Great video. The Core to me is more articulate. Both great guitars. I've owned a SE and presently own a Core in the singlecut version. SE was a very nice guitar but I traded it towards the Core after playing a Core. You really can't go wrong with either guitar. Again, really a great video and thank you! God Bless!
I know its hard to really judge off these UA-cam videos but I thought the SE more than held its own and sounded as good or better in quite a few instances
I have read and heard quite a number of times that PRS SE series guitars are "toys", compared to their higher level ones. And a professional musician I hold in high esteem told me that they lack the “consistency” of their U.S.-made sisters. Before I bought an SE 594 Double Cut I went around various stores, going to try Core and S2 also in A/B comparisons. But, it may be that I am a raw amateur, but I could not hear such differences that I would choose to spend more on something that to me is more esoteric than real. Last, but not the least, I feel more comfortable with the body carving of the SE.
To my ears, the SE pickups are so different from the core. They sound much more modern, with a lot more low end and high end going on. In a mix, though, I think you could EQ a lot of this out to make the SE sound similar. But I think the core might make it easier for you to get there (as demonstrated particularly by the chunky sounds). I'm not sure one sounds "better" than the others, just different. And a lot of the sound differences could be adjusted with a couple twists of the screwdriver down by the pickups. (Also worth noting new core models sound different these days thanks to the nitro finish and TCI process, both of which have *immeasurably* improved the core models in my opinion, and I wouldn't buy one without them.)
The Core is a totally different beast..There is reason se's sell for a grand and cores sell for $4k plus. In my opinion there isnt a finer made guitar made anywhere on Earth. The Core 10 tops and up cannot be beat.. Especially once you get up to the artists. The wood drying and fret work, tuners electronics, fit and finish is superior on the cores.. Some people think they are just prettier than the SE's when it goes much deeper than that. Now the SE's keep getting better and better, so either way you cant go wrong. Its hard to hear the real tonal differences on a compressed YT vid.. In person in room they will sound different..
There’s certain pick up positions that the SE sounds really great but not all of them. Core sounds great in every position. Lastly, no one really empathizes this, but the feel of the guitars are different. Core feels so much better IMO
Nice demo. The Core model has more rounded edges to the tone, mellower. More polished sound. The SE is more raw, bright, in your face. Is there 3K difference in the tone? Lol. No. Not once the drummer kicks in. And you could EQ either guitar to sound more like the other if you wanted. I owned a Core 594 and while it had many merits, it just didn’t cut it for me at the price point. But at a thousand bucks, the SE is very interesting. Could be a fantastic gigging guitar for anyone who doesn’t want to bring out the expensive stuff.
The extra money is not in the tone, they sound 95% the same. it’s in the construction/wood quality/finish type/country of origin. I have the SE and it’s worth every penny. The core is an art piece, with a highly figured top and a much deeper carve, 1 piece body and 1 piece neck. If you have a dispensable income, it could be worth it but it’s very subjective.
The Core sounded more “airy” like a strat and the SE surprisingly had more “mojo”. Certain riffs, the Core sounded like it was playing through a half-cocked wah pedal.
At 7:56 the Core bridge pickup didn’t have the same bite to cut through like the SE. At the bridge pickup, the Core definitely has a more smooth sound, while the SE has more of that raunchy Les Paul sound.
@@GuitarEmerge I also own both the SE 594 and Core 594, but the single cut versions. I have same results as you. It’s really a big compliment to how much value the SE version is.
@@gnrfrontI’ll be picking up a se for that reason. I have a ce24, love PRS. I wanted to add a LP to my arsenal but figured, let’s check out the 594 to see if I’d rather go with that for the similar LP sound and feel. Decided on the 594.
I honestly like the finish on the SE more, I thought that was the core at first, looked more lush. Main difference is one made in USA one in Korea, that and £3000 300% price increase due to wages in each country.
The SE 594 is definitely all a professional gigging musician would need on the road. Sounds fantastic and plays very well. I was really impressed by the playability and fretwork when I found one at my local shop. But I have to correct one thing: The difference in price does NOT come just from the disparity in wages between countries. It's actually a lot more in the quality of the materials used. The SE has a veneer top with a printed photo of maple grain, while the USA is actual maple grain you are seeing. The USA is a 2-piece body while the SE is a 5 piece body. The switches, pickups pots and overall electronics are much better quality in the US model. Does it sound $3000 dollars better? Definitely not. But the price increase is not just random. There are more reasons for it than meet the eye.
@@DesignInNature Intresting Lush as veneer tops/higher quality woods are usually the hardware is a major change that I care about with lower to higher models though I change that myself most times. Personally I don't like the idea of having a guitar worth 4k and worry about dings etc but I'm not overtly rich so it's a market that's not for me I guess. So is the SE just a photo of a veneer? Completely acceptable and explains why it looks more detailed than I would expect for a less than 1k guitar
Wow i honestly liked the clean tone more on the SE.
Great video. The Core to me is more articulate. Both great guitars. I've owned a SE and presently own a Core in the singlecut version. SE was a very nice guitar but I traded it towards the Core after playing a Core. You really can't go wrong with either guitar. Again, really a great video and thank you! God Bless!
I know its hard to really judge off these UA-cam videos but I thought the SE more than held its own and sounded as good or better in quite a few instances
Excellent comparison thank you.
I have read and heard quite a number of times that PRS SE series guitars are "toys", compared to their higher level ones. And a professional musician I hold in high esteem told me that they lack the “consistency” of their U.S.-made sisters. Before I bought an SE 594 Double Cut I went around various stores, going to try Core and S2 also in A/B comparisons. But, it may be that I am a raw amateur, but I could not hear such differences that I would choose to spend more on something that to me is more esoteric than real.
Last, but not the least, I feel more comfortable with the body carving of the SE.
Great video.SE is great guitar but Core model is on another level of quality.
Playing live, i use SE anytime. The core just dont cut through.
The Core model sound full and round. The SE has more high end output.
Could you introduce the PRS CE24 DW Hardtail?
Yea that’s how we hear it too!
To my ears, the SE pickups are so different from the core. They sound much more modern, with a lot more low end and high end going on. In a mix, though, I think you could EQ a lot of this out to make the SE sound similar. But I think the core might make it easier for you to get there (as demonstrated particularly by the chunky sounds).
I'm not sure one sounds "better" than the others, just different. And a lot of the sound differences could be adjusted with a couple twists of the screwdriver down by the pickups.
(Also worth noting new core models sound different these days thanks to the nitro finish and TCI process, both of which have *immeasurably* improved the core models in my opinion, and I wouldn't buy one without them.)
The Core is a totally different beast..There is reason se's sell for a grand and cores sell for $4k plus. In my opinion there isnt a finer made guitar made anywhere on Earth.
The Core 10 tops and up cannot be beat.. Especially once you get up to the artists.
The wood drying and fret work, tuners electronics, fit and finish is superior on the cores..
Some people think they are just prettier than the SE's when it goes much deeper than that.
Now the SE's keep getting better and better, so either way you cant go wrong.
Its hard to hear the real tonal differences on a compressed YT vid.. In person in room they will sound different..
I’d rather go get the SE model and buy a pair of the 5815 low turn aftermarket and put them in at the best of both worlds save yourself a fortune to
where would one find these after market pickups?
those are $500 a pair pickups and PRS doesnt sell them often.
There’s certain pick up positions that the SE sounds really great but not all of them. Core sounds great in every position.
Lastly, no one really empathizes this, but the feel of the guitars are different. Core feels so much better IMO
SE vs Core:
- neck - 1:59 vs 2:18 - 2:40 vs 2:54
- middle - 3:52 vs 4:13 - 4:34 vs 4:50
- bridge - 5:35 vs 5:51 - 6:06 vs 6:16
Nice demo. The Core model has more rounded edges to the tone, mellower. More polished sound. The SE is more raw, bright, in your face. Is there 3K difference in the tone? Lol. No. Not once the drummer kicks in. And you could EQ either guitar to sound more like the other if you wanted. I owned a Core 594 and while it had many merits, it just didn’t cut it for me at the price point. But at a thousand bucks, the SE is very interesting. Could be a fantastic gigging guitar for anyone who doesn’t want to bring out the expensive stuff.
A simple EQ boost before your drive, you will put the Core to no use in live situation.
Yea there is a slight difference in tone but is it worth spending all that money?
The extra money is not in the tone, they sound 95% the same. it’s in the construction/wood quality/finish type/country of origin. I have the SE and it’s worth every penny. The core is an art piece, with a highly figured top and a much deeper carve, 1 piece body and 1 piece neck. If you have a dispensable income, it could be worth it but it’s very subjective.
The Core sounded more “airy” like a strat and the SE surprisingly had more “mojo”. Certain riffs, the Core sounded like it was playing through a half-cocked wah pedal.
At 7:56 the Core bridge pickup didn’t have the same bite to cut through like the SE. At the bridge pickup, the Core definitely has a more smooth sound, while the SE has more of that raunchy Les Paul sound.
@@gnrfront Great observations!
@@GuitarEmerge I also own both the SE 594 and Core 594, but the single cut versions. I have same results as you. It’s really a big compliment to how much value the SE version is.
@@gnrfront Glad its the same results :)
@@gnrfrontI’ll be picking up a se for that reason. I have a ce24, love PRS. I wanted to add a LP to my arsenal but figured, let’s check out the 594 to see if I’d rather go with that for the similar LP sound and feel. Decided on the 594.
Core is more articulate and se was more upfront
I honestly like the finish on the SE more, I thought that was the core at first, looked more lush.
Main difference is one made in USA one in Korea, that and £3000 300% price increase due to wages in each country.
The SE 594 is definitely all a professional gigging musician would need on the road. Sounds fantastic and plays very well. I was really impressed by the playability and fretwork when I found one at my local shop.
But I have to correct one thing: The difference in price does NOT come just from the disparity in wages between countries.
It's actually a lot more in the quality of the materials used. The SE has a veneer top with a printed photo of maple grain, while the USA is actual maple grain you are seeing.
The USA is a 2-piece body while the SE is a 5 piece body. The switches, pickups pots and overall electronics are much better quality in the US model.
Does it sound $3000 dollars better? Definitely not. But the price increase is not just random. There are more reasons for it than meet the eye.
@@DesignInNature
Intresting
Lush as veneer tops/higher quality woods are usually the hardware is a major change that I care about with lower to higher models though I change that myself most times.
Personally I don't like the idea of having a guitar worth 4k and worry about dings etc but I'm not overtly rich so it's a market that's not for me I guess.
So is the SE just a photo of a veneer?
Completely acceptable and explains why it looks more detailed than I would expect for a less than 1k guitar
@@DesignInNatureit’s not a printed (photo)maple top. It’s still maple just very thin watch the factory tour
@@jonw3462it’s not a photo veneer on the SE watch the factory tour
Core has more wood tone and harmonic richer. ❤