Self-Indulgent post ...Guitar review thoughts:
Indonesian made PRS NF3.
How about this: It is a PRS in Strat clothing.
Pick up positions aside, I wouldn't quite call this Gretsch-like, nor would I call it Rickenbacker like, but I think more about those guitars, especially the Lennon 3-pickup Rickenbacker.
I was also feeling a bit bothered by the fact that I couldn't do my dead spot/high fret finding exercise very well and I was a little concerned that I might be having some issues beyond what I already know. Turns out that this particular model is 25" scale. It wasn't fat fingers, it was skinny spacing!
As it should be with any guitar, this one talked to me. It was lively sounding and resonant acoustically. While I checked for obvious defects and problems the guitar was pulled out of a cold storage room in the middle of a very dry spell of weather.
They've got a 45-day return policy that is extended for the holidays, I hope I don't have to use it as there's one spot that is a little buzzy. Also, I noticed some gapping around the neck pocket and I decided to ignore that and I'll look at other Asian made PRSes to see if this is consistent. It might be that it is part of the reason it's so resonant.
I think that the 3x3 headstock also adds to its rich tonal resonance.
Using the vibrato, it always returns with most strings up a cent or two. Noticeable only on certain chord voicings, and verified with a tuner, it shouldn't be too bad as it breaks in. Pulling the strings a little bit, not pulling up on the traditional vibrato, gets them to settle back down. A little pinching at the nut is going on I guess.
On the other hand, if I want a pure Strat sound, I got to buy a pure Strat. I did try out a ton of Mexican made strats and even an ultra American Strat, some American Vintage and American pro IIs and all of them weren't as resonant as this Paul Reed Smith. This PRS is a poplar body, I winced when I first found out, but...
