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 and 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.
Quicksilver and PRS necks are interchangeable. The Quicksilver has a slightly longer upper bout to facilitate balance better for most people. 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.
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).
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 and comparisons. Many people have bashed me for them, especially people who are owners of the ones that lose. 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. By the way, 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.
Herein lies the the first part of the problem: How to keep all your customers happy, and still be truthful. A good politician keeps his mouth shut as much as possible thereby not pissing anyone off.
Consider Victor Lustig, one of the top con artists of all time. His "Ten Commandments for Con Men" include: "Wait for the other person to reveal any political opinions, then agree with them," and "Never boast - just let your importance be quietly obvious."
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 and 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, and that 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 Guitars | Versus | PRS Custom | |
---|---|---|---|
Subject |
Quicksilver |
PRS |
Comments |
Tune-o-Matic Bridges Available? | YES | NO | PRS hasn't used a Tune A Matic since 1991 |
Tremolo Systems Available? | 5 | 1 | QSG offers all trems including the original pre 1991 PRS |
Directly Coupled Pickups? | YES | NO | Direct Coupling/Solid mounting increases tone & sustain |
Custom Body Variations Available? | YES | NO | QSG offers custom body styles |
Guitars Totally Handmade? | YES | NO | All QSG's are handmade, PRS Guitars are entirely automated. |
String-Through Body Available? | YES | NO | PRS does not offer this, but QSG offers it for a slight upcharge. |
Mahogany Necks Available? | YES | YES | QSG offers it on any model |
Korina Necks Available? | YES | NO | QSG offers it on any model |
Macassar Ebony Necks Available? | YES | NO | QSG offers it on any model |
Rosewood Necks Available? | YES | YES | QSG offers it on any model & for less. |
Neck-Through Body Available? | 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. |
How many body thicknesses 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 |
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 |
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 |
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
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 better without a tremolo system, but we will still install one for you if that is your wish.
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
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Quicksilver Video Description From 2004. Many improvements since that time.