Quicksilver VS PRS Guitars

Our Mission Statement
What To Watch Out For When Buying A New Guitar

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 many improvements over the PRS. Otherwise what's the point of doing it !!!!!!

Improved Bridge Systems, Large Choice of Woods, Unlimited Electronics. More Colors, Hard Mounted Pickups, Ebony Fretboards, Binding Better Tuners. Macassar Necks.

These 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. (See the full comparison below)

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.

As I have always said "The Truth Never Sets You Free It only makes you unpopular"

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 a product 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.

Quicksilver Price List

POLITICALLY INCORRECT COMPARISON

Subject	Quicksilver	PRS	Comments
Are Tune-o-Matic bridges available?	YES	NO	PRS hasn't used a Tune A Matic since 1991
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	Quicksilver	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	Specifically 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	Quicksilver	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. or any type of wood.	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 trademarked bird inlays	NO	YES	At extra cost
Owls, bats, peacocks, eagles, condors, pterodactyls, ducks, chicken, geese & Once a guy actually wanted pig inlays !!!	YES	NO	At extra cost
Chickens, flying elephants flying donkeys even flying squirrels, Moose N Squirrel	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
Taj Mahal, pagodas, pyramids, sphinx	YES	NO	At extra cost
Vines (Over 10 Variation)	YES	NO	At extra cost

Quicksilver Guitars In Stock

Doves in Flight
This is what bird inlays should look like

Perhaps You Would Like Bat Inlays
This Guitar Was Done For Paul Crook For The Bat Out Of Hell 3 Tour 2006

Quicksilver & Tremolos
Quicksilver Price List

Just Because Ed Roman offers 8 different brands of tremolos
it does not mean that Ed approves of any of them.
Any guitar will always sound best without a tremolo system.
But we can still install one for you, Even if we believe they are.

Quicksilver Inlays

Quicksilver offers any inlay on any model !!!!
Even the least expensive model is available with any inlay at all !!!!

Quicksilver & PRS Necks Are 100% Interchangeable

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.

What To Watch Out For When Buying A New Guitar

Letter From A Former PRS Owner

Hello Ed,

Sorry for the late reply. I'm sending you a few shots of my incredible Custom Quicksilver. My digital camera isn't the best I should have but it conveys the point.

By the way, I read all of your articles regarding the physics (ala, John Johnson) involved in the R&D of manufacturing, in my opinion, the world’s finest 24-fret electric guitar ever produced. The ostensible tone, feel, craftsmanship and the overall complete quality of this amazing musical instrument can not be over estimated or over stated to any degree.

My Custom-Quicksilver is no less than a complete musical master-piece package, and the finest work of art physically and mechanically that I could ever imagine possible in a 24-fret electric guitar.

The flexibility of the Quicksilver is exponentially apparent once one has devoted the necessary time that it takes to fully appreciate this state-of-the-art instrument while extrapolating all of its wondrous tones and feel. And, let me add that I have owned and played comprehensively numerous, Suhr, Anderson, Gibson, PRS, Custom Fender, Vigier, Mayones, Brian Moore, GMW, Baker electric guitars and much more over my 30+ years of enjoying and playing guitar.

Ed, my hat is off to you. I wish you nothing but added success with your persistence at producing this Jewel, also known to be the one-and-only Quicksilver electric guitar.

Best Regards,

David Gerlach
Senior Weapons Systems Engineer
San Diego, CA 92119

Quicksilver Video Description From 2004
Many improvements since that time