I play Ken Smith BSR's but happened upon a sweet deal for a PRS Private Stock Gary Grainger bass. I don't have it in hand yet so I thought I'd see who else here has one and what you think - especially considering the fact that the 86-91 curly 4's and 5's PRS produced do not get much respect among players.
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PRS Gary Grainger Sig Bass (Private Stock)
- Thread starter Hansomatic
- Start date
I think there were a few threads about them when they came out. To sum them up, most people thought they were beautiful but the price tag of over 10k$ was too much (most people would choose Fodera or Alembic with that price). Maybe the deal is better when bought used but propably they are not many around. Anyways share some pics of the beauty when you get it.
- Nov 2, 2005
- 1,284
- 587
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Pyramid Strings, MPE Audio
hmm a prs bass ... interesting...
but... I would like to see a single cut design one day...
and also.. the price... man.. too much..
it's like prs would say "we don't want to sell basses"
but... I would like to see a single cut design one day...
and also.. the price... man.. too much..
it's like prs would say "we don't want to sell basses"
I have tried the "old" PRS basses several times over and I was not impressed. I am intrigued to try the new one but at that price point I am not sure I'd hand my money that direction
To me they were light, and didn't sound very balanced. Sounded almost papery in their tone.
I almost got a jazz style p/u PRS for 999 used from Guitar Center and I didn't becasue it sounded like garbage.
I almost got a jazz style p/u PRS for 999 used from Guitar Center and I didn't becasue it sounded like garbage.
Yeah... the older production PRS Basses just got terrible reviews... odd sounding preamps that could not be replaced if/when they broke and pickups that sounds bad in passive mode. Not good.
The Grainger is a new design across the board. Here are some pics:
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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The Grainger is a new design across the board. Here are some pics:
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[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
It looks interesting though not particularly attractive imo, but since it's a PRS bass, definitely give it a thorough checking out before you hand over the cash.
I love PRS....guitars but the basses didn't do anything for me. Granted I only ever came across 1 but for the $ there are much better basses. They make great guitars, I own 1 and have owned 3 at 1 time. I only sold 2 of them due to a divorce. Maybe the 1 pictured is better than the older PRS basses but I'll stick with my Roscoe.
The whole idea of private stock instruments bores me. If I'm gonna spend a mint on a guitar or bass, I'd rather the instrument be MY design. Having played a few PRS basses back in the day, I wasn't that impressed. Certainly not impressed enough for that price tag. If I had that kind of money, I'd be calling up Fodera, Conklin, CB, Stambaugh, etc.
+1... that looks like a nice bass, but the price, combined with the general 'awfulness' of the standard models (which I think have been discontinued) would make me less than uninterested in this model, considering the other basses you could get for half the price.
IMO and IME, this is a company that makes wonderful guitars, and hasn't a clue about basses.
IMO and IME, this is a company that makes wonderful guitars, and hasn't a clue about basses.
FYI, even PRS himself said his original basses missed the mark and were good only for reggae. I don't think he was proud of them.
The newer ones have a different design altogether. I have not played them.
.
The newer ones have a different design altogether. I have not played them.
.
The newer ones are worse in the opposite direction... thin and lifeless sounding. I again believe they have been discontinued.
BurningSkies
CRAZY BALDHEAD
- Feb 20, 2005
- 27,956
- 20,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Dingwall Guitars
The newer ones are worse in the opposite direction... thin and lifeless sounding. I again believe they have been discontinued.
Ken, I have one of the newer ones, and while I agree with most of what's being said here...I can't agree with thin.
Its just the opposite, which makes it trouble in the mix. With the preamp on, it's more than not thin, it's headache inducing full. In passive mode, it still is fatter than 90% of other jazz basses I've played. When I took it to the Woodstock GTG, several of the Luthiers there tried it and agreed that the stock pickups sounded good in passive mode but were a mess in active mode...and its a ripper when it comes to action.
I've played Gary's bass. It's a nice bass but didn't make me want to replace anything I already have
. IIRC it was originally supposed to sell for around $3k. If Paul can get people to pay "Private Stock" prices for one I say more power to him. I'll leave it at that.
+1. Amazing looking!
I recently crossed the $2k plateau (a few basses at that price actually) but I can't justify more than that as I play for $100-150 per night plus beers only a few times a month.
