PRS has proven it is able to produce high quality guitars using their established manufacturing practices. And they are able to sell those guitars at a price that allows them to remain profitable. So who are we to criticize their methods or pay rates? Granted, PRS guitars aren't my thing because they stopped making left-handed guitars. I also think they are overpriced for what you get and their maple figure is often lacking even on 10-tops. But the woodworking, assembly, fretwork, and finish quality are still great. Equal to Hamer at the very least - and the neck carves are more consistent. Hamer takes a craftsman/luthier approach which is appropriate for their production rate - around a dozen guitars a week. PRS takes a higher volume manufacturing approach because they have significantly higher volumes that would make Hamer's methods cost prohibitive. And pinhead can run a CNC? Try it. It takes a lot more ability and training than many people realize, depending on the manufacturing process of course.
