Arjun Menon wrote:
Gearhead wrote:
Eh... MJJJ? ?
IINM MJJJ has the ME I (i could be wrong).
Yup ... I have a ME 1 (the only one of the range with Braz and heartwood Maple). All ME's from 1 through to Quatro (yes that's how they spelled it!) are designed to be best-of-breed instruments. Meaning they are based upon the most frequently requested Private Stock (PRS-speak for their custom shop) options. Paul reviews those and they put together a package which is supposed to be a more price-friendly semi-production version of a Private Stock for the masses. Nothing avoids scrutiny - even the glues. While the rarity of the ME 1's woods ensure its strength as an investment tool because some of the raw materials are simply no longer available, the other ME models are just as desireable as instruments both for the player and collector. The ME 2 saw the instroduction of the 57/08 range of pickups which are very highly regarded in PRS circles, as well as the "lapshade" knobs now used on most if not all models. At the introduction of the ME 2 they were simply known as ME 2 pickups, but later they were renamed 57/08's and have evolved to be wound slightly hotter in their most recent revisions, along with sister models called 59/09's and 53/10's. The ME 2 was introduced after the stocks of Brazilian Rosewood were depleted. PRS now used rosewood sourced from various stocks, and chosen based on tone and colour. They simply listed it as "black dalbergia". The first production outlined bird inlays were also seen on the ME 2. Still my favourite version of all the bird inlays ... soooo classy!
Anything under R40k for a 2nd hand ME 2 sounds like a bargain to me. ME 1's fetch a fair bit more due to the desireability and rarity of the brazilian rosewood used in that model.
I hope this helps. Here's a pic of my current ME 1 (my second such guitar ... the first being a McCarty Amber example which while I have pics of it, I'm not sure it's fair to post since I no longer own it)
