PRS SE Models - Do They Have the Same “Essence” As Core Models?

[DreamTheaterRules]

No. SE and Core PRS guitars when extracted make different Grades of Essential Oils. I believe the Core Grade Essential Oils are distilled numerous times resulting in Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils.

Yes, that’s what I read on the PRS website in their mission statement.

 

[Mike Duncan]

Reverend, PRS, Fender, Epibson....they all look like they're bathed or dipped in some weird plasticizer (is that a word).

Don't know why, but my brain can't get past the look. It's like that weird plug on the headstock of the Jason Isbell Tele, not ever gonna work for me.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Reverend, PRS, Fender, Epibson....they all look like they're bathed or dipped in some weird plasticizer (is that a word).

Don't know why, but my brain can't get past the look. It's like that weird plug on the headstock of the Jason Isbell Tele, not ever gonna work for me.

Are you talking about the gloss of the finish?

 

[Daryl Jones]

Unless I happen across a smoking hot deal on a used Core of a model I desire, I'll likely never know what they actually feel like when I play one. I can tell the difference between my S2 and my SE's though, just don't ask me to put it into words. Y'all would die of old age or boredom (or both) once I got running on about the differences and emotional rapture I felt the first time I plugged the S2 in at home. A core would likely do unspeakable things to my psyche. None of which are appropriate to put into text on these pages.
edit: and I reckon I lied about not responding further on this thread...Gawd I'm so weak!

 

[kidchaline]

I’m sure that I’m going to get a lot of hate for this thread, but so be it.

SE guitars are great. I’ve played many of them from a range of eras, and IMO, they are about as good as it gets for import guitars in their respective price range…actually, they’re probably the best out there. That said, I feel that they aren’t on par with Core PRS - they might be 80% there, but that last 20% makes a huge difference to me.

But…(and this is where I’m likely to upset people), they are are manufactured by WMI and Cor-Tek in Korea and Indonesia, then shipped to the PRS plant for final inspection and setup.

If PRS were to create their own factory overseas, and employ their own workforce over there, I wonder if the SE line would feel the same to me as the Core line. And yes, I realize that PRS probably works harder with Cor-Tek than any other company works with their respective import company..but that doesn’t change the fact that these guitars are not made by PRS proper. They are made by Cor-Tek.

As much as I hate to cite Gibson here, there is never a doubt about Gibson vs Epiphone in terms of where the instrument is manufactured. If you get a Gibson, it’s always made in the US at the Gibson factory.

Now, does this matter? Not really, I guess. But IMO Core PRS are different enough from SE models that I cannot consider them to be the same “thing”, but created at a cheaper price point. I suppose I dislike SE models being considered by many as Core models on a budget because I believe that a good Core PRS is about the best production guitar ever made, whereas a good SE (while a very nice instrument) just isn’t up to those standards.

Edited to attempt to hopefully not make people as upset about my opinions.

Now I'm gna have to inspct my Marshall. Aren't they from across the pond?

 

[László]

Reverend, PRS, Fender, Epibson....they all look like they're bathed or dipped in some weird plasticizer (is that a word).

Since most instrument paints are types of plastic, including nitro, that kinda makes sense.

 

[GGJJGG]

Maybe we should just look at the guitars as guitars (without the headstock label analysis). Maybe just put a brown bag over all of them. As long as you are happy with your guitar (or your aspiration for a future guitar), does anything else matter (other than amplifiers, of course)?

 

[Mike Duncan]

Since most instrument paints are types of plastic, including nitro, that kinda makes sense.

Don't get technical with me. - C3PO

 

[Mike Duncan]

Are you talking about the gloss of the finish?

Maybe less the gloss but more the thickness - they just look like plastic incased candy.

I know this is a topic people put up their defenses over. They just look so different.

I'm shallow...like everyone else.

 

[aamefford]

Unless I happen across a smoking hot deal on a used Core of a model I desire, I'll likely never know what they actually feel like when I play one. I can tell the difference between my S2 and my SE's though, just don't ask me to put it into words. Y'all would die of old age or boredom (or both) once I got running on about the differences and emotional rapture I felt the first time I plugged the S2 in at home. A core would likely do unspeakable things to my psyche. None of which are appropriate to put into text on these pages.
edit: and I reckon I lied about not responding further on this thread...Gawd I'm so weak!

S2 was noticeably a step up from my SE. enough that I sold the SE. The two “working man’s cores” that I have are used, excellent, very cool, and maybe not better than my S2. Probably I’m not enough of a player to feel a big difference. The S2 is actually more comfortable to me. The sharp edges on the violin carves are a bit abrupt for an old beginner. The cores have maybe a slight edge on electronics and maybe the trem hardware. As far as sound, all 3 are pretty alive acoustically. No comparing when plugged in, all have different pickups.

 

[Froski]

Maybe less the gloss but more the thickness - they just look like plastic incased candy.

I know this is a topic people put up their defenses over. They just look so different.

I'm shallow...like everyone else.

I have an aversion to gloss necks. My S2 is a faded satin and my SE is satin maple. If and when I get another SE, if it's gloss, it's getting sanded with a scratch pad. I sold a Rickenbacher years ago because I hated the gloss neck but didn't have the heart to scratch pad it.

 

[DreamTheaterRules]

Maybe less the gloss but more the thickness - they just look like plastic incased candy.

I know this is a topic people put up their defenses over. They just look so different.

I'm shallow...like everyone else.

I saw an instagram post from EBMM at the NAMM show. They showed 3-4 EBMM guitars on the wall, and they must have gone overboard for the show models... it looked like the had a 1/4" thick layer of glass on them. The finishes were just exaggeratedly shiny with a super thick looking layer of gloss. Could have been lights, or whatever but it was striking.

 

[Daryl Jones]

Now I'm gna have to inspct my Marshall. Aren't they from across the pond?

The Archon amps are now imports too apparently. I can't compare the two since the MIA are so rare and none of our stores here have one plus a new release one to test SxS. Not that there is any direct correlation there with SE and Core guitar qualities, but there is sort of a parallel in there inside my head. No pun intended.

 

[madmarcus1960]

what pu's and pots did you go with on the zach meyers?

I put CTS 500K pots and Bare Knuckle Nantucket P90s in a HB form. They have a burnished metal cover that goes well with the guitars aesthetics. IMHO

 

[JimmyStrings]

I’m sure that I’m going to get a lot of hate for this thread, but so be it.

SE guitars are great. I’ve played many of them from a range of eras, and IMO, they are about as good as it gets for import guitars in their respective price range…actually, they’re probably the best out there. That said, I feel that they aren’t on par with Core PRS - they might be 80% there, but that last 20% makes a huge difference to me.

But…(and this is where I’m likely to upset people), they are are manufactured by WMI and Cor-Tek in Korea and Indonesia, then shipped to the PRS plant for final inspection and setup.

If PRS were to create their own factory overseas, and employ their own workforce over there, I wonder if the SE line would feel the same to me as the Core line. And yes, I realize that PRS probably works harder with Cor-Tek than any other company works with their respective import company..but that doesn’t change the fact that these guitars are not made by PRS proper. They are made by Cor-Tek.

As much as I hate to cite Gibson here, there is never a doubt about Gibson vs Epiphone in terms of where the instrument is manufactured. If you get a Gibson, it’s always made in the US at the Gibson factory.

Now, does this matter? Not really, I guess. But IMO Core PRS are different enough from SE models that I cannot consider them to be the same “thing”, but created at a cheaper price point. I suppose I dislike SE models being considered by many as Core models on a budget because I believe that a good Core PRS is about the best production guitar ever made, whereas a good SE (while a very nice instrument) just isn’t up to those standards.

Edited to attempt to hopefully not make people as upset about my opinions.

Absolutely, SE’s are the real deal I own 3, Custom 24 Quilt, HBII, McCarty 594 SC, I spent less than $2,000 for all 3 (new) the McCarty is an amazing guitar for what you pay.

 

[JeffsRealm]

I have an aversion to gloss necks. My S2 is a faded satin and my SE is satin maple. If and when I get another SE, if it's gloss, it's getting sanded with a scratch pad. I sold a Rickenbacher years ago because I hated the gloss neck but didn't have the heart to scratch pad it.

Same, however PRS does have satin cores. They do just satin necks as well. It is harder to find but Sweetwater gets them occasionally They have some now usually it is the whole guitar is satin but I do have a couple factory core Satin with the body and headstock glossy. Also my PRS Artist V, had the finish pop on the neck and PRS refinished the neck for me I asked them to put satin on the neck. So it is something they will do. Older PRS cores like 2015ish had Maple necks not the mahogany, they do now and those were all satin. Also the older Artist models of any core could be ordered with satin necks.

Pretty sure the CE bolt ons are all all Satin Maple neck, but been a while since I had one.

 

[László]

Maybe less the gloss but more the thickness - they just look like plastic incased candy.

I get it, though I think that's largely a past-tense thing since the nitro finishes came on board.

I remember my 1992-3 Artist II came with what PRS called an ultra-thin finish (said so in the brochure), and it looked a tiny bit less like the thicker poly (though it was also poly).

It's interesting, the 'dipped in glass' finish on the earlier models was a selling point that people liked.

My nitro models really don't look like that to me, but the poly finished models did. Admittedly, I did like the look of the poly finished models at the time, but once I got my first nitro-finished PS model, I was hooked.

 

[László]

I put CTS 500K pots and Bare Knuckle Nantucket P90s in a HB form. They have a burnished metal cover that goes well with the guitars aesthetics. IMHO

Sweet!

The look of the plating on those pickups is something that PRS started with one of their limited runs many years ago. PRS did it by toasting them with some sort of bunsen-burner kind of thing (I don't remember specifically).

 

[Rod/]

I have an SE Santana I bought 2 years ago. Picked it out of 4 that John Mann had at the time. I installed 2 prs 245 USA pickups and Planet Waves locking tuners and John installed a Mann Made brass bridge….. that guitar honestly is pretty incredible… a USA version will probably have a bit more mojo cause of the better grade of wood and thin finish. At least the one I played did.
I own 2 cores and 2 S2’s that all get played all the time. I can’t find much difference in tone between those teirs but the handwork and finish on the core guitars are much more refined than the S2 line…