New PRS S2 series

AlanRatcliffe

PRS have introduced a new, cheaper, US-made range of guitars, the S2 series.

S2 Custom 24 - $1399

S2 Mira - $1179

S2 Starla - $1249

http://www.prsguitars.com/s2series/guitars/index.php

Lethe

Wow! I'd like to test that custom 24!

AlanRatcliffe

Max

I wouldn't mind the the Starla or Custom 24 ?. They look really good.

warrenpridgeon

They do look pretty sweet... seems they'll fall somewhere between the SE and the USA made "proper" PRS guitars...

arjunmenon

The S2 Customs 24 really looks the business 8)

AlanRatcliffe

warrenpridgeon wrote: seems they'll fall somewhere between the SE and the USA made "proper" PRS guitars...

That's the whole point - to get a quality mid-range guitar that slots in nicely between their Asian and their US instruments. Something that can compete with the other US manufacturers and that can keep a player playing PRS when they move up from the SEs, but before they can afford the boutique pricing of their standard ranges.

Looking at the details, I think they've made the right choices to keep the quality up but bring the prices down.

Malkav

I was reading a run down of these that a PRS rep from the states had put up and interestingly enough the choice of doing the carves on the body the way they have was to save time, apparently PRS' violin carve takes +/- 3 hours hand sanding time once it comes off the CNC before it goes to be stained, also that custom 24 looks way better in the solid finishes than it does in that red.

AlanRatcliffe

Chad Adam Browne wrote: also that custom 24 looks way better in the solid finishes than it does in that red.

I quite like the red. But the antique white is OK too:

Lethe

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Chad Adam Browne wrote: also that custom 24 looks way better in the solid finishes than it does in that red.
I quite like the red. But the antique white is OK too:

Yup, this is the one I would want!

Malkav

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Chad Adam Browne wrote: also that custom 24 looks way better in the solid finishes than it does in that red.
I quite like the red. But the antique white is OK too:

I think my issue with the red is just that the top is pretty meh in terms of figuring - I'd rather have them using plain maple caps and pretty veneers than just putting on an average grade figured maple cap.

Charlie4

PRS guitars are amazing, SE's are good bang for the buck so the inbetweeners will probably also be great guitars. I would imagine that they would also be great value for money. The Starla and Mira finish looks nice, the Custom 24, not so much.

rikus

Andertons review posted this morning!

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AlanRatcliffe

Here's the Musicradar review:

http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/prs-s2-series-first-hands-on-review-of-new-for-2013-solidbodies-579800/1

With another Youtube vid included:

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Charlie4

For me this is tonal heaven, with that Splawn thrown into the mix.
I know that a lot of the goodness also comes from the Splawn but the thing I'm actually curious about is how the S2 Series pickups will compare to PRS's flagship 57/08 pickups?

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@Alan, the Music Radar video doesn't sound bad at all - still a lot of nice sustain to be had. Would be great to hear some more tonal comparisons in the future when they are more widespread.

AlanRatcliffe

That vid is a damn good showcase for the 57/08s - the Splawn has the flexibility to cover a good range of tones and shows off the 57/08's classic PAF heritage nicely.

From the Anderton vid, I'd say the closest pickups to the 57/08s are the Mira's (but the Mira itself sounds more like an SG). The Starla is very Gretschy to my ear (quite cool - I may have to look out for one of the older stoptail models). The Custom has a more modern voicing to the pickups, and sounds the least inspiring to me.