PRS Custom 22 Semi-Hollow w/ F-holes... what's the word?

[nb_fan]

I recently found out about these PRS Semi-hollow Custom 22s with the f-holes and trem... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jBsUwJWWhw

and I've been trying to find out about them - but searching on TGP hasn't brought too much info on people's experience with them.

I love the ergonomic feel of my strat and where the volume knob is placed, but also long for some of the tone of a semi-hollow (was jonesing hard for a ES-335 for a while, but was never 100% on board with the feel).

How are you owners/players of this guitar finding it? I know it's probably a "completely different beast" from the ES-335, but do you think it would be a nice compromise between the strat/es-335 ideal?

[magilla]

Sorry I don't have a helpful response, but, man, that video isn't too helpful at all. All distorted sounds. Argh. Anyway, good luck.

[sleepingtiger]

Go to the Birds & Moons forum. THEY would probably be able to help.

Tony

[cutaway]

that video sounds terrible. :(

it's very POD-like in its tone.

[nb_fan]

Go to the Birds & Moons forum. THEY would probably be able to help.

Tony


Good call. Totally forgot about BAM... lotsa info there. Thanks!

[02Singlecut]

I don't own one as they haven't had a mishap with one yet to have to paint one white, but I've been asking! They are a GREAT sounding/feeling guitar!!!

Brent has a few in stock up in Canada and is about as straight of a shooter as ya can find and a great PRS dealer. If he's close to ya...go check one out there!!

http://www.theguitarshop.ca/features.php?category=1

[nb_fan]

I don't own one as they haven't had a mishap with one yet to have to paint one white, but I've been asking! They are a GREAT sounding/feeling guitar!!!

Brent has a few in stock up in Canada and is about as straight of a shooter as ya can find and a great PRS dealer. If he's close to ya...go check one out there!!

http://www.theguitarshop.ca/features.php?category=1

Yeah, The Guitar Shop is a great place. I bought my first amp from them when I was a kid. Just haven't had time to go over there are try it out in person - and they're also closed today, haha.

[edward]

I had a semihollow PRSi ...great QC and felt and sounded good. But I sold it simply because it wasn't enough of a sonic departure from a solid bod. Get one if you want the weight savings. But I would not recommend it if you're looking for any "semi-hollow flavor" ...the cavity does not make these sound anything near like a semi, IMHO. Not a good choice if you're looking for a ES-ish tone.

Edward

[Eric Pykala]

I've owned a CU22 Semi and a true Hollowbody II. The CU22 is still in the solidbody camp, but with some interesting overtones, and the afore-mentioned weight savings. The Hollowbody is a lot closer to 335 territory, but still more its own thing. Another alternative is the Gibson ES339, the smaller version of the 335. Bottom line: The 335 is really it's own thing and nothing else sounds like it.
For PRS in the TO area go talk to Brent at The Guitarshop. He's really tapped-into the good stuff from PRS. Tell him I sent you.

[Crowder]

I wish they'd make one with a plain or painted top. All the ones I've seen are quilt. Gag.

[AaeCee]

I had a semihollow PRSi ...great QC and felt and sounded good. But I sold it simply because it wasn't enough of a sonic departure from a solid bod. Get one if you want the weight savings. But I would not recommend it if you're looking for any "semi-hollow flavor" ...the cavity does not make these sound anything near like a semi, IMHO. Not a good choice if you're looking for a ES-ish tone.
I completely agree with this. I also had and sold one for the exact same reason. I have several other fantastic PRS solid bodies, and the sonic difference was there but very subtle. Great guitar, but tonally much closer to solid body territory.

[StockRock]

It's an awesome guitar. I have a number of Gibson ES-335s and LPs, and a number of PRS guitars. It's not an ES-335, but it can be as good as one. Some nights I will just run through one guitar after another, trying to understand the differences, maybe find one to sell. I've got a '59 Burst and a '53 GT, and the best ES-335 I've ever played, a 63 RI. The Cu22 SH stands out every single time and qualifies as a keeper forever.

Remember, it's a mahogany chambered back and solid carved top with a 25" scale and the PRS Trem. Right there you have to realize it's not trying to be an ES-335. In fact, the woods and chambering probably scream more Gretsch Jet. But the combination of the trem, the 57/08 pickups, and the semi-hollow body gives it the ES-335 like air and fatness and overtones that none of my other PRS have.

[nb_fan]

It's an awesome guitar. I have a number of Gibson ES-335s and LPs, and a number of PRS guitars. It's not an ES-335, but it can be as good as one. Some nights I will just run through one guitar after another, trying to understand the differences, maybe find one to sell. I've got a '59 Burst and a '53 GT, and the best ES-335 I've ever played, a 63 RI. The Cu22 SH stands out every single time and qualifies as a keeper forever.

Remember, it's a mahogany chambered back and solid carved top with a 25" scale and the PRS Trem. Right there you have to realize it's not trying to be an ES-335. In fact, the woods and chambering probably scream more Gretsch Jet. But the combination of the trem, the 57/08 pickups, and the semi-hollow body gives it the ES-335 like air and fatness and overtones that none of my other PRS have.

Awesome - that's exactly what I was hoping to hear. A bit of that 335-esque air and fatness is what I'm hoping for.

I'm also sure the solid wood vs the laminate 335 bodies will make a big difference as well.


Now if only PRS made the Hollowbody II with some sort of trem system, that'd be close to perfect for me

[magicaxeman]

I play both an Se semi hollow with P90's and a McCarty hollowbody... great guitars, surprisingly light yet theres plenty of wood there, necks are a dream to play and I would love to get a set of those pickups in mine, they're keepers.

Go and give one a try, but I warn you PRS USA guitars are addictive.

[02Singlecut]

You want 335ish tones from a PRS.......Well this one replaced a VERY good 66 ES-335 and I don't regret the sale a bit!!!

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Teasme4764/IMG_1236.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Teasme4764/IMG_1234.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Teasme4764/IMG_1232.jpg

http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r312/Teasme4764/IMG_1228.jpg

[nb_fan]

wow.. Hawt dayum.

I was actually thinking about the JA-15 - but I haven't been able to find it with a bigsby

[02Singlecut]

wow.. Hawt dayum.

I was actually thinking about the JA-15 - but I haven't been able to find it with a bigsby

TY....the Paul Jackson Jr. Sig...aka JA-15 is a great guitar, but with the combo of woods ie....spruce top, maple neck and ebony board lean it really hard towards an OUTSTANDING Jazzbox. You can't get one other than a stoptail. The SCJ Thinline is a cross between a ES-335 and a Byrdland. It's the only Bigsby guitar I have played that stays in tune and I HAMMER IT!!!! They were a 300 piece "Limited" run and are INSANE guitars for everything from Benson to Nugent!!

[Epic]

I know this thread is so last month....however, I own the Custom 22 SHLTD and it's the best guitar I've ever played, and my absolute favorite of all my guitars. I would say that it's more in the solid body camp, however it has a very organic, open, airy tone which sounds fantastic. I believe the semi hollow design combined with the wood choices and 5708 pickups come together in a truly beautiful way. The sustain is fantastic, and every note on the neck is clear as a bell, even with higher gain chording. Even my non musical, could give a shit about guitar tone friends have made positive remarks regarding it's sound.

I got mine in Matteo mist, flame top...the top is gorgeous! I was actually in the market for a custom 24 but in the end it was between a McCarty and the semi hollow, the semi won out. It is 6.5 pounds!! My back LOVES that, lol...and split coil tones are very nice. Stays in tune very well even with repeated trem use.

[nb_fan]

I know this thread is so last month....however, I own the Custom 22 SHLTD and it's the best guitar I've ever played, and my absolute favorite of all my guitars. I would say that it's more in the solid body camp, however it has a very organic, open, airy tone which sounds fantastic. I believe the semi hollow design combined with the wood choices and 5708 pickups come together in a truly beautiful way. The sustain is fantastic, and every note on the neck is clear as a bell, even with higher gain chording. Even my non musical, could give a shit about guitar tone friends have made positive remarks regarding it's sound.

I got mine in Matteo mist, flame top...the top is gorgeous! I was actually in the market for a custom 24 but in the end it was between a McCarty and the semi hollow, the semi won out. It is 6.5 pounds!! My back LOVES that, lol...and split coil tones are very nice. Stays in tune very well even with repeated trem use.


Thanks for the review! I think I'm gonna find me a CU24SH!