PRS SE Paul’s Guitar – First Impressions & Real-World Use
Recently, I had the unexpected luck of winning a PRS SE Paul’s Guitar in a raffle hosted by Irvine Art & Music during one of their PRS events featuring Bobby Serrato. I’m incredibly grateful to them—both for the instrument and for their welcoming, knowledgeable staff. Their store has a wide range of gear that caters to everyone from beginners to seasoned players.
This SE model is based on Paul Reed Smith’s own signature core guitar. Paul isn’t just a builder—he’s a player too, and it shows in the design. The guitar is straightforward and functional, which reflects what I’ve seen of Paul’s personality from interviews and the one time I met him in person.
Specs at a Glance
Body: Mahogany with a maple top and flame maple veneer
Neck: Mahogany with a rosewood fretboard and bird inlays
Tuners: Vintage-style
Pickups: Two TCI (S) humbuckers based on PRS’s TCI pickups
Controls: Master tone, master volume, and two mini toggle switches for coil tapping each pickup
Real-World Use
Since receiving the guitar, I’ve had the chance to use it in a variety of settings—jazz gigs, a musical theater pit, church performances, and studio sessions. One thing that really stands out is how versatile the instrument is, especially with the coil tap functionality.
For the type of music I play, I’ve found the neck pickup tapped to be the most useful—it has a clear, articulate tone that works well with more complex voicings and melodic playing. On the other hand, the middle position with both pickups tapped has an almost acoustic quality to it, which I love for open chords and rhythm work.
The pickups are surprisingly clear for a guitar at this price point. The top end loses a bit of detail, but overall, the sound remains musical and well-balanced.
Final Thoughts
I’ve played a core model PRS for over 15 years, and it’s been fun to compare it to this SE version. The SE Paul’s Guitar brings a lot to the table—solid build quality, tonal flexibility, and an approachable price point. If you're considering adding a PRS to your setup, this model is well worth checking out.
If you’ve had any experience with the SE line, I’d love to hear your thoughts—feel free to reach out or leave a comment.
—Prawit Siriwat
www.prawitsiriwat.com | @prawitsiriwat