The thing is: in terms of the construction quality, attention to details, I put the SE's are in the same level as USA Standard Fender's and USA Gibson LP Studio's (many times even better than the Gibsons - their quality control is really awfull at this time!).
So, the S2 has to be better (this is me assuming, based on my experience with the SE line, because haven't tried one yet...
but I'm trying to!)
I have an American Strat and I tried a few (LOT!) Gibson Studios, and there's no doubt about it in my mind.
The main question is about the used WOOD for the guitar body!
That's the ultimate advantage of the S2's, compared to the SE's. It's the only thing you can't change on a guitar and is the main culprit regarding tone...
The way I see things, if the SE line (which comes with lesser quality woods than the american models) sounds amazingly good, than the S2 will definitely be a step up!
I think PRS found a pretty good win-win formula with the S2 line: hitting the gap that existed between the SE line and the much more expensive Core Models (+) improving the woods and maintaining excelent overall quality (which is the PRS trademark!).
Like the SE's, you (should) get so much more guitar than what you're paying for!
I'm trying to resist buying one without trying it out....... and I'm going CRAZY trying to decide which one is my favourite: 24 or 22??? Aesthetically speaking, I prefer the 22 over the 24 mainly because of the covered PU's... but I love the 24 frets neck... tonewise, I don't know which kind of sound I prefer.............. the modern sound of the 24? Or the more "vintage" sound of the 22? The difference is subtle, but it's there...... and I like both of them!
But I can't have both (that would solve my problems!! ahahah), so I'll have to choose................ DAMN!! I'm GASING for an S2!! lol