Tops: PRS vs. Gibson

[usefulcoin]

I think PRS tops are 10x better, but I prefer gibson necks and bindings. Most PRS's I've seen don't even have bound fingerboard. Its a must for me.

That's PRS's style, it;s not a downgrade of any sort, personally i prefer w/o binding. TEHO

 

[b-squared]

I think Gibson makes a much better playing instrument (for me), but PRS easily beats them out in classy Tops.

No question in my book. I own 5 Gibsons, and no PRS...can't stand the way they feel...but they sure look good.

BB

 

[stevespeeder]

Hey guys, i just uploaded a video comparing a Les Paul standard with a PRS and an EVH Wolfgang.
Check it out here : [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPTcygUn1Gg]YouTube - Gibson vs PRS vs Wolfgang[/ame]
Cheers

 

[nicolasrivera]

I love them both, here are the very best top i got so far.

 

[kspeed]

Wow, necrobump! I just voted in a 3 year old thread.

PRS goes for a more dramatic look with the way they stain their tops. Check out a Gibson "triple stained" top and you'll see Gibson can do just as well. But if I were looking for a guitar with an awesome top my first reaction would be to look at PRS.

 

[4nd3h]

I always preferred plain tops and don't like the looks of bookmatched plain tops ( I THINK I've seen some...) so no comment.

 

[soliloquy]

thats a bit of a hard question to answer. i say that coz i've seen Gibsons use wood for their tops where the grains aren't even running in the same direction. i've seen this evident in a LOT of plain top guitars.

on the other hand, i have yet to see a PRS that has a top that is perfectly bookmatched, let alone, matched at all. this doesn't include one piece tops


however, in terms of beauty, i would have to give it to PRS for their tops. its almost as if they go to another planet to get woods that are that beautiful. at least when it comes to quilts.

for flames, i would give it to Gibson.

for finishes, i think its a tie. i love subtle bursts, and both companies do an A++++ job with having the subtlest of the subtle bursts

 

[DRF]

If your talking actual correct bookmatch geometry,I don't notice but as far as figure,PRS stains their top more dramatic.

Alot of PRS's "10" tops are ...not. More like a 1a or 2a figure. I don't know who in the Hell is grading them or by what standard.

This to me this is what a 10 top should be. 10 refers to perfect as in master grade.

 

[thehikingdude]

Here are my current PRSi:

Past PRS:

Here's the R0 I sold a couple of weeks ago to buy the blue one on top:

If you've never played a PRS do yourself a favor and check them out. Forget the looks, they play and sound amazing.

 

[Torren61]

They DO play and sound amazing. I'm on my third PRS. I haven't played one with 57/08s or 59/09s yet but their old pickups WERE kinda bland to my ears. The new pups are promised to sound much, much better.

As far as Gibsons go, there wouldn't be such a huge amount of traffic in the pickup forum here if their pups were so good. In fact, the first thing everyone does is gut them and replace the electronics.

I do that to all my guitars anyway. It'd be nice to one day run across an ax that makes me wanna keep everything as it is. Those PRS above are nuts. Especially the semi hollowbody. I want it. Damn thing looks like it's on fire.

 

[soliloquy]

They DO play and sound amazing. I'm on my third PRS. I haven't played one with 57/08s or 59/09s yet but their old pickups WERE kinda bland to my ears. The new pups are promised to sound much, much better.

As far as Gibsons go, there wouldn't be such a huge amount of traffic in the pickup forum here if their pups were so good. In fact, the first thing everyone does is gut them and replace the electronics.

I do that to all my guitars anyway. It'd be nice to one day run across an ax that makes wanna keep everything as it is. Those PRS above are nuts. Especially the semi hollowbody. I want it. Damn thing looks like it's on fire.

try out a parker. from what i've read, the USA parkers are an alien breed of guitars that seem perfect in everyway...

thats usually coming from metal players though. but every now and then you get random blues and even pop players.

 

[cynic79]

Hey guys, i just uploaded a video comparing a Les Paul standard with a PRS and an EVH Wolfgang.
Check it out here : YouTube - Gibson vs PRS vs Wolfgang
Cheers

That's a great way to do a video. It's a lot easier to hear the differences between the guitars when you record them back-to-back like that.

It's also a lesson on how much of an effect the amp has on the character of the tone. The guitars definitely sounded different (particularly the EVH), but a casual listener might not notice as much of a difference.

 

[Torren61]

I liked the video but the only thing is that the guitars are run into an effects rig instead of straight into an amp. Plus he didn't use the coil tap on the PRS. They all sounded good but the EVH sounded brighter.

 

[The_Sentry]

OP...You forgot to mention Carvin.

 

[Torren61]

Car-who? Actually, I've really wanted to try one of those.

 

[PINKBITS]

Here are my current PRSi:


If you've never played a PRS do yourself a favor and check them out. Forget the looks, they play and sound amazing.

You lucky bastard.

 

[LRieves]

I personally can't stand the over-the-top quilt or flame top that PRS is so well known for... just personal preference. in fact, when I was shopping for Les Pauls, I was trying to avoid any flamed top, but my favorite playing les paul in the store was a desert burst, so i wasn't going to let tone take a back seat to finish...
if you're into the quilted or flame top, then prs totally goes over the top with it, way more than gibson. and there's no denying they make great guitars as well. I love the mccartys!

 

[spinpogi]

PRS = Flashy flame tops due to poly paint, more than furniture like for show, good playability access, weight is ok. Tonewise, harsh but ok for modern rock, middy, lack of depth, character & resonance. Sounds like typical Strat with HH configuration. Great for live, too skeptical for recording use...

Gibson = Not flashy due to nitro paint, neck paint will turn tacky in humid season. not that much accessible, heavy in weight. Tonewise, smooth from jazz to dirt blues & classic rock, possess true character. Resonance, and sustain are so deep due to body thickness. Tested for both live & recording use...

just me.....

 

[hbucker]

PRS's wood is consistently more beautiful than Gibson's.

Of course, many maker's tops are more consistently beautiful than Gibson's. Carvin is a good example of another USA maker that has consistently beautiful tops.

Of course beauty doesn't affect tone any more than color. But I'm sticking to the topic of of the o.p.

 

[nicolasrivera]

I have leaned that Gibson has the very best flames, PRS is all about curly maple that just pop.