Veneer tops on SE guitars

[Darren A Vance]

I have a question, I heard that the flame maple on my se, was probably a printed veneer. Is this true?

 

[toothace]

Veneer, yes. Printed? C'mon...we're not talking' about an Epiphone here...



Who's talking' that kind of blasphemy anyway??

 

[Darren A Vance]

Guitar shop, I'd hate to think it was printed on, thought maybe cm thick but still hoping real wood.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Nah, I’ve sanded through a couple.

 

[Darren A Vance]

Cool, I appreciate the insight

 

[Antmax]

If the grain moves around and fades in and out as it catches and reflects the light then it's a proper veneer, the PRS's are that's why the bookmatching isn't always perfectly symetrical. When they slice the wood the grain is pressed in opposite directions when flipped for bookmatching. So each side catches the light differently so not uniform and one side often looks faded in photos till you rotate the guitar to a different angle.

Like this photo of mine below, if I moved the camera to the left the left side would start to look more defined and the right more hazed.

Here's the exact same guitar lit more carefully with proper more even lighting setup.

 

[László]

PRS doesn’t print veneers. It’s real.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

It’s all wood baby!

 

[rnodern]

echoing the others here: it may be paper thin, but it's definitely maple. It's vacuumed onto a less figured maple cap.

 

[parallyze]

Nice looking one. Is that what's called "Fire Red Burst"?

 

[Eddie kim]

Some se veneer looks lot better than the one on the S2 models, including mine

 

[Antmax]

Nice looking one. Is that what's called "Fire Red Burst"?

Yeah, your right. It is a fire red burst

 

[John Armsby]

My SE seems to have a veneer on top of the maple cap, is this normal on the Asian models?

 

[Black Plaid]

My SE seems to have a veneer on top of the maple cap, is this normal on the Asian models?

yes

 

[Alnus Rubra]

yes

Very succinct!

 

[aphantomvaper]

There is a Factory tour video that demonstrates the veneer process, look up PRS SE factory tour and they explain it pretty well.."it's a time honored art"

I'd post the link but this stupid fire tablet won't let me. I love my SE Santana veneer.

 

[davesultra]

Real figured Maple, albeit paper thin.

 

[93studiolite]

Some se veneer looks lot better than the one on the S2 models, including mine

I don’t think S2’s have a veneer. It should be a solid maple
cap, just not as figured as the CE’s and Core guitars. The top on my S2 Custom 24 has a lot of figuring in it, if you get it at the right angle. Otherwise it’s a pretty plain looking top.

 

[Black-Viper75]

Here the video I believe @aphantomvaper wanted to post. The Black/Gold Burst veneer on my 35th SE is gorgeous. Nothing on the market compares in looks and build quality with SE level guitars.

 

[Ovibos]

I don’t think S2’s have a veneer. It should be a solid maple
cap, just not as figured as the CE’s and Core guitars. The top on my S2 Custom 24 has a lot of figuring in it, if you get it at the right angle. Otherwise it’s a pretty plain looking top.

Correct. S2s are “better” but “plainer”.