So I asked this in another thread that was started by some else specifically about Paul's Guitar SE and got the general a well kept core even a 20 year old core is going to beat even a $1000 SE every time. I understand that but I'd like to follow up and ask, which would you choose and why if the money were the same and you were a bedroom player. Also please let me know if your someone playing professionally or a giging or a hobbyists (like myself) so I have some context for your answer. Thanks
To be honest, I think I would probably go with the older 'core' McCarty. I am a Hobbyist and not a professional or active gigging musician.
Don't get me wrong, the SE Paul's guitar looks 'great' for the money and very versatile too with the individual coil splitting option but as soon as you spend $1000 on that guitar, you no longer have a $1000 guitar. By that I mean that if you want to sell, you won't get $1000 back for a used SE Paul's guitar. You spend $1000 on a used core McCarty, you still have a $1000 guitar - which 'could' raise in value in line with inflation etc. Your SE is likely to drop over time as more and more Pauls become available - especially on the used market.
That's immaterial though if you don't have plans to sell. What does it matter if your SE is now worth $500 for example if you have no intention to sell it anyway. This then brings me around to tone and 'feel'. The SE's feel good, play well and have very usable tone. However they do lack when compared to a core PRS guitar. I totally understand that for some, the difference on their mind doesn't equate to 4x better. For example, if an SE is 85% as close to a Core, you are paying several thousands to get the extra 15% difference - not that you can measure guitars this way but I am sure you can visualise the concept.
The Core is a no holds barred guitar - built from the finest materials and with all the knowledge, the experience and years of research and development poured into it. The woods are 'cured' to crystallise all the resin. The one-piece necks take 'weeks' to make, making sure that they are as stable as they can be, to allow them to settle as wood can move when its carved - you don't want a slightly twisted neck as it settles after carving the bulk of it down. Every part of the guitar has been researched to see what actually is best for tone, for usability etc - its why PRS guitars have evolved as Paul will spend days experimenting with 'nuts' for example to see which material is the best. What you are buying - even if its used (as long as its stock) - is the pinnacle of guitar manufacturing.
SE guitars are made under licence in Indonesia (at least with the Paul's Guitar. The body is 'Mahogany' maybe a couple of different Mahoganies glued together. A maple cap (not necessarily flame or quilt - with a thin veneer on top. The PU's are made locally - maybe not with the highest grade wiring but wound to a similar output and/or construction etc The Bridge on the Pauls SE is a quality bridge though. Again, I don't want you to think I am bashing the SE and, in comparisons with a Core Paul's, it's not a million miles apart. Of course there is 'difference' as expected.
My point is that the McCarty is a much better instrument. Its kind of like buying a 2nd hand 4k HDR TV for the same price as a new HD TV. The HD TV still looks good but when compared to a 4k HDR version of the same content, that extra clarity, that greater depth etc stands out. The Paul's SE is still a great guitar for the money but if you can get a used McCarty, the difference in quality is noticeable.
Having said all that though, I don't know if the McCarty has the option to Coil Split - I doubt it has individual split coils so maybe not as 'versatile' in that regard so you may lose out on 2 (HS or SH) tonal options and maybe 3 others (Bridge Single, SS or neck Single) whether that matters more to you or not, I can't say but I personally would still go for the McCarty as that is the 'better' guitar - at least for me...