SE series????

[richedie]

Do you guys like the SE series? They don't feel as good to me as the USA series but I was wondering how everyone felt on this. I terid the Santana SE and another SE (can't remember). Do you guys find the feel, fit, and finish as good? The core tone of a guitar starts with good wood and construction. I have a Korean Dean that is nice but no USA guitar. Any thoughts??

Thanks.

[Brian]

I really like my SSE. I agree, good tone starts with good wood and I believe these SEs do have good wood. I feel the stock electronics are rather disappointing, but those are easy to change. You're right, they don't play as well as the 2000 american counterparts, but they are definitely a great player for the price. I think they blow away anything else in the price point.

[jkornel]

Great Tone / playing comes from the fingers not the wood......:D there I said it !!!

Seriously though I really like my first gen SSE. I have all new electronics, and Dragon 1 PU's in it. But the guitar itself is nothing to complain about. IMHO

[pm81]

I have two SE's and a McCarty. Love the McCarty, of course - got that extra "stuff" and "feel" that warrants the extra price. I'm sure as hell impressed with the Korean models as far as feel and playability vs. cost ratio. The electronics, I could live without.

[FrankiePRS]

The electronics, I could live without. It would be a much quiter guitar without them, I suspect. :) Th SE's i've played in stores always feel and sound really good for the price point... lots of bang for the buck.

[Big Mike]

It would be a much quiter guitar without them, I suspect. :) Th SE's i've played in stores always feel and sound really good for the price point... lots of bang for the buck.And Frankie nails the point. It's an excellent guitar for what it is. You can't compare to a 2K+ guitar, or you will always be dissapointed.

Point in case, a Toyota is a great car. Will do everything you need it to do. But it's not a Cadillac. And it's never going to be.

[Aldwyn]

Ditto, ditto, and ditto! I really dig my Soapbar SE. Feels great, sounds great... has that special mojo! Like Brian mentioned, the electronics on it are a little shabby... I replaced the cap and the tone pot with a CTS pot, and things are much happier in the electronics since then! :)

Anyway, AWESOME bang for your buck... At least for the Soapbar SE (version 1, I havent played the 2 yet), I can't say enough about the guitar!

Peace,
Aldwyn

[Jedimaster]

I'm not sure if you saw my post about the Tremonti Se but I've been extremely pleased with it. It offers several advantages over it's PRS counterpart the "Singlecut" which I also own and adore.

1) Affordability and Value - I still can't figure out how they can sell these guitars w/gigbags so cheap. My SE was $399 - An Incredible Value! There's absolutely nothing out there in it's price range that is comparible.

2) No worries - I bought my SE to use primarily as a backup to my Singlecut. I practice on it regularly and am not afraid to take it when I play out at places where I fear that something might happen to my Singlecut. My american PRS gave me that feeling you get when you have a new sports car and are afraid to drive it for fear that it might get scratched or something. I don't have that feeling with my SE.

3) Quality - No birds or fancy flametops but the construction is top notch. Again, there's nothing in it's price range that can touch this guitar as far as quality and price are concerned. The SE is far better than other Korean made guitar I've played.

4) Comfort - Either I just got lucky with mine or the SE's in general are more comfortable, at least compared to the Singlecut. They have a nice well balanced feel that allows you to play for hours on end.

5) Tone - The tone is great and if you happen not to like it new pickups can be installed for a moderate price. You should have PRS send you their 2003 DVD on which Paul Smith demonstrates all the guitar models. It will give you an opportunity to see how the SE tone compares.

Good luck in your search!

[richedie]

I see your point about having an SE as a back up. I played a bunch of PRSi, American and Korean the other day at Sam Ash and you are right.....I don't know if you could find another Korean guitar in its price range with the same feel. That said, I would still always reach for the American made PRS for the overall natural tone and vibe or mojo if you will. The older I get, the more I realize a guitar must have mojo. Knowing me, I'd probably just save a little longer and find a used Singlecut if I ever had the urge. The one guitar I would seriously consider though is the SE EG since I do not have a single coil equipped guitar and it certainly wouldn't be my number one as I am more a humbucker guy.

[pm81]

Closest I've ever experienced for a Korean-made guitar was a Dean Evo Special Select, which was at least 100 more new and the SE was superior.

Paul