Paul Reed Smith Artist III

Mine was made in 98. All stock factory with tone chambers and in grey black finish. PRS wrap around bridge.

This is a very nice guitar and it has, in my opinion, a very unique sonic range--it goes from old school jazz clean to very heavy very nicely. It has an emphasized bite and openness because of the wood, set neck, and stop tail, and the chambers. When put on something like say a rectifier or 5150 it retains a little more clarity and a little less crunch than my other guitar--a usa Jackson SL1 Select with EMG 85/sa/sa configuration. But the jackson is definately on the opposite spectrum of sounds. Although the sa pickups do sound a lot like pink floyd even though they are on a neck thru. I like the looks and feel of this PRS very much or else I would not have done what I felt I probably should not do, which was pay that much for a guitar! But let me say with out bias, this IS a better playing instrument than what you can typically get from Gibson. Artist pickups are medium high output.

I bought it used and mint. The previous owner had put 10-46's on it and it was adjusted properly (I know a few things about guitar setups, just can't refret) but my Jackson has that gauge and I wanted to preserve the fretwork as much as possible so I went back to 9-42's. The construction IS very good for a retail guitar--probably the best around. Everything is centered perfectly at the nut, fingerboard, pickups, and bridge. I recommend a stop tail bridge if you plan to play it often and a tremelo if you plan to sell it later, I'll let you figure out why. Well, I'll tell so my point gets across--The stop tail lets you change tunings, play with broke strings, tune up very quickly, have more sustain and positive attack, while the tremelo is more widely sought after and will bring a better price to the public eye. But none of this matters if your style actually uses the trem does it? I would say it is constructed from top to bottom a 9.5 out of ten.

Well, it's expensive and not the kind of guitar you throw around or always take to jams and gigs. The hardware is typical--the more acidic your perspiration, the worse it degrades over time. This particular model comes touted as a thin finish so I am careful to keep it polished (once a year maybe!) and waxed (always) with meguires #9 and gold class wax to guarantee the best preservation I could give it! I would use it with out backup, I've done it with the Jackson, as the only thing that will fail on a healthy guitar is the strings and that is a crap shoot.

Seem very nice, maybe a bit busy, but helpful anyway.

I've been playing for 11 years as of 8/15/01. I can only hope it is never stolen because I have insurance but I know it would be hard to replace. You get used to some things and they become irreplacable over time. I suppose I would search for another or similar model. I love the look, the sound, and most of all the feel. I hate that it is susceptable to the same things that mess around with every other guitar!! Humidity, dryness, temperature, time, wear, accidents, poor playing skills(!) and any other gripe you can think of!! I love this guitar and am glad I bought it although it really doesn't matter as much what your playing as what you play, if you know what I'm saying. I don't know if this is a permanent companion or just a passing aquintance since I've known more than a few guitars since I've been playing (you're all on the same boat-or will be, and if you're not then bless your level headedness and contentment!) :o ;)

97 Artist Series III #263. Royal Blue, exceptional "fiddleback" flame top, paua birds, headstock signature inlay and purfling, 22 fret wide fat artist neck, gold hardware with stoptail. Purchased with standard AS3 electronics, artist series pickups, volume, tone and 5 way rotary. Modified by Jack Gretz to McCarty switching and added gold covers on artist pickups. Royal Blue PRS guitars do not have the sinature non-binding due to bleeding of the royal blue stain.

Initially with the 5 way, the guitar sounded like a great custom. The artist pickups had a wider but flatter range than the customs. Changing to McCarty switching changed the single coils sounds of the guitar but gave me the neck single coil position that I use a lot. Adding the covers cut back the bass response but increased the mids and bite of the guitar. The neck pickup is still smooth in the humbucker position. Great guitar for soloing, I use various Boogies. Acoustically this guitar is full and loud.

The guitar arrived from the factory with a great setup and action (although my preference was a little lower). The bookedn match of the fiddleback flame top is near perfect. The finish and fret job were flawless. The color was surprisingly lighter than expected, (lighter than all the roya blue PRS guitars that I have seen). This was a great surprise since I was hoping for a lighter RB finish to show the flame, some RB guitars I have seen were too dark.

From day one this guitar played fast and smooth. Over the past year The wood has sweetened up and this thing really sings now. It just keeps getting better. There have not been and problems with this guitar at all, same as the other PRS guitars I own. There is a small amount of wear on the gold plating on the bridge but much less than expected seeing how much club use this gutar has under its belt.

I've never had to deal with PRS for problems with these guitars that were faut of construction or materials used. I have delt with them and Jack Gretz at Magdon Music for mods and parts and fretwork on older customs. Paul, Marc Quigley, Larry U, Mike (PRS) and Jack Gretz (Magdon)have always been great, freindly helpful and quick to provide service.

I have been playing clubs since the late 70's, this is my main guitar unless I'm in a more vintage mood then I pull out the McCarty. I use Boogie amps exclusively. I also play pedal steel. I do not know what guitars I would play if PRS was not around, the only thing that has come close are some of the custom guitars that Jack Gretz is building.
My only wish would be to be able to add a sweet switch to a PRS with McCarty switching, preferably a push-pull on the volume pot. Then they would be ideal.

I have been living with my Artist III for almost a year, and I have no regrets about this guitar. The run for Artist topped out at under three hundred units, and they are no longer being made. Also, the SEMI-HOLLOWBODY option is no longer available due to the fact that PRS has come out with their Archtop and Hollowbody guitar line. It's too bad they closed this option because the semi-hollow body is vastly different sounding than the PRS hollowabody guitars. Getting back to the Artist III, this guitar is still a dream to play and a pleasure to hear. As per my review of this guitar I utilize all ten sound settings that I am able to get with the custom ordered sweet switch in my tone control. But one thing that a lot of guitarists may not be aware of is the amount of sound control you have with a PRS by using the TONE control knob. On most guitars, the tone knob is set full on and not used because you either get "bright" when the knob is set at full, or you get muffled when you turn the knob back. This is not the case with PRS tone controls. You can make subtle changes by using the tone knob that range from dark and smokey to shimmering bright. These tone knobs really work and I encourage all PRS users to play with them to get additional sound from their guitars. By using the tone knob in conjunction with the pick-up selector knob, I am able to add additional tone textures no found on any other guitar.

Still the best sounding guitar in my collection.

SEE ARTIST III REVIEW.

So far, no problems. All of the pots are still clean and clear, and I have found no glitches at all in this instrument.

I had mentioned before in my other review that I could not get PRS to send me back my jewelery box after they had matched its "Dusty Rose" color for my Artist III's quilted top. Since then, some good things have happended. PRS never did find my jewelery box, so to make up for my loss, PRS sent me two spare Artist pick-ups in gold for my guitar, a padded gig bag, and a PRS sweat shirt. It was a very generous offer since the pick-ups are $100.00 a piece. This shows a very caring and concerned company that looks after its customers even if you're not a big music chain or client. I would venture to say that customer satisfaction is very important to Paul Reed Smith and they will always do what they can to make the customer happy.

Still Excellent! ( please see review on Artist III )

The Artist III is a custom guitar to begin with. Standard features include a "10 Plus" Top, Artist Treble and Bass Pick-ups, Rosewood Neck, Pua shell Inlay, and Gold Hardware. It has the best of everything. However, when I did order my instrument, I did request some "Custom" features not found on all Artist III Guitars. My guitar was ordered as a semi-hollowbody, a wide/thin neck, quilted maple top, and a custom ordered "Dusty Rose" stain to match a jewelery box I had sent in. The guitar was set up for "10's", and most importantly, I ordered what PRS calls their "Electronics Change". This is available as a custom option on their guitars, but they don't advertise it. The Electronics Change adds the old "SWEET SWITCH" (subtle treble boost) to the tone control via a "push/pull" control knob. This feature gives you TEN distinct sounds from the 5 way rotery switch of the PRS. The inlay on the neck and headstock is fantastic as are the birds on the fretboard. The Pua shell makes the birds look back lit. The finish on the guitar is what you would expect from a thirty three hundred dollar instrument, and the full leather case is a plus.

I play a lot of jazz and the Artist pick-ups combined with the semi-hollow body give a rich dark tone similar to a Gibson 335. PRS is the only guitar I have ever played that can give you the best of Gibson and Fender strat tones. These tones are even more evident with the "Electronics Change" that I mentioned above. Best of all, the guitar is extremely quiet no matter what the setting, or the position of the rotary knob. I play my PRS Artist III through a Paul Reed Smith HG-70 combo Amplifier, or a Paul Reed Smith hg-70 head direct. These amps are very warm in the Rythem channel, and the guitar sings and sustains ala Carlos Santana in the Lead mode. These amps are very rare as they were only made one year, with a production of combos and heads being at around 250 units.

The finish on theis guitar has to be seen to be believed. The quilted maple top is beautifully figured and perfectly book matched. The Custom "Dusty Rose" stain is perfect and the gold hardware really sets off this color. This is the first guitar that I have ever owned that did not have to be set up when taken out of the box. My set-up request for "10's" is not a factory standard. PRS sets up their guitars with "9's". These are just too light for me and the style of music I play. I looked at this guitar from top to bottom and found no flaws, no dead spots on the neck, no buzzes.

I have made two changes on my Artist III. I removed the strings that came on the guitar and replaced them with Maxima Gold Strings, which in my opinion sound great and LAST FOREVER! And I installed strap locks. I never understand why guitar manufacturers don't put strap locks on guitars as standard equipment. Most people my buy a high end guitar like this one because it is a limited piece and collectable. I am a player, and have been playing my Artist III every day and night since I got it. It has the tone, the feel, the weight (7.5 lbs), and the look that I have always wanted in a guitar. So I am pretty happy.

I have not as yet had to deal with the company where I ordered the guitar on any type of repairs, which is Mandolin Brothers in New Jersey. They were very helpful when I did place my order, and did not try to talk me into a model on the wall when I came at them with my list of upgrades. By the way, PRS was very good about the upgrades as well. There were no up charges for the custom color, or the electronics change. And lastly, I think the people at Mandolin Brothers were very fair about the price at $3,250.00 with a seven month wait on my order. The only problem I have had in all of this is getting back my jewelery box from PRS. I have called, spoken to Paul himself at the NAMM show, I have E-Mailed Mark in customer service, but still no box has been returned to me. Since this was sent in as a color match for my guitar, perhaps I need to contact the person who does the staining. Anyway, I'm still trying.

This is my second PRS. I also have a CE-22 with a maple top. I have a couple of Fender Strats, Rickenbacker's, and some acoustic guitars. Of all of the guitars I have played and owned over the past thirty three years, the PRS guitars are my favorites. Especially the Artist III. Sound is everything to me and I think I finally hit upon the tone that speaks for me. The semi-hollow body Artist III through a PRS Amplifier. I would definately replace this guitar if it were lost but that would be hard to do now since PRS has stopped making the Artist III. I would advise guitar players out there to play some to the semi-hollow body PRS guitars out there. And if you are going to order one, by all means go for the Electronics change. Ten usuable sounds is better than five sounds any day of the week. I think there is an opinion amongst guitar players that PRS guitars are over priced. I will admit that they are expensive new, but you can find good deals on used PRS instruments. And though they are expensive, each guitar is extremely well made, with the utmost attention going into every detail of the guitar. There are a lot of guitars out there that cost as much, and some that cost more, but they may not be as well made and may not be as versatile as the Paul Reed Smith.

Purple color, Exceptionally figured maple top, Paua bird inlays, paua purfurling around the neck, headstock and truss rod cover, gold stop tail and tuners, PRS five way pick up selector

Very, very clear sound. Pickups not as hot as a PRS Custom but they produce a sound that is clear even with a lot of distortion. The pickup selector switch gives you the options to get some single coil sounds. The sounds are unique, close to the Les Paul, Srat and Tele but with it's own timbre added to them

Absolutely flawless finish. Great action, I have the Wide Thin neck which suits me fine. The back of the body and neck are finished in purple also. Looks great.

It's a PRS, I doubt I'll ever have a problem with it.

Haven't had to use them. See my upcoming review of the PRS Artist IV

Ordered 11/95 received 6/96. It is a beautiful piece. See my review of the PRS Custom 24. I think PRS is the best thing out there. The quality is excellent. The paua birds and purfurling shine in the light as if they glow. The range of sounds will allow you to play many different styles.