While we’re on the subject of PRS (Paul Reed Smith,) just thought I’d point you all towards Modern Guitar Magazine’s new review of the PRS Mira Maple Top.
Unfortunately, I’ve tried on a few occasions to get the good folks at PRS to send me an instrument for review, but so far they’ve been a no-show. So, we’ll have to let Modern Guitar have all the fun…
If you’re looking for a PRS with a vintage tone and feel, this might be the one for you––
…Based on the guitar’s size, weight and balance and excellent construction, we consider it a worthy competitor to a Custom Shop grade Telecaster. Paul Reed Smith has managed to build a new model that maintains a vintage vibe, yet still makes its own contemporary statement. The Mira’s hardware was also visually appealing in a highly polished chrome finish, with the tuning peg heads tinted black. Particularly nice is the PRS built chromed bridge that’s got a sleek art deco vibe going. Two black open-faced Humbuckers help complete the retro look, with a small toggle coil tap set alongside the tone control for an easy and intuitive reach….
The instrument ships with a hard shell case (black tolex,) documentation, and is fetching an MSRP of $2,960… I’m guessing we can expect street prices in the mid $2,000s.
- Guitar Player Reviews Three New PRS SE Model Guitars
- PRS 305 Takes MIPA Award & Guitar Player Magazine’s ‘Editor’s Pick’
- Vintage Guitar Magazine Reviews The PRS SE Custom Semi-Hollow
- Vintage Guitar Magazine Reviews The PRS 513
- Reader Poll: Hmmm, PRS With A Bigsby… What’s Your Take?
- Premier Guitar Reviews The PRS Starla
- PRS 25th Anniversary Guitars Now Online
- NAMM ’07 Preview: Eight New Guitars From PRS
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Now THAT’S a pretty guitar. The Mira is actually the first PRS guitar I’ve seriously considered adding to my arsenal. If you go to the full review, check out the sunburst flame maple top w/black pickguard and rosewood fretboard. Beautiful!
To me, the Mira is everything the Starla is not.
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:24 am
The Mira has just spoken to me since it was release — from the way it looks to the way it plays and how it sounds.
I’ll be placing my purchase for a Mira in November and I am very excited about it. I’ve heard that while the maple top is beautiful to behold, that the original mahogany Mira is actually warmer and richer sounding.
October 4th, 2008 at 8:49 am
That’s probably true, and I love some of the vintage colors they offer with the mahogany Mira.
March 5th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I bought a mira tonight that looks just like the pic above.
I am a prs fan but have only owned one- a 91 custom with 10 top and trem.
Since I bought that guitar I have played 1000′s of gigs on it and it is mart of me and my playing. I have played newer prs and they dont have the magic mine has.
so now, 18 years later I need a refret. Mine has been dressed and dressed and because I have agreat tech who goes over it every year I have avoided a refret til now.
I went to GC tonight to try those Gibson robot guitars they were blowing out at $1399 (that list for 4k). Not one of them worked-as if I need someone to tune my guitar anyway . So i proceeded to check out other gibsons becasue PRS havent spoken to me for a long time. I had chosen a Gibson SG standard , an ES336(that sounded beautiful) and a VOS les paul that listed for 5k. It was a traded in but looked new except for a small area in the back where the seam was seperating but it had to be shown to me. Because of that flaw it was the same price as the es 336.
I was torn but the les paul was damn heavy- 10 lbs or so. So I decided to get the 336 knowing iot would be great for my jazz and fusion gigs and some rock and blues but not country or all sessions. As the guy was ringing it up I was leaning on the counter and behind him were the PRS’s and the MIRA caught my eye. I was thinking “what IS that”.
I asked him to see it and he handed it to me and it was so lightweight that it seemed hollow or chambered. i took it into the high end room where I had been testing guitars for hours and played it thru a mesa 5:50(which is my fave production amp but not nearly as good as my redplate amp).
From the moment I played it unplugged it rang with an acoustic presence.
I tried it clean first and the neck humbicker kicked a$$ for my jazz stuff. I turned on the OD channel and switched to the bridge and got my liquid robben ford/ eric johnson lead tone. Then, I put the selector in the middle and tapped the coils. I played some stratty licks and i was a good replica of that tone but the magic is in the neck and bridge single. I played some fast country tele licks and I could have sworn i was playing a high end tele!
The tone control is voiced as well as anything i’ve ever played- the setup out of the box is near perfect with only PU’s needing to be adjusted and I put a small amount of tension on the neck a few mins ago.
The real joy for me is the volume control, its placement and the tonal changes you get when using the control. I then realized Ima ORS player and its part of my being and I need to be able to do swells like that guitar allows.
Over the next few days im going to do clips and post the to the gear page dot net so doa search over there to hear them.
PRS has redeemed themselves to me!