Should I Get an SE or S2

[88prs]

Nice comparison:

 

[Broseph]

“Gen 2” costs more. The prices went up to cover the cost of US electronics. I suspect the spread new to used will be about the same given similar age and condition - just my guess though.

I have a feeling used market will be terrible for buyers getting the correct info. Too many guys will not know the difference. Forget about places like guitar center marking it correctly. They probably will jack all of them up and then wonder why they have such a large used inventory that’s not moving. I’ve already seen the difference. Local guitar center got a thinline in used. They are asking over $400 what I paid for a used last year. And it’s not one with USA electronics

So many shops rely on reverb and eBay sales to establish prices. They really need to distinguish between the generations for it to matter.

 

[SinSir]

I have a feeling used market will be terrible for buyers getting the correct info. Too many guys will not know the difference. Forget about places like guitar center marking it correctly. They probably will jack all of them up and then wonder why they have such a large used inventory that’s not moving. I’ve already seen the difference. Local guitar center got a thinline in used. They are asking over $400 what I paid for a used last year. And it’s not one with USA electronics

So many shops rely on reverb and eBay sales to establish prices. They really need to distinguish between the generations for it to matter.

So basically it'll be the same as it's always been

Good news is, before '24 no core goodies unless it's a 10th anniversary S2 or modded.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I have a feeling used market will be terrible for buyers getting the correct info. Too many guys will not know the difference. Forget about places like guitar center marking it correctly. They probably will jack all of them up and then wonder why they have such a large used inventory that’s not moving. I’ve already seen the difference. Local guitar center got a thinline in used. They are asking over $400 what I paid for a used last year. And it’s not one with USA electronics

So many shops rely on reverb and eBay sales to establish prices. They really need to distinguish between the generations for it to matter.

I can't believe the number for SEs that fly under the radar by GC employees and get listed for USA made prices. I can KIND of see an excuse for some of the SE CE24s getting sneaking in there since its a new model, but I see tons of others all the time and its mind boggling. There's an SE tremonti listed for over $2800 thats been up for weeks

 

[DISTORT6]

I can't believe the number for SEs that fly under the radar by GC employees and get listed for USA made prices. I can KIND of see an excuse for some of the SE CE24s getting sneaking in there since its a new model, but I see tons of others all the time and its mind boggling. There's an SE tremonti listed for over $2800 thats been up for weeks

If they only clearly marked them on the headstock to easily differentiate them…

 

[Stephen J.]

A store about an hour from me has a used SE 594, nothing special about it, listed at $1150. It has been there a couple of years.

 

[tabl10s]

I'm Looking to buy my first PRS and was just wondering if the price differences between the SE models and S2 models are really worth it

This is the SE model I was interested in getting This was the S2 model I was interested in getting
V (it goes for around $1200 where I live) V V (it goes for around $3000) V

Obviously I know the build quality and electronics will be better but is there really that much more that justifies almost double the price.
I play some gigs every now and then but I'm hoping to play more if that helps
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!

You only get one chance to be excited about your first PRS... Get a Core!

 

[FennRx]

Nice comparison:

For those who don’t want to watch all 38 minutes…while playing each blindfolded he correctly guessed the SE but mixed up the s2 and core.

 

[d^rren]

That's interesting since the SE and S2 have the same electronics. The main difference is that the SE has a maple neck, whereas the S2 and Core both have mahogany necks.

 

[Abe]

Nice comparison:

Cheating! He looked at, felt, and played on all 3 before the blindfolded part!

There's another video out there that has someone blindfolded and choosing an SE over a $19k PRS after narrowing down like a dozen guitars to the 2 PRS's, but I won't post it again for it's face value because I don't feel I can be certain it's not a 'shill'.

But I don't think you'd be in for disappointment with whatever you choose.

 

[bodia]

Market isn’t there yet. But when these 2024 S2’s pop up on the used market: watch out. Sub 1.5k core level electronics in a USA quality PRS? Those are deals that we haven’t seen since pre pandemic days.

I snagged a brand new '24 Vela Satin SH for 2023 prices!