SE Standard with quilted/flamed maple top?

[Vytas_79]

Hello all,

Question - I bought a used PRS SE Standard 24 from Long & McQuade (large music instrument chain in Canada). I didn't do a lot of research when I got it. Just saw it and played it. Thought it was great. Now I started looking into the different models after I bought it. It seems odd that mine is a SE Standard but has a flamed/quilted maple top. Maybe my understanding of the models is incorrect, but it appears only SE Custom models would have the top that it does. Not the Standard. I'm wondering is it's a fake or possibly a factory error? It looks legitimate to my eyes. I wouldn't think that anyone would put the effort to fake a lower tier model.


I've posted images of the guitar.

https://imgur.com/a/9o8dVYb

 

[d^rren]

That's really odd. Standards by definition do not have maple tops. I'd say factory error, as that doesn't look like a fake.

 

[Glide-bpm]

"... Go on, take the money and run..... OOooooooo, Lord....."

 

[show_a_little_faith]

Nothing jumps out to me as fake. Also, most important was you said you "played it and thought it was great". Assuming you paid a fair price (and I'd think a used SE would be pretty reasonable $), then I wouldn't worry any further about authenticity and just enjoy what seems like a very nice looking find. Congrats!

 

[Greywolf]

Just enjoy it

 

[Vytas_79]

Thanks! I am enjoying the guitar for sure. I'm feeling like it was my lucky day.

 

[MarcWink]

Not to be Johnny Raincloud, but shouldn't an Indonesian made SE have the Signature headstock decal with SE below it?

 

[Vytas_79]

Hmmm.... Just did a search on the web for a similar looking guitar. This headstock seems to be a match.

PRS SE Standard 24 Review | The Budget Guitarist

www.budgetguitarist.com

 

[Black Dog]

Not to be Johnny Raincloud, but shouldn't an Indonesian made SE have the Signature headstock decal with SE below it?

He has an older model. I believe it's from 2002. That was the style of the headstock decal then. I think they started the signature decal in 2017. Also it doesn't have neck binding like the newer SE standards have. Anyway it's a fine looking guitar. Congrats enjoy it.

 

[d^rren]

He has an older model. I believe it's from 2002. That was the style of the headstock decal then. I think they started the signature decal in 2017. Also it doesn't have neck binding like the newer SE standards have. Anyway it's a fine looking guitar. Congrats enjoy it.

But in 2002, they weren't making guitars in Indonesia. It was all Korean production up until a few years ago.

 

[Black Dog]

But in 2002, they weren't making guitars in Indonesia. It was all Korean production up until a few years ago.

In 2018 the company PT Wildwood were producing guitars for PRS. They were located in Indonesia.

 

[Vytas_79]

Seems like they've been using Indonesia for the SE line for longer then that.

So, what's this about Indonesian PRSi?

I'm seeing/hearing references to really inexpensive PRS models coming from Indonesia. These are authorized PRS dealers making the comments so it seems legit, but nothing out of the factory, yet. What gives?

forums.prsguitars.com

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Not to be Johnny Raincloud, but shouldn't an Indonesian made SE have the Signature headstock decal with SE below it?

No

He has an older model. I believe it's from 2002. That was the style of the headstock decal then. I think they started the signature decal in 2017. Also it doesn't have neck binding like the newer SE standards have. Anyway it's a fine looking guitar. Congrats enjoy it.

That model wasn’t made in 2002.

In 2018 the company PT Wildwood were producing guitars for PRS. They were located in Indonesia.

This^^^

The smaller logo is the giveaway it’s a PT wildwood. I can’t recall when they started making SE’s but it may have even been earlier.

They did a lot of the lower-end (aka: Standards) SE’s for a period before abandoning WMI and settling on Cort for the majority of the SE’s.

What’s also a somewhat interesting tidbit is that SEs had a whole different manufacturer and marketing for the Chinese market that were made in China before the HB’s and Acoustics were introduced. We just never really heard about them in the western market.

 

[Vytas_79]

I emailed PRS about the guitar. Here is the response.

"In a discussion with our director of SE's...the guitar is an SE Standard manufactured at the PT Wildwood factory in Indonesia. The factory would often apply a highly figured mahogany veneer over the body for aesthetic purposes. We did not purchase maple top guitars from this facility. Please find the specs below:

Serial# IC03029 is consistent with a 2016 SE Standard, with a mahogany body, maple neck with a wide-thin profile, East Indian rosewood fretboard with bird inlays, PRS tremolo bridge, HFS treble and Vintage bass pickups, finished in Vintage Cherry, with nickel hardware.

I hope this information finds you well. We appreciate your interest in PRS."

It's most defiantly a SE Standard with a really beautiful mahogany veneer. They did a great job with the top of this Standard.

Vytas.

 

[dirtbiker427]

I can't see the maple top in the cutaway. I'd agree that is a maple veneer directly over a mahogany body. That plus the binding on the body and not the neck makes it a very unique and rare SE.

 

[Prina]

Great story. Killer guitar.

Never knew about the highly figured hog veneers, but it's gorgeous. Enjoy!

 

[d^rren]

In 2018 the company PT Wildwood were producing guitars for PRS. They were located in Indonesia.

Did you miss the part where I said PRS weren't making guitars in Indonesia in 2002?