Loving my SE soapbar

alex1fly

Well-known member
Man, I can't get enough of my SE soapbar. It's such a nice guitar, I love nearly everything about it. The neck fits my hands, the scale feels just right, my notes and riffs just land. It handles all the styles I throw at it be it blues, rock, metal, jazz, funk, fingerpicking, plucking, comping, punk, ska, classical, high gain, low gain, clean, crunch, overdriven, palm mutes, bends, solos, complex chords, all with flying colors. Then with the responsive tone and volume controls, I can adjust the amount of response, evenness, fluidity, and dynamic control. It gets single coil strat sounds but better (even quacky tones with the volume down and middle position selected), humbucker Les Paul sounds but better, while providing a unique voice of its own. The pickups work so well with the guitar; it has all the right frequencies that make it cut through and stick out, though sweetly. And each pickup is not confined to its own set of sounds; their sounds and styles merge, constantly challenging me and taking me to new sonic ground. Naysayers be ****ed, these pickups are stock but they are AMAZING, and I've had my fair share of pickups. I get out of it what I put in, and it gives back so much more. If I hear a sound in my head or in a song, I can produce it with this guitar. It's warm, it's sweet, it's bright, it's smooth, it's chunky, it's raucous, it's tame, it's everything I'd want in a guitar, even in multiple guitars. On top of all this, it's basically stock, minus a tuneomatic bridge that the owner before me installed. Not only does the neck feel *perfect* with its action that sounds high but is feels low, there is not a single out of tune note on the guitar. Seriously. I don't have to simplify my chords to keep the dissonance at bay. And it also doesn't bend notes sharp when I press down. Open strings do not sound terribly different from fretted notes - a big plus. I like to drone high B and E while chording on lowering strings, and everything blends seamlessly together. And the sustain... goes on, and on. It does not go out of tune over time and with bends. It looks, sounds, and feels professional, and I can really tell a difference in my playing when I pick it up. The only things I'd change would be to add a tremolo and take the buzz away from the bridge pickup.

This guitar is so satisfying. To get an idea of what it sounds like, check this out: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=prs+soapbar+se&search_type=&search=Search

this clip in particular does a good job of showing its expressiveness and dynamic capabilities. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbkfExyCDr4

Maybe its all the right things coming together - scale, tonewoods, P 90 pickups, neck profile, fret size, good craftsmanship and factory parts/wiring. Kind of like how Apple computers are praised for working together well by having the software and hardware designed by the same people - this guitar gives me that impression.

Awesome, awesome, awesome. While I have to sacrifice tone or playability with my LP and strats, I'm getting the best of all worlds with this PRS SE; tones I've been chasing, feel I've always wanted, mojo to shake a stick at, versatility I've only dreamed of, and the ability to express myself musically better than ever before. It's the closest I've come to musical nirvana in my 12 years of being a musician, 8 of those years playing guitar.
 
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Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I feel the same about mine. Great guitar, and considering I was out the door for less than $400 it not only is a keeper, but will remain unmodded!
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I paid a little more for mine due to the aftermarket bridge, but it was completely worth it. Everytime I feel like tinkering with it I just play it and instantly change my mind. It's too good to fiddle with :)
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I was giddy when mine arrived (for $300 shipped!); it plays awesome, sounds awesome, and looks awesome! I have not changed the strings yet as I dont want to mess with the mojo :14:

I did notice when I turn the tone pot below 2 the guitar volume goes to almost zero but I have not had a change to investigate - the pickups are so nice and chunky I usually never need to run the tone below 5 anyway...

This was just what I was looking for in a guitar - clean and simple! Now I really kick myself for not snagging the black SE One I had a line on too!

Dano
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I love the way it sounds/plays. It truly can do any kind of music. Of course being the fiddler that I am I want to try some hum canceling pickups in it. It looks like emg has a p-90 sized version of the 81 and 85 that would turn this guitar into a metal monster, has anyone tried these?
 
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Re: Loving my SE soapbar

this is all good to hear, i just recommended one to somebody and i think hes going for it
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

there's a LP Jr sorta SE going at a local shop for what seems like a good price. Fret edges are decent, neck feels good, looks sweet...if I was in the market...
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I had a SE custom in red about a year ago. GREAT instrument, specially for the money. I'm glad you like your instrument...enjoy it.

Be warned though...the SE models are a ''gateway'' to more expensive and dangerous prs models..........
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

^^^LMAO^^^

That is just what I discovered when I thought - Wow, an SC245 would be awesome to pick up next! - only to find they go for $2-3K!!! :eyecrazy:

Dano
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

^^^LMAO^^^

That is just what I discovered when I thought - Wow, an SC245 would be awesome to pick up next! - only to find they go for $2-3K!!! :eyecrazy:

Dano

Lol, before you know it, your mind will start to justify spending that much money on one. '' It's the perfect guitar for me, the end all of my collection'', you will say.

Before you know it, you will be sitting around with a SC, a Custom 22, thinking about how awesome a hollowbody would sound.
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I liked my Soapbar SE, but I found the original pickups to lack for low-gain crunch.

Trying to put Seymour Duncans in had to realize they are bigger and only fit without the cover. Oops...

But great guitars anyway. If you'd force me into guitar center and buy a brand new guitar I'd walk to the PRS SE section first.

Bigger frets would have been nice, my McCarty had about the same neck shape and thickness, but the larger frets changes everything.
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

Howdy,

Alex1fly you've discovered my favorite P/U! My '98 Gibson LP Special has a pair of SD Vintage p-90s and remains my "Desert Island" guitar for pretty much the same reasons you cited: Tone.
For myself and many others, the P-90 combines fullness with juuust the right amount of clarity; a perfect combination. Enjoy. :)

Eggman
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I'g like to get one too.
I've only played one a couple of times in store and was very impressed by the feel, the mojo and the rich and well balanced sound.
Bang for buck I thought it really was exceptional.
Great that your happy !
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

I've played a few that were phenomenal guitars, a buddy of mine owns one that anyone would be happy to have in his/her collection. The whole PRS "in tune all over the neck" thing is what really sold me on the company in the first place. Nothing sucks more than when you're spending half your time trying to get notes to ring out nicely.
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

That90'sGuy;1962400The whole PRS "in tune all over the neck" thing is what really sold me on the company in the first place. Nothing sucks more than when you're spending half your time trying to get notes to ring out nicely.[/QUOTE said:
+1. That makes a huge difference for me. I get into what I'm playing a lot more when everything is in tune. Definitely a plus.
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

Do the SEs sound similar except for pickups, or are there real differences between the models?
 
Re: Loving my SE soapbar

Do the SEs sound similar except for pickups, or are there real differences between the models?

I think the SEs sound "close enough" to make most folks happy. The real difference is in the craftsmanship/fit and finish and playability.
 
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