OK... If you had a Choice Between

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

A brand new SE Hollowbody II OR an S2 Custom 22 Semi-Hollow... new or used ...Which would you choose ?

For Blues/ Rock /Jazz ... which is better ?

What is the deal on the PRS #7 Pickup (seems the S2 originally came with these , but they have
"disappeared" ) ?

Opinions / feedback welcome...

 

[Turkeyhead]

That’s a tough one. They are both great guitars. You can’t beat the SE hollow body for the price. If you want a full hollow get that. I’ve played a few of them and they are all nice. The S2 is probably a slightly “better” guitar and may hold more value being US made. In my opinion, the single f hole guitars sound like a solid body not a hollow. The hollow vs solid sound would be the deciding factor if it were me.

 

[Going Modal]

The hollow vs solid sound would be the deciding factor if it were me.

I would agree. You really can't go wrong either way--but if you're thinking "hollow" then go SE HB II. But that's not to say that the S2 CU 22 SH wouldn't be awesome, because it probably is... It's just likely not going to do that "hollow" thing like the SE.

 

[Daniel Elam]

The S2 gets my vote. Maryland build quality and wood. It will most likely do rock and blues better than a hollow body and you can definitely get into jazz territory using the volume/tone controls.

 

[Stephen J.]

If this was to be my main guitar, definitely the S2 because of the tremolo. If just adding something different, the SE would be an option.

The S2 guitars have had different pickups over the years. They are just going with what keeps the entire line using the same terminology. Nothing wrong with the 7 “S”pickups. 85/15 “S” is in line with the current core.

 

[El Fenix]

S2

 

[andy474x]

For the genres you listed, I would say the S2 would be a better choice. Both the S2 semi hollow and the SE will have more relaxed note attack than a solid body, and the SE Hollowbody most of all. Maybe if you lean more into jazz, the SE. Both are great guitars, I have an S2 Semi Hollow CU22 and have played a few of the SE Hollowbodies. I don't think you could go wrong with either, just depends on the application.

The S2 will be more versatile, with the coil splits. The #7 pickups, in that guitar, I like the bridge pickup very much, the neck was slightly muddy, so I swapped the neck pickup out for a Starla pickup. A 58/15 (USA or S) would probably also be a good choice, the S version would be very easy and cheap to find used.

The neck #7 isn't a bad pickup - I left it in another guitar (S2 Standard), but then found the bridge too honky. Good pickups on their individual merits, just not the greatest match to each other, IMO.

 

[CrimesAgainstMusic]

Thanks for all the food for thought above !

As I prepared the 2021 Toy Budget... I wuz hopin' with all that talk about $1,400.00 Recovery Bonuses... I might get a piece !

But Nope... the rules said "Get outta here None for you ! " So that put the lid on the Toy Budget, to a very nice and respectable level, but not enough to reach into new CE Level stuff.

The irony here is that with this "denial", my $$$ will go to an American company, but American workers won't see it .
China guys will probably be the "beneficiary ". Hey I've been there ! They work hard for their $$$ too . .But if the IRS were not so stingy, I'd be pumpin it 100% back into the US economy ???

Anyway, I have a bias to buy new. Warranty, dealer support pristine all that anal stuff.

BUT, My own guitars , if sold used, would be mint (save for my newest, which I bonked) so I'm sure there are other equally anal guys out there with clean used stuff to sell.

Which may expand my search to a CE Semi Hollowbody. I have already "talked" to a fellow forumnite that may be willing to part with one ... assuming the Toy Budget $$$ happens this lifetime !

Anyway, Fun stuff to think about.

A new SE Hollowbody II
A maybe new (or used S2 Custom 22 Semi Hollow,
or maybe in a stretch a used CE Semi Hollow ...

All this coming after having watched the Shaun Moderator Guy 15th Anniversary Guitar Construction Video ...which makes all my aspirational guitars seem kinda ...well they are nice, but that thing is in another universe ...

 

[bodia]

S2 for this guy.

 

[Tony M.]

Hmmm.....

 

[John]

Out of those two, the S2. Compared to other US guitars, they're still fairly reasonable more often than not as far as used prices are concerned.

 

[Broseph]

CE semi-hollow