PRS custom SE

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blackba

blackba

Well-known member
So my old bandmate has turned into a big PRS fan. I have never played one. The few PRS owners I know swear by them and won't let me play them, its almost spinal tap. 'Don't even look at it' :lol: :LOL:

Anyway, so my old bandmate picked up a PRS SE custom 24 (is the one in the middle in the picture) and he says that it is very close in sound and feel to his American PRS [assuming custom 24] (red one in the picture). So is the SE custom 24 worth checking out (considering I have to drive at least an hour to check one out at a store)? http://www.samash.com/p/Paul%20Reed%20S ... MgodjyAAGA

I am generally a strat player. I have a couple les pauls and like them, but I feel I play my best on a strat. I have always liked the looks of PRS guitars, but something has always kept me away, not sure why. I don't really need another guitar either.

IMAG2246_zpsb772eaa5.jpg
 
i have 2 PRS SE guitars a soapbar and an old 'standard' which is sadly discontinued, a great range and bang for the buck imo ,
i can only think that the 24 frets might be an issue, try before you buy for sure, i personally love the 10"radius and 25" scale length
 
These are definitely worth checking out. Planning to pick one up as a general workhorse guitar. The 2012 model added a little bit of a carve on the top (the old ones were flat) and a push-pull coil tap. They play really great for a $700 guitar. I wouldn't replace a real Custom 24 with it, but I think they're awesome.
 
You HAVE TO jive with the neck (IMHO) or it's a no-go on any PRS. I am probably the biggest PRS-hater around. I have a Semi-hollow SE that has the wide-thin neck. Guitar SOUNDS magical. I mean really stellar. Plays like a badly-shaved brick. I just can't get along with the neck profile and the string spacing which seems completely different from every other guitar I've ever played. Strings are farther apart.

Try it, but don't get your hopes up. Either AMS or MF has the CU24 SE for like $554 right now if you wanted the 45-day trial. Nice looking, bird inlays, etc.
 
I've owned three PRS SE guitars, and still have two of them. Had an older Tremonti, but the body felt a bit too thin for my taste, but have recently picked up an SE245, which I LOVE. Also have a 2010 Cu24, which is main workhorse. I'm not a fan of finished/painted necks, so I may do a scotchbrite treatment to them (fantastic results on my tester Agile guitar), but other than that they are great guitars, could possibly be some of the best in that price range.

The carve on the 2012 SEs are probably the same they have used on the Singlecuts and its variants. Very slight, but noticeable. Makes it a little more comfy for the forearm.

The tremolo should be set up perfectly from the factory if you plan on staying in that tuning and string gauge. If you plan on dropping a bit and using something heavier, you'll have to adjust it slightly, but shouldn't be much. There are 6 knife edge screws (instead of usually 2 like on a Floyd unit) for the tremolo so its real easy to ruin them if you aren't precise and careful with your adjustments.

I really dig the SE line because they are inexpensive enough to grab my attention, and right out of the box they don't [i[need[/i] any upgrades. If you're planning on using them live, I would definitely suggest the mandatory upgrades such as strap locks, locking tuners, and possibly a new nut (not that hard to do, upgraded both my SEs with a Tusq XL).

PRSshoot015.jpg
 
I played an SE the other day that had a single P90 in the bridge, it was amazing to be what it was
 
Sorry--it was in a GC flyer. PRS Custom 24 SE, Vintage Bass Neck pickup and HFS bridge pickup, rosewood board, bird inlays, carved flame maple top over mahogany body, push/pull tone w/3-way switch and vintage trem. $536.99.

CM4WB-LB

Cheers,
 
If its a 3-way switch its pre-2012, which is a non-beveled top but same as the other Cu24 models. Still a GREAT guitar, especially for that price. Looks like a closeout on the 2011 models - great way to save some coin on new gear ;)
 
I've got one of these and they are a great bang for the buck as already stated. Has great tone even with the stock pickups. Neck plays like butter, only complaint is the neck is too thin, a wide thin profile...pretty darn thin. I bought it when I was playing thinner necks and even then it was on the verge of being too thin, but bought it on impulse cause it sounded so good and the neck and fretwork were killer for the price point. Stays in tune great and was setup perfect from the factory with very low action. Have seen moved on to fatter necks and this just sits :cry:
 
Every time I pick up one of the newer SE's that they have been putting out the last few year I'm kinda
shocked at how nice they are for the price point. I've owned a bunch of Maryland made PRS over the years and these new SE's could give a few of them a run for the money.

A few weeks ago while on vacation I stopped in a Guitar Center and played a SE245 that was just a awesome guitar all the way around, came real close to picking it up.

Does anyone know if they have changed the pickups that come in the SE's, they seem way better than what use to come in them to my old wore out ears.

All in all I think they are great bang for the buck guitars, way better than the cheap stuff when I first started playing!
 
I'm a pretty big PRS fanboi, but even I don't like the wide/thin necks. But you can get most of the SE line with wide/fat necks that are a dream to play.
 
i've been wondering about the SE series too....something in me says though, if im going to get a PRS, find the right PRS and pay the extra money for a mid or early 90's one that i like, that feels like it was made for me.

the other part of mye says i could probably get used to an SE, but i'd always want a real PRS.
 
yeti":2e6eqr6u said:
i've been wondering about the SE series too....something in me says though, if im going to get a PRS, find the right PRS and pay the extra money for a mid or early 90's one that i like, that feels like it was made for me.

the other part of mye says i could probably get used to an SE, but i'd always want a real PRS.
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It's just my opinion, but after owning more than 50 PRS guitars (and playing hundreds more), I can confidently say that they are right now making the best guitars they ever have. There's no need to look to a pre-'94 model to get the best they make.

For a while I was gigging at Private Stock alongside an SE. I'm not saying the SE is PS quality, but this SE can definitely hang.

My SE Singlecut Trem (with locking tuners, new nut, and Anderson pickups):

6811128738_6694396523_z.jpg
 
I've heard the Torero SE is nice as well and EMG-equipped, but now you're pushing $1K.
 
racerevlon":2xdds4s2 said:
I've heard the Torero SE is nice as well and EMG-equipped, but now you're pushing $1K.
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I tried one of these as well the day I picked up my SE double cut and my SE blew the more expensive Torero away in both tone and playability. Was not even close imho, not sure why...maybe a dud, idk. my SE has some mojo for sure. Don't think it was the EMG's either as I'm a fan of some of the EMG's the 85 in particular. Don't remember what set were in the Torero.
 
squank":1rfioygf said:
yeti":1rfioygf said:
i've been wondering about the SE series too....something in me says though, if im going to get a PRS, find the right PRS and pay the extra money for a mid or early 90's one that i like, that feels like it was made for me.

the other part of mye says i could probably get used to an SE, but i'd always want a real PRS.
Click to expand...
It's just my opinion, but after owning more than 50 PRS guitars (and playing hundreds more), I can confidently say that they are right now making the best guitars they ever have. There's no need to look to a pre-'94 model to get the best they make.

For a while I was gigging at Private Stock alongside an SE. I'm not saying the SE is PS quality, but this SE can definitely hang.

My SE Singlecut Trem (with locking tuners, new nut, and Anderson pickups):

6811128738_6694396523_z.jpg
Click to expand...
wow!

whats the tag on one of those, without upgrades you did?
 
yeti":3manfyd0 said:
wow!

whats the tag on one of those, without upgrades you did?
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I picked this one up from Elderly brand new about 2 years ago for around $500.
 
I picked up one of these a couple of weeks ago...
front_lg.jpg

The Paul Allender SE in Scarlet Red.

My feelings?

Good and bad. First off, I think it's actually a pretty nice guitar, but the EMG's are not the right choice for this guitar...They make it sound bright and thin. It's a strange neck, as I also have a Tremonti, and it is a very Fat sounding Dark guitar. Very thick. The SE I have has a totally different tone and feel to it.
Not sure I'll keep it yet, but I've decided to give it a chance, which is more than I do to some of the guitars I don't typically immediately get with.
Might have something to do with those Bats....
:lol: :LOL:
 
mindseye":1fsxuuh9 said:
Does anyone know if they have changed the pickups that come in the SE's, they seem way better than what use to come in them to my old wore out ears.
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I think they redesigned some pickups for some of the models, the 245 for example, and they have SE version of the HFS treble and bass for the custom models

their soapbars sound great imo as well, i've got an old 2005 soapbar PRS SE, sounds great,

the neck pickup on the SE standard is very nice as well, the only upgrades i've done are the tuners (to grovers, something like 40 bucks) and changed out the bridge humbucker in one of them
 
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