PRS Custom 22 Review
Paul Reed Smith has been famous for producing excellent quality guitars for many years now, this article is going to focus on one model in particular, the PRS Custom 22. If you’re considering purchasing any PRS guitar you should definitely read this article first. This article will also be evaluating this guitars’ Korean made counterpart, the PRS SE Custom 22 against the orginal model.
The PRS Custom 22 has a 25-inch scale and features a wide thin neck; this really adds to the players comfort when holding this guitar and seems to melt into the players hands. This guitar also has a Stoptail Custom 22 which features locking tuners. The locking tuners are truly awesome and will be ideal for any player who loves to abuse their tremolo bar. The locking tuners ensure that the strings remain in tune no matter how frequently you use the whammy bar. This is a common problem with Stratocasters; merely touching the tremolo bar on some models would cause the strings to come out of tune.
The PRS Custom 22 guitar features some of the best pickups you’ll ever find, two PRS Dragon II’s. These pickups are hugely versatile and are capable of producing a whole range of tones. Whether you’re into screaming guitar solos or cleaner, more melodic passages, the Dragons will get the job done. The mere fact that you can roll the tone knob of the neck pickup all the way back and still attain a really crisp, clean sound is a credit to this guitars awesome electronics.
Players can generally expect to play all kinds of different musical styles on this guitar, although naturally the PRS Custom 22 is more suitable for metal (fans of Alter Bridge, Metallica and Black Sabbath will feel right at home with this guitar). The neck pickup is simply superb; it is incredibly responsive and will keep going no matter how fast you’re playing. If you like your guitar solos then you’re in for a real treat with the Custom 22. The bridge pickup is what really gives you the versatility, it doesn’t have the power to really excel in those heavy metal riffs but it sounds amazing when playing intros and finger picking.
Like all PRS guitars the finish of the Custom 22 is nothing short of beautiful and the mother of pearl bird inlays really finish it off nicely. Unfortunately the PRS SE Custom 22 doesn’t quite have the same amazing quality finish and the absence of the bird inlays is a bit of a shame too. The SE series Custom 22 is a great instrument in its own right but doesn’t quite excel like the real thing. The SE uses to Zebra coils instead of Dragon II’s, which perform great within mid-range tones but don’t quite have that edge when hitting the high notes.
It isn’t fair to compare the PRS Custom 22 and the Se too much in this review because as you can no doubt imagine there is a huge gulf in the cost of these instruments. The US made Custom 22 retails for over £1,700 ($2500) which the SE copy comes in at a very reasonable £400 ($650). Both instruments are far superior to the majority of the models in their respective price ranges and continue to outperform guitars which are even more expensive. If you have the means to purchase one of these excellent guitars I would fully recommend you do so.
Just before I conclude the PRS Custom 22 Review I would like to finish off by pointing out that although this guitar has received rave reviews by many industry professionals, it will not suit every ones tastes. It is true that the Custom 22 is hugely versatile, but if you are into your Heavy Metal or Death Metal you may find that this instrument doesn’t quite have the edge in the lower tone ranges that you’re looking for.
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