I Finally Bought a PRS! 😲 SE DGT Review 🎸Will It Change My Mind About This Divisive Brand? 🤔
Vložit
- čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
- This week I spend time with a brand I’ve avoided throughout my guitar playing life. PRS guitars divide opinion… some say they are too flash and lack soul or historical relevance, while others claim they are the holy grail. Is this the perfect guitar that I never even knew I needed?.. join me nerds and let's find out! 🎸
My Reverb Shop: tidd.ly/3RIRwNs
00:00 intro & coming up
01:08 I just don't get the birds
04:19 about the prs se dgt
07:15 what does it weigh?
07:36 fit & finish, board & frets
09:28 neck profile & measurements
09:39 headstock, tuners, tremolo
12:32 more about neck, frets, board, nut
13:55 more about the tremolo
15:18 inside control cavity
16:08 the pickup readings
17:25 under the hood
18:29 this is what it sounds like unplugged
18:49 the rig and control layout
20:46 let's play something
22:29 let's play something else
23:38 let's play another thing
25:02 volume & tone controls
26:38 so what do I think?
31:34 what about the sound?
32:35 it's a lovely guitar but...
34:50 play out jam
The Guitaristas CZcams channel is fully independent of sponsorship, and supported/gifted products... it's all the thrills without the shills! 🎸But this content costs real time and a lot of money to make so my own way of raising a few extra $$ to fund the channel is via the subscription TV Channel at: theguitaristas.tv and I am very grateful to my growing army of loyal supporters there who help fund this content, make it possible, and keep it real. You know who you are. 🙏
I AM NOT AN EXPERT. Some things I do know and some things I don't know but think I know and sometimes I say things that are not entirely correct. Once I have said things it's too late to correct them so please check any 'so called facts' with an adult, google, wikipedia, or someone else that knows.
We run this channel to provide therapy for our gear addiction and for an excuse to buy more. Please like and subscribe and keep coming back to watch our films if you would like to support the channel!
#prs #electricguitar #guitaraddict #theguitaristas #guitarist #guitarporn - Zábava
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.
Now 699
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?
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?
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.
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
@@user-lg4yb2gs8m 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 😹
"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.
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
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 🙂
😂
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! 🤷🏻♂️
Love your honest reviews man. Keep it up! Thanks 👌
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
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.
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. 🙂
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.
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.
Great video, glad to see the crocs cam has returned!
Perfect review and description at the end, I had the same feeling about a Tremonti SE Custom I bought online a few years back, within one minute of taking it out of the box I'd decided to send it back, it felt like a piece of furniture and was without a soul.
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!
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
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.
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
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!
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 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!
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 😎🎸🤘
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.❤
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 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.
great video! I have played a bunch of PRS guitars, especially the core models and they look absolutely stunning. I really wanted to like them and buy one because they look so pretty but none of them spoke to me. I have a beat up strat and a 2016 Les Paul which I will never part ways with. The Les Paul is super easy to play but the strat is quite a difficult beast to tame and yet I find myself reaching out to it more often. :)
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 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 !
“Knob cam” was crazy. 😂 Great episode as always Col!
Great review (and playing) Colin. I’ve had 3 PRSs, and returned/ traded them all immediately. I kept feeling “I don’t get the PRS hype-I must be missing something…?” Thanks for posting. Cheers from sunny Arizona
"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
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, 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 🐦.
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.
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...
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?
Another enjoyable video! I agree with your honest opinion. It's a well made guitar but lacks the rock n roll vibe. I own a green PRS Starla stoptail. Great tone, love the neck, fun to play, but too pretty for rock n roll. I think the black with tortoise shell pickguard would rock. The bird inlays is still my favorite vs other fretboard inlays. Always looking forward for your next video! 🤘
Great epiosode! I nearly picked one of these off at Christmas but was able to fight back the temptation.
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.
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...
Nice work !! I'm still a Gibson guy at heart.. haven't played a PRS before , but couldn't get passed the looks of em
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'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.@@thebaneofyourexistence.3377
Player Series are fantastic
@@thebaneofyourexistence.3377 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.
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!
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.
Thanks for another great video! I’ve really tried to like PRS. They have amazing build quality and look pretty but the models I’ve owned just haven’t done it for me either.
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 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.
Another Friday rolls around and I'm delighted to be rockin' with Colin
once again, so g'mornin' and I hope all is groovy whi-chew...
One thing PRS don't seem to be doin' izza Junior or some such,
...tho' I recollect a DC Jr. "proto-type" attributed to Mr. Reed Smithie... (?) (a 1 kuh-nobb wonder me thimks...?)
great film brother!
i had the harley benton clone of the PRS SE24....it was a sweet guitar but wanted to grab a SG so i traded it along with a strat clone plus a lil cash and got the epiphone traditional pro SG last summer...i think the guitar store couldof given me a better deal but i understand they want to make a lil something re selling items...
i havent had any regrets at all and am super happy with the SG...and thanks to you i now have 4 SG models!!
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
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?
One of the best guitar reviews I’ve seen. I too bought a PRS wanting to love it and it’s perfect but lacks character and doesn’t bond with me. Great review
I've owned two & it's pass tents for a reason, I just never loved them. Great video, great playing per usual Collin, see yeah next week.
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!
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.
Love your work mate, Id love to here your take on the PRS singlecut McCarty 594. Ive been intrigued by them. Im an LP guy but they are tempting me being an LP "style"
Would be great if you could get one. I always enjoy your vids and playing. Cheers
Years ago, I had a prs custom 24 artist pack, within two weeks, it was traded for a Gibson Les Paul.
A few years later I had an se245 which I done the greeny mod on.
I can see why they exist, but I don't find them to be an original entity in themselves.
To me, they are/were just hybrids if Gibson and fender.
I've often looked at getting another se of some description, but when I look at them, they don't give me the urge to buy.
One thing I do like about them, is the bird inlays
Also, I think one thing some of us guitarists like, are the imperfections and quirks of brands
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
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.
I’m on the flip side I guess, I was a tele player for 25+ years for gigs and various sessions. Tried a PRS Vela out and never looked back. Ticked all the boxes and corrected the problems that I’d convinced myself were quirks. Never looked back. Totally pulled the rug out from underneath me at the end though with that Maybach! Looks great!
If they shortened the horns might be more appealing to me! Super job Colin!
I love my 3 PRS SE's - I like the looks, ease of play, and pu tone.
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
Hey Colin - great review! I have the core version DGT and use it regularly for live work. The tone is fantastic and I find it easier to play with the taller frets...(but prefer being made to work harder with the likes of my LP) I totally agree with the 'not rock 'n roll enough' though...thats why my LP comes to gigs too! Also not a fan of the headstock. Would be great to see what you think of the core version. but overall it works great for gigs but I do tend to agree with lots that you said. Justin Hawkins once said, you'll never see a true rock 'n roller with a PRS...
Great video as always! I fully agree with your assessment of quality for the $ and most particularly the vanilla part, something tells me that was by design. The only PRS that has the MOJO to me is the latest Zach Meyers and I don't mind the birds. I do have a fondness for The Yardbirds though 😀
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
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.
I've been waiting for this one to hear your thoughts! Really good review I think, and very similar to my own experiences. I'd love to love them, but - aside from the amount of marketing BS that Paul comes out with, I've just never found them to have a voice of their own, nor do they inspire me to play. It's like in every way they strive for the halfway point between a Les Paul and a Strat and manage to hit a point where they don't capture the magic of either. At the same time I can appreciate that the SE range offers some serious quality and tonal options for someone who needs a jack of all trades.
You won't lose any subs Cole !!! Sometimes is a good exercise to put our prejudices aside to find out nice surprises.
🙂🙂🙂🙂
Absolutely fantastic have a good weekend Colin also what influence you to play guitar ❤❤❤❤❤❤😊😊😊😊😊😊
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.
I have no personal experience with a PRS so I can't comment on the guitar. But it is a strange thing that you can pick up a guitar and it seems like it just has a groove in it and others don't. Great video. Cheers
Honestly you may be pleasantly surprised by an SE Mira. I have the S2 model from 2013, and every time I go a week or two between plays, I’m surprised by how much love playing on it. It has a stopbar instead of a trem, and it’s a more visually simplified representation of the brand. The body shape is different. Imagine an SG and a double cut LP Jr. melded together. It’s a rocker, and it’s capable of the delicate passages as well. If the SE is close to being the S2, I highly recommend it. Love the videos!
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.
Hello Colin, really dug your playing today. Ooops, you said you didn't like your playing! Well, what can I say except, look forward to seeing you next week?
I can't recall if I have commented on your channel before, but I have now! Such a good channel. I have similar feelings about the esthetics of PRS guitars: I don't like bold flame finishes (anymore, I have a Fender acoustic from the early nineties that is real gaudy!), or the outrageous colors they use sometimes. I had a single cut SE when they first came out and the quality is undeniable, especially for their less expensive instruments. I wonder if the vanilla-ness you refer to is actually just perfect for some players? I am thinking in terms of a blank canvas kind of idea. Perhaps someone who uses lots of effects, or plays many, many different styles of music, that person could get the sound they wanted without the kind of sonic influence that a particular guitar has for whatever reason (strats sounding nasal, Gibson humbuckers ripping, jangly Rics, things like that). I know I wish my Epiphone Explorer Pro would be more stable when it comes to tuning! Anyway, just an observation. Keep up the good work!
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 !
😁👍
Am with you on this one. I thought you were holding back and was waiting for a bit more, how I can I put it? a bit more bite or something like that, I know when I heard you say “strat like” I knew it must be more the guitar holding you back than just the way you were playing. I don’t really like that headstock or neck but I will have to try one myself one day and feel it for myself as maybe I would feel different about it. it looks a bit awkward with the switch, volume and tone buttons plus the whammy bar all in that little space but again maybe if I picked one up it could work and feel fine. I will not be in a big hurry to find one and feel it for myself.
I’m looking for trouble!
Enjoy your channel.. keep it going!
I agree with you, Colin. PRS it not my jam either. But I'd rock that Maybach! 🤘🎸Thanks for doing what you do! Can't wait to see the walk thru on the Maybach. Thanks again!
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.
Well that’s a useful new experience for me ! I’ve watched one of Col’s videos and don’t want to rush out and buy the guitar at the end of it. I am completely with you, never seen a PRS that does it for me - you mentioned your playing and the simple truth was it didn’t inspire you and it doesn’t inspire me either, completely leaves me cold. I like guitars that my hero’s played - I’ve said it before but could you imagine Johnny Marr using a PRS ?!!! I don’t doubt they are good but I have zero desire to add one to my little collection which is currently a Gretsch G2622, Squier CV Tele Custom and a Squier Late 50’s CV Jazzmaster like the one you reviewed - I regularly perv on them all which I couldn’t say about any PRS ! Still enjoyed the video though ! Cheers Col
Totally agree Colin. I had a Johnny Hiland PRS for a long time. Beautiful guitar, played like a dream, looked great, but just not 'rock n roll' I wanted that scruffiness, and keef like disregard for shiney and technically well produced guitars. I mean if I was just starting out and someone gave me one of these I'd probably love it to start with, but then I'd play my first battered tele and the rest would be history.
I actually enjoyed your playing on this review Colin. PRS seem to polarise people for some reason. I'd love to see you review the SE 594 McCarty - the SC version of course. All the best.
I hear ya. I was sniffing around it but I have a custom 24 se from 2020 and it is very comfortable and a pleasure to play, but I'm not impressed with the muddy pickups. I play my Jazzmaster mainly anyway, thats my great mate.😁 I enjoyed the video Colin
Hey, Colin, I always love your reviews. I also love the SG, and looking for the elusive SG junior feels halfway decent (gibson QC is terrible). However, I was curious at the end when you said that the $800 PRS is not your jam. Then you pulled out a guitar that costs almost three times as much. What sub $1000 is your jam?
The Yamaha Revstars are much closer… or there are plenty of telecasters that light me up for that price! 🔥
Thx for the review, you sounded much like Knopfler in the jam sections! Looking forward for the Maybach review, would you rate Maybach as high as Eastman? Curious because I like the look of the Maybach's more and they're in the same pricerange... Cheers from Belgium
I was exactly the same, but when the years went by and i got better as a guitarist i fell in love with PRS. My two main guitars are now a core silver sky and S2 mccarty 594.
One of my favourite things about this channel is that I can disagree with you yet still completely respect your opinions and your reasons for those opinions. My se Bernie marsden is my current go to guitar, but I did take a lot of time to find one that didn’t have an overly flamey top. Probably helps that I’ve had it 10 years and it fits like an old pair of gloves now. May be adding an epi sg vibrola to the lineup though so it’s gonna have some competition again.
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.
Boy ! That was a tuff review...but you're honesty have set you free.
Aloha Colin! The Dave Grissom Tremolo is the most thought out model PRS makes. Supposedly. If I were to buy a PRS, it probably be a DGT.
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
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. 😉😊
A great seller for PRS since its debut.
Personally decided on a different guitar (Revstar RSS02T) over this.
However...The PRS acoustic/electric parlor is fun😉👍
Glad you've gone through this PRS...😎👍👍
😎✌👍❤🖖
Love Brother
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.
I have a couple PRS. A Core and an SE, love them both. I don’t understand the no soul thing. I especially find their trem very expressive. Are they my favourite guitar? No. I have a Fender Jaguar that is my favourite, and a couple Strats. My favourite Gibson is my Firebird.
I’m really fond of Reverend guitars as well, and definitely recommend giving them a go if you want something a little different.
Great video. I’ve seen a handful of your videos lately and I really enjoy them.