What is better, a Fender, a PRS, or a Jackson?

Question

In 2 years time I'll buy another guitar, but I can't decide myself which one to pick. Also my budget is limited, but it's not very low. I mean, I'm ready to spend a lot more money on the guitar. So, I'm thinking about a Jackson RR3, a PRS (haven't decided about the model yet) and a Fender Stratocaster. I'm a rock and roll/heavy metal player, but also play the blues, and I dunno which one to pick from those 3. Recommend me one of these ones, please. Also the fast playing and shredding are one of my main influences, so I shred a lot. My influences are Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, Slash etc. I know a Gibson Les Paul would be amazing, but unfortunately I don't have enough money for one. I don't really want to buy an Epiphone, because I already have a Squier. So, one of those 3, please!

Answer 1

Any guitar will do the job. It depends on how good you can make it sound. I have seen people who play Strats that should quit altogether.



I have an old Les Paul, a 1962 Strat, an old 1980 Jackson and I can play on any of them. The jackson has a slight advantage because it has 24 frets, and good sustain on the highs and quick response.



SO I speak out of experience. My old Les Paul has a FAT sound and a super low action and I cannot compare it with my Jackson. But, Jackson is fun to play, I have EMG active on it and the guitar rocks.



PRS is also a good guitar. Sit down a see which one feels right for you. Don't compare Malmsteem, Stevie vai or other dues. Be yourself. You are the one who is going to play the guitar, not your idols. Do your thing .



Personally, I would say to get the Jackson for an all around sound and those who say you can't shred or play blues on a Jackson are NOT guitar players. Its not the guitar that plays. It's the person holding it.

Answer 2

Of those, I'd not recommend the stratocaster for heavy metal. It woudl be great if you just played blues or classic rock though. The Jackson might be good for the rock & metal, but not for blues. I love PRS guitars, but you'll probably only get into the SE models on a limited budget (the really good American made ones are a couple thousand dollars - or course the same is true of the Fenders and Jacksons). If you want something like a Les Paul that would be suited to all of the styles you play, then I'd go with the PRS SE, get an Epiphone Les Paul (or save up until you can afford a used Gibson Les Paul).

Answer 3

I have to question the experience of anyone that gives a clearcut answer to this question. Truth is not all Fender's, Paul Reed Smith's or Jackson's play great. Some will play better than others, any good guitarist knows this. There is no way to say all PRS play better than all Fender's or anything else. Plus a PRS for instance range from a few hundred dollars to over $10,000, same with Fender so you can't just group them all together. PRS makes a good guitar, but look at what most of the top players in the world play. To the two folks that said you can't shred on a Strat, Yngwie would most certainly disagree.

Answer 4

Jackson Fender

Answer 5

I don't especially like any of the 3 you're considering. I don't have anything against them, they just don't suit me (though the Jackson would come closest for me personally)



But from what you're saying, the PRS would probably suit your style the best.



Look into Schecter as well, they make some very nice instruments that are exceptionally affordable. My $300 Schecter easily holds it's own against some guitars at twice the price. And my Limited Edition Texas Chainsaw Massacre Avenger blows away anything else I've ever played in it's price range (around $1,000 if you're curious, good luck finding one though, they only made 100)

Answer 6

The PRS would be better suited to playing both Blues and Metal. You don't play Blues on a Jackson V and you just don't shred on a Strat. The PRS is the best of both.

Answer 7

PRS all day man!! Jacksons are POS, and I have nothing against fenders, they just aren't the shredding style of guitar. But the quality and versatility in all PRS guitars are unmatchable



edit: Malmsteen has his own custom strat anyways. And that'll be out of his price range...

Answer 8

Thanks Norm. Yes, I had a Warmoth strat style neck until I tried to fix it myself. I liked the contour (Eric Clapton version) better than any of the fender neck contours (including the actual Eric Clapton fender neck contour) and I especially liked the finish which feels really nice. However, I heard the USA custom guitars makes better quality/sounding necks than Warmoth, so I figure I'll go with them.

Answer 9

jackson beats fender and prs by far. but esp is the best