So I play an SE Standard 24, and I have tried a few other models, but I am not in love with anything other than the wide thin profile (maybe not even pattern thin) my SE has BK Story Monday pickups, which I think sound great. Every now and again I think well maybe a nicer looking SE 24. Maybe Spaulted Maple if I can find it cheap, or maybe spend a crap ton of money and import a Stealth Gray SE 24 from the UK, maybe the 85/15s would sound better, maybe I move the Stormy Mondays over. But maybe I am just being dumb. When I asked at Daves about spending more to get a SE Custom, they just laughed and said, "Why?"
Just a note, with CITES you won't be able to import anything with rosewood from the UK, at least that's what Anderton's told me when I tried to buy a guitar from them. You are at the wrong place if you are asking if getting another guitar is a bad idea. That said, a second guitar is good to have for a backup, or even just for putting you in a different mindset for inspiration.
A quick look on Reverb and there are quite a few Spalted Maple top SEs out there, comes down to budget. Have you tried the CE-24? Some decent deals on freshly used ones -they have 85/15 pickups.
I have tried a CE, I haven't given it a lot of time. I love the looks of that Gray Matte finish though. I would get a spouted maple SE only if I could find a smoking deal. I can drive over to Dave's and get one for $595 any day of the week. So if one pops on eBay for say $400-$450 I might bite. I inquired with one of the UK retailers about shipping one of the matte grey ones here we'll see what they have to say. It's more like my fourth guitar. I have the SE, I have an Ibanez AS-83 that I really like, and a '71 Fender Mustang in Competition Blue, which is all original (and I haven't touched in about a year). I could probably come close to trading the Mustang straight up for a low end (solid color) Core.
This!! As much as I love my SE’s, and as impressed as I am by the S2’s, there’s nothing like a Core PRS guitar. I think it was like, last week, that I saw a used Standard 22 for $950 on Reverb.
My idea is to use a high end guitar as a reward for some kind of attainment in my playing. I just started taking lessons about 4-5 months ago. I noodled around maybe 25 years ago (hence the Mustang, which I bought in college for maybe $175) but I am not where I want to be. I very much doubt my next guitar will be anything other than a PRS, since I like the thin necks so much.
1- Don't let your playing abilities dictate the model of instrument you own. Having a better guitar will inspire you to play more and get better. 2- If a thin neck is the main feature of importance, start there. Find the best purchase options that have that feature and decide from those which is the best for you, SE, S2, Core. You'll find it to be a balancing act between what feels right and what will compliment your arsenal.
Great avatar, Huggy. Loved KK vs. Godzilla. I mentioned this line to my wife (fwiw, she's a professional flutist & vocalist - I'm the 8-chord beginner guitarist). She replied:
Hmmm... let's see... One on the couch, one in the office, three in the living room, and a couple of spares. There's room!
. Mod your current guitar. Remove the pickups and wiring circuit in as close to one or two pieces as possible -- so you can reinstall later with the most ease. Buy some new pickups in a completely different style, like humbucker sized P90 for the bridge and a Gretsch-type for the neck, Bourns pots, Switchcraft switch and jack. Drive that around town for a while. Lipstick pickups, Single coils (often fit at an angle in a standard humbucker route) like Jaguar or Tele. Have some fun. .
