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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 19, 2014 11:07:56 GMT -7
Here's stock pic of the little beauty, which is better than anything I could take, and is spot on! This baby, is light ~ 6lbs, and is slightly neck heavy, but nothing like as much as an SG. In fact, this is really a PRS SG, or the SG Gibson SHOULD make! It's really hard for any guitar maker to design something original which will be accepted out there, but I think PRS has done it with this one - I love the way it looks! It's like a cross between a LPS double cut and an SG, yet has a unique look. It has the PRS 25" scale, and a medium C shape neck - nothing I can't get used to quickly. That wrap tail is gorgeous! Also, being a long time Fender guy, I love the single controls, and the Strat style blade switch It also has a push pull coil tap on the Tone control (or coil split -I don't know which). This thing just FEELS like a ROCK axe! I have even lowered my strap a couple of notches as it more attitude than anything else I own - I find myself sneering more playing this thing LOL! As I've said elsewhere, this guitar has a very non-linear volume control, which threw me a bit. Wide open, it's very powerful and bright; roll it back even one notch, and it calms down a lot and darkens. I didn't like it at first, and was going to put in a Treble Bleed cap.......... then I changed my thinking. I started with the GV set a 8, then set my amp up to get the tones I wanted, and hey presto! THEN when I max the GV, I get a noticeable boost in both volume and treble, which I think will cut through the band brilliantly for solos! One less pedal to think about Again, the Tone control has a wide sweep and gets very dark and muddy, but half way, I can get a lovely woman tone, so that's that solved! I'm not a humbucker guy at all, so I put this down to learning THIS guitar, as Mike (doctorice) so eloquently put it. I'm used to the brightness and bite of P90s, but that's where the SG comparison comes in - this is no Les Paul! Think Angus Young at his most forceful, and you get the idea The coil taps work SO well - no real drop in volume, and they each have their own, useable, voice. I particularly like the middle position tapped - a lovely woody hollow tone, especially with the GV rolled back, and of course, through the Therapy, it cleans up beautifully if I ease off the right hand. Very good for those quiet, jangly passages. The colour is wonderful! Apparently it's a single coat of colour, with a glossy top coat of something or other (sorry, I am useless about these things!), but it's not Epiphone glossy - more Gibson glossy - so not very sticky, if you see what I mean? Okay, we are doing a full rehearsal on Monday night, so that will be the acid test for sure.......... Pete ps - not sure why folks say the Therapy isn't so good with 'buckers...... it flippin' ROCKS with these 'buckers
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Post by digs57 on Sept 19, 2014 17:37:22 GMT -7
looks like a kickin little beast...nice choice...my bet is youll love it.
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Post by BritInvasion on Sept 20, 2014 5:24:53 GMT -7
Very cool Pete , congrats. I like the Mira's.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Sept 20, 2014 5:27:47 GMT -7
Cool indeed. I like it. Glad to see and hear some love for the Mira Looking forward to your future updates .... and did you really have to mention how well it works with Therapy? cheers always, Joel
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Post by doctorice on Sept 20, 2014 6:07:19 GMT -7
.... and did you really have to mention how well it works with Therapy? Pete's on a mission!
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Post by Baconator on Sept 20, 2014 10:02:38 GMT -7
Great guitar - enjoy it!
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Post by Christopher on Sept 20, 2014 11:10:34 GMT -7
Sounds like a winner Pete! Keep playing her and she'll become second nature before you know it. Then you'll have the triple threat tonal options: Tele, P90s & 'buckers.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 21, 2014 1:18:01 GMT -7
Sounds like a winner Pete! Keep playing her and she'll become second nature before you know it. Then you'll have the triple threat tonal options: Tele, P90s & 'buckers. Nice observation!! Looks like I'm headed for a straight flush......... Tele, P90, 'buckers (PRS), Semi-Hollow (PRS S2 Single Cut Semi Hollow) and LP style (PRS SC245)........ I can get ALL of those PRS guitars for the price of a half decent Les Paul, not a great one, just half decent, especially next year with Gibson's extraordinary price rise! Something wrong there IMHO, but it has motivated me to look elsewhere, and what a find! Looks Like John @ Peach will be getting more business from me over the next 6 months or so.........
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Post by zed on Sept 21, 2014 2:32:56 GMT -7
Glad that it worked out so well Pete!
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 22, 2014 15:20:29 GMT -7
Okay, let's see if I can hold back the hyperbole a bit - if I can! We had a full rehearsal tonight, and we had a low volume practice over the weekend. Just so we're clear on what I mean, at the low volume practice, I play an Orange Micro Terror through a Vox 1x10 and no pedal board - very basic, and very light / quick to set up. Drums are electronic, and vox is through a monitor only - we note bash and discuss as we learn, and this way we don't get tired, hoarse and grumpy! Then every 3rd week or so, we set up the full rig in a local hall and rehearse at full gig volumes to make sure our cues are okay and our sound is good. For these my Therapy and pedal board get rolled out. Anyhoo, I got to play my new PRS, and I know there's not a lot of love for these up here (no animosity, just not a lot of love, and until very recently, I was pretty indifferent about PRS as well - until about 3 days ago, that is!) This things looks like a modern day double cut LP Special; sounds quite like an updated SG; and feels wonderful and light to play! I have to say, it does kick some butt when pushed - quote hot pups, but never fizzy or buzzy. One thing I was very surprised at, is how touch sensitive it is. This I didn't expect, even through the Orange. When you dig in, it really punches through the mix! I played mostly with the GV at about 8 on the dial, and that got things rocking good - but playing passing phrases would often get lost on my P90 LPS, so I would typically hop on and off the EP to give them a lift. Not needed at all with this PRS - just dig in a bit, and the notes sang out, loud and clear! Of course, being a 'bucker loaded guitar, it has a richer, chewier tone than the P90s, but not as thick as a Les Paul - it seems a bit brighter in general. I tended to play mostly on the bridge pup, given the songs we do, but the mid position got more use than usual, and it has a nice woody tone, and no drop in volume when selected. The neck got a couple of goes too, and it was surprisingly LP like in a band setting - that lovely rich nasal tone. I didn't touch the coil tap at all - no need - so can't comment in a live setting. I found the neck no problem at all, either its girth (medium C shape, and very comfortable) nor its scale length - 25". It felt very Gibson like to my touch. I really LOVE the wrap tail though. I've never played one before, and I just loved the feel of it - VERY resonant! I have to say, this guitar is a revelation to me - it's a keeper in my book! Lively, resonant, muscular, light, and looks GREAT IMHO - the band loved it, absolutely loved it! What have I missed? Oh yes......... it blew my socks off through the Therapy at gig volumes I don't know who said they didn't like 'buckers through the Therapy, but they obviously haven't tried a PRS S2 Mira yet! WOW!
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Post by JebusCrebus on Sept 23, 2014 5:01:43 GMT -7
Interesting Review Pete thanks for sharing. This guitar wasn't even on my radar until now, I will have to check one out (I really like the idea of the semi-hollow body that they offer).
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Post by Stan on Sept 23, 2014 7:47:38 GMT -7
Nice review Pete, thanks for posting.
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Post by Baconator on Sept 23, 2014 7:58:30 GMT -7
Great report! Happy to hear you're still more than satisfied with your purchase.Cheers!
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Post by mauiman(Bill in Texas) on Sept 23, 2014 9:01:06 GMT -7
Thanks for the review Pete. Happy you got a keeper!
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Post by limenine on Sept 24, 2014 18:30:00 GMT -7
That's great Pete! It's cool to see you working with it and making discoveries, rather than immediately making changes, too.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 24, 2014 23:21:31 GMT -7
Interesting Review Pete thanks for sharing. This guitar wasn't even on my radar until now, I will have to check one out (I really like the idea of the semi-hollow body that they offer). Try the S2 Single Cut Semi Hollow - absolutely gorgeous! When I have the money gathered, and the permission granted, that's what I'll get next! The semi-hollow Mira is lovely too, and is slightly warmer than the solid body version - I needed the cut and thrust of the solid body. Oh, and I'm getting to grips with the controls - now I'm messing with them a bit, they are surprisingly versatile, but be warned, there is a serious treble boost happening on the Volume control when you max it. It's weird, and may be related to its interaction with the Therapy running HOT. It's very usable, and adds an extra dimension for sure, but the controls in general have a much bigger sweep than Gibson controls, and that threw me at first. They also react very differently depending how hot the amp is: running the T cleanish, the V is nice and bright at 10, but muddies up quickly when rolled back between 6-8; but below 6 brightens up again! This works VERY well indeed when I run the amp hot though. Same thing with the Tone control - clean amp, muddy sound; hot amp, lots of Slash style deep nasal tones. It feels like the Mira was designed to work with a hot tube amp - the keep it cooking, and squeeze all those harmonics and tonal colours out of it, which is exactly what I need, and love! I put new strings on her, and a drop of lemon oil, and lowered the action a touch - what a GREAT player! This guitar is rapidly getting under my skin - a bit like that mongrel you never looked twice at, but every day surprises and impresses you with his character and personality
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Post by doctorice on Sept 25, 2014 6:07:58 GMT -7
^^^ Pete, I've noticed a similar "treble boost" effect with the Therapy and some OD pedals. My impression is that the Therapy's treble control has a higher center frequency than some of Doc's other amps. If so, perhaps some of the higher frequencies are more accentuated than they would be when hitting an amp with a lower center for its treble. Idle speculation, of course.
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Post by Pete aka shouldb on Sept 25, 2014 6:48:24 GMT -7
^^^ Pete, I've noticed a similar "treble boost" effect with the Therapy and some OD pedals. My impression is that the Therapy's treble control has a higher center frequency than some of Doc's other amps. If so, perhaps some of the higher frequencies are more accentuated than they would be when hitting an amp with a lower center for its treble. Idle speculation, of course. Interesting! I wonder if it's because the pups in this guitar are pretty hot? Then again, it doesn't happen with the +5% Lollar P90 in my LPS....... It can be quite useful, but you just need to be aware it's there......!
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Post by doctorice on Sept 25, 2014 8:35:14 GMT -7
^^^
Exactly: A pedal with a decent tone knob or a separate treble control can be tweaked to match up nicely.
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Post by Stan on Sept 25, 2014 8:38:19 GMT -7
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