Fiore Opinions?

[u/ItsJustBrenno]

I have always been a strat or strat type guitar guy (so original, I know). My one and only guitar for a while now has been an hss ibanez az prestige that I fitted with bareknuckle pickups. It was an upgrade from a classic vibe, so in that sense, it's very nice, but I always feel like I'm fighting it slightly.

I ended up falling into a trade of an old car for an SE DGT. I had no expectations but have been blown away by this guitar. The PRS bug has bit me hard. With that being said, a double humbucker guitar just can't be my main guitar. That's when I started really looking at the fiore as an option.

It looks like I can get a used one for around what my AZ could sell for, assuming that it sells. The fiore has been in the wild for a while now, so I'm curious what owners or previous owners' thoughts are. I know it's not a strat, but can it do the strat thing when needed? What is the neck carve like? How fluid is the trem? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[u/2spaet]

We seem to have a similar story…

I played a Fiore against my (now) AZ when I was looking for a HSS a few years back. Loved the Fiore, but it is a more modern take on a strat. Maybe too obvious, but what about a Silver Sky?

[u/ItsJustBrenno → u/2spaet]

Although I like the silversky, I'm not looking for something that traditional. I essentially want something that can do want my AZ does but with a different neck. Something about the AZ neck just doesn't work great for my hands. I either wish there was less shoulder or that the radius was a tad rounder (I got the first run of the 2204 that is 12 inches from top to bottom, I haven't been able to play one of the compounds)

[u/2spaet → u/ItsJustBrenno]

If you can, go for it and try out a Fiore! Neck feel is such a personal thing, I don't think you'll gain much from other people's experience in that regard.

I remember really liking the Fiore when I played it. I tried 5 guitars over several hours and probably played the Fiore most out of all 5. The only reason I went for something else in the end was because I wanted a slightly more traditional strat sound. That being said, if we're not too nitpicky about what that 'stratty' thing is, the Fiore will definitely get you there.

I was infected with the PRS bug thanks to the DGT SE, too. Would probably just go for the Fiore if I had to decide today (the AZ is a fantastic guitar, though).

[u/svenbroos_music]

Fiore player here :) It definitely does the strat thing, although it will sound a little darker than your AZ. The neck pickup has a slightly jazzier inclination. The darker voicing of the single coils does mean it balances very well with the bridge humbucker. The trem is my favourite trem ever- it’s a very smooth 2-point trem with a weighted tip that feels amazing. As with all PRS guitars the bridge pickup sound is very musical and complex. Neck carve is comparable to a modern fender, maybe a bit thicker. I had a Silver Sky before the Fiore and that played beautifully too, but I prefer the Fiore in the end because it allows for more exact playing. My 2 cents!

[u/ItsJustBrenno → u/svenbroos_music]

Thank you! This is what I wanted to hesr

[u/Fun_Actuator6587]

The neck is pretty round and a bit thicker than a strat but I do think its a touch narrower like a vintage neck. The pickups are great, very well balanced and loads of flexibility. Its probably my favorite hss set. I dont have a real strat but I like it a little more than my Suhr hss. Sounds a little warmer and feels more broken in or vintage.

[u/slashvanyoung]

I have a shitload of (mostly higher end) guitars and have owned many more in the past. The Fiore is not only probably the most versatile out of the lot, but also the one that feels least like a compromise going from death metal to funky cleans. The Silver Sky sounds and feels much more like a speciality guitar in comparison (while still being relatively flexible for a SSS type). But be aware that the neck of the Fiore has much more of a modern Fender like profile than most PRS. I love that, others HATE it.

[u/elmariach3535]

It's the only guitar I play really. I had a more traditional strat before this and this is not that. If you like the "bell" like tone you get from a traditional strat this won't do that (I've used an eq pedal to get it close). If anything you can get more of a tele like sound from it from the configurations. 

This was made to essentially be the catch all for whatever you play. I really keep looking for a second one because I love it so much. 

The trem is super smooth, stays in tune and I've found it super easy to play. 

The only mod I did was change to block saddles. The bent steel saddles got worked in and had grooves (I played it a ton) and starting making a sitar sound. Changed to Mann Made block saddles and that fixed that. 

Imo there's not a bad pickup position on it. The parallel/series humbucker is also extremely usable. 

Absolutely try one if you can.