PRS is it real?

[warlockII]

I've never owned a PRS and know there are a lot of fakes out there. A guy is offering me a trade and seems like he's legit, but I know there are a ton of PRS guys here. Does this look like the real thing to you and ball park, where would you value it? I've looked at the sold listings on Ebay, but they vary by 1K. It's a 1997 according to the owner.
Thanks as always!!!

 

[Dave Merrill]

Check the serial number with PRS, that'll also tell you if it's stolen.

 

[iaresee]

That looks real, but the serial number will confirm it. Neck heel is longer so it's late '95 or beyond. Old style wing tuners. I'd put it in the '96-'99 range. I am no PRS dating expert, though I do love a few here.

Edit: you said '97 -- that jives with the heel and tuner setup on the guitar. Serial number will tell you for certain. What do they want for it?

 

[Jeries]

Check the serial number with PRS, that'll also tell you if it's stolen.

This isn't exactly the best advice

1. Most knockoffs have the same serial numbers, some manufactures know them- some don't

2. People think calling or worse- a serial number decoder means it's real-- they just have a set of rules and whatever you make up can get the same answer.

3. My secret- Call the guitar company and say- 'i have this serial- tell me everything' so when you call fender and your blue guitar in front of you at a pawn shop left the factory brown sunburst- you know it's parted together, or fake

Last

There aren't that many fake PRS guitars out there- I see 1 fake PRS for every 100 gibson/fender/ibanez

And they aren't very good- the backplate and stuff aren't anywhere near what it should be, wrong shape/design/etc

 

[warlockII]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

 

[shatteredsquare]

it's real, and real old, 22 fret set neck hardtail should sound f o k i n amzaing

 

[darrenw5094]

Réal Deal Holyfield

 

[hippietim]

Looks real to me too.

 

[Rick]

PRS Support is very helpful in checking if the guitar you have matches their records. While it is true that some fake builders use a PRS serial number, it’s unlikely they can match it to all the finish/hardware/materials used in the original. You can also check with the guys on the PRS forum, as they know he intricacies of different models and hardware very well.

The guitar in the pictures looks genuine to me.

 

[rickboot]

I had a few late 90's PRS guitars. Looks legit.

 

[shatteredsquare]

Easy way to tell, look for the initials and stickers under the pickups, it shows the builders and inspectors, most of the time the model sticker is left on under the clear coat inside

 

[Jozsef Kiss]

PRS 513 - Buy such a guitar!
This is not false!

 

[SASouth]

It‘s a real PRS Custom 22. The winged Phase I tuners puts it as a pre 2002 guitar.

Serial numbers on PRS are quite straightforward. Go here for more info.

https://www.prsguitars.com/index.php/support/article/year_identification

 

[warlockII]

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the feedback. I'll get to check it out in person later this week.