I’m currently considering upgrading from my current electric guitar, a dirt cheap beginner’s Epiphone Les Paul (it’s the next model up from the Model 100).
I’ve set a budget of about $1500, just to keep myself from going hog wild. I have very large hands, play a fair number of dad rock covers mostly, and occasionally derp around with a few other musicians in the neighborhood.
I’ve played around with and liked both the standard Mexican Stratocaster, and found the PRS Custom 24 to be an enjoyable guitar to play. I’m wondering if there’s another model I need to consider, as I’m planning this as a Christmas present to myself.
Between a MiM Strat and a PRS I would go with the PRS. The scale length on the PRS is mid-way between the Strat and the LP, so if you go back and forth between the LP and the new guitar you’re less likely to have issues with the different string tension making your chords all sound out of tune.
I have an SE Custom 24-08 and I love it. I also have a MiA Strat Deluxe Plus, which I also love but I find myself playing the PRS far more often. Same pickups as the 24, but having the 3-way switch with the two mini toggles gives you two more pickup combinations. On the 24-08 you can have both pickups active with one using both coils and the other using a single coil, the 24 is either both double or both single.
Yeah, after getting an American Strat and an Indonesian Custom 24-08 in my hands yesterday, I’ve ruled out the Strat. Which is weird because when I started, this shopping, it was the guitar I was looking at the closest. And honestly, I probably could have gotten a good Black Friday or Inventory Closeout sale price on an American Strat, given my timeline.
But I may need to try something from Godin. Which is going to take me into the suburbs, because they don’t have a dealer in town.
