I Compare My PRS 594 To The S2 594
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- čas přidán 11. 03. 2020
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You always do such great reviews Phil ~ detailed, factual point by point comparison. VERY informative and helpful.
Solid video Phil, you’ve done a really nice job producing the educational graphics. Thanks for this comparison that I’ve been holding out for.
The vid we've been waiting for, thank you for doing this sir.
This channel always answers all my questions when comparing gear. Subscribed
Thanks for the comparison! Subscribed!
Love your videos and this too. I have vintage guitars. I have 3 PRS se, and my S2 594 is my most prized guitar, sustain and clarity through gain and ease of playing. You vids help me immensely. And this helped pick my S2 which I adore
I love the cut and finish of the S2, but you can't deny the beautiful sound of that Core. Great video!
Nice work on the video production, Phil. It makes for a great comparison video.
Just got an S2 and it was the guitar I have been looking for. It feels like my Fenders but gives me that humbucker goodness. Another great video Phil! Big thanks for all you do.
how fat is the neck?, i have small hands and love the strat neck to play thumb over the top, i read its kinda chunky though :(
You all prolly dont give a damn but does anybody know a tool to get back into an Instagram account?
I was stupid lost the login password. I would love any tips you can give me
@Marcel Mordechai instablaster ;)
@Louie Khari I really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.
I was shocked by the difference in the pickups, Thanks for a great video Phillip.
Hi Phil, just wanted to leave a comment. I have been watching your videos for a while now and wanted to thank you for the inspiration, the information and the general feel of you videos. I have bought my very first guitar this week! Also, your videos have a calming effect on me, while watching I can just find some ease of mind. Thank you for that and keep doing what you do! Kind regards, a fan from Belgium.
Poke patrick congrats on the first guitar! First of many I’m sure! This is an expensive hobby! Just look at Phil’s collection!
Great comparison Review.
Especially the info about the neck construction.
I recently purchased the S2 DC and love the feel and comfort.
Thorough, in depth, professional. Thank you.
I have an S2 Standard 22 which was custom ordered by my local shop with 57-08 "S" pickups. I ordered a set of the American pickups, and they sound fuller and cleaner. The S pickups were good, but the US are great. Every other aspect of the guitar (playability, feel, tuning stability, fit and finish) all stack up with my Core Custom 24. I'd definitely recommend, as you said, Phil, picking up an S2 and swapping the pickups for the US counterparts. Awesome video as always! 🍻
Started laughing my ass off when you brought out the voltage meter thing. You’re awesome for doing all this
I knew you would come through with something like this! Thank you, thank you!
As always this is a great video keep it up like that buddy in your person I found honesty transparency and I like the talent that you have to play a guitar
Great video! Thanks for putting it out, it's great to hear the guitars resonate and develop cleanly rather than endless overdriven blues licks on so many videos.
Dude, dont sell that Core! :) it's alive and will only get better over time.
My next guitar will probably be an S2, my actual guitar is an SE Hollowbody II, which I love, like you I'll change the tuners and pickups soonish bit they are perfectly functional.
I'm a big fan of PRS but don't see a Core in my future unless I get a windfall :)
Mr. McKnight,
You just answered damn near every question i had about these 2 guitar's...
I appreciate the video and the time you took to make said video .
Cuz im looking at the 594...
So ...
Thank you !
Excellent comparison video. Just subscribed. I’ve been wondering just how much difference there is between the S2 and the Core. You answered all of my questions. Thank you!!!!!!
Wow, just a +1 on your presentation and detail in this one, very nice. As for the guitars themselves, as soon as you played the single-cut I decided that would be the one just instantly so much clarity and character. Price considered though, I can't afford either of them. XD
Tried the S2 594 single cut. It was perfect, the pick ups are decent enough to my ears I thought. I prefer very thin necks but after 10 minutes with the pattern vintage I just loved it, it felt just right. The tuners are rock solid too, and they look beautiful with the faux bone binding. I’m amazed at how much bigger sounding the McCarty is compared to my core custom 24. The single cut S2 594 is my next guitar. PRS got this S2 line perfect.
Thanks for this! I just bought an S2 singlecut w phase III tuners and it is a joy! Might upgrade the pickups in the near future. God bless!
Thank you Phil, you answered all my questions, without knowing what they were ....
He always does. He reaches in my mind and tells me what I need to know before I even knew I needed to know it. Lol
@@darrellm3410 Psychic Phil strikes again - gotta' love him!
Thanks Philip, this was very interesting!
Thank you for the honesty Phil.! Really appreciate that! --gary
Dude! The video quality is scary good!
Great video Phil. I decided on the S2 Eriza Verde. Quite the beefy Neck! I didn't notice the neck joints till you mentioned it. I needed a LED light to see the joints, very well done fit and finish. Thanks again for the comparison.
Great job on a summarized comparison. I bet you could adjust the s2 pickups to achieve the same type of bright character. I have found that the smallest adjustments in pole piece or pickup height can have a major impact on tone.... food for thought before switching pickups.
That was a great review. Thanks
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge ! Maybe PRS pick ups comparaison next time ? Cheers from Tahiti !
Thank you so much. I really appreciate that insight.
Thanks Phil! The guitar community needs this right about now!! 🤘
That color on the core is gorgeous
Excellent video like always
Greetings from Switzerland
Definitely interested in more S2 and CE stuff. I dipped a toe in and got a S2 standard 22 and the neck carve is, for me, perfect.
was wondering how the S2 stacks up against a core, and now I know. Thank you, great comparison video
Great review Phillip! Can you please make a video on what to look for when buying a used PRS 594 Core? Thank you!
I love the McCarty S2 pickups. Actually probably my favorite pickups of any guitar that I own. I have a problem with guitars sounding overly bright and these pickups rarely ever sound that way, but not dull either.
Really good comparison Phil
We are so thankful for you knowledge and your fine articulated videos! I got sick with covid and lost sensation on my playing hand, so after the last 21 years raising my kids , i picked up the guitar aain. Playing helps distract me from the numb arm and my dream is to own a PRS . I love the se Mccarthy on this video and i will start to save some money to get one someday. Thank you for the wonderful work you do.
Every time I watch one if these videos I realize...I DON’T know my gear!!!...thanks for the all your great work Mr. Phil !!!!
If I only ever heard the S2, I'd think it was great. Hearing it in a direct comparison with the "Big Boys" model, it sounds like it's got a blanket over it.
It's just pickup output, but you can't tell in compressed sound from a camera mic. They could be similar volume.
Either way, I'd expect the output or quality of the pickups in the core to be better - they could be purchased and put in the S2, though.
@@daw162 The problem is PRS will not sell us the 58/15 LT PUPs. You can buy the older ones, but the current ones are not for sale to the public. If you find a source please post and share. Thanks! --gary
@@daw162 I have an S2 and the pickups sound very good. They don't sound that great through a Princeton (as Phil is using) and they definitely sound muddy in this video. Rest assured that this video is not an accurate representation of their potential.
I'd say pretty accurate, it's taking away the in room sound and getting a as accurate as possible account of the sound as it's rarely possible to do a A/B of them. I recently got a S2 SC and I'd say they sounded good except no matter what I did they sounded a little muffled. I swapped them for a PRS #6 in the bridge and a Duncan slash in the neck. Now it's a core beater, but that's mainly a taste thing. I've had a few cores/ core artists/old CE/ se and with this combo it's as good as any core I've had. The S2 pickups are the same factory pickups as the SE range so don't expect miracles, there's a reason why they're on the pocket friendly SE range BUT the pickups in their own right are actually pretty good but sonically not what I wanted. I'd say at this point I'd rather have 2 S2 guitars done properly than 1 core
You can buy a bunch of aftermarket pickups to choose from with $2k, and locking tuners too. I even dig the look of those S2s more. However, if you want those special pickups, which might be very good, ...
Absolutely love this video comparisons. I have two thumbs and you get two thumbs up!!
I have a 35th anniversary s2 custom 24 and they come with the locking tuning machines for whatever reason. I love it!
I got both guitars, you’re right on every aspect, still I chose the S2 for gigging and studio work.🤘
Amazing guitars, both of them, SE to Core they are all well made. wow. I've been eyeing the S2 guitars but even the higher-end “SE” guitars have been tempting.
Thanks for such a comprehensive comparison. The contours of the guitar bodies is significant when it comes to playing comfortably. Any idea when guitar makers might let you select the S2 any pay for the better tuners or pickups. That $2,000 disparity just doesn't seem to buy you that much difference in value unless budget isn't an issue for the buyer. Thanks again for the terrific review!
That was excellent!
I contacted PRS about the tuners on the new 594s and according to them, the Phase III tuners are a direct replacement for the "vintage" tuners that are now put on the 594. Also, I saw on their website that both the S2 and core bridges are identical. I've been waiting for a comparison video like this because I've been considering buying a 594. After hearing the difference I've decided to save my money and get a core and swap the tuners. (Of course I'd have to swap the tuners no matter which one I got.)
Great comparison, thanks! The S2 sounds a lot like my 2017 Gibson Les Paul Tribute.
Another great one from Phill. Hope to meet you at sweetwater one day.
Phil, very thorough run down and I really like the idea at the end about swapping out the pickups and tuners which cost wise to get the best of both guitars. I wonder what the weight of the S2 was? Thanks!
Spot on assessment! Nicely done. Not that either one sounded bad, but to my ears I preferred the Core. Great comparisons. 😎
Another great comparison Phil. Thanks. I have an S2 single cut and I didn't care at all for the stock pups. Mudbuckers. I put Duncans in and now its my #1.
I didn't like the pups in my S2 Singlecut so I put Bare Knuckle Rebel Yells in it. What a difference ! Sounds amazing now.
Great comparison. I prefer the Core for its clarity and precision, and it is indeed beautiful! I have the SE Singlecut Korina, with US PRS pickups, and for an inexpensive guitar, it has class.
I find your breakdowns and presentation style informative. Much appreciated.
I played a used S2 Custom 24 at Guitar Center and was blown away by the clarity, sustain, and dynamic range of the guitar. It was like playing bells or a grand piano, something that no CZcams video I've seen can capture. It has to be played and felt to understand.
If a Core is even better, then the $2000 difference comes down to this: will you wish you bought the Core every time you pick up the S2? Because $2000 is a small price to pay for no regret.
Idk core are twice the money if u look at the difference u could put the pickups of a core in an s2 for alot cheaper and pretty much be perfect baring that beautiful top on the core series
Buy a 10th anniversary S2 594 and you get the core pickups. I picked one up and it is a fantastic guitar.
I've watched a lot of videos on the S2 McCarty 594 and I'm glad I found yours. So, the S2 is worth getting over the Core--but with upgraded pickups (which are the heart of a guitar's sound) and upgraded tuners. Very good to know. I was thinking hard about getting an S2 594, but I think you just helped me decide to look elsewhere. If I'm going to spend $1,700 on a guitar, I shouldn't have to upgrade those items. Thanks, Phil!
Have you looked into G&L guitars?
If the only difference between the core and the s2 was the maple cap ie same pups and tuners then the s2 would be a fair bit more expensive
Another great video from you. FYI the neck blanks used for constructing S2 necks aer NOT quarter-sawn, they're all flat sawn glued together the way you described.
I agree 100% with your video and you're explanation. I have an S2 Singlecut and love it. The pick ups are definitely a factor that being said, I think perhaps the tuners play a small part in the mix. I also have two SE guitars. I upgraded my Custom 24 with new Tusq nut, locking tuners, and Dimarzio 36th Anniversary pickups. Still under $1,000 and kicks a$$! I love your videos. Please do more Sharpen my Axe!
Just rewired mine to vintage style ('50s wiring) and it brought the guitar to life. All the muddiness has gone, I now have sparkle and usable volume/tone controls. I too was thinking about replacing the pickups, but not anymore. Couldn't be happier. If you bought an S2 594 - I would recommend trying this before considering replacing pickups.
@@brianmckenzie1318 Yes, still very happy. Give it a go before you start down the pickup swapping rabbit hole.
Don’t underestimate the S2! That neck pup is great for rhythm and sub layered chords. From a studio perspective both are great just different. Live with an amp, it’s whatever feels better to the player. Your audience will not know the difference.
There is a certain muddiness in the mid for the S2 version.
Yes….100% the audience don’t know or even care what brand/model you play. Amps, mics, PA gear all affect how you sound much much more than SE vs S2 vs Core pick ups do in a live mix.
Yet another great video. Bit of a side question, seeing as you have both core guitars, which do you find most versatile and use the most, your 594 or custom 24?
handy vid. well done. thx man!
Good job 👍
I bought a 594 for the feel and the clarity 2 years ago. Not disappointed in any way and play it every day. It will see me out.
Im curios, i love my LTD EC1000 LP style guitar. But now i really want an S2 594, are they as good as people say
The core is brighter and crisper indeed!
I enjoy your playing.
Very good and comprehensive side by side. I missed this episode somehow, I’m a subscriber. So did he wind up selling his core? Is that why this popped up as a newer video?
That S2 mirrors my experience with PRS's SE line: great feel but muddy pickups. The core sounded much better. I definitely prefer the carve (and price tag!) of PRS's non-core model, though.
That's because the s2 uses the same Korean pickups of the SE.
I bought a core after watching video. Can’t wait to play it
Here in 2024!
I recently purchased a S2 594, which now comes equipped with the "USA" pickups. I A/B'd between the S2 and a SE. The S2 just felt a bit better and had more clarity, at least to my ears. I'm just amazed at how consistent these guitars are and how well the non-core lines play.
This review helped guide me to the 594. Thanks!
I would like to see you swap the neck pickups between the 2 and do it again. To see how much if any the extra maple difference
Phil, you mentioned you’d take the s2 with the tuners and pickups from the core. Thoughts on also swapping the nut for bone and upgrading the pots? For not very much more money you could do both, would it be worth it? Also do the phase 3 tuners drop in on the s2?
Just a note that as of 2020 all McCartys have the non-locking tulip tuners, which brings the S2s even closer to Core spec. Also, the nut material is interesting because the Core has a bone nut but vintage Les Pauls have nylon nuts. Finally, the singlecut has a thicker body than the doublecut if you were wondering, 51mm vs 48mm. I think the thicknesses are the same as the Cores.
Hey, I'd like to hear the s2 compared to similar price guitars by other brands. Les Paul studio? Great video!
I
? I have the utmost respect for you , I hear the same tone in both. I have a S2 SC love it
Thumb screws at the bridge that actually turn , profile of the neck , on & on . Wish more people new about the quality of the McCarty. Yet another great video !
Great video Phil! G&B pickups are decent but it is quite apparent that the PRS USA pickups are much more dynamic, crisp, clear, etc. Although sound is subjective and some may want the deeper low end, etc. Either way, having played both myself, both instruments are fantastic. The core is definitely the better instrument but the s2 is a great guitar in itself--especially if you upgrade the pickups. As you mention, upgrading the tuners will also provide some improvements, although the S2 tuners are still more than adequate.
The more gain the more I like the s2. Those cleans are night and day though, even I can imagine wanting the darker coil split in a few situations.
It does make me wonder just how practical designing a guitar with versatility in mind actually is.
What a great video. Super informative. I have an S2 594 sitting right here in front of me and like it a lot. The pickups sound just fine to me, but I can hear in this A/B how the Core pickups are clearer. There is more complexity to them and the S2 pickups sound a little muffled in comparison. I also have sitting in front of me a Lambertones Crema bridge humbucker. I am tempted to throw this in my 594 and see what I think. Perhaps I should make a video about it...
Nice comparison! I believe the 2020 Core 594's share the same vintage style tuning keys as the S2 594's.
Phillip, will you do a video on the new SE Hollowbody ii? Interesting to see a $1500 SE, but man that thing looks nice
That was one of the best comparison video I have seen. Well done.
The single cut sounded much better to my ears. If you are PRS why not charge $200.00 more and put in the same pickups...maybe so people will buy a set of 57/08s?
Hey Phil, Does the double cut and the single cut sounds different? And does having top 10 change the sound or the guitar or just more of a aesthetic thing?
The Core to me just has so much more clarity.
Is that not just the difference in pickups though
I agree...Tonally the Core sounds better to me EVERY TIME! All of the subtle details that add up to just a nicer instrument overall IMHO...I don't know if it's $2K better for everyone, but it is for me. I'm the guy that has 3 guitars, each with a specific job, verses having a collection of guitars. So because of that and I do not not mind spending the $ for them if I am able
Would love for you to put the core pickups in the S2 to see if the muddiness in the neck pickup on the S2 becomes clearer.
First thank you Phil for a real informative post and all the time you spent on this. I agree with Simon. I equally didn't understand why PRS for years used a cheap 10 numbered Potentiometer Knob on a 5 position Rotary Switch?? For me it would have ben interesting to hear how the two guitars compare acoustically. ( not listening on a cell phone of course) I build guitars myself and I understand that it's not just the pickups that make the sound at all. You took the "used string" argument out of the equation - perfect. In respect of the difference I'm hearing on my Studio Speakers, I would save up for the 594. In the end, considering all the time we spend in finding the right amp, stomp boxes, effects, composing and recording the "perfect" song, - it all starts with the best guitar we can get.
Equally true with microphones etc. Thanks again!!
man that clean neck pickup comparison ....completely sold on the core...straight off you can appreciate the difference
I was lucky enough to score an S2 594 McCarty Thinline 'used' from Sweetwater - it's an absolutely FANTASTIC instrument. I am ALL about the S2 line. Best valued high quality guitar line built, imo.
Good video. I have a S2 standard 22 with the 85/15s pickups. Don't necessarily love but they don't suck. But the pups in the core sound much better to me. Going to replace the ones in the S2 just not sure for what yet.
great job
Late in life nothing else will matter except "how easy is it to play" "can I do gymnastics on the fret board with ease?" I didnt realize how much scale mattered until I got a 25 and found playing chords was easier, so be sure you try every size because for 50 yrs a LP was the wrong scale for me
I tend to agree with you. I bought a Les Paul when I first started playing because it was the thing to have. I never played anything except a Les Paul because it was what I had and when I got a 2nd guitar it was again a Les Paul. I recently inherited a Stratocaster and it sat for a bit because it needed some work but I finally cleaned it up made it almost like new. When I played it I was amazed. I think in the last few months I may have picked up one of the Les Paul's once or twice. It seems like I always have that stratocaster in my hands. I really like the way it feels and plays.
I’ve had the opposite. Have played strats for 25 years and finally just got a les Paul and find it so much easier to play. Though there’s thing I like about strat neck more, think cause it’s a little skinny width wise. I enjoy them both
But a 25" scale lenght is even longer than a Les Paul? A les Paul has 24.75"
What do you exactly mean? It would Help me
@@ThreeMiningHD Maybe my hand fit better but it proved to me that it made so much difference that I played better. It was a cheap guitar from china so I searched and found out a PRS is 25 and its a very good guitar, bottom line is to try as many as you can to see which one feels right because thickness and string spacing also comes into it
@@ThreeMiningHD the issue for him, more than likely, was how his hand was fitting around the neck. Not necessarily a problem with stretching out for chords and scales. The skinnier strat neck is slightly easier to wrap your hand around. Helps especially if you have small hands and use thumb for low E a lot when playing chords.
great video
This helped me a lot. After watching, I bought a S2 594 10th anniversary model. For me it has the best of both worlds. It has the Core pickups and inlays with a slightly higher S2 price. Would I have to drill if I go to the Core tuners? I love your videos. Please do one on the S2 10th anniversary model!!!!
Great vid Phil. I owned an S2 Standard 22 and it was "okay". I must admit, I fell for the "okie doke". I mean, in my opinion, the S2 is a guitar that gives you the opportunity to say you got one made in the USA, but once I found out that it wasn't totally the case I was disappointed. I figure my Korean made, 2018, 245 SE is just as good or even better (for me anyway). What do S2 and SE have in common? G&B pickups, electronics, hardware........the S2's are beveled mahogany table scraps. Like I said they're okay, but I like my 2018 SE 245. I threw set of DiMarzio EJ Customs in it, a Tusq nut, upgraded to PRS locking tuners and I'm happy with it. To each his or her own. It was nice of Paul to make the move in 2000 (SE) and 2013 (S2) to offer folks who otherwise couldn't afford to purchase a PRS (core) guitar a chance to obtain one by adding more affordable lines. Just sayin'.
I could tell a massive difference with the core. Just really well balanced. S2 was so bassy
I would love to know what locking tuners you find and install on your S2 594, Phil. The phase III locking will fit but I've heard the phase III vintage leaves marks in the headstock finish that aren't pretty. I really love those open gear locking tuners though!
I love the warmth in S2 pick-ups. Sold me