Santana model comparison, and new guy here saying hello

[okstrat]

Long time PRS guy here, currently have a dozen or so Cores. Love short scale instruments so bought a Santana SE for grins just to check out the scale length and general tone and shape/feel.

Gigged it and it killed. Absolutely punches way above it's weight class for sure. Tried out a 25th Anniversary Santana at a local GC - for the price ($3200) it had a lot more wear than I wanted, but played and sounded amazing. So I regretfully passed on it. Was wormed pretty badly on the back, some of my PRS are as worn or worse, but *I* did the wear.

So I see there is a Santana I, II, III, MD, anniversary, and retro. I'd like to keep my investment amount tamped down to $4k or less (under 3k preferably), I've found some decent deals on IIIs but the lack of neck binding and the body inlays bug me a bit. Also read the III has a slightly rounder radius fingerboard. The anniversary looks awesome, but I'm not a fan of hollow birds. I know it's a minor thing, but when you spend this much for something...

For you guys who have more than one USA Santana, I'd love to hear the differences you've found, and if you have a favorite which model it is.

 

[SinSir]

Wise choice. Here's a helpful chart

PRS Santana Guitars: Specifications Chart | Ultimate Santana

Specifications and comparison chart of the Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Santana signature guitar line

www.ultimatesantana.com

 

[Greywolf]

That site is missing the Westie and KL33 too ... silly people

I'm blessed to have 2 . A cherry Westie and a PS Semi Hollow Retro rosewood neck made for the head of HR for PRS.
Both are spectacular , I prefer rosewood necks for the feel and tone.

The I,II,KL33 ,and Retro are the more preferred models , I'm sure Sergio can give his esteemed perspective.

 

[Moondog Wily]

Wise choice. Here's a helpful chart

PRS Santana Guitars: Specifications Chart | Ultimate Santana

Specifications and comparison chart of the Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Santana signature guitar line

www.ultimatesantana.com

Interesting that the Retro is not in their list! There is a "contact the webmaster" if you see corrections needed or additions, so I sent them a note to add that one in ;~)) Nice comparison table though, thanks for linking that!!!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

I think perhaps the best value is the Santana “Signature” model that ran from about 2014-whenever the Retro came out.

They feel a little more “svelte” than the I,II,& III (lighter likely because of the advances in PRS’s wood drying process) and felt like a continuation of the concept of the III to make Santanas more of a production run, but came with all the purfling and a more generic version of the headstock eagle.

 

[okstrat]

Wise choice. Here's a helpful chart

PRS Santana Guitars: Specifications Chart | Ultimate Santana

Specifications and comparison chart of the Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Santana signature guitar line

www.ultimatesantana.com

Thank you, that's a fantastic resource.

 

[000AA]

Hi Everybody,

Same question as OP, I have been checking the forum since a longtime but this is my first post.
I have bought recently a great Santana model but I don’t have much info about her… I did ask PRS, this is what they told me :
This is a 2014 Wood Library Santana, with a Quilted Maple 10-top, Mahogany neck with a Santana profile, Brazilian Rosewood fretboard with Paua bird inlays, PRS tremolo bridge, Santana treble and bass pickups, finished in Tortoise Shell, with hybrid hardware.

But I have no idea which exact model it is, if it’s a special serie/edition, what kind of laquer, what kind of pick-up, etc…
Any info would be welcome, many thanks in advance.

Best,

Armand

 

[Greywolf]

PRS Santana Guitars: Specifications Chart | Ultimate Santana

Specifications and comparison chart of the Paul Reed Smith (PRS) Santana signature guitar line

www.ultimatesantana.com

 

[Greywolf]

CARLOS SANTANA MODEL: 1995 - 1998. Reproduces Santana’s original. First 100 signed and numbered. Pre-’85 body shape and headstock (with eagle inlay) 24 1/4” scale, 24-fret (11.5” radius) fretboard, bird inlays, maple top (with paua shell purfling) Santana humbuckers, tone, twin mini-switches.

SANTANA BRAZILIAN: 2003. Brazilian rosewood neck and fretboard, 11.5” radius, 24.5” scale, Eagle on H.S. Santana fret wire, Green Ripple Abalone birds, 10 top flame, Santana II purfling, Santana III pickups, gold/nickel hardware mix – Limited Run of 200 guitars with engraved numbered backplate.

SANTANA II: 1999 - 2007. Specs similar to Carlos Santana Model, but features 3-way toggle, volume and tone, artist grade woods, Brazilian Rosewood fretboard and headstock overlay, eagle inlayed on headstock.

SANTANA III: 2000 Mahogany back, Carved maple top, 24 fret, 24 1/2” scale, 10” radius, East Indian rosewood fretboard, Abalone bird inlay, Santana wide fat neck carve, PRS Tremolo, 14 to 1, low mass locking tuners, Electronics and tremolo cavity cover, New Santana pickups with covers, 3 way toggle pickup selector, Volume control, Tone control.tremolo cavity cover, New Santana pickups with covers, 3 way toggle pickup selector, Volume control, Tone control.

SANTANA RETRO: 2018 - present. Carved highly figured maple top, mahogany back and neck, rosewood fretboard, 24.5” scale length, 11” radius, 24-fret, outlined abalone bird inlays, Rosewood headstock overlay with inlaid signature, Phase III tuners, Santana pickups, Santana neck carve, one volume and one tone control, Gen III trem.

KL33 2008
Produced in a limited run of 100 in 2008, the KL-33 is an all-korina guitar featuring specs similar to those of the Santana model, including the same body and headstock shape and vintage style tremolo Mira Pickups.


PRS 1980 West Street Limited Edition aka "Westie":

• Limited-edition guitar from the early days of PRS
• Rich-sounding mahogany body with Artist-grade sapele top for extra punch and killer looks
• Mahogany Santana neck profile and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard feels great in your hand and provides hours of playing comfort
• Smooth-playing 24.5" scale length and 11.5" fretboard radius
• HFS and Modern Eagle humbuckers deliver a massive array of tones
• Original-style inlays on body, fretboard and headstock
• PRS vibrato bridge lets you dip, dive, and bend with ease
• Traditional PRS nickel hardware
• Hard case included

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Hi Everybody,

Same question as OP, I have been checking the forum since a longtime but this is my first post.
I have bought recently a great Santana model but I don’t have much info about her… I did ask PRS, this is what they told me :
This is a 2014 Wood Library Santana, with a Quilted Maple 10-top, Mahogany neck with a Santana profile, Brazilian Rosewood fretboard with Paua bird inlays, PRS tremolo bridge, Santana treble and bass pickups, finished in Tortoise Shell, with hybrid hardware.

But I have no idea which exact model it is, if it’s a special serie/edition, what kind of laquer, what kind of pick-up, etc…
Any info would be welcome, many thanks in advance.

Best,

Armand

It’s a “Signature” which has subtle, unpublished/documented changes from the II. It’s not a III like the list @Greywolf posted.

It would have a poly finish and Santana pickups (as customer service replied).

As I previously posted, I feel like it’s the best value Santana you can/could buy for the money. I adore mine.

 

[000AA]

Many thanks, both of you, for your prompt return.
I knew UltimateSantana but could not find where was mine...
I need another post so I can paste the link with pictures.

Best,

AA

 

[000AA]

... I thought Gibson nomenclature was complicated, but PRS is not bad either!

 

[000AA]

Here is the guitar.
https://www.uni-sound.hk/product-page/prs-wood-library-santana-model-brazilian-rosewood-fingerboard

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Here is the guitar.
https://www.uni-sound.hk/product-page/prs-wood-library-santana-model-brazilian-rosewood-fingerboard

Oh hey! That’s got some special touches like the hybrid hardware and the more ornate headstock Eagle.

Killer guitar!

 

[Greywolf]

that's a sweetie 4 sure

 

[000AA]

Thank you guys, it is indeed a fantastic guitar.
Was not love at first sight, but I can't play something else now... !!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Thank you guys, it is indeed a fantastic guitar.
Was not love at first sight, but I can't play something else now... !!

All other guitars are trash!

 

[bodia]

Killer guitar! Congrats

 

[Moondog Wily]

Here is the guitar.
https://www.uni-sound.hk/product-page/prs-wood-library-santana-model-brazilian-rosewood-fingerboard

WOW, that is a killer looking Santana! Congrats on that score and welcome to the forum (as a participant) ;~))

 

[dogrocketp]

And it has a devilish Spanish neck shape (Satana?)