Paul Reed Smith Se Angelus Custom Acoustic Guitar For Sale (2023 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

Just finished my first gig with this beauty. I removed the top 2 strings 'cause I don't know what they're for. 239 more gigs, and this baby is paid for!Dr Phill DDS

I absolutely love this guitar. The craftsmanship is impeccable, the feel is unmatched and the finish is strikingly beautiful. I sold my car to fund this purchase, but I have no regrets. I haven't had a meal in 3 days now, but the tone from this guitar is so beefy it's almost like eating a dozen hamburgers each time I pick it up to play. Having no means of transportation meant that I lost my job, and later on my house, but my kids have decided to use the box as shelter. All in all, a very worthwhile purchase.#1 Guitar Dad

What a dream axe? Think Ferrari or Lamborghini…. Sleak, powerful, fast, and gorgeous. The 5 way selector switch is s bonus for those phasey tones. Love it!!! Thanks!donchapman101

PRS didn't disappoint, I bought without playing this guitar simply due to the PRS reputation. After an initial setup the guitar plays great, it sounds and looks awesome also. You won't be sorry you bought this guitar, just do it. AMS makes it so easy to buy with 0% interest payments. Only negative thing I can say is that I wish it had a built in tuner.Will

For a guitar at this price point to sound so good is nothing short of fantastic. It performs well right across the range with deep bass and crisp middle and trebles. PRS live up to their claim that you will be able to play it right out of the box because the setup will be just right. If I had any complaint it is the wood for the top is not as smooth as I have seen elsewhere but this lends to support the handmade idea and the lacquer means it is in fact level. Did I mention the sound is gorgeous. I may well put a slightly lighter gauge of string on later to make barre chords and string bending a little easier. This is a lovely guitar and has become an instant favourite of mine. It came with a hard case as well – nice.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

For now I have used it at home since I've only had it for a month or so. I love playing it unplugged or plugged and it sounds great. I play mostly finger style but it sounds great when strummed with a flat pick. I'm glad I stumbled on the Youtube reviews of this and that GC had one on the wall. It stays in tune. The action was just right for me. It's easy to fret. It replaces a dreadnought shaped Seagull that I had and also liked but this is much more comfortable to play seated and really standing too, though I've only done that to practice. The fishman pickup seems to be good. Better than the L.R. Bags Element I had in my Seagull. At least it pairs with my Roland AC60 in a more tonally satisfying way. All in all I couldn't be happier.Dave H

I like the looks and feel of this guitar. I like the quality of sound plugged in or dry. The sound isn't as rich as my Taylor but it sounds great. I don't know which brand of strings are on it from the factory and I'm curious to see what it sounds like with Elixir strings. I'm not real fond of the electronic controls being in the sound hole. When it came there was a battery in a pouch flopping around inside the guitar. It had Velcro on it so I assumed it needed to be stuck somewhere. I was a little disappointed that there were no instructions with it to at least tell me how to change and attach the battery. I had to loosen the strings significantly and barely squeeze my hand inside to feel around blindly for Velcro. I couldn't find it and I had to go online for about 20 minutes to get the info that I needed. The battery inside has to be stuck right a the base of the neck. It came in a sturdy box that came in another shipping box and the guitar was safe inside an extremely high quality hard case.Jamminjay

I was looking for a replacement for my trusted Takamine LTD. I had looked at Taylor, Martin, Breedlove, and Gibson. I was visiting Guitar Center to get strings and as usual stopped into the Acoustic room to check out the choices. After playing several guitars in the $2000 range, there was this beautiful blue PRS! I pulled it down from the wall and OMG, it was amazing! the clarity of the sound was better than any of the other guitars in the room. After playing a couple of tunes unplugged, I hooked into a Fender acoustic amp in the room and found the plugged-in sound to amazing as well. It is now my daily gigging workhorse! I play on average 220 gigs a year and the PRS has been by my side with no problems since August of '21. I use D'Addairo XS 12-53 coated strings and she sings like a bird !Jim

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

A real amazing small guitar with huge electric sound and output. Easy to just pick up and play acoustically.. The PRS build is superb with no flaws.I would highly reccommended it and also PMT.John G.

Overall: I wanted a guitar for around the house and I love the look of PRS guitars. This guitar is amazing. Much more than I expected. It's extremely light, the neck feels like I'm playing an electric guitar and the sound is full and pleasing to hear. I thought this guitar would just be for home use but I'll be using it on stage, too. Couldn't be happier.John

Love this acoustic. Beautiful guitar. Detail to design and quality. No nasty mid rumble. Just pure bass and clean tones. Electronically: sounds like a miced acoustic. Get a lot of guitar and quality for the money. PRS knows how to do things and make it first class without paying the price.amos0011

The quality of this guitar is astounding. Beautiful apppointments all around. The fretwork is flawless and playability spot on to my liking. Balanced tone across the strings, rich low end and sparkling highs. Shipping from AMS was faster than expected. I’m very happy with this purchase.EddieA

The PRS A60E Angelus is a nicely balanced sounding guitar. It has good bass (but not over powering) and mids, and the presence of the highs is not overly bright. I'll also add that I think it has a pleasing tone, although that is personal and subjective. It has good volume, projection, and sustain. The neck, action, and playability are all among the best I've experienced on my sample. The laminate Ziricote woodgrain has beautiful texture and reminds me of an old Alvarez I had with Jacaranda back and sides, although the Ziricote stain is overall darker hues. Additional cosmetic touches are abalone PRS birds fret markers, rosette, and purfling along the curly maple top binding. The fingerboard is also nicely bound with curly maple. Taking into account 1) the sound quality of the A60E, 2) playability, that it includes 3) electronics (pickup and preamp) and 4) a hardshell case, along with 5) its attractive looks this is a nice guitar for the money. I'm giving it 5 stars considering all that one gets for its price (and not trying to compare it to a Martin or Taylor that costs 3 or 4 times as much, for example).ROBERT

Overall: I wanted a guitar for around the house and I love the look of PRS guitars. This guitar is amazing. Much more than I expected. It's extremely light, the neck feels like I'm playing an electric guitar and the sound is full and pleasing to hear. I thought this guitar would just be for home use but I'll be using it on stage, too. Couldn't be happier.John

I love this guitar, great neck and weight. Wonderful finish and feel. The action was perfect right out of the box- typical AMS exceptional service. I have not plugged it in yet (but rarely do with acoustics) but the natural richness of this tone is so good for such a reasonable price tag. Zero quality issues or flaws to note. I would buy a second.Sir Lord Tenebre

Lowest action I have ever played on an acoustic. The body size is about the same as a GA, but the body shape sounds much closer to a dreadnought. It’s absolutely stunning beautiful!! Playability is excellent and the neck size and shape is exactly the same as my Zach Myers signature guitar. It makes switching back and forth between electric and acoustic a breeze! It’s called the wide thick neck. Something pretty similar to a LP 59 neck. So not as chubby as a 58, but a little more hand filling than the 60’s. Perfect for me, and I don’t really have large hands. The string spacing is in that sweet spot for both finger picking and flat picking. It’s something I highly recommend and every friend of mine that has seen and played it, was just shocked something so beautiful could be that affordable, and it comes already with a perfect fitting hard case! Great stuff!!Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

This guitar caught my eye and I had to have it! I love ebony fretboards and 24 frets. It sounds amazing and plays incredible, don't hesitate to buy this guitar you will be satisfied 100%. As am I!! Thanks musician's Friend for such a beautiful instrument.Michael

Love this acoustic. Beautiful guitar. Detail to design and quality. No nasty mid rumble. Just pure bass and clean tones. Electronically: sounds like a miced acoustic. Get a lot of guitar and quality for the money. PRS knows how to do things and make it first class without paying the price.amos0011

The quality of this guitar is astounding. Beautiful apppointments all around. The fretwork is flawless and playability spot on to my liking. Balanced tone across the strings, rich low end and sparkling highs. Shipping from AMS was faster than expected. I’m very happy with this purchase.EddieA

The PRS A60E Angelus is a nicely balanced sounding guitar. It has good bass (but not over powering) and mids, and the presence of the highs is not overly bright. I'll also add that I think it has a pleasing tone, although that is personal and subjective. It has good volume, projection, and sustain. The neck, action, and playability are all among the best I've experienced on my sample. The laminate Ziricote woodgrain has beautiful texture and reminds me of an old Alvarez I had with Jacaranda back and sides, although the Ziricote stain is overall darker hues. Additional cosmetic touches are abalone PRS birds fret markers, rosette, and purfling along the curly maple top binding. The fingerboard is also nicely bound with curly maple. Taking into account 1) the sound quality of the A60E, 2) playability, that it includes 3) electronics (pickup and preamp) and 4) a hardshell case, along with 5) its attractive looks this is a nice guitar for the money. I'm giving it 5 stars considering all that one gets for its price (and not trying to compare it to a Martin or Taylor that costs 3 or 4 times as much, for example).ROBERT

Kickass guitar, looks amazing thanks to the thoughtful appointments on this particular guitar – satin finish, unique color of the finish and dark / smoked hardware. Moreover this guitar was super LIGHT – a refreshing change from my other relatively heavier PRS guitars. The Pattern thin neck is a great addition to my existing Custom 22 which has a wide-fat neck. Loving this already!porcupinetree7

I'm not real thrilled that this product was assembled in China but US companies are not producing this beautiful style unless you pay 10 times what this guitar cost. I own a Taylor 814C and this PRS guitar sounds just as amazing but looks even better. I can't speak to the electronics as I just enjoy the simple acoustic sound.mike55r