The Captain's Favourite PRS Guitars! - Does Finish Make a Difference to Tone?

[@fraenkiboii]

I can't believe it! 11 months ago, I commented under a PRS video "PRS, if you're reading this, please more satin". They even replied "heard". Now this. 2023 starts GREAT!

[@mikeomatic9905]

There are a also handful of satin S2 models if you shop around.

[@valerianalcindor8304]

Take it for what it’s worth, I’m also not in the market for a 5 grand guitar… but if you like satin guitars I would highly recommend that you try a prs vela! While the electronic is not amazing (it is a s2 guitar) this is one of, if not my, favorite guitar! (I have the semi hollow one in sunburst for ~1.6k this is well worth the price!)

[@baabaabaa2293]

@@valerianalcindor8304 the Vela looks a bit like a DC Jr? If so l mucked about on one at a shop once, l love the body shape.. but can't get past the headstock. I was gonna get an SE 245 (single cut, 1 p90) lndonesian made, but nice guitar.. bar the headstock. And PRS replying 'heard' ...Hotel Alpha!! They must've listened mate.

[@samneubauer3625]

Get a satin CE 24 or the new Dustie wiring hardtail model.

[@sindsygeinuit]

Well...Paul Reed Smith does strike me as someone who believes in fair payment of the workforce and with the time intensive production of these master pieces it only seems like a fairly realistic price point. Unobtainium for the masses, but that then probably covers the dime they get in profit per unit for the SE range

[@moreshorts777]

Captains playing on another level. Improved a lot.

[@marinotomas]

Agree. He’s playing so much better now. A pleasure to listen to

[@TheBlackzat]

Agreed 👍🏼

[@toledo2983]

but the Danish Guy is no slouch either...

[@joesatchton212]

Indeed. In addition to all the hard work practicing, Lee has benefited from what is known as the "Danish Pete Effect". :) Danish Pete is just one of those players who makes everyone around him play better. If he played basketball, he'd be the John Stockton of youtube guitarists.

[@toledo2983]

@@joesatchton212 magic things, like henry potter...wasnt he danish too?

[@JohnSmith-ym4sl]

You can tell cap is loving these guitars that opening solo was SO good. Pete sounds amazing as always

[@thefloop2813]

that outro jam was painful though, and you can even see it in their faces, they knew it too.

[@akwamarsunzal]

I love PRS, I love Paul, I absolutely HATE PRS pickups! To me, they sound like an "average" pickup that does "average" well but there is nothing that makes them "good"! Saw a covers band in the summer at the beach, great band, sadly the guitarist plays a PRS and, even before seeing the band, I knew he was playing a PRS! The pickups just lack something, they sound "ok" but never great!

[@mr.d.572]

I agree. They stay in tune very well though, to me that is aces!

[@JadedJet]

Nope, doesn't sound 4k better than a Strat covered in poly or 2500 more than a Standard Les Paul in nitro. But hey that's Paul, guitarists should pay stupid mark up because violin players pay a lot.

[@DudeMcGuybro]

I mean, or it's the exact guitar you want, in the finish you want, and you know it's a one of a kind guitar that will hold it's value. It's like saying you don't get why Ferrari's exist when a Honda Civic is much more reasonable vehicle. Not all of us like reasonable. Some of us like exotic, some people have the money to pay for an exotic guitar, let them. You bet if I had a million dollars to spend, I'd have some dummy expensive ones in my collection, and you would too.

[@JadedJet]

@@DudeMcGuybro The title of the video poses the question "Does finish make a difference in tone". Nothing you said is in line with my comment

[@digsy1303]

The tone wood BS spouted in this video is much needed to try and help flog five and a half grand guitars.

[@digsy1303]

@@rexrathtar3893 Woo of the highest order.

[@craigmatthewson2013]

Once plugged in it's all about the strings and pickups, wood only makes a difference acoustically.

[@pageyjjj]

Shades of yellow are best for funk. Everyone knows this.

[@scramblerland2648]

Ok....let's see how many "Lee has improve so much!" comments do we reach in this video............😅😄😄💪🏽😄👍🏽

[@Chris_Nouvelli]

Satin PRS? Yes please. Also Paul, if you're watching this, could I please request an SE Fiore?

[@jones9495]

SE Fiore +1

[@MikaTarkela]

Wow! Lee's phrasing has evolved so much! Sounds amazing!

[@SirVicc]

Satin looks way better on a PRS than gloss. Love the violin style finish of Lee's. It's probably the only PRS I covet.

[@david_farmer]

Love the satin finishes. I know glossy flashes in the lights, but I prefer satin finishes. Those look fantastic, and so hard to pick a favorite.

[@ehmmmjay9907]

Wow, love the satin finish on these! It reminds me of when bodybuilders apply that bronze thing all over themselves for competition - all the curves and carves really stick out more.

[@xRedxxWolfx]

That blue fade is fantastic.

[@madgebishop5409]

was ready to click buy on one of these, then saw the price 😂 still tempted though but sooo difficult to justify £5499 for a nice looking satin finish

[@drawwithbeektor6329]

Can we get a “classical guitar shootout under $1,000” please. 😊

[@sacredgeometry]

Gorgeous I wish I could afford one right now and by the time I can they will be gone :)

[@sebbo1496]

something about PRS Pick-Ups sounds too clean and agreeable. generic even. not bad at all. the opposite. but i wish they would, even just with one series of guitars, try to to do a more distinct sound. but maybe that's their sound. it just never gets me excited. it's like a very relaxing song. it's great but there is no excitement. not hating. just my opinion and why, eventhough the build quality and setup quality always had me want to get one, i never pulled the trigger

[@rhk4680]

The yellow tiger is wow.... As for the purple, I think it looks better with a glossy finish

[@WillfulThinker]

If you remove the tolex covering from your amp head and speaker cabinets, it lets the whole thing breathe. It just sounds richer, with more harmonic content.

[@scottanderson4175]

I am so tired of hearing about Paul giving guitars to people that can afford them while many people can not actually afford a PRS 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@kernowchris]

Does finish make a difference? er...nah, it's all in your head especially if you've forked out a large wedge for a guitar, you'll convince yourself of anything. Easier to just twiddle and tweak your amp for free to get the tones you want. Don't fall for the BS no matter how seductive it may seem, it's still BS.

[@georgecooperguitar]

😂😂😂 You're right, your comment is still BS.

[@brotherhawk3228]

I just bought a Schecter C1 exotic (spalted maple) a few days ago and it's amazing! If you like these PRS's but don't have that kind of money or do not want to spend that much, check out the Schecter. The feel of the c1 is stimulating to the touch and no finger prints ! I think it's a guitar more people should be talking about. Keep on playing Players !

[@stringrip]

Agreed, although don't think Schecter offers 25 inch scale on any of their models.

[@kagenotatsumaki]

It doesn't get any better then a PRS imo, including SE's, but I've said ever since I first tried a C-1 that it's probably THE best non PRS guitar I've played.

[@brotherhawk3228]

@@kagenotatsumaki Do you even own a prs ?

[@brotherhawk3228]

The title of that video was about satin finish. If any one wishes to 4, 700 dollars more for a guitar up to you. Does that 5400 dollar guitar have dual carbon trust rods ? The schecter i have does. Does it really matter no.

[@topgunnertg]

Just brought the gold wrapped one from you guys today, i fell in love with it as soon as i strummed it. Quality is outstanding. As for the whole debate around satin vs gloss i could hear the difference between the two but peoples opinions to there own, one thing is for sure is that the neck feels way better in satin finish. Thank you lee for getting these in.

[@IamMusicNerd]

My favorite PRS models are the Modern Eagle V, the Fiore, and the 594 hollowbody.

[@jasonprice9823]

I bought a SE Pauls guitar last month and absolutely love the thing. Such a comfortable, playable guitar.

[@RUARI-mi1yt]

SE🤣

[@JadedJet]

@@RUARI-mi1yt lol be nice

[@RUARI-mi1yt]

@@JadedJet lol im just joking se guitars are pretty good i got one

[@brianb.5661]

I have a really nice SE semi hollow with 57/08 pickups. I love everything about it other than the look. It's gloss and charcoal gray with some nice grain. I'm no stranger to woodworking. I'd love if I could take steel wool or something to the finish to make it satin, and especially the neck. I want the neck to feel like hand rubbed and waxed furniture, like soft and buttery. Any suggestions?

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

Satin is exactly what I have wanted from PRS. Satin is what is visually "pops" more. All gloss does is act like a mirror reflecting the light. Satin allows you to see the guitar itself.

[@zoomzoom3950]

Imagine Paul Reed Smith gifting you a $5800 guitar. Happens everyday in socialmedialand, not just PRS, not just Lee... Hey Ibanez, I'm still waiting for you to gift me a new PS1CM, a purple one would be nice; I promise I'll make socialmedia posts about it! 😁

[@kevinbarnett1960]

The guitarist Pete was referring in the Tina Turner band was Laurie Wisefield. He was playing a Ernie Ball Luke guitar I believe

[@18Crowie]

Yep - he played with Wishbone Ash as well.

[@synonyx]

Digging the matte finishes. Not the norm for PRS, but I dig em'

[@stephenhaynes603]

better get the paint stripper out then see if i can increase the sustain . 🤣

[@geoffreyalder7275]

Probably why you don't see Fiesta red....Sonic blue...Olympic white etc on violins/cello's .......let the wood 'breath' ??.... apparently 🤔🤔🤔

[@treishtrei]

Great story about satin finishes and resonance. I was lucky to discover that with my first guitar ibanez s320 weathered black. Then I upgraded to 2 prestige models...and they were better made but sounded less open than the s320 and that annoyed me. Now I have a PRS s2 standard Satin and an Ibanez RG satin. Both are loud and vibrant giving back more energy.

[@wesleymorris1]

I got 2 guitars that ring really loud, ones a prs black faded tee, and the other is a fender strat from 1996. Its poly , but it just rings so loud. The pickups are so punchy aswell on both. So i think the woods and finish do change the sound. Proper dry wood makes a differnce aswell. I have 30 guitars and 2 are nitro. They both are my favorites the singlecut doesnt ring as loud but it plays amazing. Prs smiths are always reliable everytime i pull them out, there intune and ready.

[@edwinjohnston6871]

Wish Paul or anyone else for that matter would gift me a PRS 😂

[@cirisirpula152]

I don't like glossy finishes. You have to constantly wipe them in order for them to stay clean looking and not sticky. I think satin looks prettier and definitely feels better! I would buy a SE custom 24 if it were satin.

[@pauldncn1]

I’ve been subscribed for a few years and watched Lee’s playing improve so much We look at all the great payers as an example of where we can get to but I really admire the fact that Lee went from where he was to where he is and it’s a great example of how anyone can do it Thank you captain for your perseverance and sharing it via playing here That does not detract from the fact the Mr Honre is an incredible player it just means Lee has shown us where we can get to as mortals with only so many hours a day and not played for years Thanks 👍👍🍺

[@joesatchton212]

Indeed. In addition to all the hard work practicing, Lee has benefited from what is known as the "Danish Pete Effect". :) Danish Pete is just one of those players who makes everyone around him play better. If he played basketball, he'd be the John Stockton of youtube guitarists.

[@pauldncn1]

@@joesatchton212 valid point I hadn’t considered Maybe Pete should do some lessons with Pete ?

[@joesatchton212]

@@pauldncn1 He does post semi-regularly on fb, often with lots of looping tips. He notably did a follow-up vid on that Anderton's set where he shows how to play the legendary chord progression loop from the first Fender Acoustasonic release as I recall. If you didn't see that, you really must, Pete's follow up vid was so good, especially for a such a simple yet beautiful chord loop that I downloaded it to live forever on my machine.

[@pauldncn1]

@@joesatchton212 thanks Joe That’s tomorrows lunch break sorted !

[@ryandouglas9427]

On a side note: What stools are they using? They look very comfortable and I need to buy one.

[@anomalousresult]

They look like the Tama HT730B

[@oddmushasmr]

Tama "1st chair"

[@richardmurrell]

I wish you’d ordered them with moon inlays. I just hate the birds. Is it just me?

[@mr.d.572]

I do not like the birds. I don't know if PRS make the moon inlays anymore though.

[@fongy200]

Bought an L7V off you guys, it's brilliant. It's the 3rd Guitar i have purchased in the last 12 months from Andertons. Might be a 4th if i can get a left hand PRS.

[@risteardohaodha23]

Thought to myself - “ these sound like they’re lovely guitars…” Look at the price on the shop link and - “Holy Sh#t!!!” 🤣 More things to add to the fanasy wish list 🤣 Lovely guitars though!

[@limpindug]

NO two bits of wood are the exact same, therefore no datum for comparison so nobody can say definitely yea or nay woods /finishes effects the tone. If you like how a guitar sounds buy and enjoy. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍👍👍🥃Respect to you fellas.

[@grimreaper-qh2zn]

Didn't Paul give The Captain a PRS McCarty Single Cut because Lee said he wanted a single cut?

[@zackjackson5562]

A $6700 guitar is just not worth it. There is no excuse.

[@johndolores315]

Worth is subjective unfortunately, you can’t decide what is worth it for anyone else except for yourself.

[@takezomiyamoto1390]

You can buy a motorcycle for the money that this guitar costs. Whoever´s paying these prices is ruining this world.... 🤦‍♂

[@InstantKarma-u8k]

When that guy with the brown PRS talks about Paul from PRS, it always reminds me of Alan Partridge going on about what he thinks great banter…. Like he’s trying to justify it 😂 kzbin.infoMYDC1O7nJ8E?si=0_P04Mc_uhgZd6rT

Does finish make a difference in tone? Without having watched the video: Short answer, no. Long answer: Electric guitar, still no. Acoustic maybe, especially if the finish is on the thick side. Absolutely, when the soundboard has 1mm of PU-finish on it. Does the finish make a difference to how the guitar feels, shure. I would almost say that the finish of the neck is most important and has to suit the player. If the neck feels bad, it will distract you. I'll watch the video tomorrow, have to go to bed...

[@DudeMcGuybro]

I do agree, a guitar is a sum of it's parts. Some parts are more important than others, but if it didn't matter we'd have silicone guitars.

[@F_I_J_I_W_A_T_E_R]

If it was possible to make silicone guitars back in the 50s, they would be silicone now and nobody would dare to use another material.

[@frankmitman3347]

Captain, that guitar suits you. It is you and your playing has become stellar. Tip of the hat, sir.

[@glenproctor1999]

Such a depth of tone from thise guitars. You might even have me finally acknowledging satin as a worthwhile choice!

[@williambartholomew5680]

I actually prefer the gloss models, as you see the light reflect off the bodies a lot of the wood grain gets hidden under a big smudge - most evident when Lee ends with that gradient colored one. I could never get the finish vs tone argument, "wood needs to breathe" & "poly seals away the tone" Lol

[@Pulse2AM]

PRS are the best guitars ever made in history! Paul, my address is - just DM me for that.

[@toddwilliamson2651]

Dead and dried wood can’t ‘breathe’. Lacquer and poly coats stiffens and hardens the wood charging the density and malleability. ‘Breathing’ has nothing to do with it and trees don't breathe anyway. While were at it lets stop saying that things sound ‘sterile’ too. ‘Sterile’ is not a word that describes sound. Your welcome! Next weeks lesson will be about the uselessness of heavy metal sub genres.

[@MrDingoKelevra]

Need more modern playing styles included in these presentations. Your stuff is cool but more modern postrock/ midway emo/ havy picking sounding riffs etc. should be included!

[@1madaxeman]

There's no comparison of satin vs regular gloss finish...so this is just an ad for shifting these 10 guitars. Satin finishes usually = cheaper. They do when its Gibson. Unplugged i'm sure they're more resonant...but in the real world when an electric guitar is doing electric guitar and plugged in is there a difference? This video asked the Q presented an opinion but then that was all...

[@lupo10]

The combination of Freedman little sister, that purple PRS and Pete’s playing are amazing. What a sound. Haha just heard how Lee described the price 😂 Love it, you guys are great.

[@gcvrsa]

If you don’t think every single factor of a guitar has something to do with the sound, then you simply don’t understand the Physics of Music. Of course wood matters, of course finish matters, of course grain structure matters, of course pickups matter, of course strings matter-literally every part of the instrument vibrates, and that vibration is what the pickups sense. Every last bit of the instrument plays a small part.

[@Scott__C]

No. There, saved you some time. I think the only way you'd really know is to make ONE guitar with no finish, then put on one finish, then the remove the finish and replace it with the other and compare. EVH used bicycle paint and numerous layers and had no sustain issues.

[@jaredkerby5934]

I don't know why. It kinda sounds a bit like Sailing to Philadelphia from Mark Knopfler. The intro.

[@Silkaz7]

They should ditch that blade pickup selector and make the 24-08 style standard, is far superior to the blade switch.

[@fu2419]

No that finish making a difference to tone is nonsense but colour makes a huge difference. Maybe I'll watch the video later anyways.

[@GMec78]

If I may, the whole nitro vs poly debate as I the guy dumb enough to take a guitar that was poly finished strip it down to bare wood and then refinish it in nitro. The guitar will lose weight, gain more felt acoustic resonance, change the way it feels in the hand and sound basically the same through an amp to the ear (at least to my ear). Long way of saying nitro has a different playing experience (for me at least) but not so much a different hearing experience. Your mileage my vary.

[@qwertynable]

Captain: has been working with guitars for 30 years, still sounds like a noob 😂😂😂

[@viledemiurge]

Pete's reluctance to elaborate on any sort of tone wood argument in this video is hilarious 😂

[@mikeomatic9905]

I wonder if Pete plays poker. Probably would lose his shirt.

[@JBP91]

Need more PRS Singlecut satin finish guitars especially SE

[@ashleyjackson8538]

I’m thinking there’s a few PRS guitars getting sanded down . 😂😂😂

[@leemeyer7629]

Got my first core PRS a week ago. Officially a fanboy.

[@victorycrosby4896]

My Prs family is growing strong I ventured into there parlor acoustic last month and it's a very praise worthy instrument at an awesome price,,I really appreciate it's addition to my collection,, GET ONE ! 😀

[@tommysixstring5094]

PRS & Suhr for electric but for acoustic... Larrivee. Prepare to be blown away if you try an OM-05.

[@Mikesosa75]

There´s a tone difference on wood, but you could hear it barely when the guitars is on a clean channel and it´s not in a mix!!! after that, you couldn't address which guitar is which and tonewood difference it´s lost

[@iancurrie8844]

Pete looks so uncomfortable playing that. It looks like he’s having trouble keeping it on his leg.

[@Mark_B585]

So i bought a satin finish S2 Standard 24 and it plays beautifully and yes the satin finish and wood make a difference in the tone and i love itm

[@joshscott3271]

Love your passion Lee when you get a good bit of kit, I am never much of a fan of the PRS, too much bling for me, but that addition would not be amiss in the smokey whisky joint in Nashville, or on any stage, or church even. Just the way I like it.

[@jasmith85]

I love these PRS Guitars as I've owned a SE Custom 24 and SE 24-08 Custom and I have really enjoyed playing them both.

[@kapellekonig6512]

I'm really for getting over the whole tonewood debate but I have to admit: satin sounds better. I've got the same guitar in gloss and in satin and the satin one just has a ring to it, that the other one hasn't.

[@nuendo2496]

Uh...Nope.....Gimme a Les Paul or 335 anyway....these are terrible.....

[@plasticoflamingo2952]

"Tone finish". 🤣! You guys are gonna give Glenn Fricker an aneurysm.

[@XCMRM80]

It’s absolutely a thing, I love the almost butterflies feeling in your chest when you strum a really resonant guitar 😊

[@kroadster3249]

Sorry, that less and satin laquer gives More ringing and resonance is not new. Paul should already know that

[@matt6288joyce]

Beautiful!!! I wish Anderton’s sold Strandbergs, would love to see The Captain and DP reviewing them

[@ChanceCooper125]

They just announced they’re carrying Strandberg at NAMM 2024

[@lucastedman9867]

5 grand! Sorry I'll pass, my 300 pound epiphone sg is good enough for me!

[@jammergreg]

The blue one just kills! Nice!

[@fabinpisary]

Is any chance of getting Thatcher banking track at start? Sound amazing😍

[@jamiebriggs8277]

magic tone paint 🙄

[@Dave-nh8iv]

With a global economic recession just around the corner these will sell like hot cakes. ;)

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Tone wood does not matter, on electric instruments. Acoustic instruments, yes since that is the speaker.

[@woutere]

that reaction on the background @15:58 "OOOOOHHH" 🙂🤘

[@jamesherron1209]

Finish dosnt do nothing for tone

[@geraldpasion3378]

It doesnt.. but does affects the interest of the person to play it or not. Hehe

[@greevar]

Tone wood is a feature of acoustic guitars because the body is the speaker. Solid body does not have tone wood. Your PRS could be a stick with strings and still sound the same.

[@BrazzyRosewood]

Wow, you really got bunged up by Tom Lill videos, huh? Sad.

[@Nightjar726]

Can you guys do an experiment and change the pickups on your PRS guitars and see if they improve? PRS pickups ruin their guitars IMHO You can especially hear it when gain is added.

[@BrazzyRosewood]

Oh look, another Chibson fanboy, who loves them 490 pickups from the 1990s. Remember the Chibson P100 pickup? If I only had my 1983 Corvus, I'd show you! 😂

[@BluesHeavy]

I was never a PRS fan until I played the Custom 24-08 top 10 what a truly versatile guitar and the playability is second to non. Blows my Gibson Custom Shop 1960 v2 out of the water. and it was $2,000 cheaper. PRS has finally won me over. I will design my own private stock guitar

[@Paul-D]

Dont feel like you're throwing the gauntlet by saying guitars with thinner finishes sound better. Far as im concerned that is an obvious to prove fact at this point. I think the reason it causes friction is that guitars like that tend to be disproportionately more expensive too. Why can't a thinner finish, even if its still poly (think back to the mk1 HWY1 fenders) just be more standard lol.

[@1968nik]

and there it is a guitar to sit alongside my tele prefect - now how do I raise the cash without anyone noticing

[@matts1661]

How is reveal binding different from standard binding?

[@TelevsionCanyons]

wood library is the dumbest word I've heard all week.

[@PNWGuitar]

I love my prs but there is something about the 85/15 pickups that bug me. I always feel like I can hear that little plinky sound of the pick strik8ng the string, is it just me? Am I crazy?

[@tonys.4657]

I have a Satin CE. It rings out like crazy. Maybe there is something to the finish.

[@DudeMcGuybro]

Hardware is going to be the biggest factor to sustain.

[@macfawlty]

I’d like to see more creatively designed tops like those being done by his long-time private stock designer-builder Joe Knaggs, who I serendipitously played golf with in early 2009, a couple weeks after he left PRS. I didn’t know Joe, but I did know his builds. The first thing Joe said to me was, ‘I may have just made the biggest mistake in my life’, then talked to me about his 25 years as head of R&D, Private Stock and production at PRS. He didn’t need my advice, but I said he’d look back and never regret the move. You folks at Andertons should stock a few of the Knaggs guitars. They are stunning.

[@seanhershey3390]

Ive held off from getting one .. because i'm not the typical PRS guy.. I bought a SE pro & absolutely love it...SHHHH!.....