Post by oldbones on Feb 6, 2011 15:20:25 GMT
Manufacturer & Model *: PRS SE Semi-Hollow
Where Purchased: Online from imuso.co.uk
Year Purchased: 2010
Sound *: OK OK - before you get at me ... I know this is an electric and that it's not even a traditional semi-acoustic, but read on and give it (and me) the benefit of the doubt ...
Acoustically, the guitar wouldn't be used in a gig or as accompaniment but for practising it is superb and has a surprisingly balanced range of tones from bass through to treble.
Electrically, it can be played as can any electric guitar but because of its chambered construction the internal acoustic properties can really affect the amplified tones, especially with the volume rolled back to about 6 or 7 and with both pickups selected.
Soundwise the guitar can be effective for blues, rock, pop and lead. The acoustically-tinged sound opyions are ideal for country and folk.
I'm not into thrash, garage, metal, greenhouse, crypt, grunge or gardenshed music (not sure if all of those are genuine) - but for traditional rock through to electric folk it is hard to beat.
Sound Rating *: 10
Setup *: Fantastic action - in fact, the guitar demands to be played very carefully because the light strings that it comes fitted with can play sharp if you're a bit heavy-fingered behind the frets. The nut is cut very precisely, so slightly heavier gauge strings need to be tested first.
Harmonics at the 12th fret are perfect and - usefully - harmonics at what would be the 24th fret can be found directly above the line of pickup poles closest to the neck. They ring bell-like and pure.
Setup Rating *: 9
Appearance *: Appearance is a matter of taste, but in my eyes the thing is perfect.
The bookmatching is superb.
Can I award 11 points?
Appearance Rating *: 10
Reliability *: Tuning is stable but not perfect. The 3rd string causes most problems and does tend to need to be checked each time I play it. About twice a week I run it through my tuner and usually find a slight drift on the 3rd and 2nd strings.
Reliability Rating *: 8
Components *: All build components are of excellent quality. Those who are familiar with how Les Paul created his original 'plank' will know what I mean when I say that the wood for the neck continues right through the body and supports both pickups. However, the upper and lower bouts and the small space at the end of the neck extension between it and the bottom of the guitar are all routed out of the solid wood. Even the end of the neck extension is rounded-off and sanded - a very nice touch which isn't even meant to be seen. This routing-out provides the semi-acoustic aspect and gives the guitar such a unique tone.
The combined saddle and bridge style works well, but on balance I'd prefer saddles that can be individually adjusted.
Components Rating *: 9
Pre-sale Customer Service: Excellent service for an online order. My contact ensured that the guitar I wanted was set aside and then delivered on the day that I required.
Pre-sale Customer Service Rating: 10
Post-sale Customer Service: N/A
No subsequent contact has been necessary or been made.
I can't choose a n/a score, so for fairness I'll award 10.
Post-sale Customer Service Rating: 10
Any Other Information: If you want to go electric but want more than just scream and raunch, try one of these instruments.
I'm also experimenting with a John Pearse acoustic pickup mounted onto the guitar to amplify those acoustic tones -this is providing some interesting possibilities, especially when you use two leads and blend both outputs at the amp.
Where Purchased: Online from imuso.co.uk
Year Purchased: 2010
Sound *: OK OK - before you get at me ... I know this is an electric and that it's not even a traditional semi-acoustic, but read on and give it (and me) the benefit of the doubt ...
Acoustically, the guitar wouldn't be used in a gig or as accompaniment but for practising it is superb and has a surprisingly balanced range of tones from bass through to treble.
Electrically, it can be played as can any electric guitar but because of its chambered construction the internal acoustic properties can really affect the amplified tones, especially with the volume rolled back to about 6 or 7 and with both pickups selected.
Soundwise the guitar can be effective for blues, rock, pop and lead. The acoustically-tinged sound opyions are ideal for country and folk.
I'm not into thrash, garage, metal, greenhouse, crypt, grunge or gardenshed music (not sure if all of those are genuine) - but for traditional rock through to electric folk it is hard to beat.
Sound Rating *: 10
Setup *: Fantastic action - in fact, the guitar demands to be played very carefully because the light strings that it comes fitted with can play sharp if you're a bit heavy-fingered behind the frets. The nut is cut very precisely, so slightly heavier gauge strings need to be tested first.
Harmonics at the 12th fret are perfect and - usefully - harmonics at what would be the 24th fret can be found directly above the line of pickup poles closest to the neck. They ring bell-like and pure.
Setup Rating *: 9
Appearance *: Appearance is a matter of taste, but in my eyes the thing is perfect.
The bookmatching is superb.
Can I award 11 points?
Appearance Rating *: 10
Reliability *: Tuning is stable but not perfect. The 3rd string causes most problems and does tend to need to be checked each time I play it. About twice a week I run it through my tuner and usually find a slight drift on the 3rd and 2nd strings.
Reliability Rating *: 8
Components *: All build components are of excellent quality. Those who are familiar with how Les Paul created his original 'plank' will know what I mean when I say that the wood for the neck continues right through the body and supports both pickups. However, the upper and lower bouts and the small space at the end of the neck extension between it and the bottom of the guitar are all routed out of the solid wood. Even the end of the neck extension is rounded-off and sanded - a very nice touch which isn't even meant to be seen. This routing-out provides the semi-acoustic aspect and gives the guitar such a unique tone.
The combined saddle and bridge style works well, but on balance I'd prefer saddles that can be individually adjusted.
Components Rating *: 9
Pre-sale Customer Service: Excellent service for an online order. My contact ensured that the guitar I wanted was set aside and then delivered on the day that I required.
Pre-sale Customer Service Rating: 10
Post-sale Customer Service: N/A
No subsequent contact has been necessary or been made.
I can't choose a n/a score, so for fairness I'll award 10.
Post-sale Customer Service Rating: 10
Any Other Information: If you want to go electric but want more than just scream and raunch, try one of these instruments.
I'm also experimenting with a John Pearse acoustic pickup mounted onto the guitar to amplify those acoustic tones -this is providing some interesting possibilities, especially when you use two leads and blend both outputs at the amp.
