Charcoal . Major differences in this model include the Swamp Ash body , maple neck and fingerboard and the addition of the PRS AS- 01 single coil pickup in the middle position . Although the Swamp Ash wood is heavier , it also adds dramatically to the sustain of this guitar . The satin finish maple neck and fretboard are poppy and play fast . The wide thin neck shape lends itself to comfortable soloing and chording all the way up to the body contoured cutaway . Similar to the CE 24 electronics , except with added middle pickup , we can achieve six different pickup configurations with the 3-way toggle and push-pull tone control . The Swamp Ash Special is priced at $ 679 which is still impressive considering the addition of a third pickup and a Solid Ash Body and still under $ 1,000 .
The PRS SE Custom 24 Quilt is an eye-catching tone machine with its quilted maple top and color matched headstock . The SE Custom 24 current finishes include Black Gold Burst , Charcoal , and my favorite Turquoise . This instrument is a set-neck , not a bolt-on and has a flame maple veneer top with mahogany back wood . It has a Maple neck with a Rosewood fretboard and of course the signature PRS birds inlayed into the neck .
The SE Custom 24 has the same PRS tremolo and tuners as the other SE models . Electronics are also matched with a pair of PRS 85 / 15 S pickups and the volume and push pull tone control . Pickup selection is accomplished with a 3-way blade selector between the volume and tone controls . What sets the SE Custom 24 Quilt apart from the pack is the flamed maple top with finish matched headstock , ebony fingerboard , set-neck body and the 3-way blade pickup select or . The SE Custom 24 Quilt is selling for only $ 799 with a bevy of features and cosmetics that make it look like a $ 2,000 guitar .
All the current , and these three new SE Models , include an embroidered PRS SE gig bag , which is also what Paul Reed Smith uses to carry tote his own prototype guitars around in . We almost got his guitar and our loaner SE models confused in the studio when he visited us . I discovered when talking with PRS staffers that all the SE models go through the Stevensville , Maryland factory before they are released to dealers and the public for final inspection and setup !
For an everyday gigging , playing , and recording electric guitar I believe you will be hard pressed to find all these features and versatility at the same price point PRS has achieved with the SE line . Of the instruments tested the SE Swamp Ash Special can sonically fill the void of multiple guitars with it ’ s three pickup configuration and push-pull coil splitter . The sustain from the solid Swamp Ash body allowed us to grab notes , hold them and go get a bite to eat . A maple neck and Swamp Ash body pair together nicely .
Checkout the new SE models for yourself especially if you have been longing to join the PRS club but didn ’ t want to break the $ 1,000 cap . Your friends and fellow musicians won ’ t know the difference when they hear you play your SE live !
$ 799 www . PRSguitars . com
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