Best NON 10 Tops out there??? Let's See Them!

[Mike Duncan]

[andy474x]

Trouble with the SE tops is the flame or quilt part is like a 1/32 veneer, not a solid piece with that kind of figuring...

Thanks.

[vim fuego]

My 88 wasn't marked 10, I do love the top all the same!

[slang05]

You know what would be cool? If you could file an appeals process with PRS! Lol. Like a 10 Top review committee!

[bluefade]

What exactly are the criteria for a 10 top,anyhow? Is there a list of specs that the lads at the factory go by?

[justmund]

What exactly are the criteria for a 10 top,anyhow? Is there a list of specs that the lads at the factory go by?

From the PRS FAQ:

A very small percent of the maple trees cut in North America are actually figured. To make "10-Top" status, a PRS top must have clearly defined figure across its entire top with no "dead" spots. A guitar designated as a 10-Top will usually have a small "10" written on the back of the headstock in the upper right corner. Some of our earlier guitars have the "10" stamped into the finish in the same position.

[veinbuster]

[Egads]

How is that not a 10?

[vchizzle]

Isn't that a killer quilt model? They don't have a 10 on headstock.

[vchizzle]

[veinbuster]

Isn't that a killer quilt model? They don't have a 10 on headstock.

Could be. I call it my crazy quilt.
It definitely does not have a 10 on the headstock.

[slang05]

Hey! I figured out how to post! Heres my nice non 10 Top


And to be fair here is a 10 top that I thought shouldn't be..

[JMintzer]

Sure that's not an Artist Package? What's the headstock look like?


Jamie

[veinbuster]

Sure that's not an Artist Package? What's the headstock look like?


Jamie

It wasn't billed as an artist when I got it.

[JMintzer]

RW headstock veneer with (does it have an inlaid signature?) If so, Artist Package...


Jamie

[11top]

And to be fair here is a 10 top that I thought shouldn't be..

Why not? I've seen a lot of 10s worse than that one. I like your top.

[themike]

RW headstock veneer with (does it have an inlaid signature?) If so, Artist Package...


Jamie

Bingo - Artist package!

[11top]

From the PRS FAQ:

A very small percent of the maple trees cut in North America are actually figured. To make "10-Top" status, a PRS top must have clearly defined figure across its entire top with no "dead" spots. A guitar designated as a 10-Top will usually have a small "10" written on the back of the headstock in the upper right corner. Some of our earlier guitars have the "10" stamped into the finish in the same position.

While I think I understand their thinking, there should definitely be exceptions to that general rule. Take Todd's SC that he posted pics of above. It clearly has some spots that are void of figure, but what they do is tend to accentuate the figure around those spots. I think that is a very cool top, and I would be very happy to have received that as a 10 or even an artist grade.

[LindseyP]

From the PRS FAQ:

A very small percent of the maple trees cut in North America are actually figured. To make "10-Top" status, a PRS top must have clearly defined figure across its entire top with no "dead" spots. A guitar designated as a 10-Top will usually have a small "10" written on the back of the headstock in the upper right corner. Some of our earlier guitars have the "10" stamped into the finish in the same position.

I'll have to keep looking for the vid, but in it PRSh took some alcohol, rubbed it over a maple blank so the camera could "see" the true, natural figuring. Then he said 10 tops are determined before they are stained. I'm guessing that's so the coloring can't influence the decision.

[Jet Whitey]

While I think I understand their thinking, there should definitely be exceptions to that general rule. Take Todd's SC that he posted pics of above. It clearly has some spots that are void of figure, but what they do is tend to accentuate the figure around those spots. I think that is a very cool top, and I would be very happy to have received that as a 10 or even an artist grade.

When I showed it to Paul when he was in Seattle....he said " Boy did they blow that one! "