Nice looking guitar Carl and clever write up, love it. Now what about this PS 20th ?
Here you go
http://forums.prsguitars.com/threads/fresh-squeezed-orange-tourmaline.16310/
Congrats Carl. I hope (suspect?) it sounds better in person. All the videos I've seen/heard left me less than impressed...
As far as sound/tone/voicing, what would you say makes this superior to an S2 CU24??
Hey XJ - I have had 5 S2s pass through my hands (some bought and sold, some returned) = a Mira, 2 CU22 Semis, a STD24 Satin, and a Vela. The one I miss the sound of is the Vela, because that guitar had the most unique voice, like it had something to say. I think the S2 STD24 Satin was the best-feeling of the lot. But none of them stuck around.
I think all of the S2s are great values, definitely steps up from the SEs. Every single S2 I had left me underwhelmed in the sustain department. And aside from the Vela, I found them, to my ears, missing some of the complex harmonics that make the core PRSes sound so interesting to me. Whether that is the electronics, sum of its parts, whatever, I don't know. And although the S2 (non-satin finish) seemed durable, the ones I had all seemed very swirly, even a tad hazy. They didn't look bad, they just didn't give the PRS "WOW" factor.
With the CE24 (and yes as I have said I need to spend much more time with Amber) I get the harmonics and the character. It sounds and feels like a core guitar to me. I A/B/C'd Amber against my 2013 CU24 (57/08s) and 2015 WLMC (58/15s), and whereas, to my ears, the S2s I had lacked a little something, the new CE24 slots right in. I know alot of this is subjective, but it always is, right?
I will also take a toggle over a blade any day for a 3-position configuration, and the CE24 has the toggle. And I have no idea of the finish is V12 or not, but it sure looks and feels a heckuva lot like the current Core finish.
Sorry for all the words. Hope that helps!