It’s the player that puts the soul into the guitar, not the other way around. We’ve all been processed to believe that LP’s SG’s Tele’s and Strats were the only guitars worth considering because they were the instruments that have hung around the necks of our guitar heroes for the past several decades. That explains their desirability. The absolute crap that was coming out of Gibson’s US factory for years didn’t seem to deter players from lusting after them. If one believes that those substandard LP’s and SG’s had/have some special kind of mojo and/or somehow touched one’s soul then that only means that Gibson successfully pulled off one of the greatest cons ever in this industry. That’s the power of branding. It certainly has nothing to do with putting a mystical instrument in your hands that was going to give you some kind of special “tone”. Listen to David Grissom play with Joe Ely, James McMurtry, Storyville or solo and see what he can pull out of the DGT as well as the DGT SE or what he can pull out of an ES-335. It’s all in the player’s heart, soul and hands. The guitar is simply a tool to voice one’s singular “tone” which comes from within. Kudos to PRS for not believing that their guitars had to look like Gibson and Fender clones (save for the Silver Sky thanks to Mr. Mayer) to land in the hands of many of the best session players in the States, let alone all the gigging musicians that play PRS guitars.
I am a big PRS fan but you won't lose me, nothing wrong with all having our preferences and like cars, guitars are emotion too! Only thing i don't understand is why you have chosen a tremolo bridge guitar when you like LP's, SG's and Tele's and don't like Strat's. Hope to one day see a McCarty594 in your hands, if you don't like that then we can say PRS is definately not for you :D
@@MartinDamms Santana was the first person I ever saw playing a PRS....it put a bug in me that lasted a long time. My SE 24 is flawless, just took some time to lighten my touch...
So the list of great players and their PRS guitars lack "mojo". The magic is the PRS guitars response to a player using a lighter touch...much like one would use with a fine Acoustic. The headroom with PRS guitars is their amazing dynamic range. Not a favorite with Metal players and other heavier handed players. @@geraldhills41
So for $800 you got a guitar that has no blemishes, has a cool finish and natural wood binding, a tremolo that works and stays in tune, flawless frets, rosewood fret board, nice setup out of the box, has nice humbucker tones, has nice strat style tones, a well cut nut, and tone and volume pots that actually work. But, you don't like it because it has no "mojo". I would be happy to take if off your hands.
If one of his favorite players used it,it would have "mojo"....he's just old school...just like,he has the right to like or dislike..weather it's looks or whatever..don't be such a PRS fanboy
I’m not a PRS fanboy at all, but it is beyond me that people focus on things like the guitar shape, headstock shape, headstock logo, and other meaningless things. And as for "mojo", that comes from the player, not the guitar. Too many YT personalities and influencers are barely intermediate players and would be better served by spending more time behind the guitar instead of in front of the camera.
I agree that PRS guitars are an acquired taste. For years I refused to even play one, stuck to my Strats and LP’s. Over the last 5 years, I’ve seen “the light” and now own 5 PRS guitars including the DGT SE, which is a fantastic guitar for the money and very close in feel and sound to the much more expensive Core model. Always appreciate your reviews and commentary!
I've had several PRS SE's and loved em all, for me at the price point the playability is unrivalled, but I've always felt the need to switch out the pickups. I also understand it isn't for everyone, so I'm glad for your honest review.
Same here. I have a beautiful sapphire SE and it's very smooth to play but the pickups aren't great. Haven't changed them yet but I will eventually. I have other guitars that I play a lot more than that one.
Changed pickups on the PRS Silver Sky Core. Made a difference between keeping and selling. Love the guitar now. Love my PRS DGT Core. However thinking I will sell the PRS 594. Just can't jive with it even with different pickups.
I have a Standard SE and had trouble adapting to the pickups as well. Instead of replacing them I lowered the height from the factory settings and that helped a lot. Also, I play with a keyboard player so I found using it in the coil split mode helps it sit in the mix better with more clarity. For those heaver songs, I can always flip to full humbuckers if needed.
@@stevied3006 Rotate the bridge pickup to put the screw poles on the neck facing bobbin. Raise the screw poles 1/8 to 3/16ths then rebalance the pickups by ear. I found this is the trick to 'fixing' these guitars. Chunky P90 tone with hum protection.
I, like you, have been skeptical about PRS. For a long time, it's been Fender and Gibson. After watching many videos of Paul himself, I was amazed by his drive to make great guitars. They are growing on me and I bought one. It's a Paul's Guitar Se model and I love it! Great videos! I went for the birds 🐦.
Great honest assessment. Unfortunately, I think you picked the wrong model for yourself and subconsciously set yourself up for failure as a result. You love single cuts, so why did you pick the double cut? You love Gibsons and Epiphones, but you picked a more modern guitar that’s designed for a whole other type of player. I think you would prefer the PRS McCarty 594 SE single cut or the double cut - they have more traditional sounding pickups based off original 50’s Gibsons, a thicker neck profile, and other appointments you’d be happier with. Or if you want super badass rock, try one like the Mark Tremonti, Mark Holcomb, Zack Myers, or SE Hollowbody II Piezo. The DGT you got seems more suited to people who prefer Strats that don’t have that beefiness both totally and neck profile-wise. I am wondering why you thought this model would be a good option for you. Please give PRS another shot. You can’t really judge an entire brand off a single model, can you? Perhaps it would help to go to a dealer that keeps PRS guitars in stock so you can try some other models out. 😉😊
I fully agree with you Colin! I've tried a couple of PRS but they never spoke to me. Great guitars but they don't make me play with pleasure. Great review!
As always, great video. I bought a brand new Gibson Les Paul Standard in 1993 and played it all over the states for 20 years. Then in 2006 I bought a 20th anniversary PRS Standard USA made guitar. That guitar is my number one since then and I haven't touched my LP since. So you can say I love PRS guitars but I don't like the bird inlays either. I have moon inlay on my guitar.
I really hoped for you to like the DGT, but its fine. If PRS is not your thing I get it. I wasn't a PRS fan myself, but after trying some different ones got hooked into them and love PRS now. And the DGT has been one of my favorite sounding guitars ever (on par with the Gibson R8 I had, my Eastman SB59/v) Has something special those pickups that I just love. But really nice you took a chance with it. And for sure will not leave your channel hehe. Love the honesty!
Great review. I have like everyone else been eyeballing this and about 20 other guitars over the past 3 years of trying to learn a new hobby. I bought my first and only electric back then, one of PRS SilverSky Core models and even though I know nothing of proper playing, even from its inception I commented to my brother on how it just felt sterile. Fast forward 3+ years and it is still my only electric and I have to say that it has seasoned well. It seems to have moved into a state of great feel and tone. I don’t have other experiences on other beautiful creations out there, but thought I would tell you about the seasoning having made this a keeper. Still GASsing nonetheless however.
yeaaaaa its Friday. time for some guitar talk! and a Maybach lester! oooh man i cant wait for both of those Maybach reviews. been wanting to see them on this channel for awhile
I went through a phase last year where I acquired a few PRS guitars and initially really like them . After a while I also felt like, while yes they are masterfully made guitars, they don’t really have the soul or mojo I need to connect with a guitar.
Same here. I love the look of my sapphire green SE and it is very smooth but the pickups could be better and it does lack soul. I get it when people say they don't bond with this brand. They're rather enigmatic guitars.
@@stevied3006 switch Pickups, get some Locking Tuners...........................and off you go! Spend some Superdistortions on my new SE 594SC and Gotoh Locking Tuners. Now this one is PERFECT! All my other SEs (including a Bernie Marsden LTD 2018) got new PUs and Locking Tuners. Really make these Guitars better!
Hey buddy! I'm excited for you to try PRS..I got my first PRS in 2020. Custom 24 se in charcoal burst and it is flawless. I hard tailed it as I do all trems and it's just solid as a rock.
It's a good thing we don't all like the same things or life would be pretty boring. Personally, I like figured wood tops. Only one of eight guitars is a solid color. I own two PRS's: a Studio (core) and a Custom 24 SE and like them both a lot. I play the same on all my guitars: LPs, SGs, Strats, Teles. For me they are just tools for making music. YMMV... Love the channel!
I'm in the market for a S-style guitar next but I'm torn between a PRS a Sire S7 or Fender player series strat, decisions decisions. I'm a SG player for the most part usually I wonder what one I would get on with the best. I'm thinking the Fender as I want a single coil sound in my collection. Nice video as usual Colin, lots of relevant info.
I am a huge Gibson fan. I own 5 of them, along with some other non-Gibon guitars. But I decided to try the PRS DGT SE, and I find it very enjoyable and very versatile. The pickups sound very good to my ear, and the coil tap is quite useful. The fret work was excellent, and the neck profile is really comfortable. And a biggie - the trem is the best I've used with regard to tuning stability. I think if you don't like the looks, it will make it hard to enjoy the guitar. I don't find the looks to be a problem (mine is sunburst with birds). Not my favorite guitar, but it is a great guitar, a great value, and a keeper.
In my opinion, this is a beautiful guitar. It has its own unique design, but it is elegant, including the technical processing, the wood used and the color treatment, the weight is OK. The price seems reasonable to me, it is a popular brand of guitars in the Czech Republic as well. Definitely a good choice for good players. Greetings Pavel CZ.👍👍👍PS like I hear about 23 minutes of Dire Straits, I like them very much.❤
Great review, albeit it confirmed my indifference to the brand. I watch a lot of gigs, as a player, as a reviewer, as an audience member and I simply don't see PRS in everyday use: the most times I see them are at the occasional jams I go to, where the owner has brought it along 'as they didn't want to risk their more expensive guitars' - damned by faint praise methinks 😮💨
Hey Russ, are there still any decent regular jam nights down our way??… I think I need to get out more like you and see what people are playing and how it’s done! 😁
@@theguitaristas There's one at Peggy Sue's Leigh on Sea twice a month, but I've not been there since it reconvened, so I can't speak to what it's like. The Hob Hob jam is every Tuesday at The Essex Arms, Brentwood, but the 2 I like and occasionally go to are The Leytonstone Blues Jam (Harvey Rd, E10) - very friendly and inclusive or at the Ain't Nothin' But Blues Bar, Kingly St, W1 (Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings) if you want one of quite a high standard. Best wishes
@@AudioWonderlandAnd you actually edited your comment, bravo! I've been a road cyclist for over 50 years and a musician. Carbon road bikes have no soul either, Steel and Titanium ones however do. Unfortunately for you Princess you don't get it and obviously never will. Keep doing what you excel at editing and a word of advice, if you've nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut! Especially when someone isn't talking to you, mind your own business!
I've had several PRS guitars (USA/SE's), sold them after a few years of purchase. Then I heard the DGT SE, and man what a heck of a guitar. THIS guitar is not like any other PRS, it is the Anti-PRS. Since I have big hands the neck radius isn't an issue, and those pickup are outstanding.
In my rather modest collection (17) I have managed to accumulate 4 PRS's (all SE ... Custom 24, Bernie Marsden, Angelis Acoustic, Hollowboby ii Piezo) . Personally I like the look of them, but understand those who don't. Interestingly I have not bonded with them as much as my go to Strat Ultra & neither have I bonded with my Led Paul. So... The obvious conclusion is that there is no right or wrong, just personal preference... And I guess I love Strats above all others... Some will agree, some will disagree... All that matters is one's personal choice. What I can say is, for the money, one would be hard pressed to beat the quality of the SEs...
Hi Colette. Hope all's well with you mate. Nice to see you feature a Prs on your show, for the benefit of your viewers. Unfortunately, Prs are not for me! Nevertheless, they are very popular instruments! Horse's for Course's. kindest regards Mick 😊🙏🇬🇧🎸
I wasn't big on PRS, even though I owned a Bernie Marsden model. However, once I got my SE Custom 24, I was hooked. I put a new set of pickups from Missing Link Audio in it and its one of the best feeling, best sounding guitars I've ever played. Once it's set up correctly, it almost never goes out of tune.
I waited months to buy a Goldtop dgt se, finally bought it, sold it on Reverb in 2 weeks! Just didn't like the pickup sounds, the coil tap nobs difficult to pull up with a pick in the hand, order of the neck volume, no binding on the neck. Great looking guitar but was not a keeper for me. I briefly had a PRS 24/08 mohogany, this was a much better guitar in my opinion. Sold it to buy the DGT! Regrettable!
To prove it's not some prized possession to own but a tool you use to make music and send a message. If you have to ask then you don't understand the spirit of Punk.@@mikakoivunen3456
It's the difference between seeing a guitar as some prized possession to be coveted or just a tool to make music and send a message. Joe Strummer was the latter@@mikakoivunen3456
I saw Paul Reed Smith and David Grissom a few years ago. The memory of the demo David did stuck with me all this time. In this video Colin made it clear he isn't a fan of PRS. He wasn't trying to sell me on the thing. The odd thing is, he pretty well did convince me to buy this model. I don't want "trouble" from my guitar. I don't want sloppiness in the fit and finish of the guitar. I don't want something too flashy. As Colin pointed out, this is rather plain for a PRS guitar. But Colin's playing and the tones he got from the DGT SE really sold me on the thing. I'm sold on the practicality of a nearly flawless instrument with great tones at an affordable price. Entertaining and helpful video, in large part due to Colin's blunt honesty about his own preferences...and his very nice playing. My thanks.
bought the se sky on the last day of the year for 20% off......which brought it down to the Sire7 full price.....my take?......the Sire just gushes with undeniable quality.....and even at the discounted price, i would say the Sire a better value.....the maple fret board Nylon Blue neck on the SE is so different than any fender - chunkier - close to the 7.5 R. mild V shaped of the Fender Vintera.....unfinished though......a good addition to my neck collection...
Couldn’t hit the like button quickly enough. Now to see what you actually say…😂 Edit: I honestly think this was some of your best playing. Sounded really nice and crunchy.
Very fair and honest review. I play a PRS myself, but I've swapped the pickups for unpotted PAFs and I installed a regular 3-way switch without any coil splits. You could say I "Gibsonified" the PRS. This combined with the fact that my particular PRS is also fairly beat up (it has already had a fret job done to it), it actually resembles more a stereotypical worn out Gibson rather than a pristine posh PRS - just a bit more reliable. Basically I've introduced little bit of grit to the guitar, and now I find it the perfect instrument for me.
I agree that PRS guitars aren't for me either. I think of them as being the Toyota Camry of guitars. A well designed and made, practical, affordable guitar. But like how people who think of their car as more than just transportation aren't inspired by the Camry, I'm not inspired by PRS. I do have to say that I like the head stock though. Sensibly designed to minimize string bending at the nut, while having a little bit of flair. Thanks for the Video as always.
Individualism is to be embraced in a world where "sameness" may be a technical improvement and improved quality control across units, but control nonetheless - so much of music is that individual quirky-ness that captures magic, and there should be the ability to enjoy a less-than-perfect guitar if it appeals to you!
I found the reverse positions of the Volume controls drove me mad !! BUT if you go into the cavity you will find that there is plenty of cable tied up and you can reverse them without any soldering required !! Much better !! Great guitar for the money !
Love the show and enjoy the playing. You said the PRS was "pointy", then I saw the SGs on the back wall that look like bull horns! LOL, we all have our own tastes. Keep on playing. Thank you, Robert
Yeah but that PRS headstock takes the pointy cake. So nu metal looking. I feel like they need an inlaid dragon logo or wizard to top it off. Just not my thing.
Reverend would be my choice in this price range. Where the PRS is sterile and vanilla, Reverends have mojo in spades! Would love to see a Reverend on the channel!
I have 4 PRS core guitars. They are all fantastic guitars but I hardly ever play any of them. When I do play one of them I wonder why I don’t play it all the time because they really are so good. A week later they’ll be back in their case and I won’t see it for another year. I’ve never figured it out. Good luck with yours though.
I have an SE 24 08 and i love it. Its so different from my other guitars, which i like. Variety. Its very precise and articulate. It makes me want to practice and learn more. The bridge is similar to a Strat except for the mounting. The screws have a groove,like Floyd screws, and the holes have knife edges. So it is a full floating bridge, and it feels amazing to me. The build quality is excellent, as with almost every guitar Cort makes, and the finish is beautiful. The flame maple veneer is from a beautiful piece of maple and the book match is excellent.
You came to the same conclusion as I did with my PRS se. It’s an amazing guitar that you cannot fault, but there is something that stops me bonding and falling in love with it. That being said, I occasionally record a guitar solo to post on my own Facebook so as friends can try and guess the song from the solo. And I always reach for the PRS se first as I know it will do the job with no fuss. Which is why it hasn’t been traded for something else. Thanks for the video Col
Noice !! I had a look at the other one with the birds. I didn’t plug it in as I only wanted to feel the neck. I have a 2020 PRS Tremonti Standard SE single cut in gloss black. Flawless fit and finish but had tuning issues. Ended up filing the nut as per a video from Andy guitar geek and that helped a lot. It’s now got 3 FU-Tone springs in it along with 2 of the original 4 factory springs. Only took me 2 years to sort it out but it’s such a great sounding and looking guitar that I persisted with it and I’m glad i did. It’s my only PRS. Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘
Very much agree - I had a PRS 245 se which sounded really nice and did all the things it was meant to but like you say it was just too perfect. The only physical thing I could put it down to was the neck was too narrow for my taste but overall just need something with a bit more character.
I recently bought an SE Custom 24 with a quilted maple top; it is a beautifully made guitar. I can understand the criticism, because sometimes I just can’t get into playing it, but then, when then I’ve got all the eq and pedals sorted it really comes together. This guitar feels and plays quite different, so getting to know it will be worthwhile.
I thought that would be the solution to all that say it has no soul, slap a pedal in front...sheesh... soul may be the wrong word, I heard people play very soulful stuff on aPRS..
Great review the trem can be adulterated to sit on the body PRS are very articulate guitars and so musical he taken guitars to another level just need to adjust your ears to them they are like violins like PRS says SE are amazing Quality instruments love the Birds to
I personally think they are great guitars. And no offence meant by this, but I thought that you had negative feelings before this review….and I don’t think that anything was going to change your opinion. I have a PRS DGT SE and a Core PRS Paul’s Guitar and I have a Les Paul Standard 1992…each are different…but great guitars…This is why all guitars are different…they bring out different things in each and every one of us…Keep On Keeping On…Your videos are a great watch.
I agree with what you say, and I think a lot of people have in their mind subconsciously how they are supposed to feel about PRS. I would like to see a blindfold test and see what they think.
In a blindfold test... the PRS wins it... PRS got a bad rep because people called them "Dentist / Doctor guitars..This was down to their expensive cost. They were called "soulless"...I've yet to find and play a guitar that has a soul.... And yet..people who have never even picked up a PRS still call them soulless... If you don't like the guitar...fair enough....but too many people jump on the anti PRS wagon...without ever playing one...@@stevemiller1203
@@stevemiller1203 Blind test indeed. Grissom actually did multiple blind tests with recording engineers...using his '59 Les Paul vs the PRS DGT prototypes....NOT ONE SINGLE ENGINEER CHOSE THE LES PAUL.
Great review Colin. You’ve got to hand it to PRS, it’s a great deal as regards price and quality. But if it’s not your cup of tea it’s not your cup of tea.
Hey Colin, I bought myself a Gretsch G2215 P90 in Sahara Metallic. I am pretty impressed, I have to say !!! I don´t like the look of that PRS either. The look is at leist 50%, don´t you think ?
This is new to me. The feeling of understanding what I'm seeing when you play. It resonates . I see the subtle but frequent changes you're making. It'll make me a better player. Thanks. FYI, I'm a novice at 35 years of playing but 2 year's ago I woke up being able to hear. So, 45 and new but not. It's strange to be given a musical ear after so long.
PRS SE are FOOLPROOF purchases. CORT has a dedicated wing in it's Factory just for making PRS SE guitars. PRS unboxes and does a final QC check and setup before shipping. You would think this is standard practice in the industry but only a handful of companies actually do this (PRS, Reverend, Dingwall, Solar to name a few). You rarely ever see a PRS guitar on a Luthiers bench. Whether or not you bond with the guitar or think it's soulless is another story. Thanks for the video Sir Colin and all your hardwork making them🍺🇨🇦
Had a PRS for about a week before deciding it wasn't for me. Didn't like the neck at all and got tired of looking at the birds and the flamed top. Returned it and got another strat instead. Cheers!
I don't have an opinion on PRS per se, I have never owned one. I hear many play awesome music with them. Also with everything else made. I have never really been a fan of super-strat style bodies, even though I own an Ibanez of similar style. Current favorite is a Yamaha Revstar Standard with P90s. Solid and clean under the hand. To me as a player it is about 2 things, how a guitar feels to my hands and how it lights up my ears. The instrument should become transparent to me, smooth and fluid to the hand. Conscious only of the notes and the rhythm line and flow. To find that sweet spot for me and lots of other players can take a long time and change as you grow and learn.
I sold off the first PRS I ever got. Just couldn’t jive with it. Second go-round, I finally got it. They’re my favorite guitars, though Les Pauls come close. The real trick, I’ve found, is the volume control. Set low, you’re clean as a whistle. Gradually edge it up, and you find the right amount of dirt. The mistake I see people make (even with guitar players much better than me) is to start at 10. I don’t gig a lot, but my PRS Se Standard 24 is my go-to.
I was always a more traditional brand user, ie. Fender, Gibson, Gretsch etc. Then I bought a PRS Zach Meyers to see how it was. It turned out to be a great guitar, then I bought a PRS Anniversary model, it also was great, then I bought the PRS semi hollow body which was beyond great. Probably one of the best guitars I ever played. Period. What I like about them s their feel, they always stay in tune even if you don't touch them for weeks, their contours make sense, and most of all their POTS actually work well. When you dial down the tone it stays clean and clear not muddy like most others. I still own my other guitars, all 344 of them but PRS clearly stands a cut above the rest for quality, sound and feel. Character in an instrument I believe comes more from the player than the instrument. What the instrument does do, is contributes to the way you feel emotionally about it which is reflected in the playing. But again the character of the music comes from the player not the guitar itself. Again, just my humble opinion.
Yes 344. I have become a player/collector over the years. Now my son plays professionally so he will have all the equipment he will need or a down payment for a house, lol
An artist friend once told me that only something that is imperfect can actually be perfect. Every PRS I’ve played has been perfect but completely soulless and uninspiring.
@@mattpearce79 right, it feels sterile for some reason…like the guitar equivalent of a doctors office …great quality but it’s just a tucked in plaid shirt and khakis
I am interested in the model. I never liked the birds, but I DO like the moons. They need to start moving away from the birds as they see cliche and outdated at this point.
Love my PRS SE geetars but would never buy another one new. They're nice out of the box for the most part but has taken a fair bit of work to get them playing 100%. Still for the price they're better than getting shafted by epiphone. And the CE24 models are very nice with a much better finish on the neck.
I have, lets say, more than one PRS and I completely understand that "vanilla sound" sometimes called "soulless"/"uninspiring"/"didn't bond with it" and the problem is always pickup setup. My fix has been: rotate the bridge pickup so the screw poles are on the neck facing bobbin, lower the pickup to the trim ring and raise the screw poles 3/16ths inch. What that does is bias the pickup into a P90 tone (P90s happen to cross the strings there) and they sound gloriously chunky "like proper rock n roll". .. Then I put the neck pickup poles into a Strat Stagger because I like Strat neck pickups and these bland guitars come alive. .. Adjust your pickups up/down and bass vs treble tip plus the EQ of the screw poles and you can get these guitars to give you great tone. And all those adjustments are reversible. Of course you can swap pots and caps (last is pickups because they are the most expensive and change the cheap stuff first) but with careful adjustment that is not needed.
After watching this latest vlogs it peek my curiosity about the PRS brand. I was in the market for a new guitar but didn't want to fall in the typical styling that all-over the place. No mistakes . Ive owned strats and LPs. Now I have a 594 single cut McCarty on the way and I'm willing to oversee the unconventional head stock and enjoy a very special guitar. BTW keep your up the good work and honest point of views.
The Dentist's guitar, lol. I'll never buy one because of PRS saying he didn't care about lefty players years ago. If you ever watch his old interviews, he's a horrible human being.
Enough said regarding PRS, Colin. Always preferred Muttley to Penelope Pitstop. On the Maybachs, I was in Rose Morris on Friday but they only have the humbucking hardtail at present. That P90 with the vibrato is lovely. Lucky boy. There has been at least one on Reverb, and I'd be tempted at a good price if a Gretsch equivalent wasn't on the market. All the best.
Colin, I bought a PRS Standard SE before the pandemic and have loved it ever since! If you need some inspiration, watch Carlos make the notes cry and sing at the same time. Dire Straits wasn’t that bad though. PRS pickups are safe and comfortable, a pleasing tone of vibrant frequencies. It’s a pedal man’s dream come true, perfect tone modulated to any way you want.
Funny that you said Vanilla. I posted that up under another comment before you said it. They are completely bland. I like Suhr, old telecasters, and p-90 Les Paul’s. I have 2 PRS, I can never get the sound out of it without the use of a lot of pedals. And I don’t like to use a lot of pedals. I thought about swapping pickups, but I just didn’t like the feel.
Interesting review. Thank you. I’m considering this guitar but yet to play one. I have the PRS Bernie Marsden signature which is nice, but a bit heavy. Nicely made but the pickups are a bit uninspiring. Anyway, looking to change it and the DGT SE might be the next purchase. I’ve heard a lot of positive reviews but need to actually get my hands on one. I have to admit I prefer the burst version with birds! I’ve just never liked gold top guitars. Cheers for the thorough review.
Why get a prs signature model to try 1st instead of a model they made there name on? Try one of the core model single cuts. Great playing by the way. Love the show.
I am not the biggest PRS fan but for what you get at that price point it blows away the other imports on the market. It appears to be a high quality instrument You did a great review
It also blows away many Fender and Gibson “Made in USA” guitars. The quality workmanship and control that goes into the production of PRS’s SE line is incredible.
When I grow up I'm going to play guitar like you ! Your style of playing is fantastic. Kids are grown up and gone , so my new group of kids are my guitars now . I hear more style of playing now that I've really got going on playing for a few years now. Great channel sir !
I was looking for an LP style guitar for a while. I was really hyped and was looking forward to try PRS, I had money ready to buy it too. But once I picked it up and played it I didn't like it. I don’t know what it was, but I liked Epiphone more. Ended up buying a Gibson.
I think they are some of the best built guitars out there, but I've had three SE guitars and I've never kept one for longer than six months. I want to be a PRS guy so badly but I always feel like something's missing (for me).
I got a Prs (SE custom 24) and I like it, it's a nice an functional tool, exceeding my capabilities. For reference: I also drive a Toyota and I must say, I like that as well. And hey, I see you wear Crocks, so there's hope you'll get it one day ;)
i have three very different PRS guitars and they are all excellent and inspiring guitars to me. if you want a brand where every one is a little different you are not going to get that with PRS because they are so repeatable with their build process. when i bought a new tele i played 10 different guitars and they were all a little different from each other. you can like or hate that. i feel like i can buy a PRS without necessarily playing it but i don't feel like that at all about fender or gibson. i prefer the consistency but i could understand that some might call that a little boring. since i got my custom 24 piezo i have mostly played that even though i have some other really great guitars. the great thing these days is that there is something out there for almost every taste. whether you like them or not and/or whether you think they're overpriced you can't honestly deny that PRS makes absolutely top quality instruments.
I have a big reverb unit made by Solar which someone gave me many many years ago. I'm sure it was made in the mid seventies. I run it with one of those Fender Greta pawn shop amps that both sit on top of a cabinet with a 15 inch speaker inside. It sounds proper nice. In all my years I've never seen another.
You nailed it!!! The man Paul Reed Smith, as far as I know, was basically from my region, the Great Lakes Area. We call it the Midwest here in the United States. So, I knew about PRS way before they ever became popular. I believe Ted Nugent and Alex Lifeson were amongst his first well known artists to advocate for his brand. They were originally all handcrafted by Paul himself in the beginning if my memory serves me well. Then some Detroit area and Ontario Canada area music stores began to market the PRS line. That really helped to get PRS up and rollin'! My initial thoughts, I believe, seem quite comparable to your thoughts. His guitars were pristine as all-get-out! Very beautiful esthetically, solidly built, and sound pretty good!!! However, I did not care for the sound much relative to my style; my thought was "too pristine" for most applications, but sometimes needed. I don't really know if that explains my thoughts well enough. And I also noticed they stay in tune quite well. They're not my first choice; however, I plan to purchase one as just another tool to add to my home studio arsenal. I'm quite certain I will be happy with a PRS guitar for all the aforementioned reasons. Take care Colin!
How interesting, I really liked your playing in this video! I thought it sounded really good. One thing about the headstock is that it is hard to clip a tuner on it . Nice honest review.
I'm really surprised that you don't like the SE DGT, because I bonded with it immediately and it's become my joint go-to guitar alongside my Tone Fox Elcaster Mk.1. I'd tried a few PRS's previously and hadn't got on with them, finding them a bit "sterile" somehow, but the SE DGT was completely different for me - the neck suits me perfectly and it felt already "played in", and everything about the guitar encourages me to really dig in and stretch out in my playing. In other words, I find it very "rock 'n roll" - just the opposite to you. It just underlines why it's so great to have a huge selection of quality affordable guitars these days - there's literally something to suit all tastes. 😎
Colin great vid! While I think PRS makes some high quality guitars I just cant get into them. Many years ago in the late 1990s I owned a Custom 24 10 top, beautiful guitar and very well made but I eventually got rid of it. Call me boring and stuck in my ways but I'll take my Gibson SGs, Firebird and a couple of Stratocasters and one Squier Jaguar and Gretsch Duo Jet. They all do it for me whereas the PRS doesn't but thats just me.
I’m with you on PRS’s in general. They simply fail to inspire me on any level. Their quality, fit and finish Is undeniable. I’m quite impressed with those qualities but for me they seem to lack character or something less tangible (some one on here mentioned soulless, could be) don’t know exactly but definitely not for me either.
Great shout on the DGT! I owned an SE Paul’s Guitar briefly. Loved the fit/finish, tuning stability and tone versatility. Really like Paul and his company ethos. As such, felt a bit obligated to play and like it. Ultimately was not greatly inspiring to play and sold it on. Might try a semi-hollow model in the future for more of a ‘jazz box’ vibe. Tada!
I finally scored a new (24 model) one this summer! Wow is all I can say. I have the SE 594 McCarty and while it’s a very good guitar this one just feels so good and my being more rock toned inclined I like the sound a lot. For reference I also have a 2010 Gibson CS R7, a 2019 Gibson USA LP Jr DC, 2019 MIM Fender Player Strat. For amps I have a Helix LT, Line 6 Catalyst 60, and Boss Katana 3rd Gen 50w.
Like any other object an opinion is purely subjective, there is no right or wrong. But I, and many others viewers of your channel, appreciate your thorough in depth, unbiased reviews.
I've had a few in the past including a core model that I never stuck with but now I've got an older PRS SE Soapbar II. Hardtail with two P90s and its a brilliant guitar. The only other one I've really fancied was the Bernie Marsden SE, those ones have great necks.
Mine is set up wrong! Going to my tech see if it can be fixed. Nuts badly fitted, action low at fret one and 2 hi at the 15th fret and found it hurt my fingers. A lot of hype from reviewers/demoers. Putting locking tuners on it and a new nut. Pickups very very low so look at them too. This is my 2n PRS SE, I sold my baritone couldnt get on with it. This thing if my tech cant do anything with it I might chop it up and send it to Paul and tell him that it is what it worth, fire wood!! 😅😅😅😅😅😅
I have only two problems with PRS guitars. I don't like the feel, and they do not inspire me to play. On the other side, I have an unbranded cheap China strat copy $60, with the slightly chunkier than Fender neck. I upgraded everything except the neck, body, bridge, and neckplate. Leveled the frets, added locking tuners, Fender Tex Mex pups, bone nut, CTS pots and Slinky 9s. All in for about $200, and I cannot put it down two years later. The cheap bridge does not bother me as I block all trem bridges. They are nothing more than a fancy string holder for me.
It’s the player that puts the soul into the guitar, not the other way around. We’ve all been processed to believe that LP’s SG’s Tele’s and Strats were the only guitars worth considering because they were the instruments that have hung around the necks of our guitar heroes for the past several decades. That explains their desirability. The absolute crap that was coming out of Gibson’s US factory for years didn’t seem to deter players from lusting after them. If one believes that those substandard LP’s and SG’s had/have some special kind of mojo and/or somehow touched one’s soul then that only means that Gibson successfully pulled off one of the greatest cons ever in this industry. That’s the power of branding. It certainly has nothing to do with putting a mystical instrument in your hands that was going to give you some kind of special “tone”. Listen to David Grissom play with Joe Ely, James McMurtry, Storyville or solo and see what he can pull out of the DGT as well as the DGT SE or what he can pull out of an ES-335. It’s all in the player’s heart, soul and hands. The guitar is simply a tool to voice one’s singular “tone” which comes from within. Kudos to PRS for not believing that their guitars had to look like Gibson and Fender clones (save for the Silver Sky thanks to Mr. Mayer) to land in the hands of many of the best session players in the States, let alone all the gigging musicians that play PRS guitars.
Amen to that - you hit the nail on the head.
Well said!
You writing a book?
I wish I could debate you on this one. But I can't. P.R.S. has Q.C. down to a science. Maybe in my next life time.
I am a big PRS fan but you won't lose me, nothing wrong with all having our preferences and like cars, guitars are emotion too! Only thing i don't understand is why you have chosen a tremolo bridge guitar when you like LP's, SG's and Tele's and don't like Strat's. Hope to one day see a McCarty594 in your hands, if you don't like that then we can say PRS is definately not for you :D
I have the SE McCarty 594 Standard which is all mahogany. I love mine. Couldn't find any flaws, plays great and sounds great.
DG plays mainly bridge pickup which is why the set up is as is. PRS started the SE line at the request of Santana, hardly soulless.
Still waiting for my 594 in white. It’s a les Paul made by prs . Imo
@@MartinDamms Santana was the first person I ever saw playing a PRS....it put a bug in me that lasted a long time. My SE 24 is flawless, just took some time to lighten my touch...
I liken PRS to Audi. Perfectly good but I drive a Land Rover and an Alfa Romeo. They’re flawed but give me the fizz 😹
Totally agree Colin. I've had 3 PRS's and ended up trading them all. Lovely guitars but something just doesn't click for me.
Same as Yamaha 2000 ! No mojo .
So the list of great players and their PRS guitars lack "mojo". The magic is the PRS guitars response to a player using a lighter touch...much like one would use with a fine Acoustic. The headroom with PRS guitars is their amazing dynamic range. Not a favorite with Metal players and other heavier handed players. @@geraldhills41
They are passionless.
I disagree,@@geraldhills41, plenty of mojo, at least on my Fredrik Akesson. A rock/jazz/metal/fusion machine!
@@saleemisgodBlocks of wood with electronics don't have passion, people/players do.
So for $800 you got a guitar that has no blemishes, has a cool finish and natural wood binding, a tremolo that works and stays in tune, flawless frets, rosewood fret board, nice setup out of the box, has nice humbucker tones, has nice strat style tones, a well cut nut, and tone and volume pots that actually work. But, you don't like it because it has no "mojo". I would be happy to take if off your hands.
If one of his favorite players used it,it would have "mojo"....he's just old school...just like,he has the right to like or dislike..weather it's looks or whatever..don't be such a PRS fanboy
This is very true. My favourite most guitar is sg though Ihave never played one. I feel for guitar the mojo is very very important 😉
Mojo is important. I love classic les pauls even though they aren’t very ergonomic. Why? Mojo.
That said, it would be a much better guitar if it cost $3000. What’s wrong with us?
I’m not a PRS fanboy at all, but it is beyond me that people focus on things like the guitar shape, headstock shape, headstock logo, and other meaningless things. And as for "mojo", that comes from the player, not the guitar. Too many YT personalities and influencers are barely intermediate players and would be better served by spending more time behind the guitar instead of in front of the camera.
I agree that PRS guitars are an acquired taste. For years I refused to even play one, stuck to my Strats and LP’s. Over the last 5 years, I’ve seen “the light” and now own 5 PRS guitars including the DGT SE, which is a fantastic guitar for the money and very close in feel and sound to the much more expensive Core model. Always appreciate your reviews and commentary!
You didn't see the light..you got tired of the same ol same ol
Colin you worked hard for that video, I’ve had 2 and got rid, and back to my Tele’s. You are fair and right. Cheers
I've had several PRS SE's and loved em all, for me at the price point the playability is unrivalled, but I've always felt the need to switch out the pickups. I also understand it isn't for everyone, so I'm glad for your honest review.
Same here. I have a beautiful sapphire SE and it's very smooth to play but the pickups aren't great. Haven't changed them yet but I will eventually. I have other guitars that I play a lot more than that one.
Changed pickups on the PRS Silver Sky Core. Made a difference between keeping and selling. Love the guitar now. Love my PRS DGT Core. However thinking I will sell the PRS 594. Just can't jive with it even with different pickups.
I have a Standard SE and had trouble adapting to the pickups as well. Instead of replacing them I lowered the height from the factory settings and that helped a lot. Also, I play with a keyboard player so I found using it in the coil split mode helps it sit in the mix better with more clarity. For those heaver songs, I can always flip to full humbuckers if needed.
@@stevied3006 Rotate the bridge pickup to put the screw poles on the neck facing bobbin. Raise the screw poles 1/8 to 3/16ths then rebalance the pickups by ear. I found this is the trick to 'fixing' these guitars. Chunky P90 tone with hum protection.
@@jvin248 Thanks for the tip. Will give it a try. Cheers. 🙂
I, like you, have been skeptical about PRS. For a long time, it's been Fender and Gibson. After watching many videos of Paul himself, I was amazed by his drive to make great guitars. They are growing on me and I bought one. It's a Paul's Guitar Se model and I love it! Great videos! I went for the birds 🐦.
"I'm not looking for perfection- I'm looking for trouble!" Absolutely brilliant!!🤘
Really?
I'm looking for inspiration.
PRS provides ZERO inspiration.
yes, really.
without trouble or some test of character, "perfection" ends up indistinguishable from a billion other manikins.
Great honest assessment. Unfortunately, I think you picked the wrong model for yourself and subconsciously set yourself up for failure as a result. You love single cuts, so why did you pick the double cut? You love Gibsons and Epiphones, but you picked a more modern guitar that’s designed for a whole other type of player. I think you would prefer the PRS McCarty 594 SE single cut or the double cut - they have more traditional sounding pickups based off original 50’s Gibsons, a thicker neck profile, and other appointments you’d be happier with. Or if you want super badass rock, try one like the Mark Tremonti, Mark Holcomb, Zack Myers, or SE Hollowbody II Piezo. The DGT you got seems more suited to people who prefer Strats that don’t have that beefiness both totally and neck profile-wise. I am wondering why you thought this model would be a good option for you.
Please give PRS another shot. You can’t really judge an entire brand off a single model, can you? Perhaps it would help to go to a dealer that keeps PRS guitars in stock so you can try some other models out. 😉😊
I fully agree with you Colin! I've tried a couple of PRS but they never spoke to me. Great guitars but they don't make me play with pleasure. Great review!
no pleasure?
@@juliegrafton93something can sound cool, but if the feel doesn’t float your boat, it’s out. Tactile profession/hobby! 🤷🏻♂️
As always, great video. I bought a brand new Gibson Les Paul Standard in 1993 and played it all over the states for 20 years. Then in 2006 I bought a 20th anniversary PRS Standard USA made guitar. That guitar is my number one since then and I haven't touched my LP since. So you can say I love PRS guitars but I don't like the bird inlays either. I have moon inlay on my guitar.
I really hoped for you to like the DGT, but its fine. If PRS is not your thing I get it. I wasn't a PRS fan myself, but after trying some different ones got hooked into them and love PRS now. And the DGT has been one of my favorite sounding guitars ever (on par with the Gibson R8 I had, my Eastman SB59/v) Has something special those pickups that I just love. But really nice you took a chance with it. And for sure will not leave your channel hehe. Love the honesty!
Love your honest reviews man. Keep it up! Thanks 👌
Great review. I have like everyone else been eyeballing this and about 20 other guitars over the past 3 years of trying to learn a new hobby. I bought my first and only electric back then, one of PRS SilverSky Core models and even though I know nothing of proper playing, even from its inception I commented to my brother on how it just felt sterile. Fast forward 3+ years and it is still my only electric and I have to say that it has seasoned well. It seems to have moved into a state of great feel and tone. I don’t have other experiences on other beautiful creations out there, but thought I would tell you about the seasoning having made this a keeper. Still GASsing nonetheless however.
We criticise Gibson for having flaws, and we criticise PRS for being flawless. What a funny species we are.
I was just about to say hahaha
Thank you sir. It blows my mind. It's too perfect isn't a bad thing ever.
Great point
Too true
Yup
yeaaaaa its Friday. time for some guitar talk! and a Maybach lester! oooh man i cant wait for both of those Maybach reviews. been wanting to see them on this channel for awhile
"I'm not looking for perfection. I'm looking for trouble" might be the best guitar revoew quote I've ever heard.
😁👍
What does "bullocks" mean...I e heard people say "thats bullocks" using it like that's bullshit...but you using it like "prs is the bullocks" some say
When you are used to Gibson's, it's easy to forget that it is possible to make a guitar without flaws and QC issues 🙂
😂
@@joec6448same with Jackson. Bad qc
Haha! True Story, Lol
I went through a phase last year where I acquired a few PRS guitars and initially really like them . After a while I also felt like, while yes they are masterfully made guitars, they don’t really have the soul or mojo I need to connect with a guitar.
Same here. I love the look of my sapphire green SE and it is very smooth but the pickups could be better and it does lack soul. I get it when people say they don't bond with this brand. They're rather enigmatic guitars.
@@stevied3006 switch Pickups, get some Locking Tuners...........................and off you go! Spend some Superdistortions on my new SE 594SC and Gotoh Locking Tuners. Now this one is PERFECT! All my other SEs (including a Bernie Marsden LTD 2018) got new PUs and Locking Tuners. Really make these Guitars better!
Hey buddy! I'm excited for you to try PRS..I got my first PRS in 2020. Custom 24 se in charcoal burst and it is flawless. I hard tailed it as I do all trems and it's just solid as a rock.
I have a 2020 in whale blue burled poplar. The pickups arent real clear but it does alright set up for c standard.
It's a good thing we don't all like the same things or life would be pretty boring. Personally, I like figured wood tops. Only one of eight guitars is a solid color. I own two PRS's: a Studio (core) and a Custom 24 SE and like them both a lot. I play the same on all my guitars: LPs, SGs, Strats, Teles. For me they are just tools for making music. YMMV... Love the channel!
I'm in the market for a S-style guitar next but I'm torn between a PRS a Sire S7 or Fender player series strat, decisions decisions. I'm a SG player for the most part usually I wonder what one I would get on with the best. I'm thinking the Fender as I want a single coil sound in my collection. Nice video as usual Colin, lots of relevant info.
I’d go sire mate
I picked up a Sire A4 grand auditorium last year and I have been blown away with it, I may just go there again.@@ItsJustRyan89
Player Series are fantastic
@@ItsJustRyan89 I’ll 2nd your opinion of the Sire. They do it right. The great price is just icing on the cake.
I'd go and try a G&L (Tribute) too.
Thanks!
😊🙏👍
I am a huge Gibson fan. I own 5 of them, along with some other non-Gibon guitars. But I decided to try the PRS DGT SE, and I find it very enjoyable and very versatile. The pickups sound very good to my ear, and the coil tap is quite useful. The fret work was excellent, and the neck profile is really comfortable. And a biggie - the trem is the best I've used with regard to tuning stability. I think if you don't like the looks, it will make it hard to enjoy the guitar. I don't find the looks to be a problem (mine is sunburst with birds). Not my favorite guitar, but it is a great guitar, a great value, and a keeper.
Great video, glad to see the crocs cam has returned!
In my opinion, this is a beautiful guitar. It has its own unique design, but it is elegant, including the technical processing, the wood used and the color treatment, the weight is OK. The price seems reasonable to me, it is a popular brand of guitars in the Czech Republic as well. Definitely a good choice for good players. Greetings Pavel CZ.👍👍👍PS like I hear about 23 minutes of Dire Straits, I like them very much.❤
Great review, albeit it confirmed my indifference to the brand. I watch a lot of gigs, as a player, as a reviewer, as an audience member and I simply don't see PRS in everyday use: the most times I see them are at the occasional jams I go to, where the owner has brought it along 'as they didn't want to risk their more expensive guitars' - damned by faint praise methinks 😮💨
Hey Russ, are there still any decent regular jam nights down our way??… I think I need to get out more like you and see what people are playing and how it’s done! 😁
@@theguitaristas There's one at Peggy Sue's Leigh on Sea twice a month, but I've not been there since it reconvened, so I can't speak to what it's like. The Hob Hob jam is every Tuesday at The Essex Arms, Brentwood, but the 2 I like and occasionally go to are The Leytonstone Blues Jam (Harvey Rd, E10) - very friendly and inclusive or at the Ain't Nothin' But Blues Bar, Kingly St, W1 (Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings) if you want one of quite a high standard. Best wishes
@@russcottee do you remember the Monday nights at Zero 6?… that’s what we need! 😁
Oh yes - I used to go, get a beer voucher for playing , then watch the guest acts and leave feeling totally inadequate! 😂
@@russcottee I could never work out what key we were in... not much has changed! 🤣
For me they have no soul, there’s just something about them that doesn’t touch me. I just don’t get it. Great video Colin, as always. 🤘💜
Guitars don't have soul. Players do. I don't care if you like them but don't justify it with nonsensical commentary
@@AudioWonderlandWith respect Princess I wasn't talking to you!
@@AudioWonderlandAnd you actually edited your comment, bravo! I've been a road cyclist for over 50 years and a musician. Carbon road bikes have no soul either, Steel and Titanium ones however do. Unfortunately for you Princess you don't get it and obviously never will. Keep doing what you excel at editing and a word of advice, if you've nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut! Especially when someone isn't talking to you, mind your own business!
The PRS 'signature sound' is...they don't have one. 😴
@@jaypeterson7637 Fact. 👍🏼
I've had several PRS guitars (USA/SE's), sold them after a few years of purchase. Then I heard the DGT SE, and man what a heck of a guitar. THIS guitar is not like any other PRS, it is the Anti-PRS. Since I have big hands the neck radius isn't an issue, and those pickup are outstanding.
I had a couple CE-22 bolt-ons. (they were the "affordable" USA models in the 90s) Great workhorses but hated those Dragon I&II pups.
In my rather modest collection (17) I have managed to accumulate 4 PRS's (all SE ... Custom 24, Bernie Marsden, Angelis Acoustic, Hollowboby ii Piezo) .
Personally I like the look of them, but understand those who don't.
Interestingly I have not bonded with them as much as my go to Strat Ultra & neither have I bonded with my Led Paul.
So... The obvious conclusion is that there is no right or wrong, just personal preference... And I guess I love Strats above all others... Some will agree, some will disagree... All that matters is one's personal choice.
What I can say is, for the money, one would be hard pressed to beat the quality of the SEs...
Hi Colette. Hope all's well with you mate. Nice to see you feature a Prs on your show, for the benefit of your viewers. Unfortunately, Prs are not for me! Nevertheless, they are very popular instruments! Horse's for Course's. kindest regards Mick 😊🙏🇬🇧🎸
Usually not a PRS fan either. That gold top looks really nice though. And I have to say it sounds great.
Killer guitar. Best guitar under 1k that I've played in a long time.
I wasn't big on PRS, even though I owned a Bernie Marsden model. However, once I got my SE Custom 24, I was hooked. I put a new set of pickups from Missing Link Audio in it and its one of the best feeling, best sounding guitars I've ever played. Once it's set up correctly, it almost never goes out of tune.
I waited months to buy a Goldtop dgt se, finally bought it, sold it on Reverb in 2 weeks! Just didn't like the pickup sounds, the coil tap nobs difficult to pull up with a pick in the hand, order of the neck volume, no binding on the neck. Great looking guitar but was not a keeper for me. I briefly had a PRS 24/08 mohogany, this was a much better guitar in my opinion. Sold it to buy the DGT! Regrettable!
Agree with Colin 100%. Flawlessly engineered instruments but I just can't imagine Joe Strummer putting stickers on one.
...and yet a few stickers would've done wunderz
Why the fk would you put stickers on a guitar?
To prove it's not some prized possession to own but a tool you use to make music and send a message. If you have to ask then you don't understand the spirit of Punk.@@mikakoivunen3456
It's the difference between seeing a guitar as some prized possession to be coveted or just a tool to make music and send a message. Joe Strummer was the latter@@mikakoivunen3456
To cover up the made in Indonesia stickers? @@mikakoivunen3456
I saw Paul Reed Smith and David Grissom a few years ago. The memory of the demo David did stuck with me all this time. In this video Colin made it clear he isn't a fan of PRS. He wasn't trying to sell me on the thing. The odd thing is, he pretty well did convince me to buy this model. I don't want "trouble" from my guitar. I don't want sloppiness in the fit and finish of the guitar. I don't want something too flashy. As Colin pointed out, this is rather plain for a PRS guitar. But Colin's playing and the tones he got from the DGT SE really sold me on the thing. I'm sold on the practicality of a nearly flawless instrument with great tones at an affordable price. Entertaining and helpful video, in large part due to Colin's blunt honesty about his own preferences...and his very nice playing. My thanks.
Cheers Carey, great comment and perspective this! 😎👍👍
I’ve had 8 SE’s of different sorts. Spotless, well put together, great sounding and good value imo
bought the se sky on the last day of the year for 20% off......which brought it down to the Sire7 full price.....my take?......the Sire just gushes with undeniable quality.....and even at the discounted price, i would say the Sire a better value.....the maple fret board Nylon Blue neck on the SE is so different than any fender - chunkier - close to the 7.5 R. mild V shaped of the Fender Vintera.....unfinished though......a good addition to my neck collection...
Don't fret. PRS are not for me either. Tried them but I too don't like the style. Good to have a review of one.
Couldn’t hit the like button quickly enough.
Now to see what you actually say…😂
Edit: I honestly think this was some of your best playing.
Sounded really nice and crunchy.
Very fair and honest review. I play a PRS myself, but I've swapped the pickups for unpotted PAFs and I installed a regular 3-way switch without any coil splits. You could say I "Gibsonified" the PRS. This combined with the fact that my particular PRS is also fairly beat up (it has already had a fret job done to it), it actually resembles more a stereotypical worn out Gibson rather than a pristine posh PRS - just a bit more reliable. Basically I've introduced little bit of grit to the guitar, and now I find it the perfect instrument for me.
I agree that PRS guitars aren't for me either. I think of them as being the Toyota Camry of guitars. A well designed and made, practical, affordable guitar. But like how people who think of their car as more than just transportation aren't inspired by the Camry, I'm not inspired by PRS. I do have to say that I like the head stock though. Sensibly designed to minimize string bending at the nut, while having a little bit of flair. Thanks for the Video as always.
More like a Tesla
Maybe more like a Lexus; very comfy to drive on long road trips but hardly and steering feedback to give a sense of adventure.
Individualism is to be embraced in a world where "sameness" may be a technical improvement and improved quality control across units, but control nonetheless - so much of music is that individual quirky-ness that captures magic, and there should be the ability to enjoy a less-than-perfect guitar if it appeals to you!
I found the reverse positions of the Volume controls drove me mad !! BUT if you go into the cavity you will find that there is plenty of cable tied up and you can reverse them without any soldering required !! Much better !! Great guitar for the money !
Love the show and enjoy the playing. You said the PRS was "pointy", then I saw the SGs on the back wall that look like bull horns! LOL, we all have our own tastes. Keep on playing. Thank you, Robert
Yeah but that PRS headstock takes the pointy cake. So nu metal looking. I feel like they need an inlaid dragon logo or wizard to top it off. Just not my thing.
Reverend would be my choice in this price range. Where the PRS is sterile and vanilla, Reverends have mojo in spades! Would love to see a Reverend on the channel!
Second that. Would love to see a Reverend (or 2 or 3) on this channel.
Yes, Reverends are great.
I’d love to see a Reverend on the channel too!
can't stand the look of Reverends lol but like him, I have opinions
Every Reverend I've picked up is really heavy and that's a deal breaker for me.
I have 4 PRS core guitars. They are all fantastic guitars but I hardly ever play any of them. When I do play one of them I wonder why I don’t play it all the time because they really are so good. A week later they’ll be back in their case and I won’t see it for another year. I’ve never figured it out. Good luck with yours though.
I have an SE 24 08 and i love it. Its so different from my other guitars, which i like. Variety. Its very precise and articulate. It makes me want to practice and learn more. The bridge is similar to a Strat except for the mounting. The screws have a groove,like Floyd screws, and the holes have knife edges. So it is a full floating bridge, and it feels amazing to me. The build quality is excellent, as with almost every guitar Cort makes, and the finish is beautiful. The flame maple veneer is from a beautiful piece of maple and the book match is excellent.
Just so I am not the only one :p I love my SE 24
@@sgholt I did a couple of things to mine that made it even better! I love it so much. It was a gift from my daughter when i turned 50 last year.
@@sgholt mine is the green one, which one do you have?
You came to the same conclusion as I did with my PRS se. It’s an amazing guitar that you cannot fault, but there is something that stops me bonding and falling in love with it. That being said, I occasionally record a guitar solo to post on my own Facebook so as friends can try and guess the song from the solo. And I always reach for the PRS se first as I know it will do the job with no fuss. Which is why it hasn’t been traded for something else. Thanks for the video Col
Mojo is in the soul and hands of the player IMHO!
Noice !! I had a look at the other one with the birds. I didn’t plug it in as I only wanted to feel the neck.
I have a 2020 PRS Tremonti Standard SE single cut in gloss black. Flawless fit and finish but had tuning issues.
Ended up filing the nut as per a video from Andy guitar geek and that helped a lot. It’s now got 3 FU-Tone springs in it along with 2 of the original 4 factory springs. Only took me 2 years to sort it out but it’s such a great sounding and looking guitar that I persisted with it and I’m glad i did. It’s my only PRS.
Cheers from NZ 😎🎸🤘
My SE custom is one of the few guitars I own that didn’t need sending away to be set up . Let down by weak pickups but nicely made & fun to noodle on.
How many ohms?
Very much agree - I had a PRS 245 se which sounded really nice and did all the things it was meant to but like you say it was just too perfect. The only physical thing I could put it down to was the neck was too narrow for my taste but overall just need something with a bit more character.
I recently bought an SE Custom 24 with a quilted maple top; it is a beautifully made guitar. I can understand the criticism, because sometimes I just can’t get into playing it, but then, when then I’ve got all the eq and pedals sorted it really comes together. This guitar feels and plays quite different, so getting to know it will be worthwhile.
I thought that would be the solution to all that say it has no soul, slap a pedal in front...sheesh... soul may be the wrong word, I heard people play very soulful stuff on aPRS..
@sgholt yes u cant eq all your guitars the same
Great review the trem can be adulterated to sit on the body PRS are very articulate guitars and so musical he taken guitars to another level just need to adjust your ears to them they are like violins like PRS says SE are amazing Quality instruments love the Birds to
I personally think they are great guitars. And no offence meant by this, but I thought that you had negative feelings before this review….and I don’t think that anything was going to change your opinion. I have a PRS DGT SE and a Core PRS Paul’s Guitar and I have a Les Paul Standard 1992…each are different…but great guitars…This is why all guitars are different…they bring out different things in each and every one of us…Keep On Keeping On…Your videos are a great watch.
I agree with what you say, and I think a lot of people have in their mind subconsciously how they are supposed to feel about PRS. I would like to see a blindfold test and see what they think.
In a blindfold test... the PRS wins it... PRS got a bad rep because people called them "Dentist / Doctor guitars..This was down to their expensive cost. They were called "soulless"...I've yet to find and play a guitar that has a soul.... And yet..people who have never even picked up a PRS still call them soulless... If you don't like the guitar...fair enough....but too many people jump on the anti PRS wagon...without ever playing one...@@stevemiller1203
@@stevemiller1203 Blind test indeed. Grissom actually did multiple blind tests with recording engineers...using his '59 Les Paul vs the PRS DGT prototypes....NOT ONE SINGLE ENGINEER CHOSE THE LES PAUL.
Great review Colin. You’ve got to hand it to PRS, it’s a great deal as regards price and quality. But if it’s not your cup of tea it’s not your cup of tea.
Hey Colin, I bought myself a Gretsch G2215 P90 in Sahara Metallic. I am pretty impressed, I have to say !!! I don´t like the look of that PRS either. The look is at leist 50%, don´t you think ?
Three things are important when you buy an electric guitar- what it looks like, what it looks like and what it looks like!
This is new to me. The feeling of understanding what I'm seeing when you play. It resonates . I see the subtle but frequent changes you're making. It'll make me a better player. Thanks. FYI, I'm a novice at 35 years of playing but 2 year's ago I woke up being able to hear. So, 45 and new but not. It's strange to be given a musical ear after so long.
PRS SE are FOOLPROOF purchases. CORT has a dedicated wing in it's Factory just for making PRS SE guitars. PRS unboxes and does a final QC check and setup before shipping. You would think this is standard practice in the industry but only a handful of companies actually do this (PRS, Reverend, Dingwall, Solar to name a few). You rarely ever see a PRS guitar on a Luthiers bench. Whether or not you bond with the guitar or think it's soulless is another story. Thanks for the video Sir Colin and all your hardwork making them🍺🇨🇦
But, thats the story thats being discussed, not that rubbish. Each their own. Cheers
If PRS would offer it in Dark Cherryburst I would have one by now.
Had a PRS for about a week before deciding it wasn't for me. Didn't like the neck at all and got tired of looking at the birds and the flamed top. Returned it and got another strat instead. Cheers!
I don't have an opinion on PRS per se, I have never owned one. I hear many play awesome music with them. Also with everything else made. I have never really been a fan of super-strat style bodies, even though I own an Ibanez of similar style. Current favorite is a Yamaha Revstar Standard with P90s. Solid and clean under the hand.
To me as a player it is about 2 things, how a guitar feels to my hands and how it lights up my ears.
The instrument should become transparent to me, smooth and fluid to the hand. Conscious only of the notes and the rhythm line and flow.
To find that sweet spot for me and lots of other players can take a long time and change as you grow and learn.
I sold off the first PRS I ever got. Just couldn’t jive with it.
Second go-round, I finally got it. They’re my favorite guitars, though Les Pauls come close.
The real trick, I’ve found, is the volume control. Set low, you’re clean as a whistle. Gradually edge it up, and you find the right amount of dirt.
The mistake I see people make (even with guitar players much better than me) is to start at 10.
I don’t gig a lot, but my PRS Se Standard 24 is my go-to.
I was always a more traditional brand user, ie. Fender, Gibson, Gretsch etc. Then I bought a PRS Zach Meyers to see how it was. It turned out to be a great guitar, then I bought a PRS Anniversary model, it also was great, then I bought the PRS semi hollow body which was beyond great. Probably one of the best guitars I ever played. Period. What I like about them s their feel, they always stay in tune even if you don't touch them for weeks, their contours make sense, and most of all their POTS actually work well. When you dial down the tone it stays clean and clear not muddy like most others. I still own my other guitars, all 344 of them but PRS clearly stands a cut above the rest for quality, sound and feel. Character in an instrument I believe comes more from the player than the instrument. What the instrument does do, is contributes to the way you feel emotionally about it which is reflected in the playing. But again the character of the music comes from the player not the guitar itself. Again, just my humble opinion.
Hang on 344?? 😲🙌🙌🙌
Yes 344. I have become a player/collector over the years. Now my son plays professionally so he will have all the equipment he will need or a down payment for a house, lol
An artist friend once told me that only something that is imperfect can actually be perfect. Every PRS I’ve played has been perfect but completely soulless and uninspiring.
This comment is the words I’ve been looking for, for years…fantastically put!
Absolutely! My feeling about every PRS I’ve played.
Bollocks, logically, but on the other hand, I don't like these guitars.
Totally agree. I have PRS custom 24, nothin fancy, feels lovely to play…just lacking mojo
@@mattpearce79 right, it feels sterile for some reason…like the guitar equivalent of a doctors office …great quality but it’s just a tucked in plaid shirt and khakis
I am interested in the model. I never liked the birds, but I DO like the moons. They need to start moving away from the birds as they see cliche and outdated at this point.
I love my 3 PRS SE's - I like the looks, ease of play, and pu tone.
Love my PRS SE geetars but would never buy another one new.
They're nice out of the box for the most part but has taken a fair bit of work to get them playing 100%.
Still for the price they're better than getting shafted by epiphone. And the CE24 models are very nice with a much better finish on the neck.
I have, lets say, more than one PRS and I completely understand that "vanilla sound" sometimes called "soulless"/"uninspiring"/"didn't bond with it" and the problem is always pickup setup. My fix has been: rotate the bridge pickup so the screw poles are on the neck facing bobbin, lower the pickup to the trim ring and raise the screw poles 3/16ths inch. What that does is bias the pickup into a P90 tone (P90s happen to cross the strings there) and they sound gloriously chunky "like proper rock n roll". .. Then I put the neck pickup poles into a Strat Stagger because I like Strat neck pickups and these bland guitars come alive. .. Adjust your pickups up/down and bass vs treble tip plus the EQ of the screw poles and you can get these guitars to give you great tone. And all those adjustments are reversible. Of course you can swap pots and caps (last is pickups because they are the most expensive and change the cheap stuff first) but with careful adjustment that is not needed.
After watching this latest vlogs it peek my curiosity about the PRS brand. I was in the market for a new guitar but didn't want to fall in the typical styling that all-over the place. No mistakes . Ive owned strats and LPs. Now I have a 594 single cut McCarty on the way and I'm willing to oversee the unconventional head stock and enjoy a very special guitar. BTW keep your up the good work and honest point of views.
The Dentist's guitar, lol. I'll never buy one because of PRS saying he didn't care about lefty players years ago. If you ever watch his old interviews, he's a horrible human being.
I’ve always had that vibe
Enough said regarding PRS, Colin. Always preferred Muttley to Penelope Pitstop. On the Maybachs, I was in Rose Morris on Friday but they only have the humbucking hardtail at present. That P90 with the vibrato is lovely. Lucky boy. There has been at least one on Reverb, and I'd be tempted at a good price if a Gretsch equivalent wasn't on the market. All the best.
I saw they had that hardtail… was it good?
Sadly, didn't get my hands on it. I think the P90 is more of a looker.@@theguitaristas
You won't lose any subs Cole !!! Sometimes is a good exercise to put our prejudices aside to find out nice surprises.
🙂🙂🙂🙂
Colin, I bought a PRS Standard SE before the pandemic and have loved it ever since! If you need some inspiration, watch Carlos make the notes cry and sing at the same time. Dire Straits wasn’t that bad though. PRS pickups are safe and comfortable, a pleasing tone of vibrant frequencies. It’s a pedal man’s dream come true, perfect tone modulated to any way you want.
Funny that you said Vanilla. I posted that up under another comment before you said it. They are completely bland. I like Suhr, old telecasters, and p-90 Les Paul’s. I have 2 PRS, I can never get the sound out of it without the use of a lot of pedals. And I don’t like to use a lot of pedals. I thought about swapping pickups, but I just didn’t like the feel.
Interesting review. Thank you. I’m considering this guitar but yet to play one. I have the PRS Bernie Marsden signature which is nice, but a bit heavy. Nicely made but the pickups are a bit uninspiring. Anyway, looking to change it and the DGT SE might be the next purchase. I’ve heard a lot of positive reviews but need to actually get my hands on one. I have to admit I prefer the burst version with birds! I’ve just never liked gold top guitars. Cheers for the thorough review.
Why get a prs signature model to try 1st instead of a model they made there name on? Try one of the core model single cuts. Great playing by the way. Love the show.
I am not the biggest PRS fan but for what you get at that price point it blows away the other imports on the market. It appears to be a high quality instrument
You did a great review
It also blows away many Fender and Gibson “Made in USA” guitars. The quality workmanship and control that goes into the production of PRS’s SE line is incredible.
When I grow up I'm going to play guitar like you ! Your style of playing is fantastic. Kids are grown up and gone , so my new group of kids are my guitars now . I hear more style of playing now that I've really got going on playing for a few years now. Great channel sir !
😁👍
Great epiosode! I nearly picked one of these off at Christmas but was able to fight back the temptation.
I was looking for an LP style guitar for a while. I was really hyped and was looking forward to try PRS, I had money ready to buy it too. But once I picked it up and played it I didn't like it. I don’t know what it was, but I liked Epiphone more. Ended up buying a Gibson.
Love your reviews! But not enough of you playing I love your playing!!
😊🙏
I think they are some of the best built guitars out there, but I've had three SE guitars and I've never kept one for longer than six months. I want to be a PRS guy so badly but I always feel like something's missing (for me).
I got a Prs (SE custom 24) and I like it, it's a nice an functional tool, exceeding my capabilities. For reference: I also drive a Toyota and I must say, I like that as well. And hey, I see you wear Crocks, so there's hope you'll get it one day ;)
😆👍
i have three very different PRS guitars and they are all excellent and inspiring guitars to me. if you want a brand where every one is a little different you are not going to get that with PRS because they are so repeatable with their build process. when i bought a new tele i played 10 different guitars and they were all a little different from each other. you can like or hate that. i feel like i can buy a PRS without necessarily playing it but i don't feel like that at all about fender or gibson. i prefer the consistency but i could understand that some might call that a little boring. since i got my custom 24 piezo i have mostly played that even though i have some other really great guitars. the great thing these days is that there is something out there for almost every taste. whether you like them or not and/or whether you think they're overpriced you can't honestly deny that PRS makes absolutely top quality instruments.
“Knob cam” was crazy. 😂 Great episode as always Col!
I have a big reverb unit made by Solar which someone gave me many many years ago. I'm sure it was made in the mid seventies. I run it with one of those Fender Greta pawn shop amps that both sit on top of a cabinet with a 15 inch speaker inside. It sounds proper nice. In all my years I've never seen another.
Have one PRS standard 22 but I do use it for different stuff than my Les Pauls (Epi, Burny),
You nailed it!!! The man Paul Reed Smith, as far as I know, was basically from my region, the Great Lakes Area. We call it the Midwest here in the United States. So, I knew about PRS way before they ever became popular. I believe Ted Nugent and Alex Lifeson were amongst his first well known artists to advocate for his brand. They were originally all handcrafted by Paul himself in the beginning if my memory serves me well. Then some Detroit area and Ontario Canada area music stores began to market the PRS line. That really helped to get PRS up and rollin'! My initial thoughts, I believe, seem quite comparable to your thoughts. His guitars were pristine as all-get-out! Very beautiful esthetically, solidly built, and sound pretty good!!! However, I did not care for the sound much relative to my style; my thought was "too pristine" for most applications, but sometimes needed. I don't really know if that explains my thoughts well enough. And I also noticed they stay in tune quite well. They're not my first choice; however, I plan to purchase one as just another tool to add to my home studio arsenal. I'm quite certain I will be happy with a PRS guitar for all the aforementioned reasons. Take care Colin!
No, He's from Maryland which is on the east coast.
How interesting, I really liked your playing in this video! I thought it sounded really good. One thing about the headstock is that it is hard to clip a tuner on it . Nice honest review.
Cheers mate, and yours has gone to a very happy new owner 👍
@@theguitaristas good. I never really clicked with it either for some reason I don’t know
I'm really surprised that you don't like the SE DGT, because I bonded with it immediately and it's become my joint go-to guitar alongside my Tone Fox Elcaster Mk.1. I'd tried a few PRS's previously and hadn't got on with them, finding them a bit "sterile" somehow, but the SE DGT was completely different for me - the neck suits me perfectly and it felt already "played in", and everything about the guitar encourages me to really dig in and stretch out in my playing. In other words, I find it very "rock 'n roll" - just the opposite to you. It just underlines why it's so great to have a huge selection of quality affordable guitars these days - there's literally something to suit all tastes. 😎
Colin great vid! While I think PRS makes some high quality guitars I just cant get into them. Many years ago in the late 1990s I owned a Custom 24 10 top, beautiful guitar and very well made but I eventually got rid of it. Call me boring and stuck in my ways but I'll take my Gibson SGs, Firebird and a couple of Stratocasters and one Squier Jaguar and Gretsch Duo Jet. They all do it for me whereas the PRS doesn't but thats just me.
I’m with you on PRS’s in general. They simply fail to inspire me on any level. Their quality, fit and finish Is undeniable. I’m quite impressed with those qualities but for me they seem to lack character or something less tangible (some one on here mentioned soulless, could be) don’t know exactly but definitely not for me either.
Great shout on the DGT! I owned an SE Paul’s Guitar briefly. Loved the fit/finish, tuning stability and tone versatility. Really like Paul and his company ethos. As such, felt a bit obligated to play and like it. Ultimately was not greatly inspiring to play and sold it on. Might try a semi-hollow model in the future for more of a ‘jazz box’ vibe. Tada!
I finally scored a new (24 model) one this summer! Wow is all I can say. I have the SE 594 McCarty and while it’s a very good guitar this one just feels so good and my being more rock toned inclined I like the sound a lot.
For reference I also have a 2010 Gibson CS R7, a 2019 Gibson USA LP Jr DC, 2019 MIM Fender Player Strat. For amps I have a Helix LT, Line 6 Catalyst 60, and Boss Katana 3rd Gen 50w.
Like any other object an opinion is purely subjective, there is no right or wrong. But I, and many others viewers of your channel, appreciate your thorough in depth, unbiased reviews.
I've had a few in the past including a core model that I never stuck with but now I've got an older PRS SE Soapbar II. Hardtail with two P90s and its a brilliant guitar. The only other one I've really fancied was the Bernie Marsden SE, those ones have great necks.
Mine is set up wrong! Going to my tech see if it can be fixed. Nuts badly fitted, action low at fret one and 2 hi at the 15th fret and found it hurt my fingers. A lot of hype from reviewers/demoers. Putting locking tuners on it and a new nut. Pickups very very low so look at them too. This is my 2n PRS SE, I sold my baritone couldnt get on with it. This thing if my tech cant do anything with it I might chop it up and send it to Paul and tell him that it is what it worth, fire wood!! 😅😅😅😅😅😅
I have only two problems with PRS guitars. I don't like the feel, and they do not inspire me to play. On the other side, I have an unbranded cheap China strat copy $60, with the slightly chunkier than Fender neck. I upgraded everything except the neck, body, bridge, and neckplate. Leveled the frets, added locking tuners, Fender Tex Mex pups, bone nut, CTS pots and Slinky 9s. All in for about $200, and I cannot put it down two years later. The cheap bridge does not bother me as I block all trem bridges. They are nothing more than a fancy string holder for me.
Would love to see some D'Angelicos and Reverends.