Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
PRS basses
- Thread starter MikeBass
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,137
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
First run was interesting. Still have an 89 ten top with birds 5 string. stuff in middle underwhelmed for price point. Grainger model might be cool, but in all fairness there are other makers out there who probably deliver better for less.
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,137
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
KungFu shot me a clip of his.
Sounded pretty darn niceto be honest!
The tune started off with bass.
Sounded like a nice Jazz.
Hell, as long as it sounds good passive, you could always ditch the pre-amp and drop another one in there.
Sounded good KungFu!
Sounded pretty darn niceto be honest!
The tune started off with bass.
Sounded like a nice Jazz.
Hell, as long as it sounds good passive, you could always ditch the pre-amp and drop another one in there.
Sounded good KungFu!
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Mike, I have one.
Mine's dated 2001 and hand serial numbered. Its supposedly an alder body, but some of the finish shrinking suggests that it's actually ash under the solid finish. The neck is satin finished nitro.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Now, I find the neck extremely comfortable, and the action is screamin' low. It really is a burner of a bass and I found it played so fast that it was easy to want to overplay with it.
Now, on to the rest...In passive mode, it makes for a fine jazz bass. Nothing that sets it out or above the pack in tone. I brought it to the Woodstock GTG a few years ago and it was played by a few luthiers who had no complaints about the build quality, playability or tone. Its a VVT standard setup. The preamp has an on/off switch.
The big problem is that the preamp circuit is a complete mess. It works some kind of 'tone curve' that boosts the extreme low end and boosts the upper air and scoops out the mids It also I would guess presents about 6db of signal boost over all. In a band setting, its the loudest bass that you'll never be able to hear. Perplexingly, the only tone control you get in the active mode is the passive roll off of the standard tone control. Thus, the pre is nigh unusable. Actually, the first month I had the bass I ripped all the speakers on my 4x10 thanks to the super-low boost.
The pickups are radiused to match the curve of the neck and strings. No problem there. The pickups are curved on the ends though, so if you ever want to replace them, you'll never find any other standard size that will fit.
It would be a good bass if you wanted to rip out the preamp and find one with stacked knobs to fit the 3 knob layout. I've on occasion thought about replacing the pickups, which would mean finding someone to do something with the current shells.
I also have to make note that I feel sort of like PRS screwed bassists on this deal. Mine is a solid finish, dot-necked flat topped instrument. Originally it sold for $2200. For that cash you can get a LOT of bass, nice woods, trans finishes, good preamp. Even PRS' guitars have nicely carved tops and such in that range!
On a side note, mine was purchased in 2004 or so. It was a shop worn NOS bass from 2001. I paid under $1K for it.
Mine's dated 2001 and hand serial numbered. Its supposedly an alder body, but some of the finish shrinking suggests that it's actually ash under the solid finish. The neck is satin finished nitro.
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed
Now, I find the neck extremely comfortable, and the action is screamin' low. It really is a burner of a bass and I found it played so fast that it was easy to want to overplay with it.
Now, on to the rest...In passive mode, it makes for a fine jazz bass. Nothing that sets it out or above the pack in tone. I brought it to the Woodstock GTG a few years ago and it was played by a few luthiers who had no complaints about the build quality, playability or tone. Its a VVT standard setup. The preamp has an on/off switch.
The big problem is that the preamp circuit is a complete mess. It works some kind of 'tone curve' that boosts the extreme low end and boosts the upper air and scoops out the mids It also I would guess presents about 6db of signal boost over all. In a band setting, its the loudest bass that you'll never be able to hear. Perplexingly, the only tone control you get in the active mode is the passive roll off of the standard tone control. Thus, the pre is nigh unusable. Actually, the first month I had the bass I ripped all the speakers on my 4x10 thanks to the super-low boost.
The pickups are radiused to match the curve of the neck and strings. No problem there. The pickups are curved on the ends though, so if you ever want to replace them, you'll never find any other standard size that will fit.
It would be a good bass if you wanted to rip out the preamp and find one with stacked knobs to fit the 3 knob layout. I've on occasion thought about replacing the pickups, which would mean finding someone to do something with the current shells.
I also have to make note that I feel sort of like PRS screwed bassists on this deal. Mine is a solid finish, dot-necked flat topped instrument. Originally it sold for $2200. For that cash you can get a LOT of bass, nice woods, trans finishes, good preamp. Even PRS' guitars have nicely carved tops and such in that range!
On a side note, mine was purchased in 2004 or so. It was a shop worn NOS bass from 2001. I paid under $1K for it.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Mike, If KungFu's is one of the original run of PRS basses, then its pretty different from the later run. The first run has different electronics, pickups, and has a dummy coil built into the back!
There was a thread about the Gary Grainger model here a while back. That bass started out as a signature model in the mid $3k range, then when the last run of basses tanked it got moved into the Private Stock title basin and the price shot up to well over $10k while the bass remained the same. Current owners at the time had some very strong feelings about the GG and the rest of the line and I remember some of them later moving on.
The problem, as I mentioned then, IMO is that PRS focused more on the line being bass PRS GUITARS than Bass Guitars. Not much of a market for the former. Then again, given enough time they might become collectible like the first run, which still missed the marked but were much better relatively speaking. Or maybe the Private Stock monicker will make it appeal to guitarists who own PS guitars. Who knows?
The problem, as I mentioned then, IMO is that PRS focused more on the line being bass PRS GUITARS than Bass Guitars. Not much of a market for the former. Then again, given enough time they might become collectible like the first run, which still missed the marked but were much better relatively speaking. Or maybe the Private Stock monicker will make it appeal to guitarists who own PS guitars. Who knows?
Search Youtube for any more recent Gary Grainger clips or
Paul Reed Smith band clips. A local bass player named Mike "Tony" Echols also plays what I think is one of the newer models and perhaps a Grainger model. You can youtube his name or the MaryAnn Redmond Band to see/hear some clips with his PRS.
Paul Reed Smith band clips. A local bass player named Mike "Tony" Echols also plays what I think is one of the newer models and perhaps a Grainger model. You can youtube his name or the MaryAnn Redmond Band to see/hear some clips with his PRS.
This is true... night and day.
BTW Gary's personal bass is pretty nice. Not sure about Private Stock nice though.
Yep, Tony has one and I think Mike Pryor with the Charles Wright Trio has one. Both local guys.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
Beyond the completely different electronics, they're also mahogany bodied and necked, with a set neck instead of the bolt on of the second run.
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,137
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
Thanks for lying.
I finally got around to sending you two more. Same sound, radically different contexts. Hope you like.I really, really wanted to like the second run, because I really, really love my original. Unfortunately, they did EVERYTHING differently, and worse. For example, the first-run basses were obviously handmade. They moved to CNC before the second.
Paul talked on and on about how they consulted with top-flight studio guys about how the bass should sound, and the result was an "instant good tone" preamp. I'm not going to fight with the folks who have panned that sound in this thread. There's a saying in my business: never, ever start to believe what you tell the press about yourself. Paul did.
CrazyBaldHead: if you're ever bound for Albany, let me know and I'll try to bring it for you to check out. I just had it out of the case for a minute and it was pretty happy to see me.
Aspidites: $480, with Levy's bag.
+1
I've played them in the past and they IMO are crap. They sound like crap due to the very bland tone and it felt like crap. The only nice thing about them was the finish and that doesn't warrant a $900 price tag.
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,137
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
KungFu has sent me a few more clips of his PRS.
The bass sounds good! Sounds like a nice "Jazz Bass" tone.
Nice playing too.
Granted, it's all someone's opinion and again, just kinda of stating that the tone is bland or it felt like crap is at least more specific than some, it's still kinda general.
Based on the clips that KungFu semt me, I think it's a good sounding bass. At least fingerstyle.
Punchy, tight tone, with a nice mid-range growl. Not bad really.
He sent me couple of Ska tunes and a bluesy rock tune.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,348
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
I don't believe that. Mine certainly doesn't feel like crap. I've never handed to anyone and not have them tell me that it plays like a dream. It doesn't feel any lesser construction than any other pro level instrument.
Mike, keep in mind that the first run of PRS basses sells for between 2.5-3K these days. The newer run you can get in under 1K, but its a different animal. I got a fair number of compliments on its tone when I was gigging it, but it was for a reggae band, so its tone fit that setting pretty well, even though it was a 'razors edge' for me to hit the sweet spot tone wise.
- Nov 4, 2003
- 11,943
- 3,137
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist- Suhr basses, PedalTrain, GHS, Ultimate Ears
You must have been referrning to cassanova's post and not mine.
I'm gonna give one a try (a second run version). Already got the "If it's not cool, send it back. Just cover your shipping" deal worked out.
So, what the hell do I have to loose except for $30 in shipping right?? I figure if it's a cool one and I really dig it, then I win!
When I get it I'll try and post up a few clips good or bad.
It should arrive on Monday. I was hoping to get it by Friday because I have gigs this weekend.
Either way, I'll try and post up a decient "review" since there really isn't much on these out there.
The one I got has a ash body, flame top and rosewood fingerboard.
Like I said before, if it sounds good passive, then if I wanted I could gut the thing and leave it passive or drop a Sadowsky or Demeter pre-amp in it or something.
Or throw my V-Bass pick-up on it and screw the stock electronics! LOL!!!
You must have been referrning to cassanova's post and not mine.
I'm gonna give one a try (a second run version). Already got the "If it's not cool, send it back. Just cover your shipping" deal worked out.
So, what the hell do I have to loose except for $30 in shipping right?? I figure if it's a cool one and I really dig it, then I win!
When I get it I'll try and post up a few clips good or bad.
It should arrive on Monday. I was hoping to get it by Friday because I have gigs this weekend.
Either way, I'll try and post up a decient "review" since there really isn't much on these out there.
The one I got has a ash body, flame top and rosewood fingerboard.
Like I said before, if it sounds good passive, then if I wanted I could gut the thing and leave it passive or drop a Sadowsky or Demeter pre-amp in it or something.
Or throw my V-Bass pick-up on it and screw the stock electronics! LOL!!!
What ultimately matters is that you like it. That's all. If I found one that I really liked I'd have no problem using it. So far that hasn't happened for me.
I'd love to know which bassists Paul consulted with besides Gary.
