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Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
PRS Fiore
VS
Playability
68
Sound
75
Build
80
Value
64
Score
74
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Playability
68
Sound
78
Build
70
Value
62
Score
72
FIND IT ON:
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Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs PRS Fiore

Reasons to Get
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS over PRS Fiore

Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Nut Width
1.625'' (41.3mm) vs 1.656'' (42.1mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Value Score
64 vs 62
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
PRS Fiore over Music Man Cutlass RS HSS

Release Year
2021 vs 2017
From a more recent year
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.656'' (42.1mm) vs 1.625'' (41.3mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle

Other Key Differences
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs PRS Fiore

Bridge Pickup
Music Man Custom Humbucker vs PRS Fiore-H
Different Bridge Pickup
Middle Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs PRS Fiore-S
Different Middle Pickup
Neck Pickup
Music Man Custom Single Coil vs PRS Fiore-S
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Alder vs Ash
Different Body Wood
Neck Wood
Figured Maple vs Maple
Different Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Figured Maple vs Maple
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
4-2 vs 3-3
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Compensated vs PRS Propietary
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs PRS Fiore

Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
5
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
1
Same volume control
Pickups
HSS
High output with beautiful cleans and tone versatility
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Bridge
Tremolo
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Scale Length
25.5'' (647.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
10'' (254mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Neck Joint
Bolt-On
Allows you to detach and swap the neck
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Locking Tuners
  • High-Quality Nut
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS is probably the better product overall with its final score of 74 compared to the PRS Fiore's 72 score, although not by a lot.

The Music Man Cutlass RS HSS wins when it comes to build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the PRS Fiore has the upper hand when it comes to sound.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

New Player Friendliness

PRS Fiore
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Overview

  • From Music Man's 2017 Cutlass RS series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Alder body
  • Roasted Figured Maple neck
  • Roasted Figured Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Bell knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • Music Man Modern Tremolo bridge
  • Cutlass RS Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
  • Schaller M6-IND locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

PRS Fiore Overview

  • From PRS's 2021 Bolt-On series
  • Mark Lettieri Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 25.5"'' scale
  • 10" Fretboard Radius
  • Swamp Ash body
  • Maple neck
  • Maple fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: PRS Fiore-H (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Middle pickup: PRS Fiore-S (Single Coil/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: PRS Fiore-S (Single Coil/Passive)
  • 1 volume and 2 tone Speed knobs
  • 5-way Switch
  • 2-Point Steel Tremolo bridge
  • Fiore Bolt-On neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Vintage-Style, Locking tuners
  • Weight between 7.3lbs (3.3kgs) and 7.9lbs (3.6kgs)
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS

Figured Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Figured Maple
Alder wood pattern used for guitar building
Alder

This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

Alder is the most popular wood that Fender uses in most of their guitars nowadays. Even though they say it's because of its balanced tone with an emphasis in the upper midrange, it probably is because it isn't too expensive, and it's also pretty lightweight—more than Mahogany. Find out more about Alder.

Woods Used in the PRS Fiore

Maple wood pattern used for guitar building
Maple
Ash wood pattern used for guitar building
Ash

Maple is one of the most popular necks for good reasons. It is a strong wood that is relatively cheap to make and looks beautiful. The highest quality maple is the hardest that comes from North America. Find out more about Maple.

Ash is a type of wood that Fender used almost exclusively in the 50s, and it's still used by many brands. It's a dense wood with a light color that works well for a transparent, natural finish because of its beautiful patterns. In terms of sound, it's known for emphasizing the mid and high frequencies, but with strong low end. Find out more about Ash.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HSS. HSS provides a great balance if you like to play with a lot of distortion, but also love to use clean tones. You'll get a lot of output at the bridge position, but you'll be able to play bright clean tones at the other positions.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Only the PRS Fiore comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS's switch options
PRS Fiore pickups switch selector and push knobs diagram
PRS Fiore's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: PRS Fiore.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 70
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 75
PRS Fiore
Pickups 90
Sustain 65
Versatility 82
Tuning Stability 75
Sound 78

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS compares to the PRS Fiore.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Music Man Cutlass RS HSS has a Compensated nut. Each hole where the string sits at the nut is cut at a different distance from the bridge, which compensates for the different amount of tension that each string is subject to. This fixes most intonation issues across the fretboard, so it gives great tuning stability.

On the other hand, the PRS Fiore comes with a PRS Propietary nut. It's similar to TUSQ nuts, but they're not as hard, and the tone is not as bright. However, the material is self-lubricating, and it's usually well cut, so they have good tuning stability.

Winner: Tie.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Music Man Cutlass RS HSS.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

They both have locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: Tie.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Bolt-On neck joint. This neck is joined to the body by 4 bolts that you can simply unscrew. This allows you to replace the neck or take it off for travel. It's the most common and cheapest way to build a guitar.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
  • Stainless Steel Frets
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Compensated Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
PRS Fiore
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • PRS Propietary Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Coil Split Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
Quality of materials 81
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 80
PRS Fiore
Quality of materials 46
Features 70
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 70

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Nut Width
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Nut Width
PRS Fiore Nut Width
PRS Fiore Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the PRS Fiore has the wider nut with 42.1mm (1.656'') vs 41.3mm (1.625''). This is a 0.8mm (0.031'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the PRS Fiore, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS and PRS Fiore's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 25.5".

This is the scale used in most Stratocasters. It's slightly longer than the typical 24.75'' size found in Les Pauls, and it's one of the main reasons why Stratocasters have such a bright sound in general. A longer scale also means that the strings will have higher tension. This will help you get lower action without suffering fret buzz, which will also be helpful when playing in lower tunings without having to increase your string gauge.

However, this also means that there will be more separation between frets, which can make it more difficult to play. Also, bending the strings will require more strengths due to the increased tension, but remember that a tremolo guitar will offset this difficulty.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Neck Profile
Music Man Cutlass RS HSS's neck profile
PRS Fiore Neck Profile
PRS Fiore's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

Both the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS and the PRS Fiore have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

Fretboard Radius

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Music Man Cutlass RS HSS and the PRS Fiore have the same fretboard radius of 10". This is slightly flatter than the typical modern Stratocaster, but not by a lot. This radius will make it comfortable to play chords without muting strings accidentally. However, when compared to Strats, the extra .5 inches radius will make it slightly more comfortable to play solos without sacrificing too much chord playability.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS:
Big Hands
Small Hands
PRS Fiore:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS and PRS Fiore Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium Jumbo fret size

Both have a Medium Jumbo fret size. These are slightly shorter than full Jumbo frets, so you'll still feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings. However, they interfere less with your fretting hand than medium-size frets. This is a good size if you like easy-to-press frets, but would still like to feel a bit of the fretboard when playing.

Final Playability Scores

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 68
PRS Fiore
Bending & Vibrato Ease 65
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 65
Playability 68

Specs Side-by-Side

Music Man Cutlass RS HSS vs PRS Fiore
General Music Man Cutlass RS HSS PRS Fiore
Brand: Music Man PRS
Year: 2017 2021
Configuration: HSS HSS
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Cutlass RS Bolt-On
Colors: Blue, Brown White, Black, Red
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Alder Swamp Ash
Bridge: Music Man Modern Tremolo 2-Point Steel Tremolo
Neck
Neck Joint: Bolt-On Bolt-On
Tuners: Schaller M6-IND locking Vintage-Style, Locking
Fretboard: Roasted Figured Maple Maple
Neck Material: Roasted Figured Maple Maple
Decoration: 1/4 Black Or White Face Dots Birds
Scale Size: 25.5" 25.5"
Shape: Cutlass RS Fiore
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 10" 10"
Nut: Compensated PRS Propietary
Nut Width: 41.3mm (1.625'') 42.1mm (1.656'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Music Man Custom Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) PRS Fiore-H (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) PRS Fiore-S (Single Coil / Passive)
Neck Pickup: Music Man Custom Single Coil (Single Coil / Passive) PRS Fiore-S (Single Coil / Passive)
Switch: 5 Way 5 Way
Knobs: Bell Speed
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 1 1
Tone Controls: 1 2