The S2 Vela might be the hidden gem of the entire PRS lineup. I've got the Semi Hollow Satin Vela in McCarty Tobacco Sunburst and it's probably the easiest pick up and play guitar I own. Pattern Regular neck is great. Pickups are amazing for many different music genres. And the Semi Hollow Vela unplugged really projects LOUD just noodling around with it. Great Guitar
100% agree. The USA pickups in the S2 line was necessary for me to even consider purchasing one, but the tops are hit or miss. I've seen some ranging from damn near core looking tops, to pedestrian tops with little figuring, to ones where the bookmatching pairs together like oil and water. PRS should just paint the tops that don't hit the 3A/4A and offer them at a lower price point. The $2,400 MSRP is just way too much for the inconsistency in tops. I ended up scoring a new 2024 S2 McCarty 594 quilt top for $1,500 that I am super happy with, but would no way even consider it at MSRP. You can build a Kiesel that comes standard with a 4A top and personally spec it out better than an S2 for ~$2,400.
Yes exactly! I'm ok with affordable pickups to a point but at $2400 I'm expecting USA name brand pickups and a better grade top. There's just no way I'd spent that now on what I'm seeing on average with S2 series. Also would really like the pattern thin neck to be thinner.
i am very happy with my se line of prs guitars i have a custom 24 very beautiful guitar i upgraded it with a gibson classic 57 + in the bridge and a lollar imperial in the neck pulled out the push/pull and turned it into another volume took out the 3 way blade switch and added a 3 way toggle switch and a mini 2 way kill switch and yes i drilled the holes myself lol i did a good job too i also have an se singlecut which i love and is my favorite and i have a zach myers signature which is awesome that i also love thank you for this video by the way i definitely hit the subscribe button
In my opinion getting an S2 with this american pickups its the best option, and I fell bad for people that got one in 2022 or 2023, the pickups are the most important part of your sound at least.
Yeah I'm sure those are far better than the previous import version of pickups. I'd personally rather get a used one at $1200-1500 and choose my own pickups for a couple hundred bucks. All in much less expensive than dropping $2300-2400 on a new S2, just my 2 cents
Truth is pickups matter. But audience won’t be able to tell if you know how to work an amp or eq. What really matters is how it feels to you as a player.. that’s what you pay for.. how it feels to you will make you play easier and or better or more comfortable. You can always upgrade pickups. But the s2 and core are both great!!
Yup the aesthetics of the S2 is pretty bad and yes looks count. I may buy one if I see one that looks great and is reasonable weight and rings acoustically. No way would I order one blindly. Let the ugly ones hang at the dealers until they price them accordingly. Here in Canada they are just over $3000.
Yeah I mean I'm all for the bevel it does help with comfort but the tops are just not acceptable at this price range. Look at the flame top I just posted on my last kiesel video with the A2. Not even close.
If you go with any of the premium SE models, there's plenty of perfectly good guitars to choose from. I'm not at all a PRS fan, but the McCarty .594 Singlecut Standard in Vintage Cherry is an outstanding value. The NF3 in Gunmetal Grey with a rosewood fretboard, was my only other unavoidable GAS episode from PRS. Those are both very unique yet familiar guitar styles, that offer something different. Paid $629 and $700 respectively. It's impossible to find higher quality imports for less than that. Not any respected name brands I can think of, save for maybe Yamaha. Peace!
Also the new model have PRS nitro finishing and the older models had poly… that said I got mine on sale and probably wouldn’t have thrown down full price. Amazing guitar though
Depends on the SE. My McCarty 594 Thinkline has American hardware with the import electronics and pickups. I upgraded to Bare Knuckle Old Guard and PRS American electronics. Honestly, for most people those upgrades are unecessary. The guitar is fantastic in ever way.
@shakarocks SEs are great too! I have owned a few of them as well. Only thing I didn't care for is lot of them came with cheap plastic nuts but something that can be upgraded at least.
The S2 Vela might be the hidden gem of the entire PRS lineup. I've got the Semi Hollow Satin Vela in McCarty Tobacco Sunburst and it's probably the easiest pick up and play guitar I own. Pattern Regular neck is great. Pickups are amazing for many different music genres. And the Semi Hollow Vela unplugged really projects LOUD just noodling around with it. Great Guitar
100% agree. The USA pickups in the S2 line was necessary for me to even consider purchasing one, but the tops are hit or miss. I've seen some ranging from damn near core looking tops, to pedestrian tops with little figuring, to ones where the bookmatching pairs together like oil and water.
PRS should just paint the tops that don't hit the 3A/4A and offer them at a lower price point. The $2,400 MSRP is just way too much for the inconsistency in tops.
I ended up scoring a new 2024 S2 McCarty 594 quilt top for $1,500 that I am super happy with, but would no way even consider it at MSRP. You can build a Kiesel that comes standard with a 4A top and personally spec it out better than an S2 for ~$2,400.
Yes exactly! I'm ok with affordable pickups to a point but at $2400 I'm expecting USA name brand pickups and a better grade top. There's just no way I'd spent that now on what I'm seeing on average with S2 series. Also would really like the pattern thin neck to be thinner.
Don’t forget they now have USA pickups. My 2024 s2 has an awesome top luckily. I purchased in person.
Yeah that's what I meant pickups and electronics 🙂 nice congrats
i am very happy with my se line of prs guitars i have a custom 24 very beautiful guitar i upgraded it with a gibson classic 57 + in the bridge and a lollar imperial in the neck pulled out the push/pull and turned it into another volume took out the 3 way blade switch and added a 3 way toggle switch and a mini 2 way kill switch and yes i drilled the holes myself lol i did a good job too i also have an se singlecut which i love and is my favorite and i have a zach myers signature which is awesome that i also love
thank you for this video by the way i definitely hit the subscribe button
In my opinion getting an S2 with this american pickups its the best option, and I fell bad for people that got one in 2022 or 2023, the pickups are the most important part of your sound at least.
Yeah I'm sure those are far better than the previous import version of pickups. I'd personally rather get a used one at $1200-1500 and choose my own pickups for a couple hundred bucks. All in much less expensive than dropping $2300-2400 on a new S2, just my 2 cents
Truth is pickups matter. But audience won’t be able to tell if you know how to work an amp or eq. What really matters is how it feels to you as a player.. that’s what you pay for.. how it feels to you will make you play easier and or better or more comfortable. You can always upgrade pickups. But the s2 and core are both great!!
Yup the aesthetics of the S2 is pretty bad and yes looks count. I may buy one if I see one that looks great and is reasonable weight and rings acoustically. No way would I order one blindly. Let the ugly ones hang at the dealers until they price them accordingly. Here in Canada they are just over $3000.
Yeah I mean I'm all for the bevel it does help with comfort but the tops are just not acceptable at this price range. Look at the flame top I just posted on my last kiesel video with the A2. Not even close.
I still remember when the std s2 was 1000 and the ces were 2000
Man those were the good days
If you go with any of the premium SE models, there's plenty of perfectly good guitars to choose from. I'm not at all a PRS fan, but the McCarty .594 Singlecut Standard in Vintage Cherry is an outstanding value. The NF3 in Gunmetal Grey with a rosewood fretboard, was my only other unavoidable GAS episode from PRS. Those are both very unique yet familiar guitar styles, that offer something different. Paid $629 and $700 respectively. It's impossible to find higher quality imports for less than that. Not any respected name brands I can think of, save for maybe Yamaha. Peace!
Agreed they are decent value. I just wonder how stable they will be in the longer term.
Enjoy a PRS SE for a third of the price of an S2. In a long term we will all be dead.
Also the new model have PRS nitro finishing and the older models had poly… that said I got mine on sale and probably wouldn’t have thrown down full price.
Amazing guitar though
Depends on the SE. My McCarty 594 Thinkline has American hardware with the import electronics and pickups. I upgraded to Bare Knuckle Old Guard and PRS American electronics. Honestly, for most people those upgrades are unecessary. The guitar is fantastic in ever way.
@shakarocks SEs are great too! I have owned a few of them as well. Only thing I didn't care for is lot of them came with cheap plastic nuts but something that can be upgraded at least.