S2 Standard 22 Questions

[Big Big Pop]

I owned a PRS years and years ago. It was an employee HSS build. I stupidly sold it to pay for recording time and I've missed it ever since.

I'm looking to get back into the PRS family. I played a stock SE Standard 24 and I'm now daydreaming pretty much constantly about getting a PRS again. I'm eyeing an S2 Standard 22. I like the more vintage tones of the neck pickup in the 22 fret varieties and I've been pining for the PRS trem since I sold my last one over 20 years ago.

I have to admit that I'm not a HUGE fan of the 85/15 pups. I like what I've heard from the #7 and the 58/15 pups. Since this is my first thread, I'm not supposed to post any links. However, if one was to look at the vintage cherry listing at sweetwater, they would see that the narrative about the guitar would say that it has the #7 pickups whereas the specifications indicate that it has the 85/15 S pickkups. Count me as confused.

I'm also scouring the reverb listings. I've seen a few that seem to have the pup covers, but state that they are the 85/15 s pups. But are they? Or are they the #7s?

I'm tempted to wait for the 2020 Standard 22, which will have the 58/15 S pups and looks beautiful, but:
1. I don't have any idea when it will be available,
2. I haven't ever played the wide thin neck, and
3. I was hoping to buy a used one for about $800 or lower.

I can probably swing the purchase soonish, but will be easier for me early summer after I sell some gear sitting in a relative's basement.

I've considered other models, but: my other electric guitars are an American Strat and a Gretsch Country Classic, so I don't want another hollow body and I'd really like a double hb.

I can't seem to find a comprehensive listing of the history of this model, its permutations, options, etc.

Can someone enlighten me? If I see pup covers on a Standard 22, is it a #7 or an 85/15 with covers? Am I just being stupid (likely)? I'd appreciate any guidance.

 

[AP515]

I'd guess the covered ones are #7's but it's just a guess. There are a lot of special runs from retailors that change things around a little so it's hard to say what is in some particular guitar. Your $800 budget puts you squarely in the used S2 range. Find one close to you, like on Craigslist, and go play it. You can ask the guy to open the cavities and take photos of the back of the pickups to verify what they are.

 

[markd21]

I have had several S2 STD 22s with #7s. From my experience, the cover equals #7, non-cover equals 85/15S pickups. $800 should easily get you a STD 22 with #7s.

 

[xjbebop]

The S2 Standard 22 is one of my very favorite PRS models based on neck carve, weight and balance. You can always put whatever pups you want into one...

 

[Big Big Pop]

Thanks all for the replies, I really appreciate it. For those who have used them, how do you find the #7 pups? The only video reviews that are explicit about using them are the singlecut models with a fixed bridge. Those sound pretty good to me, but I understand that those differences can really affect the sound.

 

[markd21]

I haven't viewed/listened to this video in forever, but here's one I did reviewing/demoing my S2 STD 22....

 

[Big Big Pop]

I haven't viewed/listened to this video in forever, but here's one I did reviewing/demoing my S2 STD 22....

That’s amazing, and exactly what I was looking for. I actually did see (and enjoyed) your video earlier with the singlecut but somehow didn’t find this one. I think I’m sold, just need to probably wait for a paycheck or two and find the right one.

 

[markd21]

That’s amazing, and exactly what I was looking for. I actually did see (and enjoyed) your video earlier with the singlecut but somehow didn’t find this one. I think I’m sold, just need to probably wait for a paycheck or two and find the right one.

Awesome!! Glad it helped. This model is really the unsung hero of the PRS line as far as I am concerned. I always said that if I could get an endorsement or sig model, I would be THRILLED if it were the S2 STD 22 w/ #7 pickups. There is just something totally perfect about that guitar. In fact, I need to get another, lol....

 

[Big Big Pop]

Awesome!! Glad it helped. This model is really the unsung hero of the PRS line as far as I am concerned. I always said that if I could get an endorsement or sig model, I would be THRILLED if it were the S2 STD 22 w/ #7 pickups. There is just something totally perfect about that guitar. In fact, I need to get another, lol....

That’s kinda where I am. I had an old Japanese Jagmaster that wasn’t cutting it for me. I sold it with the intentions of getting a faded LP or an epiphone. Like I said previously, picked up an SE 24 standard and it just hooked me. I’m not a fan of 24 fret necks, and I’ve always adored the prs trem, so this is exactly what I’m looking for. I also love the satin necks and the look of the pick guard on it. Can’t wait to make it a new centerpiece of my lineup.

 

[andy474x]

Just an added $.02 - the S2 Standard 22 is a righteous guitar! I kind of have 2, a Satin model and a Studio, and they’re the real deal.

The neck shape isn’t wide thin, it’s “pattern regular,” which is slightly narrower at the nut, and slightly more petite in contour in general. Not as bulky on the back as W/F, not as flat on the back as W/T, but also not something vastly different than those profiles, it’s really comfortable and manageable.

I think the stock pickups were changed from #7’s to 85/15 in ‘17, or maybe ‘16, but safe to say anything not new, you can tell based on whether they have covers. In my Satin 22, I liked the neck 7 a lot, and still have it in there. The bridge pickup I found to be quite upper mid focused, not in a necessarily bad way, but it just wasn’t the sound I wanted in that guitar. A country player probably would’ve loved it. I swapped for a covered 59/09 to even out the tone, and have been very pleased. If you decided you didn’t like the #7’s, I’m sure there will be plenty of 58/15S pickups being pulled out of SE and S2’s and for sale cheap used.

To be fair, my Custom 22 Semi also has the #7’s, and I love them in it.

You just can’t go wrong with the Standard 22, even if you end up swapping pickups. They’re hands down the best value in the PRS lineup, IMO. Happy hunting!

 

[Big Big Pop]

Thanks for that response. I understand that the current models have the pattern regular neck (which I love). The PRS page about the 2020 model says that that one will have the wide thin neck to go along with the 58/15 s pickups. That’s the one thing I wasn’t super excited about for the new model and was maybe pushing me towards the older ones.

 

[littlebadboy]

Here's my demo of my S2 Standard 22:

The #7s are not so bad. Being a high output guy, I was yearning for one. So, I changed the pickups... and probably more.

I'd say, buy one used. Try it. EQ it to your liking. If not satisfied, change the pickups to your liking. There are a lot of options out there.

Being an S2 owner, I can't express enough my content, satisfaction, and happiness for it.

 

[Big Big Pop]

Here's my demo of my S2 Standard 22:

I already watched this one! I was confused, though, because you have the capped pickups and the video says that they are the 85/15 s. Are they the #7s? I dig the video, though.

 

[littlebadboy]

I already watched this one! I was confused, though, because you have the capped pickups and the video says that they are the 85/15 s. Are they the #7s? I dig the video, though.

Yeah, my bad... I apologize if my video was the one that confused you. I also found out later on that covered pickups on S2s are actually #7s. I need to edit that video as soon as possible.

 

[Big Big Pop]

No worries! I appreciate the video.

Honestly, it was the Sweetwater site that confused me more than anything else.

 

[IRG]

I had a Standard 22 a few years ago. Memories fade...but I found the pickups somewhat meh. Who knows though, maybe today I would like them? I have a S2 Custom 24 now (and a CE24) and both of the 85/15 (the CE are American pups and the S2 has the S version) and I like them a lot. Very dynamic, and have nice tones in all 6 positions. For me, the 85/15 > #7 any day. But if you get a good deal on a used S2, go that route and put in any pickups you want, and maybe you'll really like the #7 as well. Regular pattern necks are very nice, definitely beefier than my CE24 pattern thin, although I like both for sure.