MWebster
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2023
- Messages
- 272
Well I have a few weeks off, made a trip to my local PRS dealer...
PREFACE: I just sold basically all of my guitars, I still have a few, I'll post my family photo. I decided to strip it way back to a PRS trem equipped guitar, a tele and something PRS/Gibson esque then call it good. I suffer from analysis paralysis and having tons of guitars actually made me play less, now these guitars all use the same string size, its way less maintenance and less to worry about.
I Initially was going to check out the new SE NF3's because the shop just got one of those sweet metallic orange ones in and they really are intriguing. I was comparing it to it's rosewood variant, first, top notch looking and playing guitars. Both had great fretwork. Nice weight. Amazing tone. Same amp settings - both rosewood and non-rosewood guitars sounded different. The maple was more open sounding and the rosewood was definitely more focused, easier pinch harmonics too. I'd probably have gone with rosewood to be honest. Anyways..
The shopkeep mentions they just received some of the new 2024 S2's that have the core electronics. Not many but this black S2 McCarty thinline was one of them. I've read your guys' posts mentioning the Thinline with high regard. It's kinda plain looking in the photos but in person it's honestly smashing. Firstly, I plug it in with the same amp settings I had for the NF3's and it was like OH YEAHH!!! (sets NF3's off to the side)
The S2's are awesome to begin with, I really think they're basically 95% the way to a core. Now they might as well just be all the way there. This ones kind of the same thing as a Vela in that there's really no reason for it to become a core, it's sort've just its own thing and can be made within the S2 parameters just fine.
I've had the 58/15 LT's before and yeah they were nice enough sounding pickups but seemed too low in output, that was in a Special Semi Hollow. I've read that isn't the case in the solid body McCarty's and yeah, they're way different here, from bloomy cleans, pushed tones through to heavy gain it was ALL glorious. I have a set of Lundgren Black Heaven pickups that I was ready to put in here because they're frankly stunning pickups, but right off the bat I sort've scratched my head because I like to do some mods but this Thinline needs nothing. Now that they've upgraded basically everything on here right from the factory I can't fathom what needs to be changed.
They've done something to the coil split sounds too. It was spewing John Frusciante single coil juicyness with hardly any effort when I pulled up the tone knobs. It's so easy to get a good tone out of this thing.
Conclusion: If you can't tell, I'm impressed. I often romanticize the necessary elements a guitar needs to be the most versatile axe possible and I'm just going to say this may well be the most convincingly versatile guitar I've ever played. Impeccable craftsmanship. Yes, they raised the prices on these now that they have all the core stuff in them but I think you get your money's worth here and that's not really always common in the guitar industry... ya know? Like theres usually a concession but NOT HERE Check one out if you're afflicted with G.A.S. but maybe don't want to shell out for a core and want a sweet sweet all-rounder. It's the full package as is. I feel like I've stumbled upon a gold vein here and people need to know!! Done.
