My Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Guitars

As I continue along my path back onto the stage and into the recording studio, I have been building my guitar collection.  The Paul Reed Smith guitars have always been a question in the back of my mind; every time I’ve played one of their custom models with an incredibly beautiful finish, I’ve been disappointed with the action and the feel of the neck.  This reason alone has kept me from buying one of their guitars.

Until I ran into a model that just blew my mind; the PRS Starla.  That guitar has a wide-fat mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard that adds to the rich tones of the instrument.  Then after I bought the Starla and played it for a while, I ran into another PRS that I just loved when I stopped in at The Guitar Center.  I was a bit concerned though because it is one of their SE models (SE Singlecut); however, after finding out that they go through the same rigorous factory quality control criteria as do the high-priced custom models that are made in their US plant in Annapolis, Maryland, I felt much better about purchasing one of their SE models.

  

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The SE Singlecut features a mahogany body, maple top, flame maple veneer and a PRS designed stop tailpiece  bridge.  The 22-fret, wide-fat mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard and abalone bird inlays is definitely eye catching. The PRS designed treble and bass humbuckers give me a variety of great sounds for whatever style of music I want to play. 

Ultimately, I’m very pleased with this guitar and hope to build my collection with more SE or SE Signature models, unless I run across a good deal on one of PRS’ Custom Signature Models', like Al Di Meola’s well known “Prism” model (shown here.).

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I hope you had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed the college and NFL football games; especially the Baltimore Ravens 23-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. They certainly were exciting!

Remember to give your kids a hug and tell them that you love them.  I’ll be back with you soon.

Well until next time;

Musician By Night . . .

Hurricane Irene and “Sweet Baby Anita”:

Well what can I say, because of Hurricane Irene, I won’t be publishing anything new after this post this weekend.  My time will be spent getting prepared for the storm; putting away lawn furniture and tools that can be tossed around, to and fro due to the rapid winds. We’ll also be packing up all the garbage that is in the outside garbage cans and putting it inside our garage with the lawn mower and other items that need to be under cover.  Then we’ll be riding the storm through the weekend, hopefully without loosing all power.

I know I’ll be playing my guitars as long as there is power and hanging out with best friend and fiancé all weekend long after we’re thru Hurricane Proofing our home & property.  Now, I have a surprise for her that I hope will make her feel more special than ever before.  Just yesterday, I bought a barely used, (mint condition) PRS Starla Bigsby guitar from Nik Kosmas at the Guitar Center in Glen Burnie, MD.   Of course when I told my better half about my newest purchase, she wasn’t real happy with me because I still have a Fender Stratocaster on hold that I’m paying for. another four weeks or two payments.

However as you know, all of us guitarists give our ax’s girls names; it’s a tradition.  So, in honor of the lover of my life (no, not my Les Paul stupid . . . ) I named my newest guitar “Sweet Baby Anita” or just “Anita” for short. I really hope she knows how much she means to me and in turn, how much the guitar reminds me of her.  Here are a couple of photos of “Anita”, I’m sure you’ll agree with me.

    

2011 PRS Starla Bigsby guitar w/ Santana Headstock, Neck & Fingerboard

        

My Better Half ”ANITA”, now she’s my real love !

Well, we have to get started on the hurricane preparation or else I’ll never be able to get to the Guitar Center to be able to pick-up “Sweet Baby Anita” tonight or tomorrow morning.  I hope you all stay safe this weekend thru the storm and you don’t let Hurricane Irene nock you down.  Actually, this is a very good time for all of us to cuddle together with our families and give them all big hugs and kisses to show them how much we love them.  Didn't Billy Gibbons write a song about given’ me all your hugs and kisses too?  Boy he was right for a Good Ole’ Southern Rocker wasn’t he?

Until after Irene;

Musician By Night