PRS SE Custom (2000)

PRS is a high end guitar maker known for their expensive guitars. They have been around since the late 70s making professional level guitars and many big names have taken to them. They have pretty unique design and their fit and finish is excellent. They are always evolving their guitar designs and that separates them from other big guitar makers who just constantly reissue the same models year after year. They recently introduced their SE line of guitars made overseas. These guitars sell for about 700 bucks and have a lot of the same features has the USA made models. This is the SE model based off of the PRS Custom 22 one of their most popular models along with the 24 fret version. A lot of cost is saved with the tops of these guitars. The tops are flat for ease of construction and the flame is from a veneer instead of having to use a thick piece of flamed maple. It has the traditional 25 inch PRS scale length on a 24 fret maple neck with a rosewood fretboard. It has PRS's wide thin neck and two PRS in house pickups. There is a master tone and master volume with a 3 way toggle switch that is unusually placed. The bridge on this model is the PRS style wraparound bridge. If any other company put out a guitar with a bridge like this I wouldnt expect it to intonate but PRS makes it work somehow.

UTILIZATION

These guitars are some of the best playing guitars for less than 1000 dollars. They may not look like it but they can be real shred guitars. All the parts work well together. The 25 inch scale with the wrap around bridge intonates perfectly which is pretty amazing considering its such a simple design. The feel of the 25 inch scale is nice and gives you a bit reduced string tension without losing much clarity and snap. One thing I dont like is where the pickup selector is placed. I wish it was closer to the rest of the electronics.

SOUNDS

PRS uses their own pickups in these SE models. They are alright but a swap with some aftermarket pickups might be needed. The pickups are hot and clear but are nothing special. The guitar overall has a slightly bright tone to help with the clarity. The bridge pickup is nice and crunchy. You can get a wide open classic rock tone with it in this guitar, kind of like a hot rodded PAF. The neck pickup is also pretty bright. It is not the type of neck pickup I prefer I usually prefer a smoother neck pickup, but the brightness helps keep the clarity going. So many lower end guitars come with muddy pickups. With this you can still hear whats going on even if they may be a little bright.

OVERALL OPINION

These guitars are great for a beginner or even intermediate player looking for a great all around guitar without having to shell out big bucks for a USA made PRS. Most of the parts that effect the tone and feel of the guitar are pretty much the same. Having a veneer doesnt make a guitar sound bad but it can save tons of money. With a swap of decent pickups this guitar can give any USA made PRS a run for its money.

This guitar was designed to be basically a PRS Custom 22 that was made to a price point that younger players could more readily afford. It retails for about $600 new and despite not being a USA made PRS, still retains that vibe and general quality that the guitars are revered for. They're built in Korea and are nearly identical in specification to a Custom 22. They feature a mahogany body and neck, a maple top (a veener as opposed to a thicker maple cap), a rosewood fretboard with 22 frets, a set of PRS sealed tuners, a PRS designed tremolo (identical to their USA models in appearance) as well as a set of PAF type humbuckers. The control layout is very simple with just a volume control, a tone, and a 3 way selector switch a-la a Les Paul. It also comes with a very nice PRS gig bag as well.

UTILIZATION

I've always admired PRS guitars for their design and this one is no exception. It may not be a "real" PRS but it still feels like a great guitar. The weight is medium and it feels solid and robust. The shape feels like every other Custom 22 that I've tried, both in how the body sits and how the neck feels. The hardware functions all as it should and the upper fret access is great as always on PRS guitars. The one caveat I have with PRS' design as of late is their slightly blocky neck heel on the set neck models that does impede fret access to a small degree, but it's still nowhere near as obtrusive as a Gibson Les Paul or other similar design.

Getting a good tone out of this guitar is surprisingly easy. Despite being a $600 guitar, the stock pickups are remarkably good. They remind me of old school PAFs but with a bit more grind and attitude to them overall. They clean up very well with the volume knob, and the guitar covers everything from blues to shred with ease as far as tones go.

SOUNDS

I've tried this guitar primarily through a rig based around a Line 6 POD 2.0, as well as a rig based around a Peavey 1x15 Delta Blues and various pedals. For being what it is, I was quite impressed with the tones produced by the guitar using either rig. The cleans varied from bright and jangly to sweet and warm. The guitar particularly excelled at a nice sweet blues tone using the Delta Blues and a Drivetrain to push it into perfect breakup. As I moved into the higher gain settings I noted how clear and punchy the pickups remained. They have a very "brown" quality a-la EVH and PAFs that I really look for in a guitar pickup. I am not surprised by this, as PRS pickups have always impressed me in the past, but to have their import sound almost on the same level as a $3,000 USA model... THAT is cool. The drive tones were great for everything from classic 70s and 80s rock to modern day shred and fusion. I don't really play much metal and I don't think these pickups would really do it justice as they're more of a low output and vintage voiced pickup set with a lot of sag, whereas an ideal metal pickup produces a tight and unforgiving tone with gobs of output. That all being said, for the styles of music that I play, from jazz to rock to shred, this guitar excelled.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I feel that the PRS SE line of guitars is really a great step in the right direction for the company. Many players aren't in a position to get one of the admittedly expensive USA models, and this guitar really offers that same high quality feel and great tone, but at a fraction of the cost. Definitely worth checking out for sure!

Prs made in korea
22 frets, 2 humbuckers prs,
on mine There is no vibrato as in the photo but a fixed bridge like on the picture of the same model cherry sunburst
1 volume, one tone knob a three-position
a rather thick neck a little over a Les Paul commme
Mahogany body with flamed maple top, mahogany neck and rosewood key

UTILIZATION

The handle is very nice, the eppaisseur reassuring.
l Access to Acute is correct for a set neck but c is not as simple as on a handle screwed Ibanez style but it is not a problem.
rather light for the mahogany.

SOUNDS

I play on a Marshall MG 50 with a Zoom multi effect gu.1u
beautiful sound pallete, the I not know what to say because it's huge in the neck position for distortion and bright in the clear, the bridge position and completely different but nevertheless remains in the same Espitas, always brilliant and distortion clear
preferred to keep my position as the intermediate position c is a real mix of quality of both micro

OVERALL OPINION

I've had the past but I had tried the many times in store.
I love because the money is RAPORT exeptionnel, the level of the finish is just as much, the micro's great for the price
I do it again this time chose ten s it was necessary

Ennoncées features already.
22 round box type stick-shaped C patent

UTILIZATION

- The handle is comfortable to the touch, glide well but is big and uncomfortable for small hands that boudinnées ... like me!
- A bit heavy for my taste.
- And the sound ... the sore subject ... I found its just wrong, see below.

SOUNDS

I played on this guitar so fleeting in a sale to buy a guitar, I played that day (long) on ​​Telecaster Custom, Parker P44, PRS SE, Parker 38, Blade DD-2R ...
the blade has crushed all the others and I am left with.
I did my testing on that day a Genz Benz El Diablo 100C (http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=1404&sid=416&cid=91)
During the test of the PRS, I found it sluggish, not biting, screaming and draft.
I tried blues and pop rock ... it's over I tried, I do not do it again!
I put 2 / 10 because it replaces a fuzz just ugly!

OVERALL OPINION

The value is catastrophic, and based solely on looks and a name written on the head of the handle, PRS!

So if you dream of having a PRS, put money aside and avoid the economic series. (actually Student Study)