Any opinion on the PRS SE Soapbar?

AlanRatcliffe

One of these is niggling at me. The Hamer I got recently is nice and has whetted my appetite for P90 guitars again. Unfortunately it's still a relatively inexpensive guitar and is Gibsonish in it's lack of body contours and scale length. I'd also prefer a single cutaway. The Tokai Les Pauls intrigue me from a price/quality standpoint but are also basically Gibson designs with the added disadvantage (for me) of the Les Paul control layout and the maple cap.

So I come to the PRS SE Soapbar. Also a cheaper guitar - at least as far as PRSi go, but seemingly a very good one and even has a comfy neck join (not a huge fan of the usual PRS join). I fiddled on one recently without plugging it in and was impressed with fit and finish as well as wood quality. I wasn't looking seriously then though, so didn't plug it in. I'll check it out again soon, but in the meantime, does anyone have any experience with these guitars?

MoJo-JoJoe

Umm ... ?

AlanRatcliffe

I meant anyone else? ? I was gonna call you tomorrow anyway...

AlanRatcliffe

...or you want me to start calling you at 10:30 of an evening?

MoJo-JoJoe

That was more like "Umm - Welcome to the dark side" than "Umm - speak to me". I doubt there's much I can tell you about that you don't already know or can't figure out in 2 mins with the guitar in your hands. Be warned: PRSi are like Smarties - you can't have just one.

Explorerlover

That is one sexy looking machine. I really need to get more acquainted with P90's

matta

Hi Alan,

I recently got a PRS SE One, a single P90 pick-up version of the Soapbar. It feels ands sound great. I had often read about PRS's and played on few of top end models, but always way beyound my budget. The SE range offer incredible value for money and are IMHO far superior in build quality to
the alternatives in a similar price range.

I've always lived the Les Paul Jnr so the single P90 is up my street, sounds great through the AC30 and Bandmaster.

Cheers

Matt

AlanRatcliffe

MoJo JoJoe wrote: That was more like "Umm - Welcome to the dark side" than "Umm - speak to me".

I also considered you might be saying "Umm... Told you so!". But figured you'd let me stew in my own juices on that one. There can be a world of meaning between your "Umms...", but it's hard to tell which is which from the written word. ?

I doubt there's much I can tell you about that you don't already know or can't figure out in 2 mins with the guitar in your hands.

OK. Thanks. Just trying to figure out if it's enough of a step up that I should get one in my hands again. After all, it is two hours drive there, two minutes with the guitar and two hours back... Also, should I be looking for a Soapbar or a Soapbar II?

Be warned: PRSi are like Smarties - you can't have just one.

I suspect my bank manager would disagree. I've been immune so far, but if that's the way it goes, so be it. ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Haven't played P90's in a while and not a fan of soapbar, except in black ?
Here's my input: the thing that concerns me is the soapbar shape makes it difficult to swap out for humbuckers without gap issues - unless PRS does smaller 90s?

AlanRatcliffe

Jack Flash Jr wrote: Here's my input: the thing that concerns me is the soapbar shape makes it difficult to swap out for humbuckers without gap issues - unless PRS does smaller 90s?

That's the whole point - I don't want another guitar with humbuckers. I have a really good one already and even that I find I'm using less and less these days (as I grow up ?). P90s have the power and fatter mids of a humbucker, but with the articulation of a single coil.

MoJo-JoJoe

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
MoJo JoJoe wrote: That was more like "Umm - Welcome to the dark side" than "Umm - speak to me".
I also considered you might be saying "Umm... Told you so!". But figured you'd let me stew in my own juices on that one. There can be a world of meaning between your "Umms...", but it's hard to tell which is which from the written word. ?

Yup it's only my Umms ... fortunately everyone else's makes perfect sense ?

I doubt there's much I can tell you about that you don't already know or can't figure out in 2 mins with the guitar in your hands.
OK. Thanks. Just trying to figure out if it's enough of a step up that I should get one in my hands again. After all, it is two hours drive there, two minutes with the guitar and two hours back... Also, should I be looking for a Soapbar or a Soapbar II?

Soapbar II is the double-cut version and will have a neck join closer to what you've said you don't like. Also the the Soapbar II has a flat top. My choice would be Soapbar (singlecut) as per your pics since the neck join is smoother and the singlecut join imparts a more authorative tone with more contact area; and it has a carved top. It won't hurt putting Lollars in there, but the Korean P90's are quite good. Call me anyway - I've got a slow day today.

Be warned: PRSi are like Smarties - you can't have just one.
I suspect my bank manager would disagree. I've been immune so far, but if that's the way it goes, so be it. ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Jack Flash Jr wrote: Here's my input: the thing that concerns me is the soapbar shape makes it difficult to swap out for humbuckers without gap issues - unless PRS does smaller 90s?
That's the whole point - I don't want another guitar with humbuckers. I have a really good one already and even that I find I'm using less and less these days (as I grow up ?). P90s have the power and fatter mids of a humbucker, but with the articulation of a single coil.

Then, my verdict: go for it! It's a stunner.

MoJo-JoJoe

Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Jack Flash Jr wrote: Here's my input: the thing that concerns me is the soapbar shape makes it difficult to swap out for humbuckers without gap issues - unless PRS does smaller 90s?
That's the whole point - I don't want another guitar with humbuckers. I have a really good one already and even that I find I'm using less and less these days (as I grow up ?). P90s have the power and fatter mids of a humbucker, but with the articulation of a single coil.

Who are you and what have you done with our Administrator???

Reinhard

I checked out the single p90 version a few weeks back, and the p90 sounded really thin, but this is MOST likely due to a poor setup, something I know you will be able to remedy. Got to love the simplicity of a slab of mahogany with a P90 ? I am starting to think a P90 may just be the perfect pickup for just about anything outside of metal. I would love to check out a tele with 2 P90's sometime. Good luck with the decision Alan.

[deleted]

Reinhard wrote: I checked out the single p90 version a few weeks back, and the p90 sounded really thin, but this is MOST likely due to a poor setup, something I know you will be able to remedy. Got to love the simplicity of a slab of mahogany with a P90 ? I am starting to think a P90 may just be the perfect pickup for just about anything outside of metal. I would love to check out a tele with 2 P90's sometime. Good luck with the decision Alan.

I am obsessed with this guitar.. and colour... The Lentz DL-90...

The PRS SE's are great value for money, Mine is such a good instrument, wish I could play it and enjoy it more... Still haven't sold it... Maybe one day ?

Jack-Flash-Jr

I keep coming back to the thread to look at those pics. It's dawning on me that it may just be the best looking PRS I've seen. You didn't mention where it is or how much...

Explorerlover

I feel you Jack Flash

Damn you Alan!!! ?

I have been poisoned...I never liked PRS but I cannot ignore this thing

nicovlogg

It seems GAS has been ignited, big time!

Attila

ooooohhhhhh I like that, I am going to check it out over the weekend ....hope the shops have stock ?

Attila

Brentcgp wrote: I am obsessed with this guitar.. and colour... The Lentz DL-90...

The PRS SE's are great value for money, Mine is such a good instrument, wish I could play it and enjoy it more... Still haven't sold it... Maybe one day ?

Brent Are Lentz guitars represented in SA .....would'nt mind looking at that as well