Why The PRS SE VS S2 Comparison Is A Problem

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[dogrocketp]

I've been playing guitar over 50 years, and have every level of PRS guitar. I believe the woods are better in the core and the S2 than the SE. The goal is always to produce the best guitar at each price point, and better wood costs more money. My S2 and core have never needed fret work, my SE's have. The Korean ones would usually make it about 2 years before the wood moves a little and the frets shifted. My recent Indonesian purchases have needed it after two months. The hardware on the S2 was better than the Indonesian guitars, especially the tremolo. I put a USA trem on my SE SAS because the stock one felt cheesy and didn't respond to my use as well as the older S2 and Core guitars. The neck carve on the Indonesian guitars has finally gotten to excellence. There were minor issues with both my Indonesian guitars, namely the tuners. The holes were not drilled straight, and the tuners were very loose when I took delivery of them. They also don't hold tune as well as the S2 and cores when gigging. The nut on my SAS needs to be replaced as well. I have always been happy with the quality of my S2's.

[solarpixiejournals]

I love my S2, my favorite guitar to play.

[johntompson]

Leveling up the S2 was probably an inevitable but calculated move. There's a lot of PRS hate out there (in the US at least) because people don't understand that PRS is the closest we can get today, to what Fender and Gibson were in their heydays. If people understood the story instead of looking at the guitars as "doctor/lawyer guitars" (just as they did 20 years ago) it would make more sense to people.

A Strat in 1955 was $249.50 in sunburst ($261.98 in blond!), which is in today's money almost $2900, and it's current equivalent (Leo Fender would have modernized the guitar over the decades), the "American Pro II" is more than $1000 less, and in most ways is a much better guitar. Forrest White (who organized the Fender factory from 1954 and rose to VP before leaving in 1966) remarked the Mexican-built Fenders in the early '90s were better than anything Fender made in the '50s. Even the US reissues today are still less than $2900. A $500 guitar in 1955 would be almost $5700 in today's money.

In the US, wages continue to fall far behind inflation and the lower volume from "flagship" guitar companies makes those "flagship" products more expensive.



The S2 Standards in particular are super-sleepers -- a more ergonomic SG with 22 or 24 frets with Core level pickups? If they'd done the Gen 2 tremolo on the trem guitars that would have really been special, but they probably didn't want that big of a price jump.

[Serjm]

I have one SE, two cores, and a CE24. All are great. You really can’t go wrong with any of the bunch.

[donaldallen]

I bought my first PRS about a year ago and I bought a se custom 24-08. Then I put PRS locking tuners and put them on it. It’s a great guitar. But then I came across PRS custom 24 and it’s a great guitar. The biggest difference is the se has 85-15s pickups and the core has 85-15 pickups. And the 85-15 pickups on the custom 24 really does out do the 85-15s pickups

[slicksalmon]

PRS is the BMW of guitars. The SE is a 320, the S2 is a 330, the Core is an M-series.

[STEVEdhxy]

It'll never happen while Paul is around, but I'd love to see stainless steel frets on the cores. And how about an S2 DGT?

[areallyboredguy]

00:55 as a guitar playing engineer…. Yeah more of us play and also actually have time outside of work to play.

[Kenneth-nVA]

I bought a used s2 in excellent condition for $1600 cutting the cost difference big time. The se I owed just didn’t have the right feel. The s2 does… point is to play what makes you, you !

[wikolib]

Phil, you make some very good points. I got an SE McCarty 594 single cut black gold (looks really sharp) because it was a very good value price wise especially on sale, the quality was excellent for the price and I'm not an electric guitar snob.

I am an acoustic guitar snob as most of my acoustics are USA made because the artists I listened to all played Martins, Gibsons and some Guilds. And I bought USA Taylors because they were a good value for USA made guitars (not not as much now). Many country western artists played and play Takamines because they were one of if not the first to put good pickups in their acoustics and they're a good quality consistent guitar.

Shopping for a Strat type guitar I might just go with and American Pro II for 1799 over anything else because it appears to have several improvements, meets a price point and the MIMs still appear to be kind of spotty.

I still go into a guitar store and play various units for a while before I buy to actually see what the build quality and tonality is like and try to buy from store inventory. Might go with a Player if I find one that's really good for 799 minus 10% (at GC) but wouldn't pay for higher priced Player as the price difference narrows a lot vs the Pro II.

AFA the S2s and the Cores go, I don't know enough about them, and I'd rather go with a real Fender at this point (I tried the SE Silver Sky and it was OK but didn't ring my bell).

[davidsoper]

If I had it to do over again I'd buy a PRS Custom 24 SE and buy the PRS locking tuner separately rather than the S2 24-08 that I did. I have an old PRS SE Custom 24 from the first year that doesn't even have the birds with the added PRS locking tuners. It's plain Jane looking but is a very good guitar to play. I've found I never use the 08 coil split feature. The S2 is much prettier but I can't tell that it's any better than my ancient SE 24. In fact the old one stays in turn better. No clue why.

[danielgrubb]

Phil.. I strongly disagree with your arguement, S2 is a significant jump in quality vs SE.... Made in America is a significant contributor but the fret work and wood construction is significantly better on S2. PRS US fret work is excellent, that is worth $100s alone. S2 bodies are one piece and generally finish is much higher quality vs SE poly finish and multi piece wood construction. SE is fantastic for the price point but PRS has a solid value prop for S2 as

[mortonwilson]

I bought an SE Custom 24-08 2 years ago to test the waters with PRS. I like it a lot but the switching is now a problem - it's hit and miss whether the bridge pick-up will engage. I also tried a 245 SE in the shop, a new one, and the bridge pick-up didn't engage at all - v embarrassing for my friendly dealer. IF, as I understand it, the S2 line now has (a) Nitro, (b) Locking Tuners, (c) US Electronics / Wiring then I would definitely consider the S2 24-08 as a replacement rather than re-wiring my SE, putting in new pick-ups etc. etc. Bottomline, I think the Indonesian made guitars are just fine but the wiring side of things is a real concern.

[toneydavis]

You are spot on Phill. The PRS is that beautiful girl you were afraid to ask out. I got up the nerve and asked. It has been a great relationship. I must have the best one because I don't think I need another one. I was always careful when playing it...careful not to scratch it or dent it. But when I did it has never played or sounded better. I enjoy it now more than ever.

[markbois]

I own a 408 core, S2 single cut semi hollow, SE DGT and a SE CE 24 satin. You will never hear" My core or my S2 are so much better than my SE models " come out of my mouth. I guess the big question is. Is it ok to like the SE as much a core or S2 model LOL!

[davidwagner]

Difference, most YT music or guitar channels didn't address the S2 10th Anniversary Limited Edition. PRS Custom24 (and other S2 10th series. PRS Core and Special were my dream guitar but can't afford those (Wood Library).

S2 10th versions: 90% Core. Hardware included. I bought mine immediately and love it.

I assume there are ones floating out there for sale. But there is/was an option better than SE and S2 but cheaper than Core without really sacrificing much.

[bassyey]

Hey wanting binding is not stupid lol. I'm with you there! I went with ESP basses instead of Fender Professional II because they don't offer binding and block inlays for the same price.

[tonybowen]

The s2's I've played were so, so good. The se's were great but def a notch below. It's too bad all the guitars are locked up now. I'm not sure how the new se's are.

[CarmineLombardi-ef]

I have a PRS SE Paul's choice, and I love it, besides the tuners and Maple veneer, its the same as the S2

[dirtbiker]

I have 2 SEs (C24 DGT) just bought an Anniversary S2 594, and own 07 Core Mira. I have also owned 3 Core guitars. My SEs with a few well placed mods place just as good as my S2 and my Core guitars BUT they do not come close to the level of fit and finish quality the a USA made PRS gives you. That materials, electronics, and finish quality offers a pride of ownership the SEs don't give but as far as playability and durability the SE guitars are fantastic.