The Grainger, at 9.1 pounds, was slightly easier on the shoulders, but again, it balances so well especially on a strap its not really noticeable, and I do think right around 9 pounds or so is a nice sweet spot for basses. Both volume knobs are push/pull. Theres very little mud and the coil-split tones are nice and janglyalthough, as with many split humbuckers, theyre a little on the thin side without a booster or compressor engaged. One of my favorite design choices is the addition of the Hipshot TransTone bridge, an advancement over the old BAII design, that allows for strings through the bridge or the body and changeable inserts that can add further controls over intonation, string height, and actual string spacing adjustment possibilities with no need to slot it yourself. The only problem is that no one near me stocks it for me to try out. A $700 bass has more room for error but I trust PRS on this one. Through our test Kingfishers luscious translucent mahogany Tortoise Shell stain, I could clearly see all five neck laminates sandwiched between the wide grain of the swamp-ash body wings. Honestly, I've seen enough good (and nowhere near enough bad) to come out of the Korean factory to expect the SE basses to be rock solid for the price point. The EQ is voiced perfectly for the pickups and is very clean and usable. HardwareHipshot Transtone Bridge, Hipshot HB6 Shiny Nickel " Y-Key tuners Hipshot hardware keeps the strings secure and in tune. This is where it gets interesting. Guitar World is supported by its audience. Literally, different processes are used, depending on the nature of the wood. That thoughtful, one-at-a-time approach is a fine recipe not just for daunting tasks, but for producing just about anything with quality and attention to detail. Today, his current facilities are utilizing over 100,000 square feet to get it done, and the list of top artists playing his instruments is not only growing, but notably iconic. You have entered an incorrect email address! A PRS SE isn't gonna be at the same level of quality as a core PRS, but it's also gonna be at least a third of the cost, and barring any factory defects or setup issues, a solid instrument in comparison to others at its price range. In short, this bass cuts a mix and cuts it in style. Its a sensibility captured in the array of distinctive bird shapes in PRS Guitars distinctive fingerboard inlays. Guitar World is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Forearm and ribcage contours enhance playing comfort significantly, and the guitar balances surprisingly well on the lap (almost certainly one of Hursts design mandates). Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. FingerboardRosewood w/bird inlays Paul is particular about detail and process. It feels fast. I managed to have this bass through some pretty serious environmental swings, and the neck stability is truly superior. Paul Reed Smith, like some other luthiers and builders, started out doing repair. This officially happened in 1985 with the opening of a 5,500-square foot factory located in Annapolis. The neck is carved in Fenders popular Modern C profile, which feels great in hand, and the overall ergonomics are aided by a nicely rolled fretboard edge. There seem to be some confused posts in the thread, so to clear things up, the SE series (including the Kestrel & Kingfisher) are all mass-produced at World Music in Korea, which (IMO) has been consistently pumping out some of the most consistent midrange guitars and basses (ESP's LTD Deluxe series and basically all of Schecter's lineup are the two other big brands coming out of there, as well as Agile and I think Brice guitars and basses, Dean's signature series, Chapman guitars, and .strandberg*'s OS series) aside from maybe Fender's Mexican plant. Add these to your aviary and youll have a lot to crow about. Where I feel like Im missing something, however, is in passive mode, you dont have a tone control you can use. The Les Paul with a Backup Output Jack? Help add a description of PRS SE Kestrel Bass, Help recommend alternative or similar gear to PRS SE Kestrel Bass, Ernie Ball Music Man Stingray Bass Guitar. Even closer examination reveals an impressive array of features that make it an extra-impressive instrument for the price, and a cool alternative to traditional Fender offerings. Nice design touches, versatile vintage sounds, In Anne Lamotts now-classic 1994 book on writing,Bird by Bird, the author recalls her fathers warm advice to her tearful brother, immobilized by the huge task of a school report on birds he had put off for months: Bird by bird, buddy. The few reviews I've found about these new ones were good but like you, I can't find one to play. Mids: Burpy and focused Im a huge fan of this GG4 neck profile. Atop our testers tobacco sunburst finish sits a curvaceous Jazz-inspired black pickguard that flatters the bodys shapely hips. I'm curious about its sibling the Kingfisher. Its slim neck profile and 22-fret range felt like familiar J-Bass territory, and the trad-style binding and bird inlays looked sharp. As a firm believer in the benefits, Id really like to see some shielding. Theyre both incredibly well built, attractive, and affordable. He describes the guitar as the singer and the pickups as the microphones. I found that interesting, and accurate, though Ive never thought of it that way before. FingerboardRosewood w/bird inlays If a particular bass can help you stay employed, its probably a good idea to keep it in your arsenal. The Grainger features a three-band EQ (bass, mid, treble) with a unique passive mode implementation. PRS makes fantastic guitars but the last couple times he tried to make basses nobody was impressed. BA1 1UA. The quarter-sawn maple neck has a rosewood fingerboard, and a satin finish. The passive tone control also worked as expected, emphasizing the mids and dropping the high end as you rolled it off. Gold Supporters see zero ads! Stage SoundsTonally, the Kingfishers voice has a present, glassy top end, mids that respond to articulations, and tight lows. I consider them to be about as good as having locks, honestly, and are not as hard as Id have expected to get a new strap over. Yes, there is a lot of competition at the Kingfishers price point, but the neck-through design and signature features really make it stand out from the crowd. I would love to see Paul make even more basses, such as a 5-string Kestrel, and a 5-string high-end model that was a little bit more mainstream with the electronics. NeckFive-piece maple and walnut laminate w/bird inlays They certainly make the guitar a lot of fun to explore. PickupsTwo 4B S proprietary single-coils Where it differs from the traditional is that it supports through-body stringing, has a high-mass TransTone bridge from Hipshot, and is a neck-through design. The black stain at the sunbursts outer reaches extends across the back of the instrument and along the back of the neck, which has a glossy touch. The company has recently diversified their bass lines to suit the needs and wallets of a wider variety of players. When it comes to design and construction theory, he says his body shape is essentially a combination of the Gibson Les Paul, Jr. and Fender Stratocaster, and that he was essentially inspired by anything that went through his repair shop that sounded good. He even went to violin makers for input. Cons: He has wood buyers whose full-time job is to find wood for his guitars that meets his strict selection criteria. Both pickups represent, with huge versions of the big fat neck pickup sound and the burpy, edgy, growly bridge tone. I might just bite the bullet and order one, but I'm way skeptical. Yet the SE basses take greater inspiration from the pantheon of electric bass classics. Thats pretty much it for the nuts and bolts. The sharply sloped lower bout, however, makes it tricky to lean against an amp safely. The tortoiseshell finish of our tester gives the instrument a walnut-like disguise with a rich look that delivers understated elegance. My only hesitation is the use of the Hipshot Ultralite HB6 tuner keys, as I wonder how well this part functionally ages with heavy use and lots of wear and tear, how well it holds up with much heavier gauged strings, or how it would react in different weather conditions. Tested through a Friedman Dirty Shirley Mini and 2x12, a tweed Deluxe-style 1x12 combo, and a Neural DSP Quad Cortex into the studio monitors, the Player Plus Meteora HH reveals a fairly traditional and even vintage-leaning sonic range that contrasts with its moon-shot looks. Weight9.15 lbs His first guitar was built in 1976 as a challenge to one of his college music professors for class credit, though at that time, Paul already knew he wanted to build guitars, anyway, so it was already a foregone conclusion and an easy challenge to win (word on the street is the professor may have also known that, and if so, that means he did what any good teacher would do, encouraging a student to tap an obvious gift). For example: When the Kingfisher was paired with the Epifani rig for a rock-covers show with a vocals-only PA, the bass contended quite well with two guitarists wielding Fender Super Reverbs and a heavy hitting drummer. I'm really digging this bass based off of a couple reviews and I'm planning on getting a new guitar/bass soon. Low: Round and full Fingerboard radius7.5" I personally wouldnt use the mids with this bridge pickup, but I could see backing the treble off to get a bit more of a Jaco-esque tone from it (not the same, just add some similarity). Great playability. I really prefer to have a more global passive/active switching model, and in passive mode, I also like to have at least some tone control via classic passive tone control. Known for pushing musical boundaries and sonic experimentation, Georges inventive hooks and groundbreaking tones helped propel the Beatles into legendary status. Unsheathing the test bass revealed characteristic PRS quality, though a few mild scratches in the body finish were present. Learn how your comment data is processed. The bass notes on the 1st string disappeared occasionally, but soloing the bridge pickup and a boost in the amps mids brought a snarl that ripped through the band. In this post Gabe shows off his prs bass. The offset, more-angular profile was created by Fender designer Josh Hurst and first saw light of day as part of the Parallel Universe Collection in 2018. Mids: Aggressive and cutting he has a a pair of dimarzio pickups placed in this bass see details, In this post josh shows off his prs guitars. They were designed in the Maryland shop, but are built overseas. Some things I may have done a little differently, but theres absolutely no arguing the craftsmanship, tone, and playability. Now, on to the crme de la crme, the Grainger. With the extra-long fingerboard as well as the extra-wide footprint of humbucking pickups, a balance needed to be struck between providing ample room for slap-and-pop techniques and positioning the pickups for adequate sonic versatility. It does everything Paul and Gary set out to accomplish, and does it extremely well. ConstructionNeck-through Slight finish flaws on test model. The PRS website states, The Grainger 4 is the evolution of our Private Stock Grainger Bass line. Theres kind of a platform which extends under the heel of the neck, much like a bolt-on neck might have, except there are no bolts, of course. I've played a LOT of instruments that have been made at World and have not been disappointed, so long as it's gone through some decent QC (PRS definitely does this Agile/Brice, not so much). Having him work with us gave us confidence to keep going, Unrivalled access to the artists and gear you love, Exclusive lessons that will make you a better player. among these are his 2 prs kestler bass guitars see details, In this photo Rufus can be seen using a PRS Kestrel bass, he uses this bass on his YouTube and Instagram. Both pickups full-up produced a big slapping sound, but I liked the thickG-string pops that came from rolling back the bridge pickup halfway. The sonic divide between the two pickups isnt major, but the front pickup has more beef, and the back has toastier bun. The Grainger is a whole new thing. Street$750 Its simply beautiful. BodySwamp ash He said it made his job easier since he only had to add a touch of compression and very little EQ. Stay up-to-date with all our recent articles, podcasts and more. Speaking of which, I have to go now I want to spend a little more time playing these jewels before I button them up and send them back. Still, they do the trick, and add another useful arrow to the Meteora HHs already packed quiver. Though the fresh body profile may be the initial draw for many, the electronicsand the possibilities they enablewill probably seal the deal for a lot of prospective customers. Both cavities have tidy wiring and are well shielded with conductive paint and foil on the cavity covers, but both are quite compact, so dont plan on any modifications that require real estate. Supporting Members list unlimited gear with no listing fees in the Classifieds, get instant Keyword Alerts, and get Free Shipping at the TalkBass Store. The Kestrel 4B S type single-coil pickups are definitely punchy, brighter, crisper, and focused, with walkable mid-lows, harmonic building high-mids, sweeping top end potential for slappers, and scooped mid-range to rock out with. The Mexico-built Player Plus Meteora HH comes in three finishescosmic jade, Belair blue, or silverburst (as seen on our review sample)all of which help the guitar cut a dashing figure on stage.The body is made from solid alder, a go-to Fender tonewood since the late 50s. The controls worked smoothly and as expected. The stately Kingfishers seductive see-through finish extends its glossy feel across the back of the body and up the neck. Neck width at nut15mm (about 1.6") England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The rosewood fingerboard is neatly trimmed with expertly applied white binding and black position dots. Paul got into lutherie out necessity he simply couldnt afford to purchase anything worthy to play. I also really like their take on a bent-plate bridge, anchoring the strings underneath instead of at the back plate, providing a better break angle, and Im sure improving tone/sustain. The real versatility comes in varying your plucking position and technique. Lets start with the Kestrel. A pair of solid solidbodies - one sexy J-style groove machine and a classic spank plank. I cant find any runs or flaws in the paint, the lines (such as around the binding) dont show any gaps or bends. This improves the break angle of the string, fortifies the back plate by leaving more material in it, and makes string changing easier, with less risk to body finish damage. Since then, it has headed in both upscale and affordable directions within the Fender lineupreaching the heights of master-built Custom Shop quality in the hands of Ron Thorn, and now in this much more egalitarian guise as the Player Plus Meteora HH. The business has grown since then and expanded product lines. Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Bergantino Audio Systems is Proud to Welcome Dave Hope to Our Family of Artists. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Reddit's Loudest and Most In-Tune Community of Bassists Both bodies have a slight offset slant that hints at the classic Jazz Bass silhouette, but are slightly wider across the body. The neck-through construction was a nice additional feature I was not expecting on this price range of bass, giving the tone a good amount of natural sustain and reinforcing the feeling that this is a rock-solid bass under your fingers. Next, the electronics. NutWhite plastic Despite some slight fret buzzing, the tone impressed the engineer. Equipboard breaks down the gear, tools, and products used by artists, pros, and influencers in their craft. Every detail is captured, from the artwork on the pickguard and plastic parts to a replica decal on the back of headstock from Grimstones - the original music store where the guitar was purchased. I love how so many top builders these days are coming up with entry level offerings which are not only affordable, but do a good job of representing that builders design goals. At first the E string was a bit hotter than the others, but after a quick string-height adjustment with the smallest Allen wrench in the included kit, everything was copacetic. And while the name implies that the Fireballs are hot, the specs are similar to medium-wind alnico humbuckers, with the neck reading around 7.24k ohms DC resistance and 4.0 henries inductance, and the bridge measuring 7.68k ohms and 4.5 henries. Paul has known Gary Grainger for years, and even still, today, plays in the PRS band with him. Epiphone Jack Casady Signature Model - Metallic G Fender American Professional Precision Bass. Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by rallen, May 23, 2016. They call it a vintage-inspired model. Yeah I figure if i just order it, it can't suck that bad. I have a PRS guitar which is insanely great and I'm more confident in the overall consistency of PRS build quality vs a Fender per se but it's still gonna stress me out. The initial growth of the popularity of his guitars was probably best driven by Carlos Santana, though it was fortified by Paul being industrious about taking a guitar to show all the big bands that came to town at the time (not to mention the work put in to make a truly great and obviously worthy guitar). Fender previously released a limited number of meticulous Rocky recreations via the Fender Custom Shop in 2020, but now this release gives fans the opportunity to enjoy the sound and history behind this iconic guitar. The seed was planted last year with the release of the Grainger series, lauded for its build quality and beefy modern tone. SE AnatomyA highlight of the Kingfisher is its neck-through construction, a rarity for instruments under the $800 price point. While Ive always generally played and been a huge fan of humbucker pickups, Ive recently been delving into finding a place for single-coil pickups in my repertoire. We compiled the 20 most mentioned stores and quickly realized there were too many great photos we'd have to cut in order to get them all in one gallery. Given the quality of venues someone who could afford this bass might play, noise may not be an issue. This might read as gobble-dee-gook to some, but the net result is that its a powerful EQ which covers a very broad range of the frequency spectrum, offering a great amount of musical control all with only three seemingly simple controls. Having these visual motifs in my peripheral view was a surprising source of inspiration and good vibes. The neck attachment on this bass is a bit different for a set-style attachment. The pickguard is cut and fits well. The strap buttons are also PRS own design, a kind of oversized flat button. The single-action truss rod can be adjusted at the headstock, which is home to Fenders deluxe sealed locking tuners and a modern roller string tree for the first and second stringsall of which means you can use the two-post synchronized tremolo with a little more peace of mind. I ran the Kingfisher through the Schertler combo on a jazz trio gig, where I featured the neck pickup and a slight roll-off of the tone control. The George Harrison Rocky Stratocaster features an alder body hand-painted with a replica of Harrisons famous psychedelic brushstrokes. Lore Reverse Soundscape Generator from Walrus Audio. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Made inKorea, Thank you for reading 5 articles this month*, US pricing $3.99 per month or $39.00 per year, UK pricing 2.99 per month or 29.00 per year, Europe pricing 3.49 per month or 34.00 per year, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription. Both are named for birds known for swooping down on their prey. Never did it cause any shoulder fatigue when I was standing. About the only thing I found a bit difficult to get used to was the way the passive mode was implemented. Its got the funk, its got the punch, it plays great, and it comes in at a very affordable price. The SE line is PRS entry into the affordable and entry level (though still very worthy) bass market. The resulting Grainger basses, introduced at the 2013 Winter NAMM Show, are full-on, top-of-the line PRS. Players who have been curious about PRS basses can now get a taste of their sound and style without having to spend a ton of coin. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. Ibanez SRMD200 Mezzo & AFR4FMP Affirma Bass Guitar Bassic Review Sterling by Music Man StingRay Short S Fender Mustang Bass The Little Horse That Kic Bass Lab Smith Creek Mandolin Christopher Double Bass Guitar, The Fender American Ultra Jazz Bass V Some Ultra Cool Updates, Introducing UE DROPS The First Handcrafted Wireless Earbuds Are Here, Trickfish Amplification Announces the Internal Pre Amp (IPA), Markbass Stages Its Second Revolution: MB58R, Bassic Review Cort A5 Ultra Ash 5-String Bass, Building the Adrian Younge Custom-Built Jazz Bass | Dream Factory | Fender, Gallien-Krueger Neo112-II, Gallien-Krueger MB Fusion 800, Aviom, Maple fretboard, pickguard, ramp, and 10 top. The bass provided unhindered movement of my fretting hand and felt smooth despite its glossy neck. PRS 513 guitar uses the same neck attachment, and Ive read that Paul feels it enhances the low end and provides more of a single-cut sound from a double-cut guitar. On basses, I typically find a single-cut design translates to enhanced sustain and tonal purity. The SE Kestrel is a J-style instrument with proprietary PRS single-coil pickups and other Jazz Bass aesthetic touches, while the SE Kingfisher has a 24-fret neck and passive MM-style humbuckers with massive polepieces. Whether or not the fatter front pickup is engaged or soloed, the sound is always clear and cutting, never muddy or inarticulate, even with the tone knob rolled back. Scale length34" Scale length34" Much like its Grainger 4 cousin, the Kingfisher shares impressive balance while playing seated or standing with the bass strapped on. The entire preamp has a pre-emphasis of 2.5dB of bass boost and 4.5dB of treble boost. It takes a phenomenal setup, and it just feels great on a strap. "We asked PG readers what is the coolest guitar shop they've been to in the US. Fingerboard radius7.5" Frets 22 jumbo frets Only time and putting it through its paces may tell, but I would probably upgrade those as soon as I had the chance before taking it on the road. The return-to-pitch capabilities are impressive. All rights reserved. Blended, its one of the biggest and richest funk tones Ive ever heard. Natural and scarlet-red finishes are also available. On both gigs, the Kingfishers comfortable design continued to impress with a very pleasing experience for my hands and back. Artists using his guitars early on also included Ted Nugent, Howard Leese (Heart), Al DiMeola, and many others. I love the neck profile on this beauty. The Kestrel represents great work and attention to quality. The neck itself is a 5-ply maple-walnut design, with maple on the outsides and in the center, with the walnut stringers between those larger pieces of maple. This is an import model, made by World Musical Instruments of Korea, to PRS specification, which was introduced in June of 2014, along with a dual-humbucker sister model (the Kingfisher). Still, thats kinda nitpicky, but when youre dealing with an instrument of this caliber, I think its appropriate to be a little persnickety. He was awarded an A, which simply fortified his decision to officially pursue the craft. The Kestrels particularly petite control cavity is reflected in the knobs tight spacing. Body profile and humbuckers aside, the Meteora is very much a Fender, with a bolt-on neck, 25.5" scale length, and that iconic headstock profile with spaghetti logo. To use both pickups in passive mode, you have to pull both knobs. And although the Kestrel and Kingfisher are the first SE basses, for the last 15 years or so, there has always been a bass in the flagship line. Neck width at 22nd fret:2.5" Low: Clear, focused and rich Ready yourselves bassists: Paul Reed Smith has his sights set on you. Pros: Orangewood Guitars Oliver Acoustic Giveaway! Summer Rig Giveaway from D'Angelico, Supro, and Pigtronix! A modern take on Fullerton shapes and a blend of Fender and Gibson attributes strikes a sweet middle ground. This is also a 34 scale bass, though it has 24 nickel frets. The neck pickup is pretty fat and full sounding all by itself, so I rarely used any EQ on it at all, except to back the treble off for a little bit more of an old-school type tone. The strap buttons are large and grip a strap well, but dont make it impossible to get a non-broken-in strap on and off. Everything about the bass feels fantastic. The tuners are also PRS proprietary; light and small, very smooth and precise. A stylish alternative to classic Fender profiles that delivers sonic versatility. Then again, the Meteoras body is bigger than, say, a Stratocaster, which adds a bit to the weight. Whether youre a beginner, an amateur looking to upgrade, or a road dog in need of a modern workhorse, the PRS SE Kingfisher is certainly worth a test flight. Other than that, it does the rest It balances great on the strap, the neck pickup is fat, the bridge pickup burps and growls, and when blended, its the funk tone the majority of the people out there are most familiar with. The Kestrel felt and sounded much like a Fender Jazz Bass, with just a couple exceptions. The Grainger is top-of-the-line PRS, meaning all the little things people ogle PRS guitars for, theyll do the same for on this model. Flanking the neck are swamp-ash body wings, carved in a shape reminiscent of the Graingers body. The Kestrel looks darn sexy. Neck width at nut15mm (about 1.6") PRS employs a pair of proprietary humbucking pickups for the bridge and neck positions, and the passive control system consists of a volume/volume/tone configuration. There was very little to no stickiness to impede left-hand shifting. The batteries are easily accessed via battery boxes on the back. NeckFive-piece maple and walnut laminate w/bird inlays and binding Seeking similar praise from the more budget-friendly crowd, PRS augmented their 2014 SE line by introducing the Kestrel and Kingfisher basses. They grab a strap hard, arent impossible to get through a brand new strap. But I have to say, for a non-locking design, these buttons work really well. From bottom to top, the Kingfishers neck has room for three octaves and change, and I found that access to the highest playing positions was gratifyingly easy. Press J to jump to the feed. The neck profile is a little less round, especially at the nut, and of course, with the neck-through design, theres no bolt-on neck joint when you get above the money area on the bass. This tone would also fit quite well in a salsa band. The wiring looks pretty standard for a pickguard wire job, and the cavity is painted with shield paint, connecting to some foil under the pickguard to complete the shield can for the controls. But for the average clubber, we need the extra protection.