Pickup swaps are common in guitars in this price range, but it’s hard to imagine a pickup switch that would represent a huge improvement on the PRS units. The SCHS I reviewed looked nearly identical to the one on PRS’s website. The PRS McCarty Archtop and the ongoing Hollowbody guitars were launched in 1998 and remain solid-wood constructs – a build made possible by CAD design and CNC routing. Clean lower mids, smooth, treble response with not too much sharpness. The Verdict It is also slightly rounder, with a bigger feel in lower positions and more bulk in higher positions. Both are impeccable. The setup on both guitars is excellent. There is, however, a small block positioned under the bridge, connecting the top to the back and allowing PRS to fit its Stoptail bridge. Celebrating its 35th year in production, PRS has launched a slew of new electric guitars, with the SE Hollowbody Standard and the Hollowbody II reinterpreting one of the company's most-loved designs for its more affordable SE line. With that they could really give the almost thinline-semi market a run. As for the block, which is visible through the f-holes, it is quite clearly a separate piece of wood that looks very much like maple. The Standard is new for 2008, and has a mahogany top rather than the maple top on the SC Hollowbody I. The Hollowbody II has a five-ply figured maple top and back; with laminated mahogany on the sides. Terms Of Use. It’s super playable and feels like a truly professional instrument. There's a very subtle shimmer on the pearloid bird inlays, too, definitely more subtle than other bird inlay details used by PRS. For amazing tone, playability, and value, the PRS SE Hollowbody Standard is hard to beat. But what was most striking was that working through a wide range of playing approaches never left me thinking, “If I tweak this, adjust that, or replace the other thing, this guitar will be just right.” It’s that versatile and complete right out of the case, and for many players will be close to perfect as is. Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing. Visit our corporate site. We adjusted the pickup heights on the Standard because the bridge pickup was too low for our liking, but, really, that’s a matter of taste and a two-second fix. Bird inlays are not to everyone's tastes. It is always difficult to determine how much of an issue this is, but both the SE Hollowbodies seemed more comfortable at high volume. The PRS SE Hollowbody II Piezo we received for review is a great-looking guitar, with its gloss-finished Black Gold Burst body constructed of laminated mahogany sides with laminated maple for the beveled top and back. I’m a blues player as well, and played big jazz boxes for years, always longing for true hollowbody sound where I could bend the strings. You can read my full review of this guitar here: Schecter Guitar Research Omen Extreme-6 Review … The original Hollowbody Spruce is a slightly lighter guitar than either SE and now feels quite compact in comparison, especially when played seated. Enlarged to suit the upscaled body, this headstock has the same dimensions that PRS uses on its SE acoustics. As with so many PRS SE guitars, the SE Hollowbody Standard offers few visible clues about its down-market price positioning or overseas origins. (There’s no coil splitting on this model.) Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, There was a problem. There's a very subtle shimmer on the pearloid bird inlays, too, definitely more subtle than other bird inlay details used by PRS. The humbuckers here are simply controlled by a three-way toggle selector, master volume and tone. A few fret tops needed a little more polishing but each of these guitars plays exceptionally well straight from the case. PRS’s f-holed hollow electric guitars were originally conceived by Joe Knaggs. Playability, too, feels great in every way—from the impressively well-dressed frets to the easy-to-love neck shape. Both guitars use a very simple control setup of master volume and tone with a three-way toggle pickup selector. BA1 1UA. The set neck is also mahogany, with a bound ebony fretboard. While the original 20-something-year-old designs are still available in PRS’s USA Core range, these SE models are effectively a complete redesign. There are kerfed linings to provide enough gluing surface for the top and back to be attached to what are relatively thin sides. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? On the II, you can knock the tone all the way back should you wish to emulate that Standard's darker voice, then bring it up when you need more clarity. The ebony fingerboards are more unfamiliar, having rarely used by PRS through the years. To match the sides on both our review guitars, the neck is painted opaque black, so we can’t tell if it’s a one-piece or not. Furthermore, the SE Hollowbodies are slightly bigger, with a noticeably larger upper horn, perhaps owing to the difficulty in replicating the relatively small horn of the original PRS design while using an old-school construction method. First Look: Hughes & Kettner Spirit Nano Series. Diehard fans of the original Hollowbody might not care to admit it but, in our mind, the SE version feels better. The new SE versions we have in for review, however, are something of a more classic hollow or semi-acoustic guitar design. And the SE Hollowbodies illustrate are indicative of a wider trend in which the SEs are finding their own niche and are all the better for it. The Standard uses a five-ply mahogany that you can see at the edges of the unbound f-holes. For jazz and blues, there is a lot to like, but add some crunch to the 58/15 pickups and they retain a clarity that our USA Hollowbodies – not to mention a few centre-blocked ES-335-style guitars we can think of – sounded a little cluttered. It arrives with the weight of expectation on its carefully contoured body. Here we have Asian-made ‘S’ versions of the covered PRS 58/15 humbuckers. The Standard’s darker voice might make it more of a specialist's guitar. The SEs certainly seem a bit more ES-like initially. But that said, the no-fuss setup with no coil-splits lets you focus on the playing. All rights reserved. The USA Hollowbody and all-mahogany Singlecut Hollowbody sound a little more acoustic-like, yet these SE models are a little more damped, more akin to a semi-hollow build but noticeably more hollow-sounding than a centre-blocked semi. /* Add your own Mailchimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. The SE Hollowbody Standard has a deep body that pushes 2 ½" thick at the peak of the top arch. Both SE Holllowbody guitars employ an ebony fingerboard – quite a rarity in PRS’s history, although commonplace in the archtop world. On PremierGuitar.com, "Sponsored Content" refers to articles, videos, or audio recordings that are produced or curated by an advertiser but that, Classic-to-Wacky Trem Sounds, Easy ‘n’ Breezy, Op Amps + Variable Voltage + Active EQ = Ferociously Articulate Fuzz, NAMM '19 - PRS SE Paul's Guitar, CE 24 Semi-Hollow & McCarty 595 Hollowbody Demos, PRS Announces the SE Custom 22 and the SE Custom 22 Semi-Hollow, 1. Dave Hunter is a writer and musician who has worked in both the U.S.A. and the U.K. Interestingly, the SE’s headstock measures approximately 165mm long by 95mm at its widest point, whereas the original is a more compact 153mm by 87mm. It has been a long time coming but here we have two classy PRS Hollowbodies in the more affordable SE range. Celebrating its 35th year in production, PRS has launched a slew of new electric guitars, with the SE Hollowbody Standard and the Hollowbody II reinterpreting one of the company's most-loved designs for its more affordable SE line. Unplugged, the guitar sings with impressive volume, resonance, and balance. Unlike an ES-335, the Hollowbody is exactly that; you won't find a center block here. The rear of the headstocks indicate where they were made: by Cor-Tek in China. The upsized design might seem subtle on paper, but it’s surprisingly noticeable. Hardware includes PRS’s adjustable stoptail bridge and non-locking die-cast tuners (aftermarket SE locking tuners are also available). Sign up below to get the latest from Guitarist, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! We are seeing an uptick in proprietary parts being deployed across PRS’s three ranges. These days, it’s a modern classic of sorts, and a familiar part of the PRS family. The setups on both guitars is excellent. As for the overall depth and rim depth, the SE is similar to the original at around 72mm and 42mm respectively. The SEs have a bound headstock, matching the fingerboard and the body’s top and back edges, and there appears to be a striped ebony or possibly rosewood facing. The Standard is moodier and darker. Instead, the essential elegance of Paul Reed Smith’s design, the thoughtfully executed PRS-created hardware and electronics, and the playability all shine, making the SE Hollowbody Standard a lot of guitar for the money. Read Sweetwater customer reviews for PRS SE Hollowbody Standard - Fire Red Burst Reviews.
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