It was 1988 and PRS had been in business for barely three years, gaining a reputation for a return to a high quality and quite a classic style in a market that still seemed obsessed with Floyd Rose locking vibratos. Its instruments had also been labeled as expensive. Known for the time-honored Gibson formula of mahogany and curly maple with glued-in necks, PRS launched the Classic Electric in ’88 with the aim of both a more affordable bolt-on guitar and one that was advertised as “Maple and Alder: bolt-on traditional feel with a sound of its own.”
Not only were the woods different, but there were also opaque finishes only, no maple tops and no bird inlays. It was a different PRS and one that confused the market. The name was swiftly abbreviated, by 1989, to CE (and later CE 24) after Peavey objected to the word Classic, maple tops were added, birds appeared, plus a black-faced headstock with a signature logo. By August of 1994, the body wood changed from alder to mahogany and the CE became a slightly more affordable bolt-on Custom rather than a more Fender-flavoured PRS.
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Sonic Shaper
Electro-Harmonix revisits the effect that launched the company with the LPB-3 Linear Power Booster and EQ
Platinum Blonde
PRS has updated its Texas-voiced David Grissom signature amp with more features, lower wattage and a more approachable price tag
TAN LINES
Many of us regard straps as a bit of an afterthought, but to find one that matches the quality of a custom or vintage guitar, Rod Boyes of Pinegrove Leather can help
ELECTRIC STRINGS
Your tone starts with your strings - strike a balance between sound, tuning and durability with six of our favourites
DIFFERENT WINDS
While there's no end to repros of all the classic pickup styles, more and more pickup makers are mixing things up to move forward - Cream T is a good example
Long termers
A few months' gigging, recording and everything that goes with it - welcome to Guitarist's longterm test report
Top Guns
Chapman's new factory move coincides with a bit of a rethink. We track down the key players all around the world
the Wishlist
Dream gear to beg, borrow and steal for...
Reach For The Star
Earlier this year Guild reorganised its 70s-era Polara range. We spent some time with this mid-range 2024 model: a modern pawn-shop prize or a copy too far?
HIGH FLYER
Adrian Thorpe of ThorpyFX remembers the flight path - and turbulence behind Chris Buck's Electric Lightning overdrive/boost, named after a fighter jet and packing a bona fide valve
