tried out felt pretty stout but after getting the neck to warm up the instrument really came alive.
I have one on hold and it will get tons of playing time for sure.
Some of the tones were outstanding to my ears.
Some were average sounding.
There are millions of "classic" guitars that have average sounding pickup selections too...so no surprise that the 513 is the same way.

No matter how PRS chose to wire the pickups I am guessing that the players who don't like it now wouldn't like in some other way either.
You would still be unsatisfied because of one thing or another.

Wasn't the humbucker a new design at some point?
Wasn't the P90 a new design at some point?
Wasn't the single coil a new design at some point?
Somebody had the ballz to be creative with these 3 designs?
But they are all different sizes!
That's just crazy!

FWIW PRS does not seem to have any trouble selling 513s.
And they are closer to 4K as pointed out earlier.
The ME and SCTME are 5K or more.

There is a whole universe of tones available out there.
If you find one that does it for you cool!
That's why it's so nice to have CHOICES.

[Jon Silberman]

My guess is that the last market segment likely to be seriously jazzed by a 513 would be folks for whom boutique Strats are "it." What I'm saying is that this thread is not surprising and its content is not representative.

Again, I loved the one I played (probably in large measure specifically because it was NOT "yet another Fender-school axe").

[ahab]

Ok...sorry to sound like Mr. Conservative here, but I have never realy needed the versatility that the 513 (and other guitars) promise. I have always been in love with a few simple, solid, tones and have worked hard to get these as perfected as I could. So, for me it's a McCarty and a Top Hat and thats about it. I would like to get another ASAT, I used to have four of them but sold them all, and I would love a King Royale.
The problem with things like rosewood necks and funky pickup selections is that they never really let me get close to the tones that I have found most appealing...no dig on anyone who has found their sound through these things, I just can't get my stuff going with them.
-Ahab

[kovachian]

So you can't replace the pups without routing the cavities, maybe PRS thought Carvin had a good idea.

[Jon C]

My guess is that the last market segment likely to be seriously jazzed by a 513 would be folks for whom boutique Strats are "it." What I'm saying is that this thread is not surprising and its content is not representative.

Again, I loved the one I played (probably in large measure specifically because it was NOT "yet another Fender-school axe").

well... perhaps, but I am definitely not a boutique Strat guy and I haven't been tempted by the 513, in large part because of the price... :YinYang:cool:

[Jon Silberman]

Well, I have to agree with you there, my friend! :)

[Sniper-V]

I admit that the you really have to have an open mind when you try the 513. It took me a few tries before I actually warmed up to it. I started to voice and eq amps a little different for it. In the end, I got a ton of tones out this guitar and it plays great. Very different from every other guitar out there with a unique tone. Which is not for everyone. This was all with a 513 RW model.


But when I played this for the first time....:drool


http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y287/Sniper-V/PRS-PS882513-CharcoalBurstFlame.jpg

[Turbo Gerbil]

The whole point of the guitar is the special pickups. Why buy a 513 to rip pickups out of when there are a whole slew of other PRS's that you can buy to do that?

[Sniper-V]

The whole point of the guitar is the special pickups. Why buy a 513 to rip pickups out of when there are a whole slew of other PRS's that you can buy to do that?

Exactly!

[SeaFarer61]

Here's my take on the 513...Picasso didn't stand on a street corner and ask folks what he should paint.

I applaud Paul for deviating away from the norm with the guitar. There are plenty of his instruments available for those who require PRS' that can be modified to the heart's content.


That particular 513 might have been a dud but perhaps six hours later, it was someone else's "holy grail."
Guitar players share one common trait with golfers...that relentless search for the right "gear." What might work for one could be met with utter disdain from another, hence the ever-so-active emporium forum.

[Martin Horne]

I agree with Steve in the pickups and tonal options being the point of the 513. This guitar just adds to the choices available to us and I applaud its unique pickup system. There are some excellent guitarists using and enjoying this axe (Victor Johnson and Mike Ault come to mind) and there is no shortage of guitars with standard sized pickups for everyone else.

[Red Planet]

Dont have a problem with the Pickups per say other than they are ugly and just all around look funny.

[motokev]

I spent some time with the 513. After playing the different combinations, I kept seeking a strat tone. Its a nice guitar and I love the neck, bigger. I thought the guitar sounded great. But, I mainly look for a guitar that feels great and built well, this most definately did. So, is it worth $3K ? hmmmm, well...... I think if I bought one, I would adventually say, WHY DID I SPEND $3K on this .... AND most likely would end up going back to my strat. I love Fender Deluxe Strats (American of coarse)