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Quicksilver VS PRS Guitars

 

PRS Guitars  Quicksilver Guitars

HISTORY

Ed Roman doesn't ever make same style guitars unless he can  improve them over the original. In the case of Quicksilver it was a monster challenge to surpass PRS. Ed originally started Quicksilver Guitars in 1999 after almost 5 years of careful research designing & planning. The original architectural specifications called for certain improvements over the PRS.  Improved Bridge Systems, Hard Mounted Pickups, Ebony Fretboards, Neck Mounted Pickups, Improved Locking Tuners,   Superior Woods, Binding Unlimited Choices in Electronics are just some of the improvements Ed has built into the Quicksilver. Ed's never been afraid of challenges,   Ed still sells lots of PRS guitars. Other dealers have a hard time understanding Ed's passion and quest for absolute perfection.

Quicksilver Guitars Versus PRS Custom

Quicksilver

PRS

Read These few paragraphs
I know it's boring but you won't get the true spirit of the comparison without reading these few paragraphs

Over the past 25 years I have taken a lot of flak for my shootouts & comparisons, Many people have bashed me for them especially people who are owners of the one that loses. Many magazines stopped publishing my reviews about 17 years ago. That's about the time I decided to pull the plug on decorum and just say it like it is. Magazines as you know make their money on advertising and editors were not liking my slant or exposé's on some of the products. They certainly didn't want to alienate their advertisers by offending them.  BTW have you ever seen a bad review in a magazine, I know I haven't.  Politically these shootouts are a real problem.  The reasons politicians don't tell the truth is because most people really don't want to hear the truth. Most people will think you are an incredible jerk if your opinion is not the same as theirs. Most people are happy to go about their life not thinking about why something is better or worse than something else.  Basic sales 101 always says "Don't Bash The Competition."

There In lies the the first part of the problem,  How to keep all your customers happy, & still be truthful. A good politician keeps his mouth shut as much as possible thereby not pissing anyone off.

The second part of the problem is. How can you do a comparison like Quicksilver & PRS and not get bashed if your own product wins by a landslide. It just doesn't seem to occur to some people that maybe you looked at the opposing product before you designed the new competing one, Maybe your plan was to beat the opposing guitar into the dirt in the first place. Personally it makes no sense to me to make any product at all unless you can make it better than the best selling ones. What would be the point of that.

 

Quicksilver & PRS necks are totally interchangeable
The Quicksilver has a slightly longer upper bout to facilitate balance better for most people.

 

Subject 

 QSG PRS

Comments
Are Tune-A Matic bridges available? YES NO PRS hasn't used a Tune A Matic in years
How many tremolo systems available? 5 1 QSG offers all trems including the original pre 1991 PRS  (see below)
Are pickups available solid mounted? YES NO Solid mounting increases tone & sustain
Are custom body variations available? YES NO QSG offers custom body styles
Are guitars totally handmade? YES NO All QSG's are handmade, PRS Guitars are entirely automated. 
Available with strings through body? YES NO PRS does not offer this, but QSG offers it for a slight upcharge.
Available with mahogany necks? YES YES QSG offers it on any model
Available with korina necks? YES NO QSG offers it on any model
Available with macassar ebony necks YES NO QSG offers it on any model
Available with rosewood necks? YES YES QSG offers it on any model & for less.
Are guitars available with neck through body? YES NO As of 2008 The Quicksilver is available in A Neck Thru Abstract Guitar.
Are parts interchangeable? YES YES PRS necks will fit on Quicksilver bodies & vice versa.
Subject QSG PRS Comments
How many body thickness' are available? 3 1 QSG offers a slimline body & a thicker body size. PRS only comes in one body thickness.
Is fingerboard available in Ebony? YES NO QSG offers 10 other choices also.
Is neck available bound? YES NO QSG is available bound with ivoroid, wood, abalone. PRS does not bind their necks even on the $22,000.00 models
Is headstock available bound? YES NO QSG will bind The headstock
High quality construction? YES YES Both are built to high quality standards
2 proprietary humbucking pickups? YES YES Custom designed for "The QSG" by Seymour Duncan.
Are PRS pickups available in the QSG? YES , You may have them in a Quicksilver  
Are QSG pickups available in the PRS? . NO
Are pickups available in black? YES YES PRS pickups are usually only available with black bobbins. QSG offers choices
Are pickups available with gold poles? YES YES
Are pickups available gold / chrome covers YES YES All on the QSG  very few on the PRS
Subject QSG PRS Comments
Are pickup rings available in gold or chrome YES NO PRS uses only plastic 
Available in 24 or 22 fret models NO YES PRS offers both only on limited models
Can customer supply his own wood? YES NO PRS stopped allowing this about 1993
Case is included? NO YES Case is extra on QSG.  PRS wins this one. Quicksilver offers 3 choices
Standard inlays at no cost YES YES Side dots on both models
Inlay materials  YES YES PRS & QSG both offer man made laminate
Inlay materials, silver, gold, copper, stainless, brass YES NO QSG inlays with many different metals
Inlay materials  Abalone, Mother of Pearl  YES NO QSG uses the genuine article
Inlay materials  Maple, Koa, Redwood.  YES NO QSG  inlays with just about any kind of wood
Inlay materials turquoise, lapis, 65 colors of variegated stone. YES NO QSG inlays can be multicolored for small upcharge
Subject QSG PRS Comments
PRS bird inlays NO YES At extra cost
Owls, bats, peacocks, eagles, condors, pterodactyls, ducks, chicken, geese & barnyard animals galore. YES NO At extra cost
Pegasus flying horse, unicorns YES NO At extra cost
Chickens, flying elephants flying donkeys even flying squirrels YES NO Anything that flies except the trademarked PRS Birds
Lightning bolt inlays  (Over 10 variations) YES NO At slight extra cost
Stars, planets, comets, nebulae, Saturn's rings YES NO At slight extra cost
Moonscape, seascape, mountain ranges  Etc Etc YES NO At extra cost
Prehistoric scenes,  YES NO At extra cost
Taj Mahal, pagodas, pyramids,  sphinx YES NO At extra cost
Vines (Over 10 Variation) YES NO At extra cost

Subject 

 Quicksilver PRS

Comments
Are Tune-O Matic bridges available YES NO PRS has not used a Tune o Matic since 1991
How many tremolo systems are offered 8 1 Quicksilver offers all trems including the original pre 1991 PRS  (see below)
Are pickups available solid mounted YES NO Solid mounting increases tone & sustain
Are custom body variations available YES NO Quicksilver offers custom body styles
Are guitars handmade YES NO All Quicksilvers are handmade, PRS Guitars are entirely automated. (even the sanding operations)
Are guitars available with strings through body YES NO PRS does not offer this, but Quicksilver offers it for a slight upcharge
Are guitars available with mahogany necks YES YES Quicksilver uses a maple neck but a mahogany neck is available for 75.00 
Are guitars available with korina necks YES NO Quicksilver uses a maple neck but a Korina neck is available for 175.00 
Are guitars available with neck through body NO NO  
Are parts interchangeable YES YES PRS necks will fit on Quicksilver bodies and vice versa.
How many body thickness' are available 3 1 Quicksilver offers a slimline body & a thicker body size. PRS only comes in one body thickness.
Is fingerboard available in Ebony YES NO Quicksilver offers 10 different types of wood for fingerboards,  PRS offers only rosewood
Is neck available bound YES NO Quicksilver is available bound with ivoroid, wood, abalone. PRS does not bind their necks even on the $22,000.00 models
Is headstock available bound YES NO  
High quality construction YES YES Both are built to high quality standards
2 proprietary humbucking pickups YES YES Custom designed for "The Quicksilver" by Seymour Duncan
Are PRS pickups available in the Quicksilver YES , You may have them in a Quicksilver  price is 100.00 a pair
Are Quicksilver pickups available in the PRS . NO  
Are pickups available in black YES YES  PRS pickups are usually only available with black bobbins
Are pickups available with gold poles YES YES  
Are pickups available with gold or chrome covers YES YES All models on the Quicksilver very few on the PRS
Are pickup rings available in gold or chrome YES NO PRS uses only plastic 
Available in 24 or 22 fret models NO YES PRS offers both
Can customer supply his own wood? YES NO PRS stopped allowing this about 1993
Case is included? NO YES Case is extra on Quicksilver PRS wins this one 
Standard inlays at no cost YES YES Side dots on both models
Inlay materials  YES YES PRS & Quicksilver both offer man made Abalaminate
Inlay materials, silver, gold, copper, stainless, brass YES NO Quicksilver inlays with many different metals
Inlay materials  Abalone, Mother of Pearl  YES NO Quicksilver uses the genuine article
Inlay materials  Maple, Koa, Walnut,  YES NO Quicksilver inlays with just about any kind of wood
Inlay materials turquoise, lapis, 65 colors of stone. YES NO Quicksilver inlays can be multicolored for small upcharge
PRS bird inlays NO YES At extra cost
Owls, bats, peacocks, eagles, condors, pterodactyls, ducks, chicken, geese & barnyard animals galore. YES NO At extra cost
Pegasus flying horse, unicorns YES NO At extra cost
Chickens, flying elephants flying donkeys even flying squirrels YES NO Anything that flies except the trademarked PRS Birds
Lightning bolt inlays  (Over 10 variations) YES NO At slight extra cost
Stars, planets, comets, nebulae, Saturn's rings YES NO At slight extra cost
Moonscape, seascape, mountain ranges  Etc Etc YES NO At extra cost
Prehistoric scenes,  YES NO At extra cost
Taj Mahal, pagodas, pyramids,  sphinx YES NO At extra cost
Vines (Over 10 Variation) YES NO At extra cost


When I took on some partners in early 2007, they were horrified at my comparison's, rants, and exposé's. They actually took away my soapbox & prevented me from writing any more comparisons. They started removing some of my quotes and told me they didn't want me to write any thing else on the website. I have started a new company Ed Roman Guitar King and I no longer am involved with these partners. I have complete control of this new website and my old websites and I will be printing my opinions again. I can't help it, I am a self admitted opinionated person and I will say what I want, when I want.

Quicksilver & Tremolos

Just Because Ed Roman offers 8 different brands of tremolos it does not mean that Ed approves of any of them.
 Quicksilver guitar was designed to sound the best and most versatile without a tremolo system.

Quicksilver & Inlays

Quicksilver offers any inlay on any model, even the least expensive  model is available with any inlay at all.

Quicksilver and PRS Necks

If you own a PRS and you break the neck, you will find that PRS does not sell replacement necks or decals. Quicksilver does supply these items after the sale if needed. Best of all if you do need a PRS neck, a Quicksilver neck will retrofit exactly in a PRS.