This
is a Paul Reed Smith Custom 24, with Artist
Package & Quilted Maple top.
This guitar is so awesome! You really have to see it in person to
appreciate how beautiful the wood is. It has paua 'bird'
inlays in the neck, a tremolo bridge, gold hardware and 'artist grade' quilted maple
top. This guitar is one of the best playing guitars I have ever had in my hands!
It's not just a looker, it's a real workhorse.
I had been wanting one of these guitars since 1997. There
were not
many to be found in Georgia at that time. I was sent to Columbia, Maryland on a business
trip in 2000. The PRS factory is in Stevensville, 40 miles away. I called the factory
and explained the difficulty I was having finding one of their guitars like I wanted in
Georgia. I asked them if I could come to the factory and pick out a guitar.
They said they would be glad to give me a tour of the factory but they had a six month
backlog on orders. As fast as one was built, it was setup, boxed, and
shipped. They suggested I try the Washington
Music Center in Wheaton, Maryland, which was 20 miles south of Columbia. When I
went there, they didn't have THE guitar I was looking for. The salesman, Brian
Meader, said they had some on order like I wanted, but due to the order backlog he was not
sure when one might come in. They did have some other Custom 24's that were close to
what I was looking for. After playing them I was torn between a cherry sunburst and
a turquoise one. I agonized for two days over which one to
buy. When I went back to the store, my daughter, Ariana, told me she though the
turquoise one was the prettiest. Needless to say I bought the one she liked. I
asked Brian if a Custom 24 Artist came in, could I trade the turquoise one back for it.
He said it might be possible if it was within a month. One month later I
found the Vintage Yellow one pictured on the left on their website. I called Brian and they
allowed me to return the turquoise guitar and get this one. This guitar is most
definitely THE guitar. It is a pure joy to play. Thank you Lord for it !!!
