Best Prs Electric Guitar (2024 Update)

Yes, the tonal range is great, especially the piezo pickup, nicely playable and overall looks and finish seem perfect. But, with nicely contoured access to the high notes let down by the overly large neck heal which starts a fret or two earlier than my other electric guitars. Another annoyance is the very cheap knobs which don't sit straight on the pots. I have a guitar costing a tenth of the price with better fitting knobs. The battery compartment is a bad joke of a design, as the battery holder comes out with the wires attached, you then have to prise up the battery from its contacts and the lever it out for replacement. Overall these are minor annoyances on what is a great guitar but, at this price I expected better. Oh yes, it came with a hard case. Which doesn't fit properly and with no tags or brand markings so who knows what it was made for. It did come with two loose bits of foam, one which was floating around unsure of its purpose.Kevin L.

PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo — I've owned and played this guitar for about three months now. Bottom line: I'm very happy with it–and would recommend it–in spite of a couple issues. There are dozens and dozens of videos that go into detail about the appearance, fit, and finish of this guitar so I won't bother with all that except to confirm that it is very well made overall. The magnetic pickups sound fantastic, period. The piezo pickup was putting out FAR too hot of a signal, distorting at low guitar volume, but once I learned how to adjust the trim pot for it (thanks to the PRS guitar forum website), that problem was solved and now it sounds good. It's a tad bright in my opinion but that's easily fixed with the tone knob on any amp or with an EQ pedal. The battery compartment opens easily enough, but getting the 9V battery out of it without breaking the plastic frame is a challenge. Fortunately, the battery isn't used unless you plug a cable into the PIEZO/MAG jack. The 3-way selector is garbage and I was experiencing crackling and signal drop right out of the box. HOWEVER, this is a known issue and several reviewer videos mention it so I knew what to expect. My soldering skills are only beginner-level (and I've never worked on a hollowbody before) so I paid to have a pro replace the switch for me. MF has offered to credit me the amount of the repair once I send them the receipt, so that's good. The Guitar Case — This shipped with a hard case, which I'm not happy with. When the guitar is properly seated and the lid is properly closed and latched, there is a quarter-inch gap around the bottom (see pics). That's not good. There are several (expensive) case options that are touted as "PRS and PRS-style" cases but they WILL NOT FIT this particular guitar because the lower bout is 14" wide (at least an inch wider than other PRS models). Also, it's about an inch thicker (front to back) than a Jazzmaster so a Jaguar/Jazz case won't work either.RiserGrease

I received the Black Gold Burst version about a week ago. It's a BEAUTIFUL guitar. The pictures don't do it justice. The f-holes really add to the appearance. Fender ALSO makes a hollowbody guitar, but they went the round sound hole direction, which, IMHO, is hokey looking. The sound is INCREDIBLE! I have 4 other electric guitars, including a Fender American Standard Strat, Gibson Les Paul, Gibson SG and an Ibanez Prestige- They are ALL wonderful guitars, and each has its own personality, in how they play AND how they sound. THIS guitar has a sound that TRANSCENDS ALL of my other guitars. There are a number of videos on YouTube. BUT, as with the appearance, they simply DO NOT do it justice. The humbucker pickups ALONE produce a sound that is CLEAR and RESONANT. Adding the sound from the piezo pickup sends it over the top! ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS. I was a little reluctant to purchase a guitar made in China. However, the CONSTRUCTION and FINISH are PERFECT! PLUS, the cost is WAAAY less than the equivalent US-made version. I hope I've given you the idea that this is a SPECIAL guitar, BECAUSE IT IS!Kevin

I've always wanted a PRS and now I have one it was worth the wait. The range of tones, the sensitivity of the controls, the playability are all top notch. Not to mention it looks stunning. Out of the box it was all nicely set up, low action and very very playable. I've switched from the stock 9s to 10s and it sounds perfect. I've never been one for coil taps…all the others I have stay firmly in humbucker territory but there's something about these which really work for me – putting one in coil tap and then switching to the middle position is a tone I've not had on any other guitar and one I shall be using a lot. Top work, PRS…top work…Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is the first prs I’ve ever owned and I have to say if this is the quality prs puts out for their SE line, I can only imagine how good the core models are! I mostly play heavier stuff (djent, deathcore, death metal, etc.) and with the right eq settings these pickups do just fine. But they really shine with lower gain and crunch scenarios. I love playing jazz or doing some chicken pickin with the multiple sounds you can get out of the wiring setup. Superrrr versatile, very well built for an Indo guitar. My only complaint is the glossy neck, since I mostly play leads. But that can be solved fairly easily. It’s an easy guitar to play and it plays like butter. Stays in good tune even with whammy abuse. No sharp fret ends, fret buzz, high action, bad intonation etc. played great out of the box with a tuning. Now the only thing I would “upgrade” on this guitar are the tuners to locking tuners. Other than that for it’s price point it’s amazing!Sixstringfury

If you are looking for a guitar that can be used on all occasions, if you are undecided and do not know which guitar to choose, if you do not know which way to go, whether a strat, super strat or a Les Paul. Well, here you have the indicated guitar. I did not know what to choose, I tried many guitars, at the guitar center in Lynnwood WA, they were patient with me when I arrived and tried several guitars repeatedly, they are very kind. But in the end I was looking for a guitar that would be useful for everything, I wanted quality, comfort, good sound and versatility. Well I found it, after a long search, I called the call center and Sarah Hance attended me, she is the best salesperson, she is not only a saleswoman, she is the best advisor, she takes the time to explain, she is a professional, she always has a solution at hand, there is simply no better advisor than her, this girl should be given an award for the enormous work she does, Guitar Center should have more people like Sarah; After Sarah helped me, she sent the guitar to my doorstep. the guitar came in good condition, without a single scratch, it shone a lot, I tried it and fell in love with it, it can touch the sky with sweet notes but it can also put pure evil in notes with this guitar, it can do whatever you want, its neck very comfortable, its excellent frets, none sharp, unique details. Do not miss the opportunity to take one of these and I assure you that you will not regret itRicardo

I've always wanted a PRS and now I have one it was worth the wait. The range of tones, the sensitivity of the controls, the playability are all top notch. Not to mention it looks stunning. Out of the box it was all nicely set up, low action and very very playable. I've switched from the stock 9s to 10s and it sounds perfect. I've never been one for coil taps…all the others I have stay firmly in humbucker territory but there's something about these which really work for me – putting one in coil tap and then switching to the middle position is a tone I've not had on any other guitar and one I shall be using a lot. Top work, PRS…top work…Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is the first prs I’ve ever owned and I have to say if this is the quality prs puts out for their SE line, I can only imagine how good the core models are! I mostly play heavier stuff (djent, deathcore, death metal, etc.) and with the right eq settings these pickups do just fine. But they really shine with lower gain and crunch scenarios. I love playing jazz or doing some chicken pickin with the multiple sounds you can get out of the wiring setup. Superrrr versatile, very well built for an Indo guitar. My only complaint is the glossy neck, since I mostly play leads. But that can be solved fairly easily. It’s an easy guitar to play and it plays like butter. Stays in good tune even with whammy abuse. No sharp fret ends, fret buzz, high action, bad intonation etc. played great out of the box with a tuning. Now the only thing I would “upgrade” on this guitar are the tuners to locking tuners. Other than that for it’s price point it’s amazing!Sixstringfury

If you are looking for a guitar that can be used on all occasions, if you are undecided and do not know which guitar to choose, if you do not know which way to go, whether a strat, super strat or a Les Paul. Well, here you have the indicated guitar. I did not know what to choose, I tried many guitars, at the guitar center in Lynnwood WA, they were patient with me when I arrived and tried several guitars repeatedly, they are very kind. But in the end I was looking for a guitar that would be useful for everything, I wanted quality, comfort, good sound and versatility. Well I found it, after a long search, I called the call center and Sarah Hance attended me, she is the best salesperson, she is not only a saleswoman, she is the best advisor, she takes the time to explain, she is a professional, she always has a solution at hand, there is simply no better advisor than her, this girl should be given an award for the enormous work she does, Guitar Center should have more people like Sarah; After Sarah helped me, she sent the guitar to my doorstep. the guitar came in good condition, without a single scratch, it shone a lot, I tried it and fell in love with it, it can touch the sky with sweet notes but it can also put pure evil in notes with this guitar, it can do whatever you want, its neck very comfortable, its excellent frets, none sharp, unique details. Do not miss the opportunity to take one of these and I assure you that you will not regret itRicardo

This is a beautiful guitar and if it were 1000$ it would be well worth it. For 2300$ though I would like to have some inlays that don't look like cheap plastic and not have fret buzz. The buzz could be fixed with a set up but for 2300$ I feel like it should come set up. On the back the slots for the cover plates are not routed so they just sit on top. Not a deal breaker but this does make it look a little incomplete. Overall it sounds great minus the fret buzz. I'd say no better than a se model and not worth the extra money unless you just want a bolt on neck. I prefer bolt on or through necks which is why I bought the ce but I plan to return it and either get an ernie ball music man or an American strat.Not satisfied with AMS quality c

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

This is a beautiful guitar and if it were 1000$ it would be well worth it. For 2300$ though I would like to have some inlays that don't look like cheap plastic and not have fret buzz. The buzz could be fixed with a set up but for 2300$ I feel like it should come set up. On the back the slots for the cover plates are not routed so they just sit on top. Not a deal breaker but this does make it look a little incomplete. Overall it sounds great minus the fret buzz. I'd say no better than a se model and not worth the extra money unless you just want a bolt on neck. I prefer bolt on or through necks which is why I bought the ce but I plan to return it and either get an ernie ball music man or an American strat.Not satisfied with AMS quality c

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

I've always wanted a PRS and now I have one it was worth the wait. The range of tones, the sensitivity of the controls, the playability are all top notch. Not to mention it looks stunning. Out of the box it was all nicely set up, low action and very very playable. I've switched from the stock 9s to 10s and it sounds perfect. I've never been one for coil taps…all the others I have stay firmly in humbucker territory but there's something about these which really work for me – putting one in coil tap and then switching to the middle position is a tone I've not had on any other guitar and one I shall be using a lot. Top work, PRS…top work…Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is the first prs I’ve ever owned and I have to say if this is the quality prs puts out for their SE line, I can only imagine how good the core models are! I mostly play heavier stuff (djent, deathcore, death metal, etc.) and with the right eq settings these pickups do just fine. But they really shine with lower gain and crunch scenarios. I love playing jazz or doing some chicken pickin with the multiple sounds you can get out of the wiring setup. Superrrr versatile, very well built for an Indo guitar. My only complaint is the glossy neck, since I mostly play leads. But that can be solved fairly easily. It’s an easy guitar to play and it plays like butter. Stays in good tune even with whammy abuse. No sharp fret ends, fret buzz, high action, bad intonation etc. played great out of the box with a tuning. Now the only thing I would “upgrade” on this guitar are the tuners to locking tuners. Other than that for it’s price point it’s amazing!Sixstringfury

If you are looking for a guitar that can be used on all occasions, if you are undecided and do not know which guitar to choose, if you do not know which way to go, whether a strat, super strat or a Les Paul. Well, here you have the indicated guitar. I did not know what to choose, I tried many guitars, at the guitar center in Lynnwood WA, they were patient with me when I arrived and tried several guitars repeatedly, they are very kind. But in the end I was looking for a guitar that would be useful for everything, I wanted quality, comfort, good sound and versatility. Well I found it, after a long search, I called the call center and Sarah Hance attended me, she is the best salesperson, she is not only a saleswoman, she is the best advisor, she takes the time to explain, she is a professional, she always has a solution at hand, there is simply no better advisor than her, this girl should be given an award for the enormous work she does, Guitar Center should have more people like Sarah; After Sarah helped me, she sent the guitar to my doorstep. the guitar came in good condition, without a single scratch, it shone a lot, I tried it and fell in love with it, it can touch the sky with sweet notes but it can also put pure evil in notes with this guitar, it can do whatever you want, its neck very comfortable, its excellent frets, none sharp, unique details. Do not miss the opportunity to take one of these and I assure you that you will not regret itRicardo

I've always wanted a PRS and now I have one it was worth the wait. The range of tones, the sensitivity of the controls, the playability are all top notch. Not to mention it looks stunning. Out of the box it was all nicely set up, low action and very very playable. I've switched from the stock 9s to 10s and it sounds perfect. I've never been one for coil taps…all the others I have stay firmly in humbucker territory but there's something about these which really work for me – putting one in coil tap and then switching to the middle position is a tone I've not had on any other guitar and one I shall be using a lot. Top work, PRS…top work…Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This is the first prs I’ve ever owned and I have to say if this is the quality prs puts out for their SE line, I can only imagine how good the core models are! I mostly play heavier stuff (djent, deathcore, death metal, etc.) and with the right eq settings these pickups do just fine. But they really shine with lower gain and crunch scenarios. I love playing jazz or doing some chicken pickin with the multiple sounds you can get out of the wiring setup. Superrrr versatile, very well built for an Indo guitar. My only complaint is the glossy neck, since I mostly play leads. But that can be solved fairly easily. It’s an easy guitar to play and it plays like butter. Stays in good tune even with whammy abuse. No sharp fret ends, fret buzz, high action, bad intonation etc. played great out of the box with a tuning. Now the only thing I would “upgrade” on this guitar are the tuners to locking tuners. Other than that for it’s price point it’s amazing!Sixstringfury

If you are looking for a guitar that can be used on all occasions, if you are undecided and do not know which guitar to choose, if you do not know which way to go, whether a strat, super strat or a Les Paul. Well, here you have the indicated guitar. I did not know what to choose, I tried many guitars, at the guitar center in Lynnwood WA, they were patient with me when I arrived and tried several guitars repeatedly, they are very kind. But in the end I was looking for a guitar that would be useful for everything, I wanted quality, comfort, good sound and versatility. Well I found it, after a long search, I called the call center and Sarah Hance attended me, she is the best salesperson, she is not only a saleswoman, she is the best advisor, she takes the time to explain, she is a professional, she always has a solution at hand, there is simply no better advisor than her, this girl should be given an award for the enormous work she does, Guitar Center should have more people like Sarah; After Sarah helped me, she sent the guitar to my doorstep. the guitar came in good condition, without a single scratch, it shone a lot, I tried it and fell in love with it, it can touch the sky with sweet notes but it can also put pure evil in notes with this guitar, it can do whatever you want, its neck very comfortable, its excellent frets, none sharp, unique details. Do not miss the opportunity to take one of these and I assure you that you will not regret itRicardo

This is a beautiful guitar and if it were 1000$ it would be well worth it. For 2300$ though I would like to have some inlays that don't look like cheap plastic and not have fret buzz. The buzz could be fixed with a set up but for 2300$ I feel like it should come set up. On the back the slots for the cover plates are not routed so they just sit on top. Not a deal breaker but this does make it look a little incomplete. Overall it sounds great minus the fret buzz. I'd say no better than a se model and not worth the extra money unless you just want a bolt on neck. I prefer bolt on or through necks which is why I bought the ce but I plan to return it and either get an ernie ball music man or an American strat.Not satisfied with AMS quality c

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

This is a beautiful guitar and if it were 1000$ it would be well worth it. For 2300$ though I would like to have some inlays that don't look like cheap plastic and not have fret buzz. The buzz could be fixed with a set up but for 2300$ I feel like it should come set up. On the back the slots for the cover plates are not routed so they just sit on top. Not a deal breaker but this does make it look a little incomplete. Overall it sounds great minus the fret buzz. I'd say no better than a se model and not worth the extra money unless you just want a bolt on neck. I prefer bolt on or through necks which is why I bought the ce but I plan to return it and either get an ernie ball music man or an American strat.Not satisfied with AMS quality c

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

So I hesitated on buying this Guitar because I just didnt care for the finish. Well It looks nothing like the pictures. Beautiful 3D flames in the top.Am Very pleased. So that brings me to what I expected from a PRS and didnt get, a playable set up. I know its an SE but the action shouldnt be 6mm at the 22nd fret. How QC at the factory allowed it to leave puzzles me. The pick ups are good for Drop C but even at B standard get really muddy on the lower strings. I put in a Nazgoul, Sentient set and these in another standard guitar. They sound really nice in standard E to drop C. IMOTwayne72

I have used this guitar with my band, live and in rehearsals… Plays fantastically once I set it up to my desired specs (Std D tuning, 10-52 strings, FU Tone brass block), but these PRS stock pickups have no grunt and snarl to them, so I plan to add an SD Black Winter set like in my EC Black Metal FR (dropped C). I have reverted back to using my Kramer Assault Plus which came loaded with the SD Alternative 8 set. Will likely use Custom 24 as primary D guitar again after replacing pickups. For this pickup issue alone, I'm giving it 3 stars, otherwise, it would be 5, as spending over 200 bucks more is a bit off putting after spending over $1100 for this plus a hard shell case for an import.Steve

Absolutely love this guitar! As with all SE Custom 24 models, the feel and balance on the strap and also on the knee are prerfect. The action is fast and smooth, and the whole guitar just oozes quality. The roasted maple board is a really nice variation from the mahogany or ebony boards, which are usually found on Custom 24 models. This particular guitar has the most amazing and deepest "3-D" effect quilted maple veneer that I've ever seen on a SE series model. I believe that PRS would probably rate this as a 4A (AAAA). The sound is as good as you'll get from stock pups in a sub- 1000 guitar and the way that PRS wire the coil tap gives a convincing single-coil tone. What upgrades would make this even better? Probably locking tuners, and maybe a satin neck. After- market pickups, if you want to change the tone.kentishkeith

My guitar choices over the years have been pretty "safe" ones – I tend to stay in the Strat/Les Paul lane for the most part. However, I felt like I had those sufficiently covered and wanted to try something new. I've played a few Teles, but didn't really care for the slab of wood aesthetic. Wanted to try a hollowbody, but couldn't really afford a 335. Whenever I've played a PRS they felt and sounded good, but I already had a Les Paul, and they just felt a bit too similar to warrant the cost. Enter the Vela S2 Semi-hollow. I'm really not sure what it compares to… maybe a tele thinline? It's kind of it's own beast – which is a good thing. First, it looks great – it's not your typical AAA quilted maple top PRS – mine came in frost blue metallic finish, which grabs your attention. White pickguard, rosewood fingerboard, chrome/brass hardware and painted headstock that matches the body. The body itself is nicely contoured – as cliche as it might sound, it's a good "modern vintage" design. Very comfortable, well balanced, and very light – about 6 pounds, despite the mahogany body. Sound wise, it covers a lot of bases. It's not quite as bright as the solidbody Vela, but still has lots of high end, particularly if you pick near the bridge. Single coil pickup in the neck, and a humbucker in the bridge that can be split via the push/pull tone knob. The bridge pickup is nice and meaty, without being too hotly wound. The middle selector position with the humbucker split is my favorite for rhythm work – nice and chimey without being too harsh. Very low action – almost a bit too low for my liking out of the box, but plays very smoothly. Fast slim neck, without falling into flat shredder territory. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to gig with this one yet due to us all being in lockdown, but I can't wait to try it out – it's a keeper for sure.Lane Denson

I've played guitar for 56 years and I have to confess that I'm not the player who hangs on to any guitar forever. I still have my first guitar, but I even sold it as a kid, but got it back later. Early in 2020 I decided to sell all my electric gear to buy the best acoustic I've ever owned, because as this stage in life – that is what I perform with. Toward the end of this summer I was getting close to the last payment on the acoustic and felt a tug to get another electric, but not one that would break the bank. Since 2004 my electric guitars were typically PRS core models (some 10 tops) or Don Grosh custom models (and Grosh guitars will always be my all time favorite). At this time I couldn't afford the Grosh I wanted, and though I could have pulled off a more high end PRS, I knew that I've always felt that the gorgeous flame tops were too flashy for me. The PRS S2 Standard 22 offered the pickup combo I wanted and the coil tap option. I wanted a trem and I wanted a simple finish. On top of that "made in America" was a must. Having enjoyed PRS necks and quality build, the S2 was a good sound choice for a guitar I could pay off in a few months. The pickups can sing, and I can dial in many tone options. I'll admit that I hoped the split coil feature would be bolder, but I'll be using the full humbucker mode 99% of the time. The pickups can rock, do jazz, country-fry your licks and even though others say they won't – I've dialed in some serious metal. Playing around the other day with a new pre-amp, I found myself with that amazing feedback you hear on many Larry Carlton tunes. I also need to mention that the trem and locking tuners wrok great and you won't find this combo on many USA guitars in this price range. Sustain, resonance, comfort, great frets and a ba-zillion other things that make this a wonderful guitar. These compliments come from a player who has owned many guitars now selling for $3500 to $4800 dollars.Jon

Been playing for 20 years and I've had my fair share of instruments. This guitar is a cut above many in its price point. USA built, solid construction and rings like a bell. No it's not a core model that looks fancy but, you get all the goods of a PRS. Pickups in this are not really suited for metal out of the box but, you can go old school and boost it and get that saturated goodness. But if your thing is rock, hard rock, blues, country etc this guitar will be awesome in your arsenal. I was scared that the neck would be thin but when I opened the bag and grabbed the guitar, I was greeted with a full neck that fits like glove in my hand. Thin necks aren't my thing and never have been. However says you need a slim neck to play fast is wrong it only makes it a bit easier for some hand types. Bottom line, great guitar, great sound and amazing build quality. Grab one!Brian B

So this is my first PRS and I took a gamble on getting an import SE model. Normally I prefer US made Gibsons and have got used to the fit and finish on those. So with that said that should put you into my mindset. So the finish is spectacular no blemishes, runs, or bubbles. So if you’re looking for a wall hangar yes! Now into the playability, the frets are finished and smoothed out perfectly. The fretboard is channel bound and rolled, so it feels really good. The tuners feel like real tuners, meaning not wiggly and they all have consistent turn pressure (not too loose, not too tight) hopefully they’ll stay that way, but since they are to standard PRS specs, easy replacement with an upgraded tuner if need be. The bridge is solid with brass saddles, feels great against the palm with no sharp edges. Wood under transparent finish has a little bit of movement and a nice grain. Electronics leave something to be desired. The push pull tone pot rolls like a skateboard wheel while the volume has a nice resistance with consistent roll. The selector switch is middle of the road, not great, but not “I have to replace this now”. However with electronics easily swappable this is not a negative mark at this price point. So to summarize everything wood that can’t be fixed doesn’t need to be, electronics are going to get you down the road but are candidates for full upgrade. For $699 this is a solid guitar and I have no regrets. It will stay in my rack.Clay

I have owned many many guitars and am a Guitar Tech and Professional Musician by trade. So a well built, reliable, extremely versatile, easy to play guitar is essential! This guitar fits that bill and the some! Outstanding value for an American made guitar! This guitar is what I love: simple, solid build, can play literally everything, is very easy to play and setup, and sounds ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! I literally play every genre: Metal, Classic Rock, Country, R&B, Worship, Funk, Blues, Jazz, Pop, etc. This guitar handles all those flawlessly! I love how the pickups are very full, chunky, and warm sounding, but also have the extreme clarity and dynamics that I love. Definitely worth the money for American made! This is my first PRS and it won't be my last.Alex

I've played guitar for 56 years and I have to confess that I'm not the player who hangs on to any guitar forever. I still have my first guitar, but I even sold it as a kid, but got it back later. Early in 2020 I decided to sell all my electric gear to buy the best acoustic I've ever owned, because as this stage in life – that is what I perform with. Toward the end of this summer I was getting close to the last payment on the acoustic and felt a tug to get another electric, but not one that would break the bank. Since 2004 my electric guitars were typically PRS core models (some 10 tops) or Don Grosh custom models (and Grosh guitars will always be my all time favorite). At this time I couldn't afford the Grosh I wanted, and though I could have pulled off a more high end PRS, I knew that I've always felt that the gorgeous flame tops were too flashy for me. The PRS S2 Standard 22 offered the pickup combo I wanted and the coil tap option. I wanted a trem and I wanted a simple finish. On top of that "made in America" was a must. Having enjoyed PRS necks and quality build, the S2 was a good sound choice for a guitar I could pay off in a few months. The pickups can sing, and I can dial in many tone options. I'll admit that I hoped the split coil feature would be bolder, but I'll be using the full humbucker mode 99% of the time. The pickups can rock, do jazz, country-fry your licks and even though others say they won't – I've dialed in some serious metal. Playing around the other day with a new pre-amp, I found myself with that amazing feedback you hear on many Larry Carlton tunes. I also need to mention that the trem and locking tuners wrok great and you won't find this combo on many USA guitars in this price range. Sustain, resonance, comfort, great frets and a ba-zillion other things that make this a wonderful guitar. These compliments come from a player who has owned many guitars now selling for $3500 to $4800 dollars.Jon

This is a beautiful guitar and if it were 1000$ it would be well worth it. For 2300$ though I would like to have some inlays that don't look like cheap plastic and not have fret buzz. The buzz could be fixed with a set up but for 2300$ I feel like it should come set up. On the back the slots for the cover plates are not routed so they just sit on top. Not a deal breaker but this does make it look a little incomplete. Overall it sounds great minus the fret buzz. I'd say no better than a se model and not worth the extra money unless you just want a bolt on neck. I prefer bolt on or through necks which is why I bought the ce but I plan to return it and either get an ernie ball music man or an American strat.Not satisfied with AMS quality c

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

PRS has been slowly improving this model over time and now, it's as close to perfect as you'll ever see for this price. The "wide thin" neck (10" radius, 1 11/16" at the nut) is very comfortable, the fretwork is immaculate (nothing sharp or sprouted), and although it's a gloss back, it's slick and fast (not sticky the way gloss can sometimes be). The 85/15 pickups are great: they can growl in humbucker mode or quack and sparkle in coil split mode. The coil split is a great feature and you'll actually use it, as it makes a big difference. The tone knob is responsive. The body is super light and very compact, and the ergonomics are great–both larger guys (I'm 6'2") and smaller ones seem to think it fits. And the trem system is much more comfortable and tuning-stable than any Fender six-screw system I've ever played: no sharp edges and it really does float and stay in tune (pop in arm, too). The only reasons NOT to buy this guitar are: you are a shredder who needs 24 frets or a compound-radius neck; you want 25.5" scale instead of the 25" that this has (the difference is noticeable only on the upper frets); you like a heavy guitar (this is light, at 7 pounds even), or you don't like PRS appearance. This is a fancy/pretty guitar, and it's hard to imagine giving it a relic look like an old strat. But really, looking like a strat is the only thing it can't do. It's now one of my two favorite guitars (the other is a self-built strat costing twice as much) and it so thoroughly occupied the niche that my Les Paul had, that I just sold the Les Paul. Sacrilege, I suppose, but the Les Paul felt like a thick rock (it was almost two pounds heavier) compared to this, and the tone was much less versatile than the PRS. Sad but true.Patrick

This semi-hollow PRS guitar is no different from others I've played. The quality is there in every category, right down the line. If I had to pick only one outstanding feature, it would be the in-house made 85/15 pickups. They produce the absolute best articulation of all frequencies. Every note can be heard evenly whether played clean or with distortion. Also, the natural sustain has few equals due to the materials and great construction standards of PRS.Indiana Bob

I'll admit, I don't play out much and haven't played this guitar out yet, but, the tones I get through my small boutique from these pick ups blow me away. It's easy to get great sounds from this one. I like where the volume and tone controls are located, I won't be hitting them while playing hard. As mentioned, the three way switch rattled, it seemed the hole that the hinge pin on the lever itself was too large. The switch functioned perfectly, but I replaced it myself. The fit and finish is otherwise outstanding! Fret work is great, Trem works flawlessly. The wide/fat neck shape matches my Singlecut Trem core model in shape and feel. It is nice that it came with a quality gig bag, many guitars at this price point do not. If you are looking to get started with PRS quality, this is a great place to start. If you are looking for a worthy addition to the collection, look no further, this one will not dissipointed!Wrigman

Love this guitar. I mainly play classical pieces, but decided I wanted to give electric a try for a change. This guitar is very well made, has an amazing sound and a great finish. It looks exactly as advertised and I really do like the bird fretboard. The product came very well packaged I would recommend this guitarChloe H.

This is by far the best single cut you are going to get for the price. Nice articulate pickups, even under serious gain, cool bridge setup that seems to really sustain well, and beautiful fretwork. The tuners are nice enough that I have no desire to replace them, and with the straight string pull at the headstock, the tuning stays put. You could easily put this guitar up against a "brand name" single cut twice the price and it would eat it for breakfast. Only potential downside I could see for some people – the neck is pretty thick and wide, and if you don't like a substantial neck, you probably won't like this guitar. If you have smaller hands, I would suggest going in store and playing one before pulling the trigger. Also, the wood patterns on the standard series is widely variable, from amazing almost flame-y, to no figure at all. Again, it'd be wise to see it in person before, but in any case it's still amazing that PRS can build these so well at this price point.Paul

Fantastic guitar right out of the box. Did restring it with heavier gauge because I tend to prefer lower tunings and things were getting floppy, but it's beautifully built and the pups sound great on pretty much everything. Very rich cleans and distorts wonderfully. For this price range you can't do much better. Great service from PMT too!David H.

Some people say prs just “ripped off a strat and put an ugly headstock on it” Dude fender could NEVER achieve this quality. Strats are awesome, and obviously inspired this instrument, but I’ve played 60’s and 70’s strats, and modern American strats in the silver sky price range. Not a single one has EVER had the response, the feel, the tone, or the magic that this guitar has. I loved the rosewood prs and was about to purchase one until they announced the maple fretboard. Had to wait about 6 months on preorder and it was more than worth every penny and every bit of waiting. The pickups have such a beautiful vintage feel. And it is warm, instead of “ice picky” like some strats can get some times. The tone knobs on this guitar are more responsive than any guitar I’ve ever played, and give all 5 pickup voicings multiple tonal shapes. The bridge system is comfortable, very well made. The guitar is light, comfortable, and can handle such a beautiful variety of genres and tones. Fretboard is like BUTTERRRRR when you bend notes. It’s addicting. And I love the aesthetic of the hollow birds. If you’re thinking about getting one just do it.JG

First off, I've been a bit of a Fender fanboy for a long time. Like many people, I have often scoffed at the idea of paying ultra-lux money for a copy of a strat. But this past weekend I went to my local GC to play the Fiore and, MCCarty and some CU24s, some more Fenders and even a couple of Les Pauls. After two hours in the room, I came home with an Orion Green SS. I just simply could not stop playing it. So comfortable to hold and play, once my hand adjusted to the neck shape. But the tone immediately grabs you as being full and round, bright enough, and not nearly as overly-harsh as my Am Pro2 can be. Build quality and finish was excellent, and this thing was so fresh that buffing compound is still coming to the surface after playing. Fantastic guitar that probably won't make me sell off my Fenders, but definitely inspires and excites me to play. So happy I finally got one.Jason

This is my second CE and my third PRS. I also own a Custom 22 core model from 2019 and I previously owned a late 90's CE. Upon first inspection I was disappointed by the newer CE changes. The previous CE models were very similar to the core models (IE: Arch top, hardware, electronics) only with a bolt on neck. The new CE model felt like it was lower cost with the slimmer body, SE hardware but still gave you the 85/15 set. However!! once you sit down with one you'll see they were going for a different player experience not a lower production cost. The Slimmer body means less weight. The core models are amazing but kind of uncomfortable to sit down with because of the body weight. The CE melds with your body. It is hands down the most comfortable PRS I have played. Now the sound does change a little between the two because of the lower mass but it is by no means bad. I am a Metal player by trade but when I plugged this into my Mesa Triple Rect. I found myself zoning out on blues riffs for hours. This guitar is a dream to play, buttery mids, tight lows and sweet highs. The neck just melts to your hands without any issues. I will certainly be holding on to this one for many, many, years.J

I bought this because I was in the market for a US guitar and I already had a US Strat. I was thinking about a Gibson Les Paul Classic and then PRS showed up on my radar. I did some research and decided to play both. I have an Epiphone Les Paul so I thought I would prefer the Gibson. I played this guitar first and the Les Paul just didn't feel right after that. I bought this one a couple weeks later. After having it for an extended period (12 hours) I started thinking about selling my Strat and buying a Silver Sky. This guitar just felt so good I didn't want anything else. The neck feel is fantastic. The tone options are amazing The color is sooooooo much more vibrant in person than in pictures It is sitting in the rack in the other room while I type this and I wish I was playing it right now. It was totally worth every penny and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a true quality instrument.Jay P

First off , this is the first real PRS that I have ever touched. I do own a 6 year old Indo SE so I figured if it was that amazing this USA model would have to be even better and I was correct. I pulled it out of the gig bag, (this is the only downfall of this guitar) and it looked amazing. I love the look of the open pores. It makes it look kind of vintage and worn but the finish is perfect. Tuned it up and it sounded great acoustically. I dropped the strings a little because they were a little high for my taste. No fret buzz at all. The pickups sound great and it stays in tune. I have no complaints. For 1k you can't go wrongVawn66

I want to start by saying I did not get it from GC. I got it from another site where they had a charcoal option. This is a review on the guitar and not the supplier. They say a good guitar isn't necessary how it looks. I also read a lot about "a PRS sounds somewhere between a Les Paul and a Strat." For some reason people hold these sounds as the "gold standard" for musical guitar tone. Now I don't know about that either. What I can tell you is that what makes this a good guitar is how inspiring it is and how creative it's making me play. I don't know how to describe it- maybe a more experience person can weigh in (I've been playing on and off for a few years) but I seem so much more creative in my playing when I'm jamming with this as compared to my Gibson SG standard or Fender Player. At the end of the day, you want a guitar that not only sounds great (which this absolutely does) but also feels great and inspires you to play out of your norm. It does not have as much rock power when distorted when compared to my SG, so if you're looking for a rock heavy guitar, I don't know if this is for you. But it sounds incredible clean (which is how I mostly play). My Player sounds great clean too, but I love the wider and thicker neck profile it has compared to my strat (I got big gorilla hands so I like a chunkier neck). I've only had this for 2 weeks but it's become my grab guitar.Robbie A

I was looking for an entry level guitar that was priced right and built well. First of all, how can you go wrong with this beautiful style. It is also very light and wont leave you with back pain after a couple hours of riffing. Tuning keys are solid without any dead spots and dont slip. The guitar stays in tune very well with only slight adjustment needed due to temperature changes. Pick up selector is smooth and not notchy. Havent used the whammy bar and have been playing with studio headphones, so sound is subjective, but as someone that has been playing several instruments for 30 years, I like to think I have a good ear. All in all a great purchase decision.oxouk

This is PRS's version of a vintage style Gibson Les Paul. John Mayer dubs it "the best new guitar I've played in years". I say it is the best guitar I've played. It is the ultimate Les Paul. My band was in awe of it's tone. I'm surprised by how noticeably better the tone is than my 2015 PRS Custom 22 Stoptail. I thought the CU22 was amazing, but the 594 blows it away. I've owned 3 Les Pauls: 1973 Custom, 1991 Standard, and 2017 Standard HP. The PRS 594 beats them all in tone, playability, tuning and comfort. The only thing PRS doesn't have is the cool looking Gibson headstock, but that design is why Gibson's dont stay in tune.Raz

First off, this guitar is just a work of art on its own. Surprising versatility as a hollow-body. Has a very rich, round, earthy tone on clean but can handle it when you dial up the gain as well.Will

I tried two of the PRS 509s. I was disappointed because in my opinion the pickups were not as defined as my PRS 513s. First the 509 does not have heavy humbucker as does the 513. BEcause I perform such a variety of music I need Single, Clean, and Heavy. Second the neck clean humbucker was not as clear as my 513's. It seemed a little darker. The 509 bridge clean humbucker seemed not to have the drive the 513 has. Third. And here is the kicker with the 509. In Pseudo Single Coil Tap Mode it is NOT truly single coil mode. You see there is some coil sharing from the other bobbin to keep the volume from dropping to noticeably. Therefore, the sound is not a single coil sound. Fourth. Also, another sticky point. With the switch position in bridge and middle pickup you do get that Strat quacking sound however with the neck and middle switch position you don't really get that quack like the 513 does. I has to do with which bobbin is being used as the main bobbin. With the 513 there is truly single coil mode because only one bobbin is activated. I did buy one of the 509s. I thought I could get used to it or set it up different. I am still sorry I did. I would rather buy another 513. I also have a PRS Custom 24-08.(with the 498 pickups). Now that sounds great because in single coil mode they really only activate the one coil. All that being said it might be just right for some guitarists.prs32164