it's official... PRS CHANGED THE GAME

MY GEAR

WIN FREE GEAR:

[jerrymckenzie]

Impossible - PRS guitars have no soul. I read it on the internet.

[kurtfroberg]

My daughter’s friend got a job at PRS just three months ago (his name is Brock), and he’s already been promoted because of his quilt top design work. He showed me two of his prototypes, and they are absolutely sick! Since you’re a Looks Matter kind of guy, you’re in for a real treat when you get a load of those bad boys! 🤘🏾

[IamMusicNerd]

Being older, I was always a Gibson and fender guy (occasionally Gretsch), but I was always on the fence with relatively newer brands like PRS, Suhr, etc. But then I borrowed a friend’s Modern Eagle, and I was blown away. I started digging in a little more to educate myself, and started opening my mind a little. I then came across a 35th anniversary S2 24-08 that has USA 58/15 LT pickups in it, and that was it for me. I was sold. I now have 4 PRS guitars ranging from SE to Wood Library, and I play them all more than my Gibsons and Fenders now. Crazy. Never thought that would happen.

[MayotheMaker]

Michael, your voice and editing bouncing through this story is SPOT ON. Very easy to listen to and watch. Well done

[maestro]

PRS se custom 24 owner here. I love it. Nothing entry level about it.

[ralphmuller]

I own four (4) PRS core models - [DGT, CU22, Triple Soapy, SC semi-hollow]. They are ALL brilliant guitars. Recently I bought a used SE Hollowbody(Piezo) for fly-gigs and it has fast become my favourite guitar to play by my computer. I leave it out all the time, because it was A LOT cheaper than the cores, so I grab it more often. It's just so damn playable. Insane value for money.

[timchalmers]

My first, and only, PRS is a 2020 SE Standard 24 - no maple cap, just gorgeous mahogany wood grain, 85/15 pups, and I love the tones and the way it plays. I was checking out the SE McCarty 594 at my favorite local store, but when I got home and pulled out my Standard and played it, I said to myself, "I don't need another PRS - which I can't afford."

[ethanbean]

My SE Paul's guitar is easily the best guitar I've ever played

[kididaho]

I agree with you, Mike, PRS's decision to listen to customers and pay attention to what was making many of us apprehensive on buying an S2 over an SE will benefit the S2 line greatly and I can see the S2 line being one of the line's strongest sellers.

I bought an S2 McCarty 594 last year, and then spent a lot upgrading to the 58/15 LT, hardware and tuners, and always second-guessed why I bought it only to pump a lot more money into it beyond just changing pickups or something here and there as I owned the guitar. What I never looked back on, though, is how good this guitar feels and how great it sounds. I don't even get my Gibsons out of the case.

This is a good decision by PRS and I'm happy for people who want an American-made PRS with actual American pickups and higher quality hardware.

[jlwhitecotten]

I just got an SE Custom 22 Semi hollow, and it is fantastic! It's my first PRS of any sort. I'm satisfied.

[seventallguitarist]

It's interesting. I've owned 5 PRS guitars in my lifetime (currently have 3). My first was a 1994 CE-24. It was the prettiest of them all. Purple/maple top. GORGEOUS guitar. Then in 2009 I bought a 2008 Mira (Core Mira - before the S2 factory). Because of the weight, it instantly became my main guitar after 14 years of the CE-24 holding that title. So in 2012, I decided to sell the CE to buy another 2008 Mira I found on eBay. Basically sold the CE for what it cost to buy the 2nd Mira (I bought the 94 CE-24 in 1994 for $1800 - sold it in 2012 for $1300 & it needed new frets and had many dings). I eventually sold both Miras. Went through a regrettable Les Paul phase. So I was "PRS-less". But that led me to having custom builds made. Sold all of my Les Paul models (some Gibson - some Epiphone). Ended up having a guy build me 3 custom builds between 2017 & 2019. Still own all three of them. Love them. Will never part with them.

In 2021 a local shop (coincidently owned by the guy who does the custom builds), had a 2017 PRS Vela used on the shelf. Played it for 5 minutes and instantly bought it. I was back in the PRS game! Then the following spring, I walk into his shop and there is MY old 2008 Mira that I had traded/sold off. I knew it was mine from some of the unique dings. I had to buy it as I always regretted my Les Paul phase. So life was good. Balance had been restored to the PRS force.

Well one of my biggest regrets was getting rid of that 1994 CE-24. Dumb move. It was my first really nice guitar. So for a while I watched on Reverb to see if any early 90's models showed up. They just kept getting more and more expensive. And the new ones are crazy. Low and behold....

... PRS decided to give us the SE CE-24. At $700 (actually $800 as I instantly ordered the SE locking tuners to swap out)... it's a hell of guitar. Is it as nice as the 94 model? Nah. But it's REALLY nice for the price. So nice, that I'm thinking of grabbing one of the satin finish versions (currently going for an insane $499).

I really wish I still had that 94 model. But there was a reason I stopped using it at gigs. It was heavy. My preferred tone had changed over the years. So the Mira was just a better fit. I didn't think for a second of ever swapping pickups in it.

Anyhow, the point of all of this is that they are are all such different guitars. I've loved all of them for various reasons and have gripes with each of them (the Vela is only 22 frets - nothing wrong with that. But I'm used to the 24 frets so it's an adjustment when I grab it).

PRS will ALWAYS listen to what the customers want and as Paul himself has said in numerous interviews... the don't make changes just to change. They make changes when they think they can make improvements that matter.

So there must be something big coming for the core models. Or it's just simply going to come down to the cores having the better wood and finishes. Either way.... might be time to look at a new S2 model. lol.

[elelimusic]

I just bought an Epiphone Les Paul standard pro, been playing it for almost a month non stop, I always wanted a Les Paul and even though its not a Gibson, Ive been playing Epiphone (SG) for a long time, so I know this brand is a workhorse, plus its really nice overall, I really love the Les Paul, but yesterday I played my PRS Santana SE... man, PRS is just so... smooth, the guitar is simple and light but at the same time is very aggresive with the pickups and warm sounding, its really just pure joy when it comes to playing that guitar.

[TranscendentBen]

I feel so deprived. I've never played a PRS. Still trying desperately to have a fantastic day.

[peterwilson]

Mike, you have yourself a fantastic day too. Thanks for making these really cool videos for us.

[terranncegilmore]

I have the SE McCarty 594 single cut in blue and it is my favorite guitar I've ever played

[brendanpierce]

I just bought an S2 Custom 24 08 with the U.S. made pickups and electronics and it is amazing! The sound, playability, and yes, the looks are incredible. It's like a core but at half the price.

[dewcodered]

Last year I bought a SE custom 24-08 (Ezra green) and the sheer versatility of that instrument has made me a PRS believer. Its my favorite guitar I own.

[treishtrei]

The bridge, especially the saddles are to be replaced. Then it opens up. No more plinky sound. You'll forever be satisfied with it. However...some core models have an oomph to the sound that no s2 can get...no clue what it is yet

[Dragon_rls]

As a Gibson/Fender old guy, I say nothing wrong with PRS. They definitely have the best quality control system in the industry, and people just need to come to terms that the whole world doesn’t like the same stuff. Rock on PRS people 🎸🎸🎸.

[reggiemoses]

I have owned several Custom 24's. I currently play a 1997 Custom 24. They are great Rock guitars. Wish they were more versatile.