Trading my LP Studio Faded for a PRS SE Custom -- should I?

Like the title says...I'm actually considering this. I'll be checking out the PRS when my customer comes in to the shop. It's used...a few years old, but and looks like it's got a bookmatched top on it...red. Looks nice. We'll see how it plays. I've really liked the PRS guitars, just never got one.

I'm pretty sure that the Gibsons hold their value better, but wanted to confer with you guys first. I was considering taking the PRS in a trade plus 400 bucks. What do you guys think about this value wise? I have good and bad days with the LP, and I guess it just depends whether I bond with the PRS when I play around with it for a bit.

Any advice? LP better by miles? PRS better than the LP? I'm concerned with either holding their value, but it's not as important as having an instrument I can pick up and enjoy playing.

I've had a couple PRS SE guitars and they were great! Keep in mind the bookmatched top is just veneer on the SE models, but they look, sound, and play great.
I don't think they will hold their value as well as the LP will, as the SE models are manufactured overseas. I don't have any experience with the LP you mention, so I don't know if it's a good trade or not. I tend to like the 25" scale of the PRS better than the shorter LP scale. Personally, I would rather have the PRS SE, I like double cuts better than single cuts (except for a tele of course)
good luck in your decision!

I would buy the SE outright and then sell the Gibson. You'll come out much, much better I think.

I would buy it outright, but the guy needs a guitar.

Here's a pic of a similar guitar. The pic he sent me was too grainy for tdpri, so I found a similar one on Ebay.

No bird inlays...which is a bummer, and the one I'm going to try out is red.

Let's see: used Studio Fadeds are going for $600 - $650, less $400 = $200 - $250 for the PRS. Sounds about right, that's what they're worth. Won't hold their value since they went for $500 to $600 new; not that much less than the Gibson. I've own 4 Korean PRSi - 2001 Santana, 2003 EG, 2005 Soapbar II, and a 2007 Tremonti over a period of 7 years. During that time I basically rebuilt all 4 - tuners, nuts, pickups, electronics, so I became very familiar with them. I finally got tired of it, sold all of them and bought a 2012 Gibson Studio Satin. After setting it up (only had to adjust the bridge and pickups), I wouldn't change a thing. Great tuners, pickups, electronics (CTS pots, Switchcraft jack, good switch and wiring). I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Get the guitar if you like it, but don't buy it to resell it. They're fine guitars for the right price.

Don't do it unless the other guy gives you some extra dough!!!

They are two completely different guitars and it's all about what speaks to you. I like the look of Les Pauls and the way they sound but I am not too hip with the way they play for me. Some Les Pauls are just so heavy and that's another factor I look at.

If it were me, I would take the PRS and cash. I have always thought the PRS had the best playing necks once I got used to the unconventional body/neck area. I love bolt-on PRS guitars.

Well seing as you asked...

I wouldn't.

PRS just don't appeal to me, although they play nice and the gibson may not play as nice but to me PRS guitars just sound generic. Maybe becasue I haven't played many....

I have a top of the line cort, in no way shape or form has ANY guitar played as stunningly as that one. It comes with SD 57's and coil split. It is a LOVELY guitar.

BUT it just doesn't do any thing for me. A bit like PRS's, this guitar is now a great source of frustration, it is not worth nearly anything so I won't sell it but I just never use it.

edit: I guess if it was my only guitar or one fo a couple, I would be in love with it...but now I have a few similar options with a few quirks that just make them more appealing, memorable...

You've gotten some good advice already. No need for me to jump in with more. But IMHO, I'd rather have the LP. One, it's a USA made guitar. The PRS is not.
Two, as mentioned before, and IMHO, the pickups and electronics are better in the Gibby.
Three, again, IMHO opinion, they are two completely different sounds. And yet again IMHO, the PRS hasn't been around long enough to become a really classic sound, like the LP and the Strat and Tele are. I'd prefer to keep that sound in my arsenal.
Four, the SE models are cheap enough used bought straight out. I certainly would not trade the Gibson Studio for one. JMHO, and YMMV.

They are two completely different guitars and it's all about what speaks to you.
I have always thought the PRS had the best playing necks once I got used to the unconventional body/neck area.

Which is why I had 4 of 'em

But I love my 60's neck

I have that exact guitar in green, and I love it.
I put on Grover lockers, and feel it needs nothing else.
I do realise if I were to try and sell it I would get close to nothing, but I didn't buy it to sell it again.
I say, give the PRS a chance, especially if he's throwing in a good chunk O cash!

It's hard to say until you play it. Due to the different scale and whatnot they will have a very different feel. If the PRS feels and sounds better to you than go for it. The Gibby is only a studio, i'm not knocking them I've got one i love, but if you can't bond with it it's not that hard to replace with one you do bond with in the future.

Good advice given so far. If you like the PRS go for it. If it was me, I wouldn't but I am biased, I don't like PRS guitars. Nothing wrong with them, they just aren't for me.

Good advice given so far. If you like the PRS go for it. If it was me, I wouldn't but I am biased, I don't like PRS guitars. Nothing wrong with them, they just aren't for me.

I used one for a night and felt it didn't have the bite or feel of a Les Paul - but was smooth and looked good. I'm not a big Carlos fan, maybe with the right amp it would be ok but like the shorter Gibby scale better.

On the other hand I checked out a faded LP recently and thought it felt too much like my Epi SG. I think the faded LP is made in China - anybody know ?

^ Faded LPs are USA-made (unless they are Epis, in which case = China).

Yes, try them both out side-by-side, and get/keep the one you prefer. Both are guitars you can replace / find again later pretty easily, so no terrible loss if you have buyer's regret.

I would keep the Les Paul.

I wouldn't trade a Nashville guitar for a China guitar.

The Gibson pickups sound much better.

I would keep the Les Paul.

I wouldn't trade a Nashville guitar for a China guitar.

The Gibson pickups sound much better.

Actually I believe the SEs are MIK, but, I agree with your sentiment.

A few years ago I had a FF SG that was just killer..light, great tone, a joy to play.
I convinced myself that I " needed" something with p-90s, and traded the SG for a Soapbar SE.
Nice guitar, but at the end of the day simply a clone of a great guitar.
I know there are those who deride the various low end Gibsons, ( and HW 1s and......insert basic yet playable USA guitar here) as not up to standard, but I find most of fhem to be well made and toneful, if a bit plain..but they have a way of growing on you,.sort of like the tomboy next door.

I would give the Gibby another look, perhaps get a really good set up, try some different strings, dial in the pickups.
That SG would probably be worth close to twice what the SE is going for now,even budget US guitars seem to maintain value over the long run, while most offshore stuff, involves taking a hit if you should decide to sell.

Keep the,lester

Wow. Lots of responses. Thanks for all the suggestions! To answer a gentleman above...the LP is flawless really. I lowered the action a bit right out of the box and fiddled with the nut slots. Action is low and plays like a dream. It's flawless, but just doesn't make me feel anything when I go to play it.

I was thinking about what it is that bugs me so much about the LP, and I think that the volume pots and wiring could probably be upgraded a bit. The volume pots seem to be linear taper and there is absolutely no adjustability at all. It's virtually the same volume until I get to like...1. It's that bad.

If I end up keeping it, I'll take care of that.

The other deciding factor is that the PRS is one of the older versions without the bird inlays. :roll: I know...I gottta have em though. I like the little birdies. :lol: Plus, the used ones go for around 200 on up on the bay, so I may just hold out if I see anything that might seem like a serious flaw or weakness.

After all, the LP is made in the ol USofA...

I'll keep you guys posted. I'll be playing around with the PRS on Fri.

No. The guitarist in my band in high shool had one. Not a bad guitar at all but a lp studio faded is just a Gibson lp minus weight, paint and binding. I think the faded lp is one of the best deals on a guitar out there. Those burstbuckers are awesome.

Wow. Lots of responses. Thanks for all the suggestions! To answer a gentleman above...the LP is flawless really. I lowered the action a bit right out of the box and fiddled with the nut slots. Action is low and plays like a dream. It's flawless, but just doesn't make me feel anything when I go to play it.

I was thinking about what it is that bugs me so much about the LP, and I think that the volume pots and wiring could probably be upgraded a bit. The volume pots seem to be linear taper and there is absolutely no adjustability at all. It's virtually the same volume until I get to like...1. It's that bad.

If I end up keeping it, I'll take care of that.

The other deciding factor is that the PRS is one of the older versions without the bird inlays. :roll: I know...I gottta have em though. I like the little birdies. :lol: Plus, the used ones go for around 200 on up on the bay, so I may just hold out if I see anything that might seem like a serious flaw or weakness.

After all, the LP is made in the ol USofA...

I'll keep you guys posted. I'll be playing around with the PRS on Fri.

Both guitars have their major pluses.

The first and foremost is that they are both great guitars for the price. Very few guitars have the value for dollar like the faded Gibsons and the PRS SEs. I saw the Gibson recently for $899 and the PRS for $749.

Being that both can be got for well under a grand, it may be a good idea to just have both. While the Gibson has the thoroughbred genes and great two humbucker tone first put on a solidbody en masse, the PRS is a total lead guitar from the ground up. I have mostly used Les Pauls as rhythm guitars with some basic lead work but have used a superstrat (like PRS qualifies to be with big frets, thin neck, flawless fretwork) as a full on shredding machine. Others in that category would be Jackson Soloist, Ibanez RG, and the very expensive Anderson superstrats and Valley Arts superstrats.

They both cover different territories and between the two, especially if you get into push pull pots, covers almost anything you can throw at it. Many, like I was initially, get put off by the neck and heel region of the PRS guitars being that it's quite different than anything else out there.