SE ZM 24 Alternative?

Update: I've played a bunch of SEs since the original post, and the one that feels closest to the ZM is actually an SE Custom 22 Semi-Hollow.

The 22 frets make it feel a bit more playable than the 24, and the neck doesn't feel as wide as the McCarty. I thought that the lack of a satin neck and the non-single cut body (as opposed to the ZM) would bother me, but they don't.

It doesn't look like the newest gen SEs have a comparable semi-hollow except for the Custom 24 Piezo. Are there similar models that can be found in previous generations or should I go for the Custom 22?

Thanks!
 
Update: I've played a bunch of SEs since the original post, and the one that feels closest to the ZM is actually an SE Custom 22 Semi-Hollow.

The 22 frets make it feel a bit more playable than the 24, and the neck doesn't feel as wide as the McCarty. I thought that the lack of a satin neck and the non-single cut body (as opposed to the ZM) would bother me, but they don't.

It doesn't look like the newest gen SEs have a comparable semi-hollow except for the Custom 24 Piezo. Are there similar models that can be found in previous generations or should I go for the Custom 22?

Thanks!
The only Semi-Hollow in the current SE line-up is the SE Cu24 Piezo (other than the Zach Myers of course) but that doesn't mean they haven't done other Semi-hollows in the past so you may find a SE Cu22 semi-hollow 'used' for sale. Of course the SE Cu22 Semi-hollow is going to be very similar to the Zach Myers as both would share the same 22 fret and semi-hollow style construction.

At the end of the day, the mot important factor in all of this is 'you'. I'm not going to be playing 'your' guitar, I'm not the one who has to pay the money, I'm not the one that has to decide if it 'works' for you. The whole reason you seemed to be put off the ZM was because of your 'feelings' toward the Person which affected your feelings towards the instrument.

Guitars are 'personal' and what another may dislike, another may find it's the perfect guitar for them. Unless its been built 'poorly', every guitar will 'work' (or can be set-up properly to work) to make 'music'. They all have the same 'basic' function and notes - you can play the same song on a Les Paul or Strat because it has the same notes - just the sound/tone is different. Therefore it really does come down to you as the person playing to decide whether you 'prefer' the look, the feel, the sound and/or playability of the guitar to you. What I may 'prefer', you may not, so its up to you to decide whether or not a guitar 'works' for you.

All we can do is maybe try and explain or point out differences and/or changes to the instruments and/or the model range. The ZM has changed over the years for example and the range of Models PRS make each year changes to. You can't buy a 'new' Cu22 Semi-Hollow because that model is not 'currently' in production so we maybe able to help with that type of info, but ultimately you have to decide if the Instrument works for you or not regardless.

If you think the Cu22 you found is the 'one' for you, works for you etc, then buy it. As I said, its you that will be playing it, so its you that has to decide if its the right guitar for you...
 
The only Semi-Hollow in the current SE line-up is the SE Cu24 Piezo (other than the Zach Myers of course) but that doesn't mean they haven't done other Semi-hollows in the past so you may find a SE Cu22 semi-hollow 'used' for sale. Of course the SE Cu22 Semi-hollow is going to be very similar to the Zach Myers as both would share the same 22 fret and semi-hollow style construction.

At the end of the day, the mot important factor in all of this is 'you'. I'm not going to be playing 'your' guitar, I'm not the one who has to pay the money, I'm not the one that has to decide if it 'works' for you. The whole reason you seemed to be put off the ZM was because of your 'feelings' toward the Person which affected your feelings towards the instrument.

Guitars are 'personal' and what another may dislike, another may find it's the perfect guitar for them. Unless its been built 'poorly', every guitar will 'work' (or can be set-up properly to work) to make 'music'. They all have the same 'basic' function and notes - you can play the same song on a Les Paul or Strat because it has the same notes - just the sound/tone is different. Therefore it really does come down to you as the person playing to decide whether you 'prefer' the look, the feel, the sound and/or playability of the guitar to you. What I may 'prefer', you may not, so its up to you to decide whether or not a guitar 'works' for you.

All we can do is maybe try and explain or point out differences and/or changes to the instruments and/or the model range. The ZM has changed over the years for example and the range of Models PRS make each year changes to. You can't buy a 'new' Cu22 Semi-Hollow because that model is not 'currently' in production so we maybe able to help with that type of info, but ultimately you have to decide if the Instrument works for you or not regardless.

If you think the Cu22 you found is the 'one' for you, works for you etc, then buy it. As I said, its you that will be playing it, so its you that has to decide if its the right guitar for you...
Thanks for this helpful info! Yes, of course the whole thing is subjective. My first electric was an American made Fender Prodigy that I've had for 25 years, and even though it's basically a modded strat that leans towards metal (a genre which I don't listen to and don't play), it's still my favorite. I have so much history with it and first learned to play on it, so it's almost as though my fingers and body have built their initial muscle memory for guitar playing based on the contours of the neck, the sounds of the pickups, etc. Someone else might pick it up and think it's just an entry-level strat with a humbucker on the bridge, but that's not my experience with it.

The reason for my hemming and hawing is that I wasn't in the market for a PRS. I randomly played one while shopping for Gretsches, and couldn't stop thinking about how it felt to play the PRS (it was probably an SE or McCarty but I don't recall). When I played the ZM it felt like the best of all worlds but yeah, it matters to me whose name is on the headstock. But, because I'm new to PRS models (and there are a whole lot of them!) I'm having to learn the different specs to understand what it was about the ZM that I liked.

The situation now is that I've bought the Gretsch that I was looking for, but the GC near me has a Cu22 Semi-Hollow on clearance for like $630. If I hadn't just bought a new guitar I'd be on it in a second. Still, that seems like too good of a deal to pass up, hence my mental gymnastics to see if there are other models that might fit the bill so I can give myself some breathing room before spending more $$.
 
Thanks for this helpful info! Yes, of course the whole thing is subjective. My first electric was an American made Fender Prodigy that I've had for 25 years, and even though it's basically a modded strat that leans towards metal (a genre which I don't listen to and don't play), it's still my favorite. I have so much history with it and first learned to play on it, so it's almost as though my fingers and body have built their initial muscle memory for guitar playing based on the contours of the neck, the sounds of the pickups, etc. Someone else might pick it up and think it's just an entry-level strat with a humbucker on the bridge, but that's not my experience with it.

The reason for my hemming and hawing is that I wasn't in the market for a PRS. I randomly played one while shopping for Gretsches, and couldn't stop thinking about how it felt to play the PRS (it was probably an SE or McCarty but I don't recall). When I played the ZM it felt like the best of all worlds but yeah, it matters to me whose name is on the headstock. But, because I'm new to PRS models (and there are a whole lot of them!) I'm having to learn the different specs to understand what it was about the ZM that I liked.

The situation now is that I've bought the Gretsch that I was looking for, but the GC near me has a Cu22 Semi-Hollow on clearance for like $630. If I hadn't just bought a new guitar I'd be on it in a second. Still, that seems like too good of a deal to pass up, hence my mental gymnastics to see if there are other models that might fit the bill so I can give myself some breathing room before spending more $$.
The Zach Myers was 'developed' with Zach himself - although the actual guitar it was based on is no longer in the range - but they start out with a 'PRS Singlecut' that was made 'semi-hollow' with his favourite 'colour' stain. The Pickups have been PRS pick-ups too - I believe the 245 'S' pickups they used to use in the SE 245 Singlecut - called the 245 because it had a 24.5" scale too. Now the 245 doesn't exist in the PRS range, its been 'replaced' by the McCarty 594's.

Anyway, the point is that guitar was based on existing 'models' but differed with the Semi-Hollow style. You could remove (or replace) the Truss Rod Cover and then it doesn't have any 'ZM' branding at all. Its still the ONLY Single Cut Semi-Hollow PRS in the SE range and therefore is 'unique'. Everything else will have its own 'unique' feature - whether its the scale length, single or double cut, fixed or tremolo bridge, individual or multi coil splitting, individual or master tone/volumes etc. Change the Truss Rod Cover and it no longer has ZM on the headstock - just PRS!

I personally think that the Instrument matters more than the name associated with it. I'm not necessarily a John Mayer Fan but I'd buy the Silver Sky if I wanted a great Strat for example because the instrument matters most. If the ZM works best for you, then you should buy that because its a 'great' instrument that works for you. Its only an instrument and a 'tool' to make music, so if it ticks the feel, the look, the tone and the playability, I couldn't care less what name or other artists may use it/endorse it etc.

If something bothers you that either you can't change (such as the colour stain or neck shape/feel) or even something you can (like pick-ups or tuners), then I can understand some deliberation, but if it meets the qualities as an 'instrument' first & foremost, any minor things, like strings/string gauge or TRC (under $50 and 'simple' to change), shouldn't matter - because its you and your ability to get the music out. If that instrument 'works' for you, regardless of any name, brand etc!

PRS are known for making 'quality' instruments that are for Professional Use - even at the SE level - they are not 'Student' guitars even if they have Student/intermediate Pricing. They are used by many professionals to record and/or tour with - therefore if ANY PRS works for you, buy it! And by works - I mean enables yo to play, get the music out etc without worrying about the 'guitar/instrument/tool' in your hands - either because of cost/value (don't want to ding it), reliability, 'image' or whatever. Playability is a big factor in that which is why you should try first and buy the one you felt worked best for you!!!
 
The Zach Myers was 'developed' with Zach himself - although the actual guitar it was based on is no longer in the range - but they start out with a 'PRS Singlecut' that was made 'semi-hollow' with his favourite 'colour' stain. The Pickups have been PRS pick-ups too - I believe the 245 'S' pickups they used to use in the SE 245 Singlecut - called the 245 because it had a 24.5" scale too. Now the 245 doesn't exist in the PRS range, its been 'replaced' by the McCarty 594's.

Anyway, the point is that guitar was based on existing 'models' but differed with the Semi-Hollow style. You could remove (or replace) the Truss Rod Cover and then it doesn't have any 'ZM' branding at all. Its still the ONLY Single Cut Semi-Hollow PRS in the SE range and therefore is 'unique'. Everything else will have its own 'unique' feature - whether its the scale length, single or double cut, fixed or tremolo bridge, individual or multi coil splitting, individual or master tone/volumes etc. Change the Truss Rod Cover and it no longer has ZM on the headstock - just PRS!

I personally think that the Instrument matters more than the name associated with it. I'm not necessarily a John Mayer Fan but I'd buy the Silver Sky if I wanted a great Strat for example because the instrument matters most. If the ZM works best for you, then you should buy that because its a 'great' instrument that works for you. Its only an instrument and a 'tool' to make music, so if it ticks the feel, the look, the tone and the playability, I couldn't care less what name or other artists may use it/endorse it etc.

If something bothers you that either you can't change (such as the colour stain or neck shape/feel) or even something you can (like pick-ups or tuners), then I can understand some deliberation, but if it meets the qualities as an 'instrument' first & foremost, any minor things, like strings/string gauge or TRC (under $50 and 'simple' to change), shouldn't matter - because its you and your ability to get the music out. If that instrument 'works' for you, regardless of any name, brand etc!

PRS are known for making 'quality' instruments that are for Professional Use - even at the SE level - they are not 'Student' guitars even if they have Student/intermediate Pricing. They are used by many professionals to record and/or tour with - therefore if ANY PRS works for you, buy it! And by works - I mean enables yo to play, get the music out etc without worrying about the 'guitar/instrument/tool' in your hands - either because of cost/value (don't want to ding it), reliability, 'image' or whatever. Playability is a big factor in that which is why you should try first and buy the one you felt worked best for you!!!
I agree with you partially on this! The missing piece for me is that if any of my money goes towards supporting ZM or his brand, and indirectly, any hateful stuff he'll post on Twitter, I'd much rather find another instrument that doesn't have his name on it.

I recognize that it's impossible to know where the money goes for anything we buy, particularly online. But if there's something so overt as a celebrity musician that can't reign it in on social media, I'm happy to look elsewhere.
 
I agree with you partially on this! The missing piece for me is that if any of my money goes towards supporting ZM or his brand, and indirectly, any hateful stuff he'll post on Twitter, I'd much rather find another instrument that doesn't have his name on it.

I recognize that it's impossible to know where the money goes for anything we buy, particularly online. But if there's something so overt as a celebrity musician that can't reign it in on social media, I'm happy to look elsewhere.
Buy used - he gets NOTHING!

Any money an artist would receive is paid by PRS not you effectively and also only on sales of 'new' product but if you buy used, any money that guitar generated for the artist has already been paid so you can buy in good confidence knowing that none of your money is going to the artist, let alone to PRS.

In some cases, the guitar exists in the range of non-artist models - albeit with some 'feature' that is exclusive to the Signature model. In this case, its the semi-hollow design SC and the little ZM on the TRC and without the ZM, its just a Semi-Hollow PRS. There is 'nothing' else that is distinctly his as the rest is ALL PRS design - inc the PRS Pick-ups, they are not ZM pickups. When it launched, PRS had a SE 245 SC that was basically the ZM without the chambering...
 
Buy used - he gets NOTHING!

Any money an artist would receive is paid by PRS not you effectively and also only on sales of 'new' product but if you buy used, any money that guitar generated for the artist has already been paid so you can buy in good confidence knowing that none of your money is going to the artist, let alone to PRS.

In some cases, the guitar exists in the range of non-artist models - albeit with some 'feature' that is exclusive to the Signature model. In this case, its the semi-hollow design SC and the little ZM on the TRC and without the ZM, its just a Semi-Hollow PRS. There is 'nothing' else that is distinctly his as the rest is ALL PRS design - inc the PRS Pick-ups, they are not ZM pickups. When it launched, PRS had a SE 245 SC that was basically the ZM without the chambering...
Thanks so much! :)
 
there's always a ton of used ones at Guitar Center. they have 10% off now too. like others said, get used so he doesn't get a dime and swap out the truss rod cover from Reverb. You can even order the used guitar and return it in 45 days to your local GC.

 
there's always a ton of used ones at Guitar Center. they have 10% off now too. like others said, get used so he doesn't get a dime and swap out the truss rod cover from Reverb. You can even order the used guitar and return it in 45 days to your local GC.

Right on, thank you so much!
 
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