Guitar Gear Forum

I had a GC gift card I needed to use so I decided to go to GC today. The card was like $25 so just enough for strings etc

But our GC here is pretty good, with a good selection of gear in their Platinum room.

They had a 20w Friedman JEL head. I've had played JEL modded Marshalls but had never played the JEL amp. It sounds amazing. The Friedman 20w power section is pretty robust. They don't fall apart like other EL84 amps. But being 20w, the power amp saturates pretty quickly, which sounds awesome but also limits the use of effects loop since you need headroom to run effects in the loop.
But I really liked the amp. I'd love to see a 50w version of it.


I used a PRS S2 Singlecut to test the amp out. I was really surprised about how much I liked this guitar. I usually don't like PRS guitars, but this one really felt great. I liked it more than the Core PRS I've owned. I love how they carved the top on the S2, it's almost like a SG top , it's flat around the bridge, then beveled on the edges. It feels really good under the hand.
This one was being sold for $1599 (used) and it's totally worth it IMHO.

Yes. The S2's are amazing for the money. My S2 McCarty 594 hangs with any guitar I've ever owned in playability, tone and build quality, including the core 594 McCarty I had at the same time. I gotta try a Friedman JEL for sure. I think the McCarty 594 would be up your alley as it is Les Paul tones, neck feel and scale. Profile is between 59 and 60.

At one point in the pat i ragged on the S2 stuff before having ever played any, but boy was I wrong


I’m a huge fan of the S2 line. Night and day difference from the SE line imo… (as they should be, given the price and the fact that they’re actually made in the MD PRS factory)

I love my Vela almost as much as my core

I’ve been playing my PRS guitars lately. My SEs are no slouch. Great guitars for what they are. My S2 Cu24 is definitely a cut above. I really like the pattern regular neck. The playability is top notch. The bevel cut is great too. A lot like an SG in that regard, as you said. I put a MannMade trem on mine and swapped the stock HFS/VB S (import) pickups for a Duncan 59 and Custom combo and haven’t looked back. The guitar didn’t need the Mann trem but it is a nice upgrade.

FWIW I’m definitely going to be getting another USA made PRS. The problem I’m having is do I go for a CE or grab another S2. 1st world problems. I’d love a Vela or a Singlecut of sorts. Heck the Standard 24 in frost green metallic with the pickguard even looks sweet.

greatmutah wrote:FWIW I’m definitely going to be getting another USA made PRS. The problem I’m having is do I go for a CE or grab another S2. 1st world problems. I’d love a Vela or a Singlecut of sorts. Heck the Standard 24 in frost green metallic with the pickguard even looks sweet.

I’m in the same boat. CE24 seems to make the most sense for some variety, but I keep seeing various S2 McCartys that really catch my eye as well

There’s also an older pre- S2 core Mira in sea foam green on my local CL for only $1k… great deal and I bet it kicks ass, I’m not sure if I can get into the shape though

I actually dig the Mira shape. The core Mira at any rate. The S2 and SE Miras don’t do anything for me. The core Mira isn’t too far removed from my Santana SE which I wasn’t sure I would like (it was a gift from my wife) but I really, really like how that guitar plays and feels. Very comfortable. I’d at least check it out man.

I was eyeballing the SE 594 hard for a while, but now I am close to pulling the trigger on the DGT SE based on some comparison vids, and the bigger frets on the DGT. I am an LP guy so the 594 control layout and bridge are much more familiar to me, but it is time to mix things up a bit.

I personally love the PRS trem. It's my favorite after a good Floyd. It's also set to float and sits up a bit so it's kind of between where a Strat trem rests and where a LP bridge sits.

The SEs are hit and miss. The Tremonti, DGT, Hollowbody II, and SE245 are amazing, though. The standards and CU24s are just shit.

I think used S2's are a great value and I don't mind the bevel on them, it's similar to my core Mira's.
I'm in the same boat as others here, I want to get another PRS, but don't know if I want to get a S2 of some sort or a CE.

Chris Z wrote:The SEs are hit and miss. The Tremonti, DGT, Hollowbody II, and SE245 are amazing, though. The standards and CU24s are just shit.

My Starla SE and Santana SE have both been great too.

The fact that they've given so much love to the SE line with 4 new models this year is making me hope that S2 line gets some Hollowbody II love...

GuitarBilly wrote: The Friedman 20w power section is pretty robust. They don't fall apart like other EL84 amps. But being 20w, the power amp saturates pretty quickly, which sounds awesome but also limits the use of effects loop since you need headroom to run effects in the loop.

Yeah, that's been my opinion of EL84 tubes too. The bass doesn't hold up once you start pushing the tube, which is certainly a sound that I like too (Vox AC15, Blues Jr.), but I think 6V6s hold on to the bass longer.

greatmutah wrote:

Chris Z wrote:The SEs are hit and miss. The Tremonti, DGT, Hollowbody II, and SE245 are amazing, though. The standards and CU24s are just shit.

My Starla SE and Santana SE have both been great too.

PRS is doing a 20% discount on all SE's until the end of the year.

Except for the DGT model.

I just shat my shot on a trade offer of my tele for a CE24

That's a good trade. I like the older CE24s.

GuitarBilly wrote:That's a good trade. I like the older CE24s.

This one is a 2017 so a “downgraded” model. They have it listed surprisingly low at $1100. We’ll see whatvhappwns

spawnofthesith wrote:

GuitarBilly wrote:That's a good trade. I like the older CE24s.

This one is a 2017 so a “downgraded” model. They have it listed surprisingly low at $1100. We’ll see whatvhappwns

the 2017s are still great guitars. I just don't like the unfinished headstock on the newer CEs but in terms of quality they're great.