Hey folks, greetings from Portugal!
First NGD around these parts!
Paul Reed Smith - S2 - Singlecut Standard
On with the specs!
Neck Shape: Pattern Regular
Number of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 25"
Fretboard Wood: Rosewood
Fretboard Inlay: Birds
Tuners: PRS S2 Locking Tuners
Hardware Type: Nickel
Bass Pickup: PRS S2 #7 Bass
Controls Two Volume & Two Push/Pull Tone Controls with 3-way Toggle Pickup Switch
Now for my rambling, before the pr0n, cause I do want to address a few points!
Recently I wanted to get a new guitar, I have a Chapman ML2 and had an Ibanez Jem 70v (which I sold to finance for this)... loved it to pieces, modded the hell out of it... but I never got along with the neck really well.
The nut was too wide for me (I have small fingers) and the fretboard was too flat (16").
So I sold it... And initially was going to get a Line 6 JTV-69, due to all the bells and whistles that it does... and a bit of influence from Twelve Foot Ninja's "SteviC".
BUT! And it's a big BUT (and I love those, cannot lie)... Andertons Music Uk was making some huge deals on some PRS S2 (USA/Maryland Made) colors that were getting discontinued. And this one came along, for under 1000€, I had to get it!
On with the pics, and some insight!
Came very well packaged, you can see the serrated murder weapon on top... except... she was upside down! Upside down?! If it weren't for the gigbag, this could've been sad! Bad on Anderton's part... and also a first, the Chapman was the right way around.
Here's the gigbag, seems to be on par with the Chapman one... come with a few pockets inside and a hanger, so you can put it on your closet... I don't know... it's still getting a hardcase!
Made almost two years ago, the neck was still dead straight, the action low, and was just 1/2 tone off tune.
I may still mess with the action a bit, but I think it's killer, and that 10" radius!
Swapped the strings to Ernie Ball Cobalt 10s, added my Planet Waves strap!
People have complained about these wraparound "compensated" stoptails, but on this one, intonation is flawless, I didn't even mess with it. Even drop D was perfect.
I guess if you try to go lower it might cause a few issues, time will tell.
This is where I fell in love with her, the neck! It's just... perfect... for my hands!
It's the Pattern Regular
So you have a reference:
It's pretty C shaped, it's not a chubby, and it's not thin... it's like that hot chick with all the right curves!
But the fretwork is second to none, and the edges were rolled!
The nut is smaller, though, and the string space is narrower, which was a relief for my fingers. :shred:
The brass shafted locking tuners are amazing... swapped strings and tuned up under 5 minutes! And the nut is perfectly cut!
Higher fret access is also nice, as far as a singlecut is concerned.
Now onto the electronics... and this is where I may have a few qualms...
The #7 Pickups, need more time with them, a lot more, on a decent amp. Otherwise I can't tell if they're worth swapping out. I've had a hard-on for some Seymour Duncan Pegasus/Sentient action for a few years now, but I don't know yet.
The pots... ok... so... they're fast... almost too fast. I know this is where they cut some of the costs, and I can fix this with 20 bucks... not a big issue.
The coil taps work really well but the 3 way switch is a little loud, not sure if it comes though the amp.
If all else fails, CTS, Switchcraft and OrangeDrop is the way to go!
Another thing... on the S2s... they don't recess the backplates, for some reason, I guess to save time.
On the other hand, look at the size of that strap button! Had to fight it to get the thing on! Which is a good thing! Still getting strap locks, I don't trust it!
And finally, the mandatory "boobshot".
All in all
It's an amazing instrument, even on it's original price-point, for what I paid, it's a steal!
If this is what a Paul Reed Smith feels like... I may have found my brand.
I've tried a few recent LPs and Strats from the Big G and Large F, and they don't touch this! Well... MIA Fender is close... Gibson... not so much...
If you're on the lookout for a new instrument, give a few S2's a try, the necks are all the same, so it's a matter of shape, layout, fret number and tremolo vs fixed.
My guess is you won't be let down... now I'll try to get loaded so I can go Private Stock!
First NGD around these parts!
Paul Reed Smith - S2 - Singlecut Standard
On with the specs!
- BODY
- NECK
Neck Shape: Pattern Regular
Number of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 25"
Fretboard Wood: Rosewood
Fretboard Inlay: Birds
- HARDWARE
Tuners: PRS S2 Locking Tuners
Hardware Type: Nickel
- ELECTRONICS
Bass Pickup: PRS S2 #7 Bass
Controls Two Volume & Two Push/Pull Tone Controls with 3-way Toggle Pickup Switch
Now for my rambling, before the pr0n, cause I do want to address a few points!
Recently I wanted to get a new guitar, I have a Chapman ML2 and had an Ibanez Jem 70v (which I sold to finance for this)... loved it to pieces, modded the hell out of it... but I never got along with the neck really well.
The nut was too wide for me (I have small fingers) and the fretboard was too flat (16").
So I sold it... And initially was going to get a Line 6 JTV-69, due to all the bells and whistles that it does... and a bit of influence from Twelve Foot Ninja's "SteviC".
BUT! And it's a big BUT (and I love those, cannot lie)... Andertons Music Uk was making some huge deals on some PRS S2 (USA/Maryland Made) colors that were getting discontinued. And this one came along, for under 1000€, I had to get it!
On with the pics, and some insight!
Came very well packaged, you can see the serrated murder weapon on top... except... she was upside down! Upside down?! If it weren't for the gigbag, this could've been sad! Bad on Anderton's part... and also a first, the Chapman was the right way around.
Here's the gigbag, seems to be on par with the Chapman one... come with a few pockets inside and a hanger, so you can put it on your closet... I don't know... it's still getting a hardcase!
Made almost two years ago, the neck was still dead straight, the action low, and was just 1/2 tone off tune.
I may still mess with the action a bit, but I think it's killer, and that 10" radius!
Swapped the strings to Ernie Ball Cobalt 10s, added my Planet Waves strap!
People have complained about these wraparound "compensated" stoptails, but on this one, intonation is flawless, I didn't even mess with it. Even drop D was perfect.
I guess if you try to go lower it might cause a few issues, time will tell.
This is where I fell in love with her, the neck! It's just... perfect... for my hands!
It's the Pattern Regular
So you have a reference:
It's pretty C shaped, it's not a chubby, and it's not thin... it's like that hot chick with all the right curves!
But the fretwork is second to none, and the edges were rolled!
The nut is smaller, though, and the string space is narrower, which was a relief for my fingers. :shred:
The brass shafted locking tuners are amazing... swapped strings and tuned up under 5 minutes! And the nut is perfectly cut!
Higher fret access is also nice, as far as a singlecut is concerned.
Now onto the electronics... and this is where I may have a few qualms...
The #7 Pickups, need more time with them, a lot more, on a decent amp. Otherwise I can't tell if they're worth swapping out. I've had a hard-on for some Seymour Duncan Pegasus/Sentient action for a few years now, but I don't know yet.
The pots... ok... so... they're fast... almost too fast. I know this is where they cut some of the costs, and I can fix this with 20 bucks... not a big issue.
The coil taps work really well but the 3 way switch is a little loud, not sure if it comes though the amp.
If all else fails, CTS, Switchcraft and OrangeDrop is the way to go!
Another thing... on the S2s... they don't recess the backplates, for some reason, I guess to save time.
On the other hand, look at the size of that strap button! Had to fight it to get the thing on! Which is a good thing! Still getting strap locks, I don't trust it!
And finally, the mandatory "boobshot".
All in all
It's an amazing instrument, even on it's original price-point, for what I paid, it's a steal!
If this is what a Paul Reed Smith feels like... I may have found my brand.
I've tried a few recent LPs and Strats from the Big G and Large F, and they don't touch this! Well... MIA Fender is close... Gibson... not so much...
If you're on the lookout for a new instrument, give a few S2's a try, the necks are all the same, so it's a matter of shape, layout, fret number and tremolo vs fixed.
My guess is you won't be let down... now I'll try to get loaded so I can go Private Stock!
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