Okay, so this is your chance to sound off, folks… for the last week or so I’ve been trying to wrap my brain around the basic aesthetic design of the new PRS Starla, but I just can’t seem to come up with a definitive opinion on what I think.
First off, hey––I love a Bigsby! But bolted onto a singlecut solidbody bearing the standard futuristic lines of a PRS, not to mention that spiky headstock, this thing just looks all wrong to me.
Of course, the newly introduced Starla could turn out to be the bee’s knees, and I’m certainly not going to make any judgment calls when it comes to playability or tone until I can get my freakin’ hands on one, but I thought it would be fun to hear what you all think of this latest model from the good folks at Paul Reed Smith.
I’m not sure what it is about PRS that seems to bring both fanatic proponents and detractors out of the woodwork, but the comments on this blog get predictably strange whenever I mention one of their guitars.
So here goes… whatcha’ think?
- Poll Results: “What’s Your Absolute Dream Guitar?”
- Reader Poll: What’s Your Favorite Pedal Board?
- Reader Poll: Who The Hell Are You?
- A Quick Look At Fender’s Master Built ‘61 John Cruz Stratocaster
- Reader Poll: What’s Your Absolute Dream Guitar?
- Fender ’60s Telecaster With Bigsby – Twang With A Twist
- Get Into A Gretsch On The Cheap… Electromatic Pro Jet With Bigsby
- Gretsch Releases Updated Duo Jet With Bigsby Vibrato
- Reader Poll: What’s Your Absolute Dream Guitar Rig?
- Gretsch Releases G6117T HT Anniversary With Bigsby Vibrato
- Electro-Harmonix Unveils Old-School Germanium OD Pedal
- Gibson’s New Website & Forum For The HD 6X Digital Les Paul
September 30th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Like you, I just find it wrong. But then I worry about PRS guitars with any form of trem - they only seem right to me with nice little wrapover stoptails… Now the Mira - that’s more like it!
September 30th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I think Bigsby must have having a big market push. Carvin recently announced their guitars’ availability with Bigby trems too: http://www.carvinguitars.com/blogs/blogs/?p=54&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1
September 30th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
I think it’s gorgeous, but I am a huge fan of kitschy oversized pickguards like that. The more crap you can stuff on the body, the better, I say!
September 30th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
It’s an abomination!
September 30th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
looks like it’s trying to copy/compete with the Gretsch electromatic Pro Jet thing.
not really a fan.
September 30th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
There are probably more appropriate trems to put in a smaller solidbody.
What I can’t figure out is why PRS doesn’t use a roller saddle bridge with Bigsby equipped guitars.
The PRS SCJ-Thinline limited edition they’re promoting these days looks great with a Bigsby but is sorely in need of roller saddles!
September 30th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Why not? Why should PRS just keep making the same guitar over and over? This will give them a piece of Gretsch’s market. Besides, anyone who hasn’t played a guitar with Tron’s and a Bigsby really hasn’t lived yet. It’s Rock-n-Roll Baby!
October 1st, 2008 at 3:31 am
They gave this guitar the perfect name: Starla. That is to say, “cheap whore.”
Pickups and Bigsby look like they were robbed from a Gretsch. TOM bridge and single cut body style from Gibson
Pickguard actually looks like it came from a 70s Gibson — Marauder or S-1. Never a good idea to be taking style cues from those guitars…
Marry all of that with a nasty brown finish and that distinct PRS headstock, and you now have the ugliest guitar in the PRS line and possibly the ugliest new guitar of 2008 — even worse than the Gibson reverse Explorer.
Mike is right…they got it right with the Mira, but “Starla” totally missed the mark. Wonder if it come in a pink vinyl case?
October 1st, 2008 at 3:59 am
they nearly pull it of, but it looks a little daft. nah…
October 1st, 2008 at 4:49 am
I’m in the “why not?” camp. Those pick-ups and that trem sound great together, and PRS are more of a reliable stamp for build quality than Gretsch themselves. So yeah, if you want that sound, again, “why not?”
October 1st, 2008 at 4:51 am
Oh aye. But the guitar in itself? Ugly as sin.
October 1st, 2008 at 5:03 am
Eastwood does it better.
October 1st, 2008 at 10:20 am
I agree with Stratoblogster on the SC-J Thinline with a Bigsby; it looks pretty good on that guitar, maybe because the SC-J is HUGE! On the Starla things just look crowded. I’d get tired if it’s getting in the way of volume/tone knobs. Maybe it’ll work out ok with the controls when you play it but it sure doesn’t look that way from the pics. The Starla (w/o Bigsby) may grow on me over time, though; that’s what the Mira did. And +1 on Don’s comment.
October 2nd, 2008 at 6:35 am
I like it!
It’s the first time I’ve seen a PRS that I actually like the look of.
October 6th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
putting a pig on lipstick (sic). PRS has the best trems in the industry. why do this?
October 29th, 2008 at 4:43 am
I also think it’s the best-looking PRS yet (and this is coming from someone who already has two).
October 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Gibson-like, Gretch-like, Strat-like…… who cares about traditional looks. I say try all sorts of crazy things, if the quality and tone are there I don’t care if it has “VIntage” features or “futuristic” curves. Lets have a free for all with guitar makers trying anything, thats the only way guitar making is going to progress!
November 12th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Vintage Guitar Magazine gave rave review; current edition. I bought one yesterday and I must say; never being a PRS guy- I’ve tried Custom 24, McCarty, Custom 22 in the past; this short scale monstrosity is nothing short of a MONSTER through my Dr. Z Prescription Rx Jr. Strength! Huge neck; huge tone with a jangle (Ric) at the end. Ugly for sure; but the tone is worth the ugliness.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:46 am
Kana said: “PRS has the best trems in the industry. why do this?”
The Mira & Sarla have significantly thinner bodies than the rest of the PRS line (I’ve got a Mira, it’s a very skinny guitar, kind of like an SG) and apparently there just isn’t room normal trem…
Going back to the original question, I think this one really needs more extrovert colours to work. A full-on retro-kitsch vibe with sparkly metallic colours and a pearloid or tortoiseshell pickguard are the way to go on this one I think!
Still what the heck would I know, I bought a Lilac Mira and I don’t think anybody except me likes that colour :-)
— Jonathon.