New PRS Series - Itīs USA and mid priced!

[Philly Q]

Hipshot bridge, VHIIs, locking tuners and a refret then ;) Or, you know, a Japanese ESP

I've got a Hipshot trem bridge I could sell you....

It'll need a new nut, too.

[Afghan Dave]

Hipshot bridge, VHIIs, locking tuners and a refret then ;) Or, you know, a Japanese ESP

I've got a Hipshot trem "sleeperstock" bridge I could sell you.... at a very reasonable upcharge

It'll need a new nut, too.

*corrected*  :lol:

[Philly Q]

Upcharge?  You know I only ever sell at a loss!  :P

[dave_mc]

(a) It won't be African mahogany in the S2s.  That's what PRS now use for their regular USA models (they switched from South American quite a few years ago), and they state that the S2 stuff is even cheaper.  This is why I think they're using SE-spec stuff.

(b) The high end wood thing is a long story, but it relates to "sinker mahogany" and "chaltecoco pernambuco".  Google is your friend  ;)

(a) ah right I didn't realise that. That's good to know, thanks. :drink:

And yeah I agree with you, if they're already using the african stuff on the US ones, the only (far as i'm aware) obvious cheaper option is the mystery mahogany they use on cheaper guitars :lol:

(b) thanks, I'll look into that :)

I'm all for sounding good being good, but if I'm being charged a fortune for 50p worth of fence post I'd like to know about it!

agreed 100%.

Agreed about the price too, Philly. I'd be expecting a pretty darn good guitar for Ģ1250. Not one that's been cheaped out on.

[itamar101]

I think the neck is one of the more important components of the guitar, and the way it resonates and vibrates is key to how the guitar sounds.  I think one solid piece of wood will respond better to the string vibrations than two or more bits glued together.  If you play on the cleaner/bluesier/dynamic side of things, then this is really important.

If you play chugga chugga death metal, then obviously it won't matter a bit!

I'll have to disagree with you there.
Wood may contribute to tonal characteristics, but I don't see how it could possibly effect the dynamic side of things and if it does then it certainly can't be heard once you're plugged in. Dynamics are all to do with your fingers, attack, strings and how well your pickups "pick them up".
To be totally honest, on some occasions I might even prefer multi-piece necks. They are stronger and more stable in extreme weather conditions.

Also, I may be a minority here, but the S2s look very intriguing to me. The locking tuners are a nice plus, as is the new bevelled top, US frets and nut and most importantly - a headstock that doesn't look like it was designed on Microsoft paint with word art. Honestly, one of the main reasons that I never even considered buying an SE was because of that ugly headstock design and SE logo on it. They could've at least made it removable. Maybe put it on the truss rod cover.

Also, the US quality control is always welcome.

These are a line of their own. Not SE +. Not USA -. A mid range line that compromises hardware and electronics in order to compensate for the cost of great build quality and aesthetics.

This new line is a welcome addition, in my eyes and I will seriously consider it in the future. Maybe by then they'll give it a full carved top?.... (If they do that that I don't see how they could possibly be considered and "SE +" anymore.


Btw, That Charcoal Black Custom 24 looks insane.

[Slartibartfarst42]

I will reserve final judgement but for Ģ1250 I'd be expecting a VERY nice guitar with some quality hardware on it and made from some quality wood. That sort of money will get you a very well equipped and and very well made Japanese guitar and frankly, I'd be expecting something even better than that from PRS for that kind of money. Why? Because having had a Japanese Jackson and a Korean PRS SE, I found that there honestly wasn't much in it.

Finish - Equal
Electronics - Equal as I felt the need to change pots etc. in both of them
Pickups - I paid more for the ones in the Jackson as they were Seymour Duncan but the stock PRS pickups were very good. I actually preferred the PRS pickups but in reality, they both needed BKP so other than having to pay more for them, the Jackson had no advantage.
Bridge - OFR on the Jackson was quality but also simply different. Trem on my PRS SE is still very good and better than any Fender trem I've tried
Neck - A tad better on the Jackson but not massively different.
Tuners - Much of a muchness in operation and for tuning stability, a bit academic as the Jackson was locked down but I've had no major issues with the PRS. It holds tune very well.
Woods - The rosewood on the fretboard of the Jackson was of noticeably better quality, though the PRS resonated and sustained better.

I have had absolutely no qualms whatsoever about selling the Jackson and getting another SE because I honestly don't see it as a step down. To me, the Ģ400-Ģ500 extra I had to pay for the Jackson over a PRS SE at that time was down to an OFR I no longer need and Seymour Duncan pickups that I found to be worse than the stock PRS items! Remove those two items and we're down to better quality rosewood. Nice, but for the extra I paid I could almost have bought a second PRS SE and for me, that makes the SE range astonishingly good value. Don't get me wrong, the Jackson was a fantastic guitar but that's my point; so is the PRS SE. In my experience, it does stand comparison to Japanese made guitars and while I realise it's not made at a PRS factory, they must have a hand in the quality control and selection of materials because the SE range is streets ahead of any other Korean guitar I've owned or tried. Having owned a Mexican Strat, I'd say it's easily better than those too and not a poke in the eye away from the quality of an American Fender, or at least, any of the American Fenders I've tried over the years.

I have two PRS SE Custom 24 guitars now and once I've changed the pots, caps and pickups, there's honestly nothing else I find I really want to alter. In due course the nuts will be upgraded but I'm not in a rush to really do anything else. It seems to me that I'd pay nearly twice as much for an S2 and other than the nut, still have to make the same changes so exactly why should I bother?

[Philly Q]

Woods - The rosewood on the fretboard of the Jackson was of noticeably better quality, though the PRS resonated and sustained better.

That's one thing I have noticed about the SE range in general, they often have rather ropey-looking rosewood boards and there's something in the production process which seems to leave "white stuff" embedded in the grain.

When I bought my SE EG from Sound Control (RIP) in the basement of the Virgin Megastore (RIP!) they had loads in stock and I was able to pick one with an exceptionally nice rosewood board.  It is actually the main reason I've kept the guitar!  :roll: :lol:

[Slartibartfarst42]

My older PRS is now much better than it was but it's taken many careful and regular treatments with fretboard conditioner and lemon oil. It will never be as good as the Jackson though as the base material just isn't of the same quality. It's a minor point though, and not something I'd pay a lot more for on an S2.

[dave_mc]

That's one thing I have noticed about the SE range in general, they often have rather ropey-looking rosewood boards and there's something in the production process which seems to leave "white stuff" embedded in the grain.

yeah i noticed that too. :lol:

[WezV]

I'm all for sounding good being good, but if I'm being charged a fortune for 50p worth of fence post I'd like to know about it!

My first experience with proper south american mahogany was a pair of 6x6" beams that were actually being used as fence posts shortly before i claimed them... for considerably less than 50p ;) and i got 6 bodies worth of premium mahogany,

[Twinfan]

I think the neck is one of the more important components of the guitar, and the way it resonates and vibrates is key to how the guitar sounds.  I think one solid piece of wood will respond better to the string vibrations than two or more bits glued together.  If you play on the cleaner/bluesier/dynamic side of things, then this is really important.

If you play chugga chugga death metal, then obviously it won't matter a bit!

I'll have to disagree with you there.
Wood may contribute to tonal characteristics, but I don't see how it could possibly effect the dynamic side of things and if it does then it certainly can't be heard once you're plugged in. Dynamics are all to do with your fingers, attack, strings and how well your pickups "pick them up".
To be totally honest, on some occasions I might even prefer multi-piece necks. They are stronger and more stable in extreme weather conditions.

I didn't mean playing dynamics, I agree that's all to do with your playing style.  I was referring to tone and sustain and that these difference are more noticeable when playing a cleaner style of music e.g. lightly crunchy blues (think Peter Green...)

[itamar101]

I think the neck is one of the more important components of the guitar, and the way it resonates and vibrates is key to how the guitar sounds.  I think one solid piece of wood will respond better to the string vibrations than two or more bits glued together.  If you play on the cleaner/bluesier/dynamic side of things, then this is really important.

If you play chugga chugga death metal, then obviously it won't matter a bit!

I'll have to disagree with you there.
Wood may contribute to tonal characteristics, but I don't see how it could possibly effect the dynamic side of things and if it does then it certainly can't be heard once you're plugged in. Dynamics are all to do with your fingers, attack, strings and how well your pickups "pick them up".
To be totally honest, on some occasions I might even prefer multi-piece necks. They are stronger and more stable in extreme weather conditions.

I didn't mean playing dynamics, I agree that's all to do with your playing style.  I was referring to tone and sustain and that these difference are more noticeable when playing a cleaner style of music e.g. lightly crunchy blues (think Peter Green...)

Well, I do agree with that. :)
Although, I find it hard to imagine that the difference would be very audible in any way and that the sustain.

[keith]

Nothing wrong with this Korean beauty

[Zaned]

Well, I do agree with that. :)
Although, I find it hard to I aging that the difference would be very audible in any way and that the sustain.

This is a topic on which I would like to hear the opinions of the luthiers on this forum. I've seen many respected luthiers use it, and have a hard time believing it would be a (great) tonal compromise. Different tones, maybe.

-Zaned

[Twinfan]

I've said before that I have two identical guitars with the exception of neck wood (pernambuco vs mahogany).  The 'hog is more shouty, with more lower mid growl.  The pernie is sweeter and more balanced, more harp-like, and higher register notes sound bigger and sustain better.

It's quite noticeable when you play them back to back.  To a punter in the pub, they won't hear any difference if the monkey on the drums is in full swing  ;)