Help me find my next guitar? S2 vs Paul's vs other?

[craigstjean]

I really want to get into PRS, love the look and the sound of them, but I'm not sure what would be a good fit given the guitars I already have. Maybe someone can help?

Currently, I'm looking at the S2 Custom 24-08 (TCI) or a SE Paul's Guitar. I don't have anything P90 like, so I think those might be a good fit? What I really don't want to do is get a guitar that I don't have much reason to pick up.

Other than the pickups, I'm also not sure on the neck shapes. I don't have any store near me that sells PRS, so I would have to buy online which means I can't hold it in my hand before deciding if its for me... I love the feeling of my "Wizard" shaped Ibanez JEM7VP because its super thin compared to a traditional C or D neck. I also really enjoy the Strandberg EndurNeck for whatever reason

Budget: $2,500 would be a hard sell but possible, cheaper than that is obviously better. Not looking at Core or Private Stock

Any suggestions of what would be a good complement? Most of my guitars are better suited for rock, but I love playing pretty much anything.

Thank you!

My main guitars:

Strandberg Boden Prog NX 6
Neck: Strandberg EndurNeck
Fretboard: Richlite
Frets: 24, Medium Jumbo Stainless Steel
Neck Pickup: Suhr SSV Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Suhr SSH+ Humbucker
What I like: Weird neck is fun and helpful for certain finger shapes, great sound, super lightweight, easy maintenance compared to a floyd
What I don't like: Multi-scale frets are kinda weird

Ibanez Steve Vai Signature JEM7VP
Neck: Wizard (18mm thick at 1F, 20mm at 12F)
Fretboard: Ebony
Frets: 24, Jumbo
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Evolution Humbucker (Passive/Ceramic)
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio Evolution Single-coil (Passive/Alnico)
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio Evolution Humbucker (Passive/Ceramic)
What I like: Super thin neck, floyd rose is a lot of fun, TONs of sustain, sounds great, gorgeous
What I don't like: Floyd rose maintenance, no option for single coil split

---

I also (currently) have, though may not keep:

Fender American Professional Stratocaster
Neck: Modern "Deep C"
Fretboard: Maple
Frets: 22
Neck Pickup: V-Mod Single-Coil Strat
Middle Pickup: V-Mod Single-Coil Strat
Bridge Pickup: V-Mod Single-Coil Strat
What I like: The neck feels great from a material standpoint, sounds great, very comfortable
What I don't like:

Epiphone Les Paul 1960 Tribute Plus
Neck: 1960's SlimTaper "D" Profile
Fretboard: Rosewood
Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo
Neck Pickup: Lollar dB Humbucker
Bridge Pickup: Lollar dB Humbucker
What I like: Sounds good, have coil split options because the Lollar pickups, also the Lollar's are insanely hot pickups
What I don't like: Heavy (obviously), not enough frets, neck shape, never have a good reason to pick this one up over my Strandberg other than maintaining it

 

[craigstjean]

Apparently editing your first post after admins approve it puts it back into approval needed status. Woops

 

[Stephen J.]

It is tough when you can’t play them first. I am going to guess you will be ok with the Pattern Thin (Wide Thin) neck, though it isn’t going to feel thin like the Wizard. The Paul’s Guitar neck will likely feel too big. Hopefully you will be able to buy from a store that will allow you to return it if you don’t bond with it right away. The S2 24-08 sounds like a good guitar to try.

 

[bodia]

I think I'd lean to the S2 24-08. Those pickups are going to be closer to the P90 that you mention. The SE Paul's, while a great guitar, doesn't have the same pickups.

 

[Greywolf]

nice s2 Custom 24-08 for <1650

 

[Greywolf]

or if you like a bit more doom patrol ..still in your budget

 

[craigstjean]

or if you like a bit more doom patrol ..still in your budget

Are these ones that you're selling? Or are they specific models that are within my price range somewhere like Sweetwater?

 

[SinSir]

S2

 

[craigstjean]

Would the Pattern Thin of the S2 feel somewhat like a D shaped neck, and the Paul's more like a C shaped?

 

[SinSir]

Nothing PRS has is going to be wizard thin..WideThin or a PatternThin isn't all that thin or thick, hutnits the thinnest PRS has. Comfy neck but we're all different. I'd take a mini road trip to find out if it was me vs a random on the internet.

 

[Abe]

or if you like a bit more doom patrol ..still in your budget

That thing looks smoking hot.

 

[Stephen J.]

Would the Pattern Thin of the S2 feel somewhat like a D shaped neck, and the Paul's more like a C shaped?

I would say they are both C shapes. They aren’t that different, but the Pattern Thin will be somewhere between your Fender and the Wizard, probably closer to the Fender.

 

[Greywolf]

those are both out on Reverb

 

[Glide-bpm]

S2 24-08 TCI

It's a monster! (And I own and like SE's, too).

 

[Rider1260]

Add the CE 24 to your list to check out.
Sounds like the Pattern Thin neck would be your thing

 

[SinSir]

I would say they are both C shapes. They aren’t that different, but the Pattern Thin will be somewhere between your Fender and the Wizard, probably closer to the Fender.

Definitely closer to the Fender. I have several modern C and WT. The specs and feel are close especially taking in neck to neck variance. In the beginning I only wanted WT because I was coming off a huge Fender kick and it felt so natural to switch between.

Wizard is a profile I wish I never owned.

 

[craigstjean]

Definitely closer to the Fender. I have several modern C and WT. The specs and feel are close especially taking in neck to neck variance. In the beginning I only wanted WT because I was coming off a huge Fender kick and it felt so natural to switch between.

Wizard is a profile I wish I never owned.

Wish you never owned Wizard because it spoiled you, or because you hated it? Do you still prefer WT or something else?

 

[SinSir]

Wish you never owned Wizard because it spoiled you, or because you hated it? Do you still prefer WT or something else?

Wizard profile isn't for me.

I still like WT, but Pattern or Widefat are my preferred. Pattern regular is pretty good as well, but the nut width is a hair narrower. Honestly, all PRS neck profiles are pretty comfy to me besides Pattern Vintage.