So, why all the bird hate?

[Jakedog]

What is the reasoning behind the all the hate for the PRS birds? There seems to be no rational or legit reason for it. Every PRS thread in the history of this forum, somebody (or several somebodies) have to jump in and let all of us know how stupid the birds are and how much they hate them, and how they would never buy a guitar with those “ridiculous” or “ugly” inlays.

What gives? Personally I’ve always thought they were cool. Since I first saw them in the 80’s, I’ve wanted a PRS with birds. Do people just hate birds in general? Do they look up in the sky and see a Cooper’s hawk, or look out on the porch and see a hummingbird and think “That thing is ugly, I really wish it wasn’t there.”?

I like the birds. They’re cool. They’re unique. They get more comments and compliments from the audience than any other guitar I have ever had on stage. Especially from women, but from guys as well. People always want to see them more closely once they notice them.

The only people who ever say anything negative about them are other guitar players, and they can’t tell you why. “It sounds great, but I’d never play a guitar with those stupid birds on it.” Why not? What’s stupid about them? “They’re just stupid. Just look at them. Oooh, birds! Who cares?”

Weird.

FWIW, I do think my PRS was a little overpriced now that I’ve had it for several months and still have not received a law or dentistry degree. I check the mail every day, but nothing so far.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I think it's because of the ornateness/delicacy it brings to mind. A bolt-on assembly line machine like a Tele is an "ax". I heavy bludgeon of a Les Paul is an "ax". A pretty flower like a PRS is not an "ax".

That's the impression I get from the bird haters, anyway. I'm not super into them, but I do like the Gretsch "western" style inlays (with the cacti and bulls and whatnot).

 

[schmee]

Never heard of bird hate. I do think PRS are vastly overpriced though.... for what they are.

 

[Recce]

I like the birds

 

[TigerG]

Most things that turn guitar players' stomachs turn audiences on.

 

[loopfinding]

i don't like fancy and/or representational inlays, i find them gaudy. doesn't matter if it's PRS or any other maker, or some vintage archtop. i know it takes a ton of effort but i prefer understated geometric things. i don't like abalone either.

 

[tery]

I like birds too.

 

[posttoastie]

What's not to love about birds

 

[voskarp]

When it comes to looks, the PRS guitars isn't my favourites; but I actually do like the bird inlays...

 

[papa32203]

To each his own.
I like real birds- a lot. Consider myself a "birder". Saved an injured Peregrine falcon one time, e.g.
I do not like PRS bird inlays. Don't know why, and don't care to analyze why. Just don't like them.
I also REALLY do not like PRS headstock shapes...

 

[Chiogtr4x]

I love the birds,
I could never afford a US PRS, but could be happy with a few of the SE varieties, birds and all!

 

[Blue Bill]

Part of the lore and vibe of Telecasters, and this is a Telecaster forum, is rugged simplicity. A plain dot does the job cheaply and perfectly. I don't "hate" the birds, but they are durn fancy for someone used to a Telecaster.

I'll admit some mild GAS for a SS. I did try one at the local GC, and it didn't grab me enough to bring it home. Nice, though.

 

[posttoastie]

 

[KelvinS1965]

I think there is rather too much 'hate' on the Internet; it's so easy to post something that you'd probably not say in person to someone (assuming you have a modicum of politeness that is). However I am in the camp that prefers the ones with simpler fret markers; I also find guitars that are too 'blingy' not to my taste either. Not fussed about matching headstocks, gold parts, sparkly finishes, etc, but as a friend of mine has such a guitar I'd never be so rude as to say anything to that effect to him...he obviously likes it and plays it well.

Actually there is something I hate: 'Tort' pickguards, but that's OK non of my friends have them otherwise I'd have to disown them.

 

[hepular]

here's a stupid speculative suggestion: they're a projection for the real hate directed at the whole prs thing.

dudes got normalized to strats, teles, and lps maybe 335s, as being the "s**t" & then this upstart shows up.

but there's such irrationality involved: if one praises the 'workman' tool-like nature of the tele, in what universe is a custom-shop version necessary?

And, still, i'm jonesing for a cowbrand guitar, which, is, a hugely upscaled version of some chicago produced valco thing etc. oh well,.

 

[Toadtele]

I hate to say it but I’ve never liked the bird inlays. No idea why.
I know this isn’t helpful.
Carry on.

 

[Jakedog]

Never heard of bird hate. I do think PRS are vastly overpriced though.... for what they are.

Well if a player wants “what they are”, that’s what they cost. Lots of players want what they are, so they pay the going rate.

When I bought mine I wanted a very specific thing. I played a whole lot of guitars that were specifically designed and built to do that thing. There are many. Ranging in price from $200 to oh, some have sold at auction for millions. I of course did not get the opportunity to play all of them, but I sampled a pretty huge cross section.

I didn’t try the PRS at the time because I decided I didn’t want to spend that much, that it was just too high a price to pay for a guitar. So I bought a different very nice guitar, for over a thousand dollars less.

A month later I bought the PRS anyhow, because over time the curiosity got to be too much for me and I had to try it. When I did so, I was forced to admit that it really was *that* much better, and was what I really wanted. I traded the other guitar and thankfully came out even on it.

I have to think if they were really overpriced, they’d have sold far fewer of them, and it would have been a lot harder for them to be one of the biggest selling brands in the world. It hurt to buy mine. Pretty fat sting, financially. It’s the most I’ve ever spent on a piece of music gear. Was it worth it? After four months, the honeymoon is over. And I’d say yes, it was definitely worth it, and I’m looking into a long term plan to eventually own a second one.

 

[nojazzhere]

What is the reasoning behind the all the hate for the PRS birds? There seems to be no rational or legit reason for it. Every PRS thread in the history of this forum, somebody (or several somebodies) have to jump in and let all of us know how stupid the birds are and how much they hate them, and how they would never buy a guitar with those “ridiculous” or “ugly” inlays.

What gives? Personally I’ve always thought they were cool. Since I first saw them in the 80’s, I’ve wanted a PRS with birds. Do people just hate birds in general? Do they look up in the sky and see a Cooper’s hawk, or look out on the porch and see a hummingbird and think “That thing is ugly, I really wish it wasn’t there.”?

I like the birds. They’re cool. They’re unique. They get more comments and compliments from the audience than any other guitar I have ever had on stage. Especially from women, but from guys as well. People always want to see them more closely once they notice them.

The only people who ever say anything negative about them are other guitar players, and they can’t tell you why. “It sounds great, but I’d never play a guitar with those stupid birds on it.” Why not? What’s stupid about them? “They’re just stupid. Just look at them. Oooh, birds! Who cares?”

Weird.

FWIW, I do think my PRS was a little overpriced now that I’ve had it for several months and still have not received a law or dentistry degree. I check the mail every day, but nothing so far.

I'm definitely not a "bird hater".....but, if given a choice, I prefer simple, unadorned guitars. The only PRS I've ever owned is an SE One, which I added a neck pickup to. About as "plain" a guitar as Paul has ever made. Fretboard markers are simple, "moon" look. But there are few guitars I'd reject outright just based on looks.

 

[Leonardocoate]

Hate is such a strong word for a guitar, the birds seem ok to me. Doesn't seem like the kind of thing to have such a strong opinion about. you like or you don't

 

[loopfinding]

here's a stupid speculative suggestion: they're a projection for the real hate directed at the whole prs thing.

dudes got normalized to strats, teles, and lps maybe 335s, as being the "s**t" & then this upstart shows up.

agree on the former. i don't like PRS's in general. the bird stuff is icing on the cake.

but i disagree on the latter. i don't like PRS because i don't like les pauls in general. and then PRS's are like super pauls, and gaudier looking than les pauls.

i have no beef with the design of those weirdo shredder ergo guitars like strandberg or abasi or something, or geometric stuff like millimetric instruments (though i have no use for them sonically). i just don't really care for the in betweens (PRS, music man, etc) that are neither modern nor traditional.