Any experience with the PRS Swamp Ash Special?

L3stat

Member
Does anyone here have the SAS? Hope to get some local feedback on the playability, versatility and tone. Read some comments on HC already, it's pretty much in between a Gibson and a Fender. How close are the split tones to true single coil stuff? And there's been 2 revisions to the switching, which version is the best? New ones seem to come with SAS unique pickups and not the McCartys that older ones come with.
 
yo i tried one many years ago...
its really not bad.

the maple neck is a welcomed change from the standard rose wood fretboard offerings. Split tones are not that realistic... but its overall a really nice guitar.
 
i would place liberal concerns pertaining to the stuff at HC, not that they are incredible but more often than not, they seem to be a representation of an introvert's slanted opinion.

split coil tones could never be a total replication of a real single coil performance. my McCarty's split coil tone is immaculate but it isn't about to replace my Fender single coils any time...
 
i would place liberal concerns pertaining to the stuff at HC, not that they are incredible but more often than not, they seem to be a representation of an introvert's slanted opinion.

as with any forum or site don't you think...
 
depends on the participants.

i'm not saying HC is entirely rubbish, after sifting through entries, say out of 30, there'd be 1 impartial opinion. mostly, people would demerit the ware in light of very personal reasons, which isn't fair judgement to performance in its entirety.
 
Yup, I totally agree on the "accuracy" of the opinions. Some are fanboys, some are still on the NGD high. I would place more weight on those "come-back" reviews.

Not dreaming of finding a LP/strat in one, but something that might get me close, so maybe I can buy/carry around one less guitar. I'm a noob really, put me in a blindfold test, I might not be able to tell between SCs and HBs. :lol:

The maple bolt-on neck and ash body does imply it will sound stratty. And if it's fat on the HB tones too, cool!

Flamebait Q: How much does a SAS go for at Davis?
A: Call them and ask? :oops:
 
heh heh, you have sharp eyes wayne. although I must say it can be rather intimidating to ask Kelvin to let you try a guitar from the display. no harm asking though :D.
 
Thanks for the info, guess I'll drop by to check it out. By the way, GC is the one just beside G77 right? Might as well waltz over the Davis to ask about the list price at the same time! :lol:
 
Haha that 513 is the one with the brazilian rosewood neck which is discontinued this year. The new version with the mahogany neck costs $3-4k and sounds more traditional due to the neck.
 
Too late! Saw the eagle PRS already, but it's too purty to give me gas! A new SAS will cost about $3.9k according to Davis, and 3-9mths of waiting time. WTF?! If almondx is right, sounds like the 513 might be a replacement model for the SAS? GC has a SAS, but didn't ask to try.
 
"GC has a SAS, but didn't ask to try."

since you were there, why not? I've seen quite a few people try it out. its not as if Kelvin would turn violent or anything if you dont buy :lol: . you wouldnt know if you dont try dude.
 
Ok I confess. I can't play electric for nuts. Rather than kill everyone within earshot with repeated smoke on the water riffs in clean/OD/dist and various PU posns, I decided to observe from far. That particular one didn't attract me somehow too. I only cause earbleeding when I have an intention to buy that certain guitar. =)
 
I doubt the 513M (M for mahogany) is the direct replacement of the SAS. The 513M has a mahogany body maple top set in neck while the SAS has an ash body bolt on maple neck. This would lead me to believe that while both are versatile guitars, the 513M is closer to the Gibson les paul sound while the SAS is closer to the Fender strat sound.
 
there is nothing to be shy about not knowing how to play guitar. heh, I can tell you for a fact that out of 10 people who try guitars everyday, only like 2-3 of them can really play well.

if by any chance you really want to avoid attention, you could ask Kelvin to demo for you. not a problem at all as long as you ask him nicely. of course if that guitar didnt attract you, I've nothing more to say :lol: . after all, this topic is about the SAS.

on a side note, I've gotta agree with almondx on the versatility part. however, you've got to put the price issue into consideration as well though. in the meantime, maybe you could practice more while saving up for a PRS :) .
 
I agree on the 513 actually not being that similar in construction, read the specs before. That said, since they got new tech, they should implement it on the SAS. The common complaint I read about the SAS is that SC tones are still not quite there. Read somewhere it's hard to get a good SC tone from a split HB, unless there's some special shit used in that SC or something like that. But having a SC to start with, you can get pretty good HB tones if you match them correctly.
 
the split humbucker tone shouldn't be too much of a concern IMO. i haven't heard a repulsive split coil tone from any PRS.
 
If they really price it at 3-4, I think it's fair, the lowest any PRS will go is about 3. 1 on top of that is worth it if the guitar is really versatile like the brochure says. And there are always other places/countries to buy from if the price here is bad. LOL.
 
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