I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

[Gearjoneser]

Besides humbucking guitars, strats, and teles, I've always been fond of fatter single coil guitars like Gretsch and DeArmond.

Normally, I'd be skeptical about PRS introducing yet another retro body style, but I really like how the S2 Vela turned out, with the slightly Gumby'd body shape, brass tele style saddles, and DeArmond style neck pickup and a brighter humbucking bridge. It's sort of like PRS got tired of doing the Gibson/Fender middle ground, and now went for a PRS/Dearmond/Tele hybrid.

What an elegant take on the normal PRS body shape! The line that runs along the top sort of mirrors the contour of the bottom of the pickguard. They wisely went with the regular headstock, and unlike many later PRS models, the pickup routes will accommodate aftermarket pickups. PRS is doing it right, giving us fresh and simple takes on their own classic styles.

All the finishes look good, but I'm sort of partial to the black or gold w/dot markers at $1279. I'm not running out to buy one, but we'll see if I feel like parting with something to make room.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S2VelaDBL

 

[JeffB]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

Dynasonic type in the neck.


If they had these when I bought my Starla 5 years ago, I would have gone that route.I think its the best looking of the PRS guitars with pickguards,by far. But I really can't get past the aesthetics of the beveled tops on any of the s2 or SE. I have tried.

 

[voggin]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

Can't wait til these hit the used market (I'm cheap)

 

[Ez74]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I will own either a gold or frost blue with dots. This is the first guitar in a long time that has really given me GAS.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I think for most players, a guitar like this represents the sonic space of single coil guitars, with something that's a half step toward humbuckers.

I say that because the bridge will give this guitar some top end snap.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

Dang, that does look tonally awesome!@ But I still dig the same type neck pickup in the bridge moar.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I can kinda dig the body. I can't get past the headstock shape, though. SO ugly...

 

[kramersteen]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

oh yeah that would grow on me.

 

[vinta9e]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

Nice and coherent. The two barrel bridge is brilliant.

 

[Diego]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I can hear the twang from here. Dig it! Looks great, too.

 

[Cdwillis]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I have yet to see a PRS with a Pickguards that doesn't look ugly. Cool pickup setup but man is it ugly.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

That's probably the best pickup compliment you could ask for there. Being a big fan of Filtertrons and Dynasonics, PRS hit this one out of the park. Now they really need to go the Gretsch route by introducing a large single cut hollow body platform for it.

 

[JeffB]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

The PGS demo of this showed up in my youtube feed last night. Sounds killer.

I can vouch for the legitmacy of how awesome that bridge pickup sounds in the clip. I had an original starla with those. Big fat meaty tone.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I really dig that blue on the cab! :bigeyes2:

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I hate this guitar so much! It's beautiful, amazing design, the neck feels great, the pickups are tuned amazingly (and that dynasonic style pickups sounds killer for everything I like to play.

I hate it because it's 95% my perfect guitar, if it had a tremolo on it, that would be it, search over, go home boys, I found my dream guitar. It's infuriatingly close to everything I want in a guitar.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I hate this guitar so much! It's beautiful, amazing design, the neck feels great, the pickups are tuned amazingly (and that dynasonic style pickups sounds killer for everything I like to play.

I hate it because it's 95% my perfect guitar, if it had a tremolo on it, that would be it, search over, go home boys, I found my dream guitar. It's infuriatingly close to everything I want in a guitar.

They took a big risk putting an odd tele bridge on this guitar, but that was their design choice.
What you could do is acquire the guitar, and see if it becomes a favorite as it is, or if you still prefer it in a trem version. A good tech could easily route it for any kind of tremolo system you want. If I didn't bond with the stock bridge, I'd probably try to find a PRS, Wilkinson, or Fender trem. Too bad it wasn't an option.

 

[JeffB]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

Its popular among PRS fans. I wouldnt be surprised to see a vela trem next year.

 

[TimmyPage]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

They took a big risk putting an odd tele bridge on this guitar, but that was their design choice.
What you could do is acquire the guitar, and see if it becomes a favorite as it is, or if you still prefer it in a trem version. A good tech could easily route it for any kind of tremolo system you want. If I didn't bond with the stock bridge, I'd probably try to find a PRS, Wilkinson, or Fender trem. Too bad it wasn't an option.

I actually really like the bridge of the guitar. I've always been a fan of that sort of old tele style bridge so I wouldn't want to route it if I were to get one. I certainly do hope that if they -eventually- add a trem version of it that they do something cool with it based off of the current bridge.

...or just scrap the whole thing and stick a jazzmaster trem system on it. A man can dream right?

 

[Stratman]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

I like it!

Nice choice of pickups....

 

[elelpe]

Re: I really dig the new PRS S2 Vela

Dig it. I like the offset body, the bridge and pickups of choice. If it came with Santana headstock, it would be perfect