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PRS Custom SE: a workhorse instrument

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• Review

From the initial, and tentative, launch of just a single model – the Santana SE, back in 2001 – PRS's Korean-made SE line has grown to a nine-strong family.

The latest two additions are the SE Custom and SE Soapbar II Maple. And it's maple that's the key here: for the first time on an SE, both guitars use a flame maple veneer. And though both have flat fronts, and not PRS's hallmark carved top, they certainly look more like the 'real thing' than any previous SEs.

Of course, a considerable number of lower-priced guitars have, for many years, used figured maple veneers, as opposed to a thicker and much more expensive slab of solid figured wood, to emulate the look of more expensive Les Paul-style, or indeed PRS-style, guitars.

But PRS, from the start of the SE project, has been more cautious than most about 'copying' its high-line guitars, worried that the brand could be devalued and that sales could be affected.

In fact, the SE line has been a runaway success, and with the company celebrating its 20th year in 2005, we're told to expect record sales on the USA models too.

Overview

Pictured face-on, the SE Custom looks every bit a PRS, a visually close cousin to the Maryland-based company's original model: the Custom.

Because of its 22 frets (like all SEs), it aims to replicate the later Custom 22 rather than the original 24-fret model. Pulled out of its included high- quality gigbag, however, the SE Custom is initially disappointing.

Before you go to play it, it's the flat front with no edge radius or forearm contour that's such a contrast to the elegantly shaped arch of a USA Custom and that somehow looks 'wrong'.

Other SEs, the SE Soapbar II Maple included, have a vintage-style edge radius and forearm chamber that, even with a flat front, look very 'right'. So why hasn't PRS contoured the SE Custom's front in the same manner?

It's simply to include another PRS-like feature: the natural edge 'binding'. To be fair this is quite clever (though not unique). PRS has topped the mahogany body with a thin slab of maple and then capped that with the thinner flamed maple veneer.

It means that while the top is finished in grey black, and the sides and back are solid black, there's a visible natural maple edge of around 4.5mm – not as thick as the USA models but it more than alludes to that feature. But there's also sound to consider.

"The flat front on the Custom allowed us to add a thicker piece of maple to the guitar," explains Doug Shive, PRS's overseas project manager who looks after the SE range. "A veneer looks great, but it really won't affect the tone. The thicker maple top on the Custom adds some highs that aren't typically heard with an all mahogany guitar.

"In addition, we've been very careful not to copy our USA designs too closely. We wanted maple, we wanted natural binding, but we didn't want anyone to be the least bit confused that the guitar they were buying was made in the USA factory. Perhaps we'll offer another model with an arm carve in the future, but it won't have the natural binding."