Reclaimed Gen 1 SE?

[Infomaniac]

My first post outside of the newbie thread.
Bought this brand new for my daughter in 2001 or 2002. It's 2001 by serial number. She never played it. Small band she was in gave her a bass to play. I had told her if she planned to let it go, for any reason I will buy it from her.

Metallic finish for those that like this style.

I've had it 5 years. Do not play at all. It needs a deep cleaning, cracks and crevices. I believe it remains stock as purchased. I noticed 2 access plates on the back, while pics of others have only 1. Small pick guard? seems to be uncommon. Also the uncovered pickups while pics of others have solid metal covered pickups.

If someone would be kind enough to fill me in on the differences between other Gen 1 models, that would be great.

 

[DISTORT6]

Nice!
The 2 covers - one for the electronics, one for the trem springs.
As far as the pickguard and uncovered pickups - after a little google search, your guitar is a Santana SE II.

 

[Going Modal]

I really don't think that's a true "Gen 1" nor would it be from 2001...

The first "Santana SE" models started in 2000, with their serial numbers beginning "A...". [These guitars did have the diagonal-line fret markers, but they did not have binding on the neck nor the pickguard.] Serial "B..." would be 2001, and the letters & years corresponding upward as such. The neck-binding and pickguard didn't show up until a few years into production. (Go to Reverb.com and search "PRS Santana SE" and you'll see a lot of various examples.)

As for the two cover plates on the back versus one on other similar guitars--that would be due to whether it's got a tremolo bridge (has the trem-springs cover on the back) versus a fixed bridge (does not have the spring cover). Both were offered through that time.

 

[Infomaniac]

Nice!
The 2 covers - one for the electronics, one for the trem springs.
As far as the pickguard and uncovered pickups - after a little google search, your guitar is a Santana SE II.

That's interesting. I was unaware an SE ll was available as a Gen1 year model range. The reason I thought possibly the store put their own touches on it.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Yeah, these were the second SE’s.

 

[Going Modal]

PRS Santana SE Guitar | Ultimate Santana

By all accounts, the Santana SE model plays far above its price point, with a solid feel, and warm, sustaining tone. It delivers a very Santana-like sonic quality, yet has the typically light PRS body.

www.ultimatesantana.com

Santana SE II | Ultimate Santana

The Santana SE II feels and sounds at least as good as the model from which it evolved, with a rich tone and good, solid feel far beyond what one might expect from such a reasonably priced guitar.

www.ultimatesantana.com

 

[Infomaniac]

I'm sure with all of the knowledge in this forum, a logical explanation everyone can agree on will be concluded. As far as it being a Gen 1 time frame by serial number and SE ll by obvious features. probably a very early SE ll.
I only know when I bought it. I do not have any knowledge of these other than what I found on the net.
The serial number says 2001 by starting with B.
I had no idea what this doo dad was in the gig bag. Trem handle. I do not know which way to insert it, it is a very tight fit and as far as I know never used. I don't want to force it in the hole.
The brochure given to us when purchased is 2002, so, purchase time frame could be late 2001 to early 2002
Spare strings were $4.00 back then, LOL
A couple more pics for those interested.

I found this article once SE ll was included in my search. And referenced in the post above. A guitar that looks like this one featured, minus trem.
https://www.ultimatesantana.com/gear-tone/paul-reed-smith-guitars/santana-se-ii/#:

 

[DISTORT6]

Those chrome pickup rings look great on there, btw.

 

[d^rren]

As for the two cover plates on the back versus one on other similar guitars--that would be due to whether it's got a tremolo bridge (has the trem-springs cover on the back) versus a fixed bridge (does not have the spring cover). Both were offered through that time.

If I'm not mistaken, the first-generation SE models were stoptail only. The trem wasn't introduced until later.

 

[garrett]

With a B serial, this one is a very early gen II. There aren't many A serials out there. I looked at every first gen that came up for sale for a while and never saw one. The model didn't truly get going until 2001.


I had a B serial first gen with a trem. They came both ways, which would explain why the OP has seen one with only one backplate.

Let's time travel:
2001:

https://web.archive.org/web/20010408183406/http://www.prsguitars.com/showcase/current/sp_santse.htm

2002:

https://web.archive.org/web/20020601150147/http://www.prsguitars.com:80/showcase/current/sp_santse.htm

Changes from Gen I to Gen II:
Forearm contour
Pickguard
Binding
Uncovered pickups
The Aqua Metallic one as pictured in the OP came with the chrome pickup rings

 

[Infomaniac]

Thanks everyone for the input. I went from clueless searching, to shown exactly what this thing is. I'm happy it is somewhat more unique than others. For the level of guitar it is.

 

[d^rren]

It’s really interesting how those Gen I Santana SE models didn’t say PRS anywhere on them. Then they put a little “PRS” on the truss rod cover for Gen II.

 

[garrett]

It’s really interesting how those Gen I Santana SE models didn’t say PES anywhere on them. Then they put a little “PRS” on the truss rod cover for Gen II.

Yeah they initially wanted to keep some distance from it. It was Carlos who pushed them to do it, so they just put his name on it to sink or swim.

They did have the note on the back of the headstock and PRS on the tuners, but that was it at first.

Of course as the years went on and the line got more and more popular, they added more typical brand features.

 

[Infomaniac]

This is a very good history lesson regarding the SE line. Might clear up some of the hear say that has evolved over the years.

 

[Infomaniac]

As an update. I sent in these pics from the thread for an eval. Got a reply back.

Beth Johnson
(PRS Guitars)
Aug 6, 2024, 13:02 EDT
Hi Ron,
Thank you for contacting PRS Guitars.
Everything looks to be original on the guitar, including the tremolo bar.
Serial# B12932 is a 2001 SE Santana, with a Mahogany body, Mahogany neck with a Wide-Fat profile, East Indian Rosewood fretboard, PRS tremolo bridge, humbucking treble and bass pickups, finished in Aqua Metallic, with nickel hardware.
I hope this information finds you well. We appreciate your interest in PRS.
Have a great week,
Beth
Customer Service
Paul Reed Smith Guitars
380 Log Canoe Circle
Stevensville, MD 21666
www.prsguitars.com

I ordered 2 sets of strings they put on these from the factory.

PRS Classic Super Light Guitar Strings 9-42

Some oil for the fretboard. The neck is pulled in a bit, need to adjust that.

As a no player amateur, but with mad mechanical skills. I'll adjust the truss rod, and per all of the how to youtube videos, restring, set pickup height etc.

 

[Infomaniac]

Before I tackle swapping pickups between the 2 Standards. I thought I would finally have a close look at this one. Not yet a player myself, I had a local guy play it so I could hear what it sounded like.

His first observation was the neck is off. Bent inward. I was a bit discouraged for a while before educating myself. He played it although it was difficult to play like it is. The 23 year old strings held up.

Being a life long aircraft mechanic and machinist. To be clear, the neck relief adjustment is only to establish no bow in the neck? It has nothing to do with the angle of the neck to the body? Checking it with the string across the frets at each end could only accomplish straightening the neck to itself. I have not heard this explanation in anything I have read or watched on video.

Anyway. The first thing I look at is the trem. It is twice as high as it needs to be. Giving the visual illusion of the neck bowed inward. Sigh of relief for sure. New strings are going on it so I will need to remove the springs and gingerly lower the trem to the desired 1/16" spec. I'm a bit visually impaired so have to make some round wire tools to measure things.

Once reassembled, Setting the trem angle parallel to the strings, I think I will try a digital inclinometer on the strings and the trem body.