Acoustic Trigger Pulled in a Different Direction

[andrewsrea]

Many thanks to @tonebender, @toomanycats, @tobijohn and others who chimed in while I was mulling over a Harley Benton SLD-41E WN. It appeared to be a great value and the only thing holding me back was Thomann getting back to me with their policy on returns if the customer doesn't like it and the 15.7" radius was bugging me.

If you caught my GC experience, you may have missed that I actually did get to play some Martins and Taylors with 16" and 15" radius fingerboards. Great guitars, but my hands just didn't feel at home with the flatness. Especially on the power chords.

While on day 5 of waiting for Thomann to respond, I came across a rather lovely Paul Reed Smith CE H60E with a HSC that I paid $727 for (included shipping and tax). https://reverb.com/item/86363125-prs-a60e-2024

I have 2 PRS electrics and the 25.3" scale, 11.8" radius, wide-fat profile, bone nut, bone saddle and hardwoods sold me. Plus, the guitar was finished in May 2024 and supposedly played 3 times and is 60% off what I would pay new. Full NGD, when I receive it.

Meanwhile a quick pic:

[uwmcscott]

HNUAGD! I frequently visit a shop that carries PRS Acoustics and for whatever strange reason I have never played one. Have to change that next time!

[Tonray's Ghost]

Nice looking . I am hankering for an upgrade to my bog standard cheap acoustic. It sounds ok but lacks pizzazz. I was considering either a resonator as I do play an awful lot of bluesy stuff or some classical / standard / acoustic electric hybrid. Likely will donate the existing guitar to a local school for student use

[BatUtilityBelt]

I never think of PRS for acoustic, but always for their great attention to detail. That looks great, HNGD.

[Buddha Pickups]

Proaudiostar had some great deals on PRS acoustics last year. I was very tempted but they sold before I had the funds

[tobijohn]

I had no idea that PRS made acoustics

[Spike]

Congratulations on a great looking PRS!

[andrewsrea]

I had no idea that PRS made acoustics

I did a few factory tours in the 2000's and they started their USA (core) acoustic line around 2000. In a nutshell, they came up with a proprietary design which consistently sounded very great and looked like art. But their price point was as high as what is considered the grail of acoustics. I played a few prototypes during those tours and they were awesome (Paul found out I had a lot of program management, finance and large factory experience in aerospace, plus repair and playing experience and invited me back a few times to pick my brain).

So, they discontinued US production and moved the design to Korea (Cort factory, I think). They were doing Private Stock (their US custom shop) orders and I am not sure they still are. The SE acoustics are final inspected and set up in Annapolis and most I've seen are gorgeous.

I am going out on a limb buying this PRS import guitar, having never played one and relying on my PRS electric experience, many video reviews and on an understanding of the specs.