PRS SE Odd Vintage Sunburst Top Shading

[Z_2k]

I've been looking at used SE Custom 22, 24, and other models in Vintage Sunburst and it seems the photos of the actual guitars (not stock photos) frequently have the lower half of the guitar top noticably darker than the upper half. Here are a couple examples. Do you think this is just a photography lighting issue ?

PRS SE Custom 22 (2017 - Present) | Reverb

Features a mahogany body and neck, a maple top with flame maple veneer, rosewood fretboard with 25" scale length, 85/15 'S' Humbuckers, and a tremolo

reverb.com

PRS SE 245 | Reverb

The new SE 245 features the same 245 'S' humbuckers and 24.5" scale length as its predecessor, but uses a new adjustable wraptail bridge, as opposed to the previous model's non-adjustable bridge.

reverb.com

 

[Family Man]

Looks like the tops just aren’t matched all that well on those examples. Either the woods underneath weren’t a good match from the beginning, or, more likely, each half accepted the finish in a slightly different manner, resulting in the two halves appearing slightly mismatched.

It may even change depending on the angle at which you see the guitar.

 

[SinSir]

Wood being wood. If it bothers you I'd look elsewhere because it always will.

 

[Z_2k]

Wood being wood. If it bothers you I'd look elsewhere because it always will.

Which is exactly why I asked.

 

[dogrocketp]

It’s not unusual for the grain pattern to change as you turn the guitar from left to right. The pictures are not always accurate in color or grain pattern. If you’re buying a wall ornament, look elsewhere. I buy them to play. Sound comes first.

 

[Carlost]

The mismatch you see is real. The top on SE's is always a thin veneer. On some copies, the 2 halves are matched almost perfectly in grain (and in color, once the stain settles). On others, the factory is less careful: The 2 sides will take different coloration, and one side's grain will almost disappear at certain angles. (For context, even Core PRSi rarely get perfectly bookmatched.)

Because you're looking at photos of individual used copies, what you see is what you'll get. Hold out for a copy whose finish you like. It will beckon you more insistently, and you'll play it more.