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Jun 28, 2010 - Tell me some of the things to look out for on a PRS that will let me know if. Couldn't you give the serial number to PRS and have them verify it?

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I can spot one of the Chinese Gibsons pretty easy but I have no clue what to look for on a PRS. I've got a guy who has a singlecut McCarty with a 10 top that's wanting to trade me for a couple shotguns.

Tell me some of the things to look out for on a PRS that will let me know if it's real or a chinese fake. I know on Gibsons it's pretty easy to tell. Customs with rosewood boards, Standards with a trap inlay on the first fret, metric bridges, etc. I been jonesin for a PRS and I love the color of this one. The only thing I don't dig is it doesn't have the birds. If everything checks out on it and I end up trading for it, I may try to find someone that does inlay to put the abalone birds in for me. I'll post te only pics I've gotten of it so far.

He's suppossed to email me some more.

Year Identification / Serial Numbers Excerpt from The PRS Guitars Book, written by Dave Burrluck Serial Number Year-Code Prefix All guitars and basses have serial numbers which start with a year prefix. The prefix is the last one or two digits of the production year, and it applies to all models below. You can also look up your PRS guitars MODCAT code. Which is the long strange number that looks like this: SLM2FAHFIET_FR_HB-BS You can enter your MODCAT to find the details about your guitar. To do so, follow this link: Prefix Number Year or Years 0 1990 2000 1 1991 2001 2 1992 2002 3 1993 2003 4 1994 2004 5 1985 1995 2005 6 1986 1996 2006 7 1987 1997 2007 8 1988 1998 9 1989 19 09 20 11 20 13 20 Set-Neck Serial Numbers The serial number of a set-neck model is located on the back of the guitar’s headstock.

After the year prefix, the remaining digits indicate the sequential order of set neck models built. • Back angled 3 on-a-side non-veneered headstock • One-piece mahogany glued in neck, regular shape • 25” scale length, 24-fret • Single-action truss rod (double action truss rod fitted from late ’91).

• 10” radiused Indian rosewood fretboard. (Brazilian rosewood was standard until it was phased out by early 90 – 91 on all but top-line limited models such as the Dragons, etc.) • Mother-of-pearl/Abalone moon inlays (birds optional). • One-piece mahogany body or back. • Pickups were originally Standard Treble and Standard Bass. End slugs on E & B changed in ’87 to reduce high end. Changed on CE, Custom and Standard to HFS Treble and Vintage Bass by November ’91. • PRS Tremolo System, Schaller/PRS locking tuners, low friction nut.

PRS: 1985 – 1987. Evolved from pre-’85 all-mahogany guitar, became Standard in 1987.

CUSTOM: 1985 – Current. The definitive original PRS, figured maple top, 10 top option from ’87, mahogany back and neck, volume, sweet switch and 5 way rotary offered until 1991, Brazilian rosewood fretboard until 1991, PRS Tremolo and cam-style locking tuners, stoptail offered from 1993 (or so) – 2001, Phase II tuners form 2002. METAL: 1985 – 1987. Heavy metal version of the PRS Custom/Standard with custom striped finish. Appeared on the cover of the first color catalogue. SIGNATURE SERIES: 1986 – 1990.

The first ‘ultimate quality wood grade’ PRS, hand-signed by Paul Reed Smith and based on the Custom, extremely figured (artist grade) maple top, bird inlays, only 1,000 made. STANDARD: 1987 – Current. SPECIAL: 1988 – 1991.

Developed for the ‘hard rock/metal player’, wide-thin neck, trem-up routing for a full tone up, volume and tone controls with 5 way rotary, HFS Treble pickup, PRS single coil in middle, HFS Bass pickup (changed to Vintage Bass humbucker by 1989). STUDIO: 1988 – 1991. Specs similar to the Special but with standard neck profile, Hot Vintage Treble pickup and two PRS single-coils. The studio’s single/single/hum pickup configuration was offered as an option until 1997. LIMITED EDITION: 1990 – 1991. Signature grade woods, semi-hollow body with cedar, redwood, or maple top, gold hardware, tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece (a few tremolo equipped guitars were made), signed and numbered, only 300 made. DRAGON SERIES I: 1991 – 1992.