PRS Guitars has introduced its all-new 2018 SE Acoustic lineup. The six new models give players a wider selection of feature sets than any other acoustic offering in the company’s history.
"These are tools to do a job," Paul Reed Smith says. "There are different situations you would use them in, so we’ve tried to make these instruments everything they can be for writing, rehearsing, performing, recording or just trying to unwind at the end of a hard day. They are tools to do a job, and I think they do it all very well.”
“At a recent demonstration with three local musicians, each person had a different personal favorite model, which we loved seeing,” adds Jack Higginbotham, COO at PRS. “We've taken great care in designing this series to deliver PRS benchmark quality, playability and tone. The details found in these six guitars give players some great options.”
Those details include:
Acoustic wood choices help determine a guitar’s fundamental tone. The 2018 lineup of PRS SE acoustics feature mahogany, ovangkol and maple back and side woods—all paired with solid Sitka spruce tops—each one offering its own flavor.
PRS offers two acoustic body shapes: Angelus Cutaway and Tonare Grand, meaning “Angel” and “Thunder” respectively. These shapes provide comfort and a familiar feel for players and are both well suited for playing fingerstyle or with a pick.
The bracing pattern of an acoustic also significantly contributes to its voice. 2018 PRS SE Acoustics come with either traditional “X” bracing or PRS’s hybrid “X”/Classical bracing. Traditional “X” bracing allows the top to vibrate while providing a stability that gives these instruments their signature punch. PRS Hybrid bracing features the traditional “X” at the soundhole with classical fan bracing across the belly. This allows the top to vibrate more freely for a rounder, more projecting tone. The back bracing on both body shapes is designed to “lock down” the back and sides to promote the instrument’s projection through the top, giving the instruments a unique tonal quality.
Models include the SE AX20E, SE TX20E, SE A40E, SE T40E, SE A50E and SE T50E.
2018 SE AX20E (Image credit: PRS Guitars)
The SE AX20E and SE TX20E (Angelus and Tonare body shapes, respectively) feature mahogany backs and sides with solid spruce tops for warm, balanced tone. Braced with tradition “X” bracing, these models have a punch that stands alone beautifully or cuts through the mix.
The SE A40E and SE T40E pair ovangkol back and sides with a solid spruce top for full, lush tone. Braced with PRS hybrid“X”/Classical bracing, these models have a voice projects with breathtaking volume and delicate nuance.
The SE A50E and T50E marry maple back and sides with a solid spruce top for stunning warmth and depth. Braced with PRS hybrid“X”/Classical bracing, these models have an uncommon 3-dimensional character for guitars with maple backs and sides.
2018 SE T50E (Image credit: PRS Guitars)
All 2018 PRS SE acoustics feature a Fishman GT1 electronics system, featuring an undersaddle pickup and soundhole mounted preamp with easy-to-access volume and tone controls. The Fishman GT1 pickup system delivers dynamic, organic tone and allows players to take this guitar from rehearsal to the stage with ease.
Additional high-quality features include solid spruce tops, ebony fretboards and bridges, bone nuts and saddles, as well as PRS trademark bird inlays and headstock design. All 2018 PRS SE acoustics ship with a hardshell case.
For more information, check out the video above and visit prsguitars.com.
Since 1980, Guitar World has been the ultimate resource for guitarists. Whether you want to learn the techniques employed by your guitar heroes, read about their latest projects or simply need to know which guitar is the right one to buy, Guitar World is the place to look.
