New PRS Series - Itīs USA and mid priced!

[Zaned]

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  ;)

I'm not arguing against the effect of wood! On the contrary, it makes a big difference. Speaking about necks specifically, in a bolt on configuration with a floating bridge, the neck wood can actually really dominate the tone over the body wood.

I'm speaking purely of the effect of multipiece (with scarf jointed headstock or not) versus a single piece neck. Not counting the fretboard..

-Zaned

[Twinfan]

Gotcha  :)  It would be worth a comparison for sure!

[Philly Q]

Review (glowing!) and feature in the new issue of Guitarist.

I have to confess, I am increasingly getting premonitions of an S2 Mira in my future..... especially if the street price is less than a grand.  With a set of zebra BKPs even that dodgy scratchplate could look good.

[Twinfan]

Philly - just get an 'old' Mira.  It'll be a better guitar all round - the S2s are a budget option.  A nice jump up from the SEs as Guitarist state, and not as nice as a Core Line USA PRS.

For Ģ1100, there are a LOT is used Cu24s tthat can be had and a 'proper' Mira can be had for around Ģ700.

[Philly Q]

Thinking rationally, Dave, I know you're right - which means I'll save even that Ģ700, because I had two Miras before and ultimately I couldn't get on with them because of the 24-fret necks.  I won't buy another.

But can I can rationalise myself out of another guitar purchase?  Years of experience say "No"......  :|

[dave_mc]

^ :lol:

[tekbow]

Do

Philly - just get an 'old' Mira.  It'll be a better guitar all round - the S2s are a budget option.  A nice jump up from the SEs as Guitarist state, and not as nice as a Core Line USA PRS.

For Ģ1100, there are a LOT is used Cu24s tthat can be had and a 'proper' Mira can be had for around Ģ700.

Don't forget the CE's either

[Twinfan]

Indeed, also available well under a grand.

[Philly Q]

(Not that I'm looking to buy one anyway, but....) I've always had reservations about the CEs, due to the design of the neck joint - I think the body wood is just too thin at that point, and I've seen more than one with cracks at the sides of the neck pocket.  Sometimes it might just be the finish, but even then finish cracks must be an indication of stresses in the wood at that point.

I had an old EG with the same problem, and it's noticeable that the newer bolt-on PRS models like the NF3 have a somewhat more substantial, Strat-like heel, not only extended but with a bit more wood thickness on the body side, less on the neck.

Maybe I'm over-stressing the problem (as is my wont), but it is/was definitely an issue on some guitars.

That said, I'm going to contradict myself and say I would still be interested in a nice CE Alder if I ever saw one - the different body wood takes it that bit further away from the "core" PRS models (I know the earliest CEs in the '80s/'90s also had alder bodies, but you don't see them so often on Bay).   

[tekbow]

TBH I've seen the odd pic online, but never seen one in real life with any issues. The joints on any i've tried have felt rock solid. I appreciate it's a concern you have though, kinda like my concern with scarf jointed headstocks. there is nothing in this world that would convince me that they would be better than a single piece of wood, even though they're probably stronger.

That series ran for a long time, it wouldn't if there had have been ongoing issues. TBH i think what killed it in the end was peoples perception of it. Indeed, i remember a thread a while back where someone who didn't know referred to a CE as a (paraphrased) "low end cr@ppy model" and they had an SE (disclaimer: I am not calling SE's cr@ppy).

[Philly Q]

For anyone still taking an interest in the S2 series (probably just me then.....)

I have carried on reading reviews and comments in forums etc, I've Googled photos of "real" ones.... but I was still fretting about the one-piece body question, it didn't seem to be mentioned anywhere.  I know there's nothing wrong with two- or three-piece bodies, but in my OCD way I just like the idea of a one-piece. 

So I emailed PRS:

Hi Phil,

Thank you for writing PRS Guitars. The new S2 Mira would use a solid one piece mahogany body and the available finishes include both opaque and translucent colors.

I hope you find this information helpful. Thank you for your continued support of PRS Guitars.

Which does nothing to help my GAS.  I'm even starting to dig that scratchplate.   :roll: :lol:

[Twinfan]

Just spotted this:

S2 Cu24 = Ģ1249
http://worldguitars.co.uk/custom-24-mccarty-tobacco-sunburst-tbc/

Full USA Cu24 = Ģ1699
http://worldguitars.co.uk/deal-charcoal-burst-with-pattern-thin-189911/
http://www.peachguitars.com/guitars/electric-guitars/prs-custom-24-faded-solana-smokeburst-10-top-with-birds.htm

I know which one I'd be buying...........

[tekbow]

I've kept out of this one until now, waited until there was more info etc but..

Can't say I disagree Dave..

With those kind of prices (granted its been reduced but just proves deals are there to be the had for those who look) on a full fat 24, it's really a no brainer. especially comparing US hardware to the Offshore hardware that seems to be in use on the S2..

Leave multiple price points to Fender and Gibson. PRS get back to building high end and custom guitars please.

there's a letter in this months guitarist where some bloke mentions how the "SE" logo on the SE range is hugely demeaning to those on a tighter budget. He then goes on to complain about how the backplate on the S2 is non recessed, and other bits and pieces, basically why it isn't exactly the same as a "full fat" PRS but cheaper.

eh?

Whats with the sense of entitlement virtually everyone has these days? I get that budgets are tight at the moment, and not everyone can afford a full fat PRS, but if you don't like the SE logo then don't buy one. They're fine guitars, but they're aimed at a certain price point and no company is going to smoke and mirror a budget range so it's indistinguishable from the high end range.

I don't get annoyed because the 370Z, which is seen as somewhat of a little brother to the Nissan GTR and is a little more in my price range (actually it's not, but it's much more realistic), doesn't have a GTR logo on it and doesn't have the performance of a GTR for a fraction of the price. Do i feel demeaned and insulted by Nissan for not making the GTR available to me personally for much less money? No, because what it costs is what it costs and i can't afford that so tough. In fact I'm rather glad there's a 370Z which in a few years will be a bargain second hand and will give a considerable performance to quid ratio.

Course if how the guitar performs matters less than whats on the headstock, thats a whole other kettle of fish.

[Twinfan]

I don't get why the mags are all loving the S2 range - not one of them has commented that you can get a new/nearly new full-on USA PRS for the same money.  Not their usual stance when it comes to PRS.

Even the US guys, that I thought would love a USA S2s over a Korean SE, are not impressed with them.  That speaks volumes.

PRS have gone one step too far in my eyes and are trying to create demand where there isn't any - that's a poor strategy.  I think they've gotten too big as a company to remain profitable, and the large expansion of the factory a few years back was a big mistake.

[tekbow]

I don't get why the mags are all loving the S2 range - not one of them has commented that you can get a new/nearly new full-on USA PRS for the same money.  Not their usual stance when it comes to PRS.

To be fair i haven't seen any reviews yet, but i agree with the weirdness in them not pointing out the actually street price difference. Maybe it's something to do with PRS's power as a manufacturer now? are they getting to Gibson and Fender levels? They are a household name in the guitar world these days, even 15 years ago that wasn't the case. Maybe they're starting to throw their weight around in terms of advertising revenues? "good words please or we don't advertise with your mag" perhaps?

I also agree with them trying to create demand where there isn't really any, a fact born out by the street prices you've demonstrated. So you can have a brand new Custom 24 cheaper or in the same price bracket as Fender or Gibsons highend stuff? that definitely wasn't the case a bunch of years ago. PRS money was Fender CS money.