The SEs are well made and usually a very good value at their price point. Likely to be a step up from a Gio and IMO well worth $300, but as with any guitar imports can vary a bit from one to another. I'd say play it yourself if at all possible. If you can't play it in person, I will say that in general the quality and the consistency of the SE series is quite good. Neck carve is likely to be a bit thicker than your Ibbys but not overly fat- if you're comfortable with the Epi necks the SE should suit you just fine.
Definitely play it first.
I had a rude awakening with an SE a couple years ago. It was absolutely gorgeous and i just HAD to have it. I played it for nearly an hour and desperately tried to fall in love with it, but it just didn't feel good (very cheap feel to it) and sounded even worse. Even knowing that I could do a lot of work on it myself...fret leveling and dressing, nut replacement, pup and pot replacement, etc...I just couldn't justify it, it REALLY felt cheap. Nearly every Epi that I have ever played or owned felt and sounded 10 times better. Even several $99 Squire Strats felt, played, and sounded better.
I do have to admit that the PRSs really look great.
Thanks for the reply, if it going to need losts of upgrades than no. Lol
The one you tried was a standard or custom? The custom is like 700 or something. What you think about that one?
It was a signature model
i have an older prs se i got from someone on the forum and its a fine guitar, not the same as custom shop gibson or fender or usa made hamer but for the money they are really good guitars
i got mine used so i cant really help, the only thing i did was swap pups but he had already put duncans in. maybe a nut, maybe a little fret leveling, maybe new pots and switch? dont know which of those you might need but those are the things i always look at when i get a guitar. if it needs more than those thing, then chances are i dont want the guitar to begin with
it if felt cheap, it could been the Santana standard or other. ill save up for a se custom instead![]()