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How to Choose Between a PRS Guitar, Custom Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, and 4U Rack Case

This varied guitars basses selection ranges from a $179.99 Seismic Audio 4U rack case to a $3,200 PRS electric guitar. Choose first by instrument role: guitar, bass, or protective rack gear.

Last updated Jul 24

Shopping for guitars basses is straightforward only when every option serves the same role. Here, the choice is broader: two solid-body electric guitars, a 24-fret electric bass, and a 4U rack case appear at very different listed prices. Start by deciding whether you need a fretted instrument for guitar parts, a bass for low-end work, or a road-oriented enclosure for DJ and PA gear. Once that is clear, construction, fret count, electronics, condition, and price separate the instrument choices.

Quick take

  • For a used professional right-handed guitar with 22 frets: the PRS The Ted McCarty 2009 RARE Model! 57/08 Pickups Sound GREAT! (158 is the focused choice. Its rosewood fretboard, solid body, and PRS 57/08 humbuckers make it the most specifically described guitar here.
  • For a new right-handed solid-body electric guitar with a brown mahogany body: the Wylde Audio Odin Grail Bullseye burl top Electric Guitar soild Body fast ship is the lower-priced guitar route.
  • For a right-handed electric bass with extended upper-fret access: choose the Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan. It is the only bass in the group and pairs 24 frets with EMG humbuckers and a two-band preamp.
  • For transporting rack-based DJ or PA gear rather than playing an instrument: the Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U is the distinct accessory choice.

Listed price comparison

The spread is substantial: the lowest listed price is 94% below the highest. That difference reflects not only cost but also the fact that this is not a like-for-like group of instruments.

ItemListed priceRelative price
PRS The Ted McCarty 2009 RARE Model! 57/08 Pickups Sound GREAT! (158USD 3,200.00
Wylde Audio Odin Grail Bullseye burl top Electric Guitar soild Body fast shipUSD 299.00
Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In JapanUSD 2,500.00
Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4UUSD 179.99

Decision matrix

Choose by musical role first. The PRS and Wylde Audio Odin are electric guitars, so they belong in a comparison for guitarists. The Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom is an electric bass, making it the appropriate choice when the part calls for bass range and bass-specific hardware. The Seismic Audio SATAC4U is not an instrument; its title identifies it as a 4U rack case for DJ and PA gear.

Then weigh condition and build details. The PRS is used and dates to 2009, while the Odin is new with a 2025 model year. The Crews bass is also identified as new and is described as a late-2023 build. If fretboard wood matters to your preference, the PRS has rosewood, while the bass uses Macassar ebony. The Odin's listed mahogany body provides a clearly stated body material for the lower-cost guitar choice.

Match the playing layout to your needs. The PRS carries 22 frets, while the Crews bass has 24. The bass description also specifies a 34-inch scale, 45 mm bone nut, adjustable 17.5 to 18.5 mm spacing, and controls for volume, balance, treble, bass, and bypass. Those are player-facing distinctions, rather than merely cosmetic ones. For the two guitars, the clearest electronic detail belongs to the PRS, whose 57/08 humbuckers are named directly.

Concise product notes

PRS The Ted McCarty 2009 RARE Model! 57/08 Pickups Sound GREAT! (158

This PRS is the pick for the guitarist prioritizing a particular established configuration: a solid, right-handed 2009 The Ted McCarty with 22 frets, rosewood fretboard, and factory PRS 57/08 humbuckers. The description characterizes those pickups around warm, articulate clean sounds and vintage-inspired overdrive, giving this guitar a more defined tonal brief than the other guitar. It is also listed at the top of the group at USD 3,200.00 and is identified as used, so it is a substantially different commitment from the new Odin. An original case is included, and the stated 8 lb 4 oz weight may matter to players comparing instrument feel.

Wylde Audio Odin Grail Bullseye burl top Electric Guitar soild Body fast ship

The Odin makes sense for someone who wants a new, right-handed solid-body electric guitar at the lowest guitar price in this selection. Its listed brown mahogany body and bullseye burl-top wording give it a very specific visual direction, while the Custom model designation leaves room for shoppers who are drawn to that style rather than a named standard model. At USD 299.00, it sits far below the PRS in listed cost. The tradeoff is a shorter technical description: no pickup model, fret count, scale length, neck material, or fretboard material is stated. That makes it a style-led and price-led choice rather than the most fully specified guitar.

Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan

For bassists, the Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom is the direct match because it is the only electric bass among the four choices. The 24-fret layout, maple neck, Macassar ebony fretboard, ash body, EMG humbuckers, and original two-band preamp create a detailed feature set for players who want onboard treble and bass adjustment. Its 34-inch scale and Hipshot A-type bridge further distinguish it from the guitars. The limitation is simple: it is priced at USD 2,500.00, placing it close to the PRS rather than the Odin. It also will not replace a guitar when the intended role is chord voicings, lead lines, or standard guitar tuning.

Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U

The Seismic Audio SATAC4U is the appropriate selection when the need is gear containment rather than a new guitar or bass. Its 4U rack-case title, plywood construction, SATAC4U model designation, and 32.10 lb item weight make it a purpose-specific option for DJ and PA equipment. At USD 179.99, it is the least expensive item in the comparison and can suit a shopper building a rack-based setup alongside instruments. Its main limitation is equally important: it is a case, not a playable musical instrument. It has no fretboard, pickups, scale, or handedness because it belongs to a different part of a music setup.

Final recommendation

For an electric guitarist seeking the most detailed instrument specification, choose the PRS The Ted McCarty 2009 RARE Model! 57/08 Pickups Sound GREAT! (158 at USD 3,200.00 for its named 57/08 humbuckers, 22-fret layout, and professional performance level. Choose the Wylde Audio Odin Grail Bullseye burl top Electric Guitar soild Body fast ship when a new mahogany solid-body guitar at USD 299.00 better fits the intended spend. Bass players should narrow directly to the Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan, while rack-based DJ or PA setups should select the Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U at USD 179.99.

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